you. We'll run along--"

"No bother, I assure you," said the Rake. "I know it by heart. Why is a
trolley-car like a grindstone without any handle?"

"I couldn't possibly guess," said Jimmieboy, with a grin.

"They don't either of them smoke cigarettes, of course," said the Rake.
"I should think anybody could have told that. Now, can you tell me why
a--"

"Thumbhi!" came a voice in the distance.

"Excuse me for a minute," said Thumbhi. "I think I hear somebody calling
me," and he was off.

"You'd better follow him, Jimmieboy," said the Rake, kindly. "Don't lose
sight of him for an instant. This is his way of getting rid of you. He
brought you in here to tell you his history, didn't he?"

"Yes," said Jimmieboy.

"Well, he hasn't got one," whispered the Rake. "He hasn't got one, and
he never had one, and this having himself called away is only one of his
tricks. Keep your eye on him or you're lost."

[Illustration: JIMMIEBOY STARTED IN PURSUIT.]

With this the Rake slammed the door of the tool-house, and Jimmieboy
turning about peered down the path at the Wizard, who was running as
fast as his legs could carry him. Jimmieboy started in pursuit--and what
a pursuit it was! Like the wind they ran, mile after mile round and
round the garden, through forests that turned up on the road here and
there, and once in awhile with great bounds jumping over rivers and
mountains, until finally Thumbhi turned suddenly, ran backwards directly
past Jimmieboy, and before the little visitor had time to turn around
was lost to sight.

Jimmieboy was now quite lost. He had no idea as to his whereabouts. The
garden had long since disappeared, and so fast had he run the boy had
failed to notice in what direction he had come.

"Humph!" he said, seating himself by the road to catch his breath.
"Here's a muddle. I wonder where the Merboy is?"

"Here I am," came a subdued little voice that sounded miles away. "Take
the first door to your right, open it, and you'll find me."

Jimmieboy started up and walked, it seemed to him, for hours, but no
door appeared anywhere until, just as the sun was setting, he came to a
big oak-tree with a little bit of a door half-way up its trunk.

"I wonder if that's it?" said the puzzled boy, scratching his head.

"Yes," came the voice from the inside. "Climb up and come in."

"I can't climb 'way up there," said Jimmieboy.

"Then we'll let the door down," returned the voice behind the door. Sure
en