t. But dat ain' all. Dat knife--I sho' don'
like de looks ob dat."

"What knife are you talking about?" said Grandfather.

Without a word, Uncle Jonah led the way into the barn and pointed to
Malay Kris. With some difficulty, Grandfather and Fergus pulled Kris
free.

"It's beyond me," Grandfather said bewildered.

Fergus removed his hat and ran his fingers thoughtfully through his
hair. Uncle Jonah shook his head and went away, muttering to himself.

Grandfather looked at Hortense with his sharp bright eyes, but she did
not know how to begin an explanation, so complicated had matters
become.

"Let's go in for breakfast, Hortense," Grandfather suggested.

CHAPTER XI

"_... take us to the rock on the mountain side where the Little
People dance._"

That afternoon Andy and Hortense sat in the orchard eating apples.

"Do you suppose we'd grow little if we ate thirteen apples?" Hortense
asked.

Andy, who had eaten six and lost his appetite, was of the opinion that
they would grow bigger, could they eat so many. "Or maybe we'd burst,"
he added.

"We mustn't eat any more apples now," said Hortense, also finishing her
sixth, "and don't eat too much supper."

"Why?" said Andy, unwilling to sacrifice his supper without a good
reason.

"I've a plan," said Hortense. "We've got to eat thirteen cookies again
and grow little--but I won't tell you what we'll do then, for it's to
be a surprise!"

"We'll go through the little door again and find the Cat's house," Andy
guessed.

"We must take Highboy and Lowboy for company," said she, "but Alligator
and the others won't do at all. How much is four times thirteen?"

"Fifty-two," said Andy after a moment.

"That's a great many cookies," said Hortense. "I do hope Aunt Esmerelda
bakes this afternoon so there are sure to be enough. You see, both
Highboy and Lowboy will have to eat thirteen cookies, too, making
fifty-two for all of us."

"I wonder how many Alligator would have to eat?" said Andy. "Most
likely a whole jar full, he's so big."

"He can't ride anyhow," Hortense began, and then clapped her hand to
her mouth and refused to say another word.

On her way to supper, however, she looked into the cooky jar and found
it full to the top. She very carefully counted out fifty-two cookies
and carried them up to her room in her apron.

That night, when all was still and Andy had come by his usual route
through the basement, Hortense took him and Lowboy to h