o the
children's eyes and noses, so that they were glad to fly higher, where
the air was pure, and fresh.

We passed over vast and gloomy forests, where the solemn pines bowed
slightly as the seven Winds swept by; and over green meadows, where
flocks of sheep lay huddled together, fast asleep. As we went further
and further eastward, the darkness began to fade.

"In China it will be broad daylight," I said, "and Whisk and I shall
fade almost out of sight; but we shall still be with you, so you need
feel no alarm."

"Are we near China now?" asked Brighteyes. "And you have not told us
about Pun-Chin, Mr. Moonman!"

"To be sure!" I answered. "What an excellent memory this mouse has!
well, we may very likely see Pun-Chin, and then you shall judge for
yourself. The last time I saw him, he had just painted his little
brother bright green from head to foot, and was telling him that his
father would chop him up into little bits and sow him for grass-seed.
The poor little boy was very much frightened, as you may imagine. Yes,
he is a bad fellow for mischief, that boy.

"But now we must fly lower," I added, "for we are over China now. Use
your eyes well, my little mice, and see all that you can see, for there
is no knowing when you will be here again."

The mice did use their eyes well; and indeed there were many strange
things to look at. Green rice-fields, with bright streams of water
flowing through them, made the country beautiful. Pagodas and temples,
gaily painted, and gilded, glittered in the sun, and the queer, narrow
streets were filled with people dressed in strange garments of blue,
red, and yellow. They all carried large paper umbrellas covered with gay
figures.

In one street we saw a boy sitting on a queer sort of gate. Three dogs
were fastened to this gate by their tails, and as they leaped about in
their efforts to free themselves, the gate swung to and fro, thus saving
the boy the trouble of swinging himself.

Now a man came slowly along the street, reading a paper attentively, and
thinking of nothing else. Just as he was passing by the gate, however,
the boy made a sudden spring, and alighting on the man's shoulders,
knocked him flat in the muddy street; then springing up again like a
flash, he resumed his place on the gate, and looked as innocent as a
lamb. But the man picked himself up slowly, and turning round, poured a
torrent of angry words on the sportive youth.

"Child of perdition!" he cried,