a house, and a curious kind of a house it was.

"It looks like the kind of house Jackie used to make with cards," said
Kernel Cob, and so intent were they, that they did not hear the
approach of a little girl until she stood beside them, and lifted
Sweetclover in her arms.

Of course they did not understand what she said, but it must have been
something very beautiful, for her face was all smiles.

And the little Japanese girl lifted up Kernel Cob, and the Villain,
too, and carried them off down the road and into the little house.

A very wonderful house it was, and full of toys, mostly Japanese dolls
with short, straight hair and beautiful dresses, and talking all at
once, in a curious language.

"Oh, dear," sighed Sweetclover, "shall we never understand anybody in
this strange country?"

"Aye, aye sir," came a voice at her feet, and looking down, much to
her surprise she saw an American Sailor doll.

"Bless my heart, mates," said the sailor, "I'm glad to see you aboard.
I've been in this port these four months, and I haven't heard the
sound of the American language in all that time. Shiver my timbers if
I'm not glad to set eyes on you."

And they talked it all over, where they'd been and everything, all
about the Condor and the savages and the Moon.

"Well, mates," said Jackie Tar, for that was his name, "you've seen a
lot but you'll never do any more travelling, for you're in a pretty
tight hole this time," and he went on to tell them about the Japanese
who lived in the house and owned the store.

"He's a Toy-maker, he is, and the first thing he'll do is to rip you
up to see how you're laid together, so he can make more like you."

"Mercy!" said Sweetclover, and she began to sob.

"If you're going to begin to cry," said Kernel Cob, "I'm going to give
up," but the Villain whispered something kindly in Sweetclover's ear,
and she stopped at once, for the Villain had more patience, and knew
how to comfort her.

[Illustration]

"Maybe I can help you to escape from here," said Jackie Tar, "and
maybe I can't, but I can try. I've had a plan in my mind for a long
time but I've had no one to help me but these Japs, and they're not
worth the paint on their faces. Are you brave enough to risk it with
me?"

Kernel Cob swelled out his chest and showed his medals, and told
Jackie Tar how he had fought the savages single handed.

"You'll do," laughed the sailor, and he told them his plan. "Do you
see that red b