"Eat it," said Tot; "it's good." "But I can't eat," replied the old man. "I don't know how. I've never eaten anything in my life." "Not even when you were a little boy?" Tot asked, in wonder. "Well, I've forgotten what happened when I was a little boy, it's so long ago," returned the man. "But I certainly have no desire to eat now, and if I had there is nothing in the Valley to devour except stones. I suppose eating is a habit you have acquired. Why don't you break yourself of it?" "I get hungry," answered Tot. "Hunger must be a habit, too," remarked the old man, "for I never have had it since I have been in this valley. However, if you will allow me to keep the cake, I will amuse myself by looking at it when I'm tired of counting my whiskers." "You are quite welcome to the cake," said Dot. "But now I must ask you to excuse us, for it is time we started upon our journey." "Oh, don't let me detain you," replied the Watch-dog of Merryland, politely; "that is, if you are determined to disobey my orders." "I fear we must," said the girl. "Is Merryland the other side of that archway?" "Part of it is," answered the old man. "There are Seven Valleys in Merryland, connected by archways, for the river flows through them all." "And what is beyond the Seventh Valley?" asked Dot. "No one knows except those who pass through, and those who pass through never return to tell," he replied. "Well, good-bye," said Dot. "Bye!" repeated Tot, briefly. "Good-bye," answered the Watch-Dog. The girl took the remaining oar and pushed the boat away from the shore with it. The little craft glided out into the river very slowly, and drifted along with the current in the direction of the archway. Dot and Tot sat on the seat and watched the friendly old man until a shadow fell upon them, and called their attention to the fact that they were passing through the arch into the First Valley of Merryland. CHAPTER 6 THE FIRST VALLEY The rocky arch was not very thick, yet before Dot and Tot had floated to the other side of it, shouts of merry laughter and the chattering of many voices came to their ears. Some of the voices sounded loud and shrill, others low and deep, but all rang with a happy tone that aroused the children's interest at once, and made them wonder what occasion could cause so much amusement. Then, so suddenly that it quite startled the childish voyagers, the boat glided from the archway into the most beautiful country one could imagine.