[Illustration: IT WAS JACK, DAZED AND RUBBING HIS EYES] KNOCK THREE TIMES! _BY_ MARION ST JOHN WEBB AUTHOR OF ‘THE LITTLEST ONE’ ‘THE GIRLS OF CHEQUERTREES’ ‘ELIZ’BETH PHIL AND ME’ ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY MARGARET W. TARRANT [Illustration] FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK AND LONDON CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I Aunt Phœbe sends a Birthday Present 9 II The Adventure Begins 14 III The Other Side of the Tree 26 IV Why Old Nancy Slept through the Sunset Hour 38 V Which Explains who is Inside the Grey Pumpkin 44 VI The Black Leaf 55 VII Glan Opens the Gate in the Nick of Time 69 VIII Aunt Janet Puts on her Best Bonnet 84 IX Planning the Search 99 X Some One Meets Jack and Molly in the Third Green Lane 114 XI Trapped 130 XII The Goblin’s Heath 143 XIII Timothy Gives Them a Clue 158 XIV Mr Papingay’s House in the Orange Wood 169 XV Jack’s Misfortune 190 XVI Molly Accepts a Present 202 XVII A Warning 213 XVIII Molly Comes to Lake Desolate 230 XIX Molly Looks Through Miss Lydia’s Window 241 XX What Happened Outside Old Nancy’s Cottage 259 XXI The Grey Pumpkin’s Fate 272 XXII The Impossible World Again 282 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE IT WAS JACK, DAZED AND RUBBING HIS EYES _Frontispiece_ JACK AND MOLLY CLAMBERED OVER THE FENCE 20 THE LITTLE DWARF WAS LIFTED, STRUGGLING AND SCREAMING 50 THE HUGE GATE SWUNG BACK 74 “DO HAVE ONE!” 124 ONE AND ALL WERE SIMPLY PAINTED PEOPLE 178 “THANK GOODNESS YOU _’AVE_ WOKE UP!” 218 QUICK AS THOUGHT, SHE STRUCK ONE OF OLD NANCY’S MATCHES 256 _KNOCK THREE TIMES!_ CHAPTER I _Aunt Phœbe sends a Birthday Present_ This story really begins with the arrival of a brown paper parcel addressed to Molly, but while the postman is bringing it along the road, there may be just time to explain about Jack and Molly’s birthday, so that you will understand why Molly sat down to supper wishing earnestly that silver bangles were considered useful and necessary presents.