I don't know how long this would have gone on if the little old man had not suddenly turned around. "You have a wonderful pipe," said little Puss, Junior. "I've never seen one like it." "There are lots of strange things in Mother Goose Land," answered the little old man. "If you are a traveler, as I think you are, you will meet with many strange adventures." Then with a bow he turned in at the gate of a little pink-and-blue cottage, at the rear of which stood a pigeon house on top of a tall pole. As Puss turned around for a last look, again the smoke from the little old man's pipe changed into a pigeon, which flew straight toward the little pigeon house. Well, after that Puss rode along for some time, and by and by the moon came out and dimly lighted the road, which now led through a forest. It was very quiet, except for the tooting of an owl or the cry of a tree toad. Little Puss commenced to whistle when, all of a sudden, the Good Gray Horse jumped to the side of the road, and there, right in front of him, stood a tiny fairy, dressed in green. "Halt, Sir Cat!" he cried, waving his silver wand. THE HOLD-UP "OH, who is so merry, so merry, heigh ho! As the light-hearted fairy, heigh ho, heigh ho!" As soon as the little fairy I mentioned in the last story finished his song Puss, Junior's, Good Gray Horse stood up on his hind legs, for he wasn't used to these little people of the forest, you see. "Whoa, my good steed," cried Puss. "Don't you see it's only a little fairy?" "Only a little fairy!" cried the forest fay. "I would have you understand, Sir Cat, that I have at my command a million subjects. I have but to sound a call upon my silver horn and they will surround you." "Bah!" cried Puss, scornfully. "I have no fear of such tiny things." But, oh, dear me! no sooner had he said this than the fairy blew a shrill blast upon his silver horn, and from all directions came thousands of little fairies on moth millers and fireflies. And, oh, dear me! again, before Puss knew what was going to happen they stretched tiny ropes about his Good Gray Horse and bound his legs fast, and after that they tied Puss to the saddle. "Ha, ha!" laughed the little fairy. "Now, my good Sir Cat, will you believe that fairies have power?" "Gid-ap!" cried Puss, but his good gray steed could move neither head nor foot. "Gid-ap!" he cried again; but his Good Gray Horse could move neither ears nor tail. "Gracious me!" exclaimed Puss. "I'm in a pretty mess!" And then the fairies began to sing: "Pride must ever have a fall. Ne'er despise the weak and small. Only he who's brave and good Shall pass safely through this wood." "I don't see how that applies to me," cried Puss, stoutly. "I may have been a trifle rude, but I maintain I'm brave and good."