"No, I'm not, because I have a charm. See, this little ivory monkey." She pulled out the charm from the neck of her dress. "While I wear this, nothing can happen to me. It's lucky." "I don't believe in charms," said Andy. Hortense was displeased at his doubt. "Well, you'll see," said she. It was nearly sundown; so Andy ran home, and Hortense returned to the house to change her dress for supper. Said she to Highboy, "To-night you and Malay Kris and I are going to hide in the secret room in the attic. There Andy will join us, and we will watch for Jeremiah and the other." "I do not wish to see Jeremiah or the other," said Highboy. "Nevertheless, you must come," said Hortense firmly. "Alas," mourned Highboy. "Never again will I stand on a good Brussels carpet and see the sunshine pour in the south window. Many a sad year shall I weep for the last embraces of my brother Lowboy and the dull life of home." Hortense was struck to admiration by these moving words. "How lovely," said she. "I didn't know you wrote poetry." "I have a drawer full," said Highboy, perking up a bit. "Then you must surely come," Hortense urged. "You might be captured, or something, and then you could be dreadfully melancholy and write the beautifullest poetry!" "True," said Highboy. "Sorrow is the food of poets." Consequently, when all was still and Grandfather and Grandmother were safely in bed, Highboy went willingly enough with Hortense down the dark silent stairs and past Grandmother's sitting room. "May I not say a farewell to Lowboy?" said Highboy with tears in his voice. "Not at all," said Hortense briskly. "He might want to come, too." They went softly into the parlor, and Hortense whispered to Malay Kris, telling him of the night's expedition. "Good," said Malay Kris. "If I see the Cat or the other one, I'll slither through their bones." He spoke in a low, fierce voice and jumped down lightly so as not to awaken Alligator, who seemed to be asleep, but it was of no use. Without opening his eyes, Alligator grunted, "Where do I come in?" "Why, you see," said Hortense embarrassed, "you're so big you couldn't get into the little room nor climb down the ladder." "You mean I'm not wanted," said Alligator crossly. "Very well, I'll not go where I'm not asked. I'll hunt alone." "Dear me," said Hortense, "now he'll go and swallow something he shouldn't." "Maybe I will and maybe I won't," said Alligator. "It depends on my appetite." "Swallow me," said Malay Kris, "and I'll show you a thing or two. I'll run you as full of holes as a colander." "You're not to my taste," said Alligator, yawning horribly. "If I cared to, I would." Malay Kris glared at Alligator, but as it was of no use to attack his thick hide, which was as tough as iron, he did nothing more and Hortense dragged him away. "Save your wrath," she said. "I have so much I don't need to save it," said Malay Kris. "The more I spend, the more I have."