“I guess I couldn’t have fought so well if I hadn’t been fighting for you! Did he hurt you much, Janey?” “He hurt me when he pinched my arm, but he didn’t hit me with the stick,” Janey said, as she showed Johnny the bruised place on her arm. “It’s a good thing I didn’t know of that bruise,” cried Johnny, “while I had him down!” As they talked the children came to a path. They walked down it until they saw a queer little house made of sticks plastered together with mud and colored clay. “What a queer house!” the children cried. “Isn’t it small!” They walked up to the door and knocked. “Come in!” a voice called to them from within. So the children, pushing open the door, stepped inside. At first they could see nothing, for the door had swung shut behind them, but presently their eyes growing accustomed to the darkness, they made out a form across the room. [Illustration] “My! It’s dark!” Janey exclaimed. “Can’t we have a light!” The form across the room chuckled and Johnny reached behind him for the door-knob, so that he could let some light into the room. The door was locked! When Johnny found this out he stepped in front of Janey. “Keep behind me, Sis!” he whispered. “This doesn’t seem safe!” At this moment something struck Johnny in the face and splashed all over. It took him so by surprise he staggered backward and stumbled over Janey, so that both the children fell to the floor. As he scrambled to his feet Johnny felt his arms caught and a rope whirled around and around his arms and legs, so that he could not move. A bright flame shot up from the fireplace and the children saw the Strange Man sitting there with a book across his knees. He had just thrown a powder in the fireplace and it burnt brightly. The Strange Man was the only one in the room except the children and he mumbled to himself as he read from the great book. Johnny looked at Janey and saw that she was tied in much the same manner as himself. “It’s the man who owns the Lemonade Spring,” cried Janey. “Say!” Johnny shouted. “You untie us and let us go, or we’ll have you arrested when we get out!” “You won’t get out!” the Strange Man told him. “I’ll see to that!” “Help!” Johnny shouted at the top of his voice, Janey joining him. “Dear me!” the Strange Man exclaimed fretfully. “How can you expect me to change you into animals when you make so much noise? You distract my mind from my reading, and I am trying to find just how to work the magic!” “Is that a magic book?” Janey asked. “Of course!” the Strange Man replied. “And I have to memorize the magic song that I must sing when I puff the magic powder over you and change you into animals, and I can not think when you make so much noise!” “We’re sorry we drank your lemonade!” Janey said. “I’m sorry I had a fight with you!” Johnny said. “Yes! I know you are,” the Strange Man cried, shaking his stick at them, “and I told you that I would get even with you! I am about to change you into pigs!”