By this time many people had gathered about and it was suggested that Old Jingles be given a seat in the ducking pool. “Now,” said the Little Old Lady, “you folks had better be on your way! We will keep the Magician here as long as possible.” So Gran’pa, Gran’ma, Johnny, Janey and the Princess stayed only long enough to see the Magician soused up and down in the water two or three times and then they hastened out of town. The brothers ducked the wicked Magician up and down in the pond until they grew tired, then others took their places and they kept this up for two hours. Then the Magician was placed in the stocks and his hands and feet firmly padlocked so that he could not get away. [Illustration] CHAPTER VII THE SOFT-VOICED COW MEETS THE WITCH AND THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE After leaving the village in which the Magician was a prisoner, Gran’ma, Gran’pa, the Princess and the children ran until they were tired, and coming to a quiet shady place they sat down to rest. “I do not believe I have run so hard since I was a girl,” said Gran’ma as she fanned herself. Just then they heard a noise in the bushes and all sprang to their feet, but sat down again with sighs of relief when a Cow walked up to them. The Cow wore a pretty bonnet and a velour waist; her skirt was of velvet with flowers embroidered around the edge. As she came up to the little group she shook the wrinkles out of her apron and sat down facing them. “How do you do, everybody!” the Cow said in a soft voice, as she smiled at all. Everybody greeted the Soft-Voiced Cow in a kindly manner. “I saw you running across the field,” said the Soft-Voiced Cow, “and you looked as if you were running away from something.” “We were,” Gran’ma said. “We were running away from Old Jingles the Magician, who wants to change us into animals.” “Dear me suz!” exclaimed the Soft-Voiced Cow. “Is he that wicked?” “Yes indeed he is,” Janey said, and she told of their experiences, and of that of the Princess. “If he follows you, he may find me when he comes this way,” said the Soft-Voiced Cow. “So if you do not mind my company, I will go with you to the City of Nite. I should not care to meet so wicked a Magician.” “We should be greatly pleased to have your company,” they told the Soft-Voiced Cow. When they had rested, Gran’pa said they better begin travel on; so the Soft-Voiced Cow took Gran’ma and the Princess and Janey on her back and the little party started on their way. [Illustration: The Old Woman caught the Soft-Voiced Cow’s tail and began dragging her back. (Page 83)] They passed through dense groves of giant mushrooms and at times these were so thick they had to bend them to one side in order to pass. When they grew hungry the children told Gran’ma and Gran’pa that the mushrooms were cake, so they ate of these.