He was the same old Wistik, looking as important as ever; yes, his puckered little face wore a peculiar, almost frightened expression of suspense. He was not wearing his little acorn-cup, but a smart cap that appeared black in the twilight. "I have news for you," cried Wistik. "A great piece of news. Come with me, quick!" "How do you do, Wistik?" whispered Johannes. He lay cozily between the sheets, and was glad to see his friend again. Let the chest of drawers and the cuckoo be as disagreeable as they wanted to, now; here was his friend again. "Must I go with you? How can I? Where to?" "This way--up here with me," whispered Wistik. "I have found something. It will make you open your eyes. Just give me your hand. That's the best way. You can leave your body lying here while you are away." "That will be a fine sight," said Johannes. But it happened without any trouble. He put out his hand, and in a twinkling he was sitting beside Wistik, on the bed-tassel. And truly, as he looked down below, there he saw his body lying peacefully fast asleep. A ray of light streamed into the room, through the clover-leaf opening in the blinds, and lighted up the sleeping head. Johannes thought it an extremely pretty sight, and himself still a really nice boy as he lay there among the pillows, with his dark curly hair about the slightly contracted brows. "Do you believe that I am very bad, Wistik?" said he, looking down upon himself. "No," said Wistik, "we must never fib to each other. Neither am I bad; not a bit. I have found that out now, positively. Oh, I have discovered so much since we last met! But we must not admire ourselves on that account. That would be stupid. Come, now, for we have not much time." Together they climbed up the bed-cord. It was easy work, for Johannes was light and small, and he climbed nimbly up the shaggy rope. But it felt warm, and hairy, and alive in his hands! Up they worked themselves, through the folds of the canopy. But the bed-cord did not end there. Oh, no! It went on farther and grew bigger and bigger, and then.... What they came to, I will tell you in the following chapter. [1] Lottery-Fair. VII It was, indeed, a real lion's tail, and not a bed-cord. Johannes and Wistik were now sitting on the very back of the mighty beast. Above them it was all dark, but out in front--away where the lion was looking--the daylight could be seen. They let themselves down cautiously to the ground. They were in a large cave. Johannes saw streaks of water glistening along the rocky walls. Gently as they tried to slip past the monster, he yet discovered them, and turned his shaggy head around, watching them distrustfully. "He will not do anything," said Wistik. And the lion looked at them as if they were a pair of flies, not worth eating up. They passed on into the sharp sunlight outside, and, after several blinding moments, Johannes saw before him a wide-spread, glorious mountain view.