"'Aunt Twaddles' leaned far back in her golden chair and, seeming to have overheard little Maud, she straightened up as she exclaimed: "'Eat plenty of it, my darling! Eat plenty of it! For I have a whole valley full lying over between the mountains.' "Instantly the children, startled at the very thought, looked up from their delightful repast. "'A whole valley full!' exclaimed Arthur, but he could say no more, for he had to stop eating to think about it. "He picked up a piece of cake and tasted it. "'Oh, Maud,' he cried, 'try some quick! Just try some! This is the grandest cake you ever ate.' And as the children were feasting upon the cake, Arthur added in a half-whisper, glancing down at the wash tub piled full: "'But we must not eat it all, Maud, we must save some to take home.' "'Eat plenty, my darlings, eat plenty!' came from the lips of 'Aunt Twaddles.' 'I have a tall mountain of it standing just across the valley before you.' "The excited children again looked up from their feast and there, sure enough, just across the green valley and standing directly in front of them, towered a tall golden-colored mountain, that reached almost to the sky. "And to think that it was all cake! "The children were so surprised they could make no reply. Between every mouthful they raised their sparkling eyes to look at Cake Mountain; and, as there seemed to be no need of saving any of the cake or ice cream, they started in to do full justice to their repast, for they were truly hungry after the long journey from Harpers Ferry to the village of Hide and Seek. "And now while little Arthur and Maud are enjoying themselves, and swallowing great spoonfuls of delicious ice cream, we will pause in the story for a moment while some of you swallow another drink of that nice cool water, if the boys will kindly bring it to us from the well." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER VI THE QUEEN OF THE DOLLS The hot sun was now standing directly over the tops of the trees, and, as the moving shade had left the Vagabond with a part of his circle of children out in its broiling rays, he was glad indeed to pause with his story while they all rose at his request and formed a new circle farther in under the sheltering branches. Four of the boys leaped from the ground and scampered away to bring the water as the Vagabond had requested. When the new circle was formed, one of the little girls,—a sweet-faced darling of not more than five years, pushed herself away from the others, and with a feeling of pride, took a seat by the side of the Vagabond, where she sat looking into his face quite anxious for him to go on with his story.