"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."