"Why didn't you let me run him through first?" demanded Malay Kris. "I'd have skewered him like a roast of beef."
"Too late," said Alligator, making off to the parlor.
"I suppose the party's broken up for to-night," said Owl.
All moved away by common consent. Hortense let Andy out of the back door and locked it after him. Taking Highboy, who was still shaking, by the hand, she led him up the stairs.
"That Alligator's a dreadful person," said Highboy. "I'm sure I'll not sleep at all."
Hortense, however, slept soundly and was late for breakfast. When she entered the dining room, Grandmother was saying, "Jeremiah's disappeared again. I wonder what can have got into him of late."
Mary, bringing toast, entered with a troubled face.
"Jeremiah's somewhere in the parlor, ma'm," she said. "I heard him crying under the sofa, but though I looked I couldn't see him. I called to him, but he wouldn't come. It's most surprising."
"We'll find him after breakfast," said Grandfather.
So after breakfast they all went to the parlor. Jeremiah's plaintive cries could be clearly heard. Grandfather looked under the sofa and poked around with a cane, but still no Jeremiah appeared.