IX
That night the two children slept soundly in a corner of the cave, while the Flamp sat by and watched them. In the morning, after a breakfast of smush, they climbed on the monster's back and started for the city at a good swinging pace.
'It was like riding on a cloud,' said Tobene afterwards: 'so high up.'
They were well within sight of Ule when—'Look,' said Tobene suddenly, pointing in the direction of a speck on the white road, 'what's that?'
'It moves,' said Tilsa. 'It's a person.'
'We'll soon see what it is,' the Flamp grunted, lengthening his stride. The earth shook as his feet beat upon it.
As they came nearer and nearer, the children saw that the object was a woman. For a moment she stood upright, looking all ways at once as though panic-stricken, and then she suddenly unfurled a green umbrella and sank behind it.
'Why, it's Alison,' cried Tobene. 'Hurrah!'
'Stop, stop!' cried Tilsa to the Flamp. 'Please don't frighten dear old Alison. Let us go down and run to her.'