“Now,” Beader broke in, “if you will be careful as to where you step and follow me closely, we will soon be in the main part of the town.”
Thus, he of the Jumping Dragoons leaping in advance—his red coat a bright splotch in the moonlight—Dan followed him, wonderingly.
CHAPTER XXIII
IN WHICH DAN SPENDS A NIGHT IN THE VALLEY OF TICK TOCK
As Dan, guided by Beader, entered the town that lay in the center of the Valley of Tick Tock, he saw that it had been built so that the trees stood at the foot of it while the corn patches and the wheat fields stretched on both sides and one end. From the fields and the woods streets ran hither and thither at all sorts of angles. These were lined with no end of queer houses. Some were of sticks, and some were of weeds and still others were made of very fine grass. Now and then appeared a dwelling more imposing than the rest. There was one that must have been quite three stories high. All the houses faced on extremely scant roadways that could not have been more than two-mouses wide.
But the street over which Beader took Dan was of a far different kind. Indeed, it was almost as broad as a path in a park. It was well sprinkled with sand and along both its sides were rows of tall corn. Dan was about to ask if the street had a name when he noted a sign fixed to the top of a stick. Stooping down he read:
CORNSTALK AVENUE
50 Dragoon Jumps to Public Square
And so, very shortly, he and his guide had reached the heart of the town. Here, looking down, the visitor saw that they had stopped before what he judged was the armory. In front of it stood a sentry box made from the half of a corncob with windows cut in the sides. Out of this stepped a mouse dressed exactly like Beader, only in place of a sword he carried a lantern.
“Dickory Dock,” said Dan’s guide.
“Dickory Dock,” said the other. Then the two of them came to salute after which Beader unbuckled his belt and handed it and the sword to the one with the lantern.