There was a shout of laughter from Jimmie, who was sure he knew a great deal.
"Well," said the guide to Jim, "then how does it make its music, since you know?"
"Not with its mouth."
"Then how?"
"I don't know, sir," stammered Jimmie, who found he didn't know as much as he thought he did.
"When Mr. Cricket sings," went on the hermit, "it lifts its two wing covers so that the edges meet like the pointed roof of a house. Then your little fiddler, Jack, rubs one edge against the other."
All this time Peter Beech had been waving his hand about, the way children do in school, and giving big sniffs.
"Please, sir, the cookies are burning."
"Bless my soul!" The guide whisked the cookies away.
"Please, sir," said Jack, "are we going to have something soon?" Jack did not look as if he had his share of food to eat, for he was as thin as the fawn which had curled up near him. Jack had twelve brothers and sisters, and a father who wasn't what he ought to be, so there were times when there was no food for Jack.