Then he called to his brothers, saying: “Do come and help me. Chip Wing, you take her head, and Pointed Toes and Dusty Cap take her feet, while I put my hands under her back.”
Still they were unable to lift her, and they had to leave her.
By this time her noise had awakened all the rest of the family.
What a screaming and squeaking and squealing they made, all crying, “Mamma!”
The poor little elves could hardly hear themselves think.
Spider Eyes said, “I do not like this. We must get out of it as soon as we can. What a noise, what a hubbub! I never heard such a din. Hark, there is the key in the door! She is coming! Let us slip by her and fly off.”
Just as they thought they were safely past her, she caught them one by one. Giving them a sharp pinch with her teeth, she sat them on the floor with a thump, saying:
“You thought you were going, did you? Why did you not go?”
Then she stepped inside the door and locked it.