“I think you’re the one to tell her, brother,” said Nibby. “You’re so—”
“What did you have in that bottle?” said Merrimeg, rather impatiently.
“I thought she knew we had May-dew in it,” said Malkin.
“Yes, I certainly thought she knew that,” said Nibby.
“Have you been washing my face with May-dew?” said Merrimeg.
“I should think she’d know that without being told; wouldn’t you, brother Nibby?” said Malkin.
“I should certainly think so, if you ask me,” said Nibby.
“Then let’s start home at once!” cried Merrimeg. “Mother will be worried if I’m later than usual. Come along!”
Through the rear door they found their way to a cave in the mountain, and at the end of this cave they found an underground stream, and beside this stream they found the gnomes’ canoe. They were in it in a jiffy, and in another jiffy the gnomes were paddling up stream for dear life.
“Here we are,” said Malkin at last, and they got out at the bottom of a ladder that climbed the wall of their tunnel. At the top of the ladder Malkin pushed open a trapdoor, and they all went up through the opening into the gnomes’ kitchen.