VII

The two little explorers squeezed through the bars of the northern gate

and for an hour or more hurried as fast as they could along the white

road. They had no plan. All that Tilsa knew was that the Flamp lived

somewhere in the mountains, but whether it was north or south, east or

west, she could not say.

At the end of the second hour, Tilsa felt certain that it was time to

leave the road, because day was not far off and they were very weary.

'Cheer up, Toby,' she said. 'We'll soon lie down and have some sleep.

I'm going to shut my eyes and I want you to turn me round three times,

and whichever way I walk then, that way we shall go.'

This was done, and Tilsa struck off to the left of the road into the

plain. Then after walking for nearly an hour longer, they came to a

little dell with a pool at the bottom and bushes growing on its sides,

and here Tilsa stopped. The two children lay down together under a bush

and at once fell asleep.

When Tilsa awoke, it was broad day. She roused Tobene, and they went to

the pool and splashed some water over their faces and hands, and then

Tilsa opened the basket. Breakfast consisted only of bread and butter

and biscuits, but as they were hungry it was better than a banquet. The

real business of the day was yet to begin, and Tilsa was wondering how

to set about learning the road, when both children were startled by a

wee voice.

'I call that piggish,' it said. 'And inconsiderate too.'

Not seeing any speaker, neither child replied but only stared at each

other in puzzlement.

'Yes,' the tiny voice continued, 'people can be too tidy. Dropping

crumbs is a bad habit in the house, I know, but out of doors it becomes

a virtue. People who get up first thing in the morning to gorge

themselves with bread and biscuits in this greedy way, and then drop no

crumbs--well, piggish and inconsiderate is what I call them.'

The accusation aroused Tilsa. 'We didn't gorge,' she said, 'whoever you

are, and we've slept here all night. But here are some crumbs for you,

anyway,' and so saying, she broke up a piece of bread and scattered it

on the ground.

Immediately a little fiery-crested wren hopped down from a branch of the

bush and began to peck among the grass.

'Thank you,' he said when he had finished; 'but if you had done it

without being asked it would have been better.'

'We didn't see you,' said Tobene in excuse.

'Doesn't matter,' the wren replied; 'birds is everywhere, and always

hungry. Wherever you drop crumbs you may be sure they'll be acceptable.

Remember that. Now, is there anything I can do for you?'

'Well,' said Tilsa, 'we want to know the way to the Flamp.'

'Before I tell you,' said the wren, 'you must inform me whether I am

speaking to a boy or a girl.'

'I am a girl,' said Tilsa. 'Toby here is a boy.'

'Very well,' the wren answered. 'Then I must talk to Toby. I make it a

rule never to join in friendly conversation with women. They wear my

feathers in their hats.'

'But men shoot you,' Tobene interposed, angry that Tilsa should be

treated in this way.

'True,' said the wren, 'true. But so long as there are men, birds must

expect to be shot. It's all in the day's work and must be endured. But

for one's body to go to the milliner's is intolerable. Intolerable.' The

little creature suddenly swallowed its rage, and continued more sweetly:

'Now, as to the Flamp. What you want, Toby, is a Flamp compass.'

'What's that?' Tobene asked.

'Why, an ordinary compass points to the north, doesn't it? Well, a Flamp

compass points to the Flamp,' said the wren. 'Then you can find the

way.'

'But where are we to get one?' was Tobene's very natural question.

'The hedgehog makes them,' said the wren. 'On the other side of this

dell you will see a line of bushes. The hedgehog lives under the

fourteenth. Knock on the ground three times and he'll come out. Now I

must be off. Good-morning.' And with these words the fiery-crested wren

flitted away.

At the fourteenth bush the children knocked three times on the ground.

'Well?' said a surly voice.

'Please we want a Flamp compass,' said Tilsa.

At once the hedgehog appeared. 'I beg your pardon,' he said in softer

tones, 'but I mistook you for the rates and taxes, or I shouldn't have

spoke so short. I wasn't expecting customers so early. A Flamp compass?

Why, I don't think I have one in stock. You see, since the Flamps died

off, the demand has been so small that very few are made. There's my

own, which has been in the family for years, but I shouldn't care to

part with that except at a high price.'

'How much would you call a high price, sir?' Tilsa inquired a little

anxiously.

'Well, I couldn't let it go for anything less than a Ribston pippin, or

its value,' said the hedgehog. 'But I'm open to offers,' he continued.

'Toby,' said Tilsa, 'turn out your pockets.'

Tobene did so, and Tilsa examined the produce with a doubtful face.

'Please, sir,' she said, 'would you like for the Flamp compass, which

you say is an old one, a piece of string, two marbles, some

toffee--although I'm afraid it's rather mixed up with string--eight

nuts, a screw, a peg-top, and a knife?'

'The knife will be useful,' said Toby, who was looking on a little

ruefully, but convinced that Tilsa, as usual, was doing the right thing

and therefore must be supported, 'in case any one tries to snub you.'

'Ah, you needn't trouble about that,' said the hedgehog. 'It's a

difficult matter to snub me. You see,' he added, 'by the nature of his

construction a hedgehog is not easily sat upon. But to business.

Considering that the times are hard, I don't mind accepting your offer,

miss.'

So saying, to Tilsa's immense delight, the hedgehog retired under the

bush again, and came out carrying the Flamp compass. 'Is there anything

else I can do for you?' he asked. 'Any periwinkle brooms or mallow

cheeses this morning? We have a nice stock of thistle-clocks just in.'

'No, thank you,' Tilsa replied as they hurried off. 'Nothing more

to-day. Good-morning.'

The compass was neatly contrived of the cup of an acorn, through the

bottom of which ran a hedgehog's prickle. Balanced on the point was the

needle, a spear of dried grass, and over all was a spider's web to serve

as glass.