What could be the matter? How dark the woods seemed to grow!
The only way they could keep together was by chirping and calling to each
other.
“Oh, Spider Eyes! Stop, stop!” called Pointed Toes, “I am tired. Do let
us rest awhile. Besides, it is so dark we can no longer see the gates of
the beautiful world, and if we fly on we will surely lose our way. So let
us rest here, and perhaps it will be lighter soon.”
“We think Pointed Toes is right,” said Chip Wing and Dusty Cap. “Come,
Spider Eyes, come!”
So the four weary little elves flew into the notch of an old tree
standing at the edge of the wood.
They found that they were very, very tired, and soon were fast asleep and
dreaming of the beautiful world.
Spider Eyes awoke with a start. Where had the darkness gone?
Everywhere it was light now.
He called to Pointed Toes, Chip Wing, and Dusty Cap, “Wake up! We have
rested too long!”
They all sprang to their feet, exclaiming, “What is the matter?”
Spider Eyes called, “Up, up! We must fly to the beautiful world before
this day is done.”
Each took a dewdrop from the edge of a strawberry leaf, with which to
wash his face, for their eyes were heavy with sleep.
As they flew up, Spider Eyes said, “I do not see the gates of the
beautiful world; perhaps it is because we are so close to them and they
are so large. I am sorry, since we will not be able to fly so direct.”
[Illustration: THE FOUR LITTLE ELVES WASH THEIR FACES WITH DEW DROPS]