“Come, Dusty Cap! come, Pointed Toes! come on, Chip Wing!”
At that call the elves were on the spot, each ready to take hold of the straws.
“Now,” Grandfather Grasshopper, “what shall we do next?” they all asked as they pulled them off.
“Now,” replied the grasshopper, “we will take the straws and twist them together. That will make a strong, stout rope.”
The elves found it hard work, for the straws were very heavy. How glad they were when they had finished.
“That looks fine!” said the grasshopper. “Now catch hold of this end of the rope and fly over the hole where Spider Eyes lies. Go high in the air, so that the other end will swing clear of everything—then drop it down carefully, keeping fast hold of the end you have.”
The rope was very heavy for the little elves to fly with.
They did their best, however, and succeeded in sending the end into the hole. As it touched him, Spider Eyes growled out:
“What are you doing now? Do you call that help? Am I not teased enough by these straws, without your throwing any more down on me?”
The grasshopper, who stood upon the edge of the hole, answered him: “Do not be cross. Help is coming; help is here. Now all you have to do is to take hold of that straw rope and kick yourself free from the wheat. Chip Wing, Dusty Cap, and Pointed Toes, fly! Pull! Fly upward and pull hard. And you, Spider Eyes, spring! jump! get free! One, two, three! Away you go! I thought that would work.”
Spider Eyes came out of the hole with a spring and a jump. He was so glad to be free he answered the grasshopper with a merry laugh.
The elves then dropped the rope and flew to the ground.
As they came to the grasshopper he asked them:
“What are you going to do now? I think you had better go home.”
“No, no!” they answered. “We are going to see the beautiful world. That is what we started for, and we do not intend to give it up.”
“I am very sorry I cannot help you,” said the grasshopper. “But I will introduce you to Mrs. Field Mouse, as I promised. She may tell you the way. Oh! here we are at her door.”
GRANDFATHER GRASSHOPPER INTRODUCES THE FOUR LITTLE ELVES TO MRS. FIELDMOUSE