Spider Eyes hid in a poppy; Dusty Cap in a rose.
Pointed Toes and Chip Wing flew into a large white lily.
When they peeped out to see if they were safe, they beheld Mr. Toad looking all around for them.
He was scolding and scolding, but all in vain.
His eyes, although they were so big, were not sharp enough to see which way they flew.
What a horrible grunt he uttered! and he stuck his tongue far out of his mouth.
What a long tongue! He seemed to be watching something. Lazily flying by was a large blue fly, and as the fly drew near the toad, the toad made a snap and a jump, then all was still: for that was the end of the poor, poor fly.
The elves grew more afraid, and wished the toad would go away. They heard him say as he peered all around:
“I will catch the little fellows yet. How nice they will be for my supper.”
Of course, they were sorry that Spider Eyes’ wing was hurt, yet they could not help feeling glad that all this happened, for it had saved them from such a sad fate.
Dusty Cap looked out from his hiding-place in the rose, and there sat the toad at the foot of the bush.
He smothered a cry and drew back in alarm, hoping the toad had not spied him.
Pointed Toes whispered to Chip Wing: “I wish something would frighten him away.”
And Chip Wing said softly: “I feel very anxious about Spider Eyes.”
They loved the flowers, but they were now tired of staying in them, for they wanted to be on their way to the beautiful world.
Yet there they were, prisoners to the toad! When would he go away!
As they were wishing and waiting, they heard some merry children laughing, and were wondering where they were, when out into the garden came the children, singing as they skipped along, “Let us go to the beautiful world.”
Mr. Toad, in his fright, forgot all about the little elves and jumped far away and hid.
Soon everything was so still that Dusty Cap ventured to creep out of the rose, and then he saw that they were free once more. He called:
“Spider Eyes! Chip Wing! Pointed Toes! Come out! There is nothing to fear. The toad has gone.”
Chip Wing and Pointed Toes answered with joy: “We are coming!” and flew out of the lily.
SPIDER EYES ASLEEP IN THE POPPY