They waited and listened; still Spider Eyes did not appear.
They turned to each other in alarm, saying, “Where is he? We are sure the toad did not catch him, for we were watching all the while.”
“Spider Eyes! Spider Eyes!” they called; but he did not answer.
“Come,” they said at last, in despair, “we will fly from flower to flower until we find him.”
They searched first in the daisy, then in the hollyhock and the roses all over; then in the trumpet vine.
Still he could not be found.
Pointed Toes and Dusty Cap were about to shout his name again, when they heard Chip Wing loudly call:
“Here he is, and fast asleep! Why did he go in those flowers? for it is said they put people to sleep; and sometimes it is a sleep from which they never waken.”
They flew to Chip Wing, and saw Spider Eyes fast asleep in a gaudy red poppy.
They shook and shook the flower, but still he slept on.
Dusty Cap wrung his hands, saying: “What if he should never wake up!”
Pointed Toes said, “I will arouse him.” And he took from his side his tiny sword and entered the poppy.
It had a strange odor that made him feel faint.
He longed to lie down and go to sleep himself, but he knew that there was danger. So he kept awake with much effort.
He touched Spider Eyes on the forehead.
“What is that?” asked Spider Eyes yawning. “Oh, go away! I am so sleepy.” And he turned himself over for another nap.
But Pointed Toes was in earnest, for he knew the danger, so he touched him again, and before he could think about another nap pulled him to the edge of the poppy, where Dusty Cap and Chip Wing met them and drew Spider Eyes to the ground.
By this time Spider Eyes was fully awake, he turning to his brother, saying:
“Why did you disturb me? I was having such a lovely dream—all about the beautiful world.”
“Oh, Spider Eyes!” exclaimed Dusty Cap, Chip Wing, and Pointed Toes, all, “You would not go without us, would you?”