220 WHISPERS FROM FAYRYLAND.. [iv.

 

 

hedgehog placed itself in the path before her and
obstructed the way. It was_as big as an ordinary
mastiff, with bristles of proportional length, and a
snout of remarkably disagreeable and threatening
appearance.

Altogether, a more unpleasant animal to meet in
a narrow path could hardly be imagined, and there it
stood, as if its object and intention was to prevent
Molly from going on. For a moment she hesitated—
“the creature looked so repulsive, and it was impossible
to pass without touching him. Pass, however, she
must, and it was no use being afraid now, after all
that had happened. Molly felt, indeed, that she was
fairly ‘in for it, and that the time for doubt and
hesitation was over. So she stepped boldly up to
the hedgehog, just as if he had been one of ordinary
size, whom she could kick out of her way.

She was within a yard of him when, to her extreme
astonishment, he utterly disappeared, and instead of
him a gigantic snake coiled itself up in the path a
little farther on. Unable, however, to see why a
snake should not be treated in the same way as a
hedgehog, and feeling more than ever confident in the
power of her Protectors, Molly walked resolutely on ;
and the snake presently vanished like the other, his
place being taken by a toad of wonderful size. He, .
however, failed to frighten the fisherman’s wife any
more than those who had gone before him, and she
pressed forward until the path led her out into an
open space, where other and surprising sights greeted
her wondering eyes.

A table was set in the middle of the place, covered

‘