PETER PIPKINS AND FUNGUS THE FERRYMAN. 85

sign-post makes me dreadfully afraid. Oh, see!” she exclaimed, in
sudden delight, “there is another tiny path to the right of the stile—
it goes quite away from it in the opposite direction, and it is very steep
and up-hill. There is a sign-post here, too, but I can scarcely read
the writing. Oh, yes, I can now. See, see, we must go this way !
See, children, all of you, what is written on this sign-post, ‘ Break-
heart Hill—a Road to the Blue Mountains.”

The children laughed when Primrose read the words on the other
sign-post.

“Catch us going up Break-heart Hill!” they exclaimed; “we
know better! Come, Buttercup, if that is your name, let us cross the
stile, and go into the Dangerous Land. There are lights at the other
side of the valley. Those must be the lights of Castle Dangerous,
where we are all to sleep. Come, Buttercup, don’t mind that. silly
sister of yours.” ~

Buttercup was very easily persuaded; he gave his hand to one of
the strange children, and they all ran merrily together into the
Dangerous Land, leaving Primrose standing alone at the other side of
the stile.

“T can’t leave dear little Buttercup,” she exclaimed. “I know I
am doing wrong—I am quite sure we are all doing wrong—but I can’t
possibly leave Buttercup.”

She too crossed the stile, and walked down the path which led
across the meadow through the Dangerous Land.

It was remarkably pleasant to walk in that meadow—the air which
blew on the children’s faces was warm and balmy. The moon seemed
to shine brighter than’ at the other side of the stile, and even in its
shifting and uncertain light the children could see that the path down
which they walked was bordered with many gay and exquisite
flowers.

The night was very silent at the other side of the stile, but at this
side it seemed to be all awake. Bees hummed, crickets chirped—there
were thousands of noises, some pretty, some the reverse. It is true
that Buttercup and the four strange children thought all the sounds
sweet and attractive, but Primrose fancied now and then that she