“If they only don’t wake up!” she panted.

Just at that exciting moment Peter had to make trouble—­as usual.  He stumbled and fell over a twisted root, hurt his knee, and gave a loud angry squeal.  Rudolf clapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him to his feet, but it was too late—­they were discovered.  A tall form shot up out of the grass just behind them, and instantly a loud war-whoop rang through the woods.

“It’s Thunder-snorer—­it’s the Indian,” Rudolf cried.  “Run for your lives!”

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XV

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

The Bad Dreams were all aroused by Thunder-snorer’s war-whoop, and in an instant the whole pack of them, headed by Manunderthebed, were at the children’s heels.  Rudolf and Ann ran as fast as ever they could, dragging Peter after them, but it was both difficult and dangerous to run fast through that dark wood, especially as they had no idea in what direction they ought to go.  Each moment they expected to be overtaken, each moment they seemed to feel Manunderthebed’s long black arm stretched out to drag them back to their prison—­or to something worse.

Then suddenly from just ahead of them came the sound of a great crashing and rustling among the bushes and the tramp of approaching feet.  Some new danger—­perhaps something worse than what was behind them—­seemed to threaten the children, but they were too breathless, too bewildered even to try to avoid it.  On they ran—­straight into the arms of a tall figure who was hurrying to meet them, a knight dressed in shining armor wearing a plumed helmet on his handsome head.  At the same moment a troop of little tin soldiers broke through the bushes and rushed past the children to attack the Bad Dreams.  All of them were quickly put to flight except their leader, Manunderthebed, who at first sight of the soldiers had hidden himself behind a tree.  As soon as they had passed he crept forth and made a dart at the children.  But they had a protector now!  The tall knight stepped in front of them and raised his glittering sword.  Before he could bring it down, the cowardly King of the Bad Dreams gave a horrible yell and turned to run.  He might have escaped, but as he passed Rudolf the boy put out his foot and tripped him up.  There the rascal lay on his back, kicking wildly, while the Knight stood guard over him.  Seen close by, Manunderthebed was not quite so dreadful as when he crouched in his dark haunt near the hollow tree, but still his shaggy fur, sharp white teeth, and gleaming green eyes were very terrifying to Ann, who gave a little shriek and turned her face away.  “Don’t be afraid,” cried the Knight.  “This is the end of Manunderthebed!” And he stooped and caught hold of the shaggy fellow by the shoulder.  A crack, a rip, and the whole silly disguise came away in one piece, fur suit, teeth, claws, and green glass eyes.  The terrible King of the Bad Dreams was just a big naughty boy in knickerbockers who kicked and cried and begged to be let go!  The children had to laugh, they could not help it, to hear him blubber and whine and promise over and over again that he’d never, no, never frighten little girls and boys any more!  So at last the Knight let him scramble to his feet and rush off through the woods as fast as he could go.