So they started back, but, would you believe it, they couldn’t find their way!  No, sir, there they were lost in that big cave! the more they tried to get out, the more lost they became.

Outside, Uncle Wiggily was in great distress.  When his foot ceased hurting he looked for the children, but he couldn’t see them.  Then he knew they must have gone into the cave, and he was much frightened.

“Here it is, night coming on,” he remarked, “and soon it will be very dark in there.  Then I never can find Buddy and Brighteyes, and they’ll be lost in there all night—­and—­oh dear—­why did they go in without me?”

But in they had gone, and now Uncle Wiggily had to get them out.  But he was a wise old rabbit, and, to make sure he would not get lost himself, he took a string, and tied it to his crutch, and left the crutch outside the cave.  Then he took the ball of string and started in the cave, unrolling the cord as he went along, and keeping tight hold of it, so he could find his way back in the dark.

Then he tramped on, though it was hard work without his crutch, looking for Brighteyes and Buddy.  I don’t believe he ever would have found them, but for a kind old lightning bug, who flew on ahead, to light the way for him.

Then, after a while, by the gleam of the firefly, Uncle Wiggily did come upon Buddy and Brighteyes fast asleep in a corner.  They had tried, and tried to find their way out, until they were so tired that they fell asleep.

Uncle Wiggily awakened them, and then, keeping tight hold of the string that was fast to his crutch, he led them out of the cave.  And, oh, how thankful they were!  They promised never to go in the mountain cave alone again, and they never did.

Well, Buddy and Brighteyes stayed in the mountains for quite awhile, and had lots of fun, which I may tell you about later, but now I think I will start some new stories—­some that you have never heard, and, what do you think? they’re going to be about some kittie cats.

I know most of you children must love cats, for I do, and it isn’t so very long ago that I was a little chap myself.

So, if you please, the next book of Bedtime Stories will be called “Joie, Tommie and Kittie Kat.”  Their names are spelled with a “K” you may notice, but they are not at all proud, or stuck-up, on that account.  I hope you will like them as well as you have Buddy and Brighteyes Pigg.

So now, for a little while we will say good-by, and it will not be long before you can read about the funny things the Kat children did, and about the walnut shells, and all that.

THE END