“Hush!” said Kernel Cob, “I hear the chirping of a Cricket,” for his ears were quicker to hear than either Sweetclover’s or the Cricket’s.  And sure enough you could now hear the chirping....

“Crick-a-crick-a-crick,” and the Cricket pricked up his ears and held up a foot to warn them to keep silence.

“I’m sorry to tell you,” he said as the chirping stopped, “that they are not here.”

“Too bad,” said Sweetclover, and the dew began to come into her eyes.

“Come,” chirped the Cricket.  “We must be quick, for if little Antje wakes up, you’ll not get away so easily again,” and they followed him as he hopped toward the window, upon which he leaped and was soon outside.

Kernel Cob climbed upon a chair, lifted Sweetclover in his arms and was soon outside, following quickly on the heels of the nimble Cricket who led them down to the waterside, where they found an old wooden shoe.

Into this Kernel Cob lifted Sweetclover and, after he had put up a stick to serve as a mast and had fastened a piece of cloth to it for a sail, he shook hands with the Cricket and climbed in.  The cricket gave the shoe a push off with one of his feet and they were afloat on the sea.

“Good-bye and good luck,” chirped the Cricket.

“Good-bye and many thanks,” shouted Kernel Cob and Sweetclover, and soon they were far off for the wind was blowing very strong.

Presently they were out of sight of the shore and the Cricket turned upon his heel and hopped away.

Crickets

        The Cricket is the kind of chap
        For whom I never cared a rap! 
        I always thought he hopped about
        The fields, because he had the gout
        And lost his crutches in the crops,
        And that’s the reason why he hops. 
        But now I’ll have to change my mind
        Because I see he’s very kind,
        For he who is a friend in need
        Is quite the best of friends indeed.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V

And Kernel Cob and Sweetclover sailed and sailed for many days and nights.

“I wonder where we are and if we shall ever be on land again,” sighed poor little Sweetclover.

“Of course we will,” answered Kernel Cob although he, too, was doubtful, but being a soldier he had to keep his courage up and to cheer Sweetclover.  So he pretended that they were perfectly safe.

And on they sailed and you couldn’t see anything but water for miles and miles, no matter where you looked.

“What’s that?” said Sweetclover, and she was so excited that she nearly tipped over the boat.

“I can’t see anything but water and a little too much of that to suit me,” said Kernel Cob.

“Don’t you see something dark against the sky?” she asked.

“No, I don’t,” said Kernel Cob, and he shaded his eyes with his hand the way sailors do when they look for something at sea.