When I got there, I was suddenly surrounded by about half a dozen of the cobs, the first I had ever seen, although I had heard tell of them often enough.
One of them blocked up the path, and they all began tormenting and teasing me in a way it makes me shudder to think of even now.' 'If I had only been with you!' cried father and son in a breath.
The mother gave a funny little smile, and went on.
'They had some of their horrible creatures with them too, and I must confess I was dreadfully frightened.

They had torn my clothes very much, and I was afraid they were going to tear myself to pieces, when suddenly a great white soft light shone upon me.

I looked up.

A broad ray, like a shining road, came down from a large globe of silvery light, not very high up, indeed not quite so high as the horizon--so it could not have been a new star or another moon or anything of that sort.

The cobs dropped persecuting me, and looked dazed, and I thought they were going to run away, but presently they began again.