THE FAIRY’S STORY CONTINUED

“Sooner than he had supposed, Arthur heard the soft little twitter of his new friend.

“’I have flown really quite a distance, and had the good-fortune to see the elf who has charge of these woods.  He is very much vexed with you, and will not listen to any excuse; though knowing so little about the matter, I hardly knew what to offer.  I pleaded your youth, however, and made bold to promise your good behavior in the future, and while I was speaking one of the lesser elves twitched my wing a little, and whispered,

“’"Promise him something he likes as a ransom, and perhaps he will answer your request.”

“’"But I do not know what he likes,” I replied.  “Can you suggest anything?” I added, in the same whisper.

“’"He is very much in need of some sea-weed.  I heard him say the other day that he wanted some iodine, and that he would have to send a party of us off to the sea-shore to get sea-weed, from which we make iodine.  Now, if your friend can get it, he would be so much pleased that I am sure he would be willing to forgive him, and restore him to his proper condition.”

“’After hearing this, I made the offer in your name, and received a favorable reply.  You are to get two pounds of sea-weed in less than a fortnight.  It is to be laid on the large flat rock which you will see lower down the stream, under the chestnut-tree.  You are to leave it there, and by no means to remain there, but return here, and your reward will await you.’

“Arthur thanked the little bird warmly, but inwardly despaired of accomplishing anything so difficult.

“The little bird hopped restlessly about.  ’You will try to do this, will you not?’ she asked.

“‘Of course I will try,’ said Arthur, rather ashamed, and striving to put a bold face on the matter.  ’I will try, but I do not know exactly what to do first.’

“‘Streams run into rivers, and rivers to the sea,’ twittered the bird.

“’Yes; but I hardly think frogs swim in deep water.  I will have to contrive a boat or a float of some sort.’

“Just then a huge trout sprang up after a fly and missed it.  Quick as a flash the little bird darted up, caught the fly, dropped it into the trout’s open mouth, and twittered something unintelligible to Arthur.  He heard, however, a curious sound of words from the trout.

“‘Jump on my back, jump on my back, and be off, alack!’

“‘Go,’ said the bird, quickly.

“Arthur made a bound, and found himself on Mr. Specklesides’s back in an instant.

“‘Good-bye,’ sang the little bird, loudly, for already the trout had flashed away into a dark pool beneath a cascade, where the falling waters made a deafening noise.  In another instant he made another dart, and quick as lightning they were in broad, shallow water.  Again they were whirled from eddy to eddy, and already the stream had widened into a little river.  The bending trees, the weeds, and grasses, were mirrored in its cool depths, as now with long, steady stroke the trout swam on.