“‘Wait a moment, my friend,’ called the owl, in her most beseeching manner.  ’I have a favor to ask.  I wish to appeal to your intelligent geographical, topographical, and comprehensive intellect for guidance.  You know the coast; lead us to it before the dawn of day.’

“‘A most unwarrantable request, upon my word,’ was the answer, in a gruff voice.  ’Why should you thus disturb my slumber, and demand of me this journey in the night?’”

CHAPTER XIII

THE FAIRY’S STORY CONCLUDED

“The owl replied softly, telling her errand, praising the bravery of the frog, and evidently pleasing the kingfisher with the news of the death of his enemy the night-hawk.

“‘I will go,’ he answered.  ’I do not pretend to be chivalric; I should prefer to sleep; nevertheless, I will go.  Rise, follow-me.  I expected to breakfast at home; now we will get some seafood.’

“‘He is always thus,’ whispered the owl, as Arthur and she rose high in the air.  ’He is a wonderful naturalist, a student of ichthyology, has a vast and profound fund of knowledge, but a great gourmand, always considering what he will eat; but he is reliable; we may trust him.’

“They sailed now high, now low, over ravines and gulfs, until the continuous murmur which had accompanied them deepened into the steady, solemn roar of the ocean.  Great crags, broad sands, and huge waves tossing their white crests now met their eyes.

“The soft faint gray of early dawn lit the heavens.  The kingfisher perched himself on the top of a rock, and watched the seething waves with a steady and keen outlook.  The owl fluttered down to the long line of breakers, and bade Arthur notice the immense quantity of sea-weed fringing the rocks in all directions.

“‘Now how to carry it back is the question,’ said Arthur, rather dolorously.

“‘My friend, have no fear,’ said the owl.  ’Go to work bravely, and gather all you can, then we will arrange to transport it.  Hasten, however, as much as you can.’

“Arthur hopped about zealously.  He was half deafened with the thunder of the waves, half blinded with the dashing spray, half drowned with the salt-water pouring from every cliff and cranny of the rocks.  Still he tore and clutched at the sea-weed, dragging it in masses larger than his own frog body to where the owl waited for him on the beach, in a sort of grotto hollowed out by the waves.  There they piled it until they both were assured they had the proper quantity.  Then the owl flew to a promontory and hailed the kingfisher.  Arthur, quite worn out, fell asleep.  When he awoke, he found him self most strangely placed.