“Hu!  What do we want of a boat?” asked Jimmie.  “Can’t we swim?  I don’t believe much in this fairy business, anyhow.”

“Then, if you don’t believe, you never will see the fairy prince,” declared Alice.  “Only those who believe in fairies can see them.  I know, for I’ve read lots of fairy stories.”  You see Alice was very much in earnest about this matter.

So the three children swam on together over the pond, and the waters sparkled in the sun, until you would have thought there were thousands of diamonds floating on top.  The breeze blew just enough to make little ripples, and altogether it was a very fine day.  They went on and on, until pretty soon they were in a part of the pond they had never before visited.  Tall rushes grew on either side, and the long meadow grass came right down to the edge of the water and trailed in it, making little green caves in which to hide.  It was cool and quiet there, and very lovely.  The ducks liked it, but still there was no sign of the fairy prince; and the gold fish had not come to show them the way.

“I don’t believe we’ll ever see any fairy prince,” said Jimmie.

“Oh! but the gold fish promised me,” spoke Lulu.

“Hush!” cried Alice.  “We must keep very quiet.  We may meet the magical boat, or the golden ball, any minute.”

And just then, what should happen, but that they heard a voice singing.  Yes, sir, just as true as I’m telling you, a voice singing, right down under the water.  And this is what it sang, in silvery tones, just like the little bell that tinkles on pussy’s neck: 

    The fairy prince lies deep and dark,
    Waiting for the firefly’s spark;
    If you wish to see him now,
    Follow me, and make a bow.

And, all at once, who should appear but Fan Tail, the gold fish.  She popped right out of the water, and when she saw the three duck children she asked: 

“Did you hear me singing?”

“Was that you?” asked Lulu.

“It was,” replied Fan.  “But why don’t you do as I said?  If you wish to see the fairy prince you must bow.  He always wants people to do that.”

So Lulu and Jimmie bowed once, and Alice bowed three times, and when they asked why she did that she said you must always do things by threes where fairies are concerned.

“Now, follow me,” called the gold fish; so they swam farther and farther up the part of the pond where they had never before been.  It got smaller and smaller, until it was like a little brook, with rushes bending over it, while the water whispered to the green stems.

“The fairy prince lives in there,” suddenly said the gold fish, poking her head up out of the water, so she could speak more plainly, and she pointed with her fin to a hole in the bank.  “He will come out presently.  Bow your prettiest.”  Well, you can just imagine how excited the duck children were.  Alice fairly trembled, and even Jimmie was interested, as they all bowed.