“No,” replied he, ruefully, “that’s true; I couldn’t do it.  But perhaps, sir, you could condense the boat.”

“Oh no!” said the old gentleman, “that would never do.  Such a little boat would be swamped before you reached shore, if a big fish didn’t swallow you.  No, I’ll see that you get away safely.”

So saying, he went to a small cage that stood in a window, and took from it a pigeon.

“This fellow will take you,” said he.  “He is very strong and swift, and will go ever so much faster than your boat.”

[Illustration:  “‘IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN’T BE BETTER,’ SAID THE CONDENSED PIRATE.”]

Next he fastened a belt around the bird, and to the lower part of this he hung a little basket, with two seats in it.  He then lifted Corette and the Condensed Pirate into the basket, where they sat down opposite one another.

“Do you wish to go directly to the cottage of the fairy sisters?” said the old gentleman.

“Oh yes!” said Corette.

So he wrote the proper address on the bill of the pigeon, and, opening the window, carefully let the bird fly.

“I’ll take care of your boat,” he cried to the Condensed Pirate, as the pigeon rose in the air.  “You’ll find it all right, when you come back.”

And he smiled worse than ever.

The pigeon flew up to a great height, and then he took flight in a straight line for the Fairy Cottage, where he arrived before his passengers thought they had half finished their journey.

The bird alighted on the ground, just outside of the boundary fence; and when Corette and her companion had jumped from the basket, he rose and flew away home as fast as he could go.

The Condensed Pirate now opened a little gate in the fence, and he and Corette walked in.  They went up the graveled path, and under the fruit-trees, where the ripe peaches and apples hung, as big as peas, and they knocked at the door of the fairy sisters.

When these two little ladies came to the door, they were amazed to see Corette.

“Why, how did you ever?” they cried.  “And if there isn’t our old friend the Reformed Pirate!”

“Condensed Pirate, if you please,” said that individual.  “There’s no use of my being reformed while I’m so small as this.  I couldn’t hurt anybody if I wanted to.”

“Well, come right in, both of you,” said the sisters, “and tell us all about it.”

So they went in, and sat in the little parlor, and told their story.  The fairies’ were delighted with the whole affair, and insisted on a long visit, to which our two friends were not at all opposed.

They found everything at this cottage exactly as they had been told.  They ate the daintiest little meals off the daintiest little dishes, and they thoroughly enjoyed all the delightful little things in the little place.  Sometimes, Corette and the fairies would take naps in little hammocks under the trees, while the Condensed Pirate helped the little man drive up the little cows, or work in the little garden.