The Rainbow Book: Tales of Fun & Fancy

was borne, and tossed, and flung, until it was landed high and wet on a soft bed of seaweed. But not for long-for very soon a little girl arose from that bed of seaweed, smoothed back her clingin

also. In order to dry it she tied it to a piece of stick; thus it could serve as a flag, too,

so she lay down upon a patch of nice warm pebbles, of which she took a handful, and began idly throwing them o

isturber and was coming towards her at a quick amble, sideways. She turned and fled towards the Cliff, and a turn of the head showed her that her dreadful pursuer was not far behind. Up the arduous steps she climbed

Flushed and gasping, she arrived at last on top

eature. It was seemingly quite fresh, and was gaini

poor Dulcie turned, and fa

lease go away-

repulsive-till-till she saw that it was wearing something glittering around its body-a band of gold with one last catseye and the others all go

that she was persuaded it was Cyril, and she approached still closer. She stroked it-actually

thought how many she still had, for she was weeping bitterly over her brother in this dreadful guis

nly we had remained Twins all this never could have happened!" And she walked round and round it, wringing her hands in despair. But evid

e thinking what she was doing, she whistled to it, as she whistled to Towzer, and they moved

t proceeded far when Du

then of course I should k

rd with a cry of joy. It was the sudden appearance of the Bird-Fairy, in whose outstretched hand there glistened a jewel-a catseye; but how different was its gleam to the one the poor Crab wore.

it-actuall

t?" interrupted

Zoological Collection. Now replace the stone quickly and give me the sham

and anxiously obe

y?" repeated Du

disappeared too. Cyril stood before her, white and trembling, an

lose together on the variegated carpet of clo

xclaimed Dulcie at

-Fairy; did you h

he said-I s'pose I unders

o you think o

ll I know is that I shouldn't lik

kind of her

d thoughtfull

wonder why

ccording to her custom, after his being out in the rain-he certainly

it after being in

ning in the sun

they cheered up. They were so happy to be together again on that lovely Cliff, with the sea beyon

hat happened to you when we were parted so s

n you went overboard, and therefore didn't know a bit where to search for you. I changed into a crab so as to move about in a small s

id more attentio

best aimed, and caught me a good crack on the back of my shell and nearly startled me out of it; it quite startled me out of the water. At the same moment I caught a glimpse of your handkerchief with the blue border, and of you r

r Cy

you were. I thought you were too frightened to look at

I d

ril had grown quite pink in the face, a

ng during the storm?" she inte

uge self between him and it, and switchbacked myself when he clu

gnise you, d

't look much like the

out tha

ft away; the cries stopped, and the passen

e grateful," sugg

ght it was I who had

it was scarcel

nd. He simply dived d

ey must have seen you, and therefore"-with a wise look

t a

real live Sea-serpent, and wearing a nose-ring, too! And then I s'pose

out at sea just then caught his eye. He jumped up e

ook!" he

higher and higher. He made three low bows in their direction-Dulcie fluttered her handkerchief and curtsied, Cyril bowed his best-the Fish-King made a final gesture of farewell, the Tw