running away with my boat!"

'The current soon carried me out of hearing of her cries, and I dreamed
to the song of the ripples and the whisper of the trees, until the boat
suddenly stopped, and I found it was stuck fast beside a fresh green
meadow, and that the sun was rising. In the distance I saw some little
houses which seemed to be built in a most singular fashion, but as I was
by this time very hungry I set out towards them, but before I had walked
many steps, I saw that the air was full of shining objects which seemed
to be fixed, and yet I could not see what they hung from.

'I went nearer, and saw a silken cord hanging down to the ground, and
pulled it just because it was so close to my hand. Instantly the whole
meadow resounded to the melodious chiming of a peal of silver bells, and
they sounded so pretty that I sat down to listen, and to watch them as
they swung shining in the sunbeams. Before they ceased to sound, came a
great flight of birds, and each one perching upon a bell added its
charming song to the concert. As they ended, I looked up and saw a tall
and stately dame advancing towards me, surrounded and followed by a
vast flock of every kind of bird.

[Illustration]

'"Who are you, little girl," said she, "who dares to come where I allow
no mortal to live, lest my birds should be disturbed? Still, if you are
clever at anything," she added, "I might be able to put up with your
presence."

'"Madam," I answered, rising, "you may be very sure that I shall not do
anything to alarm your birds. I only beg you, for pity's sake, to give
me something to eat."

'"I will do that," she replied, "before I send you where you deserve to
go."

'And thereupon she despatched six jays, who were her pages, to fetch me
all sorts of biscuits, while some of the other birds brought ripe
fruits. In fact, I had a delicious breakfast, though I do not like to be
waited upon so quickly. It is so disagreeable to be hurried. I began to
think I should like very well to stay in this pleasant country, and I
said so to the stately lady, but she answered with the greatest disdain:

'"Do you think I would keep you here? _You!_ Why what do you suppose
would be the good of you in this country, where everybody is wide-awake
and busy? No, no, I have shown you all the hospitality you will get from
me."

'With these words she turned and gave a vigorous pull to the silken rope
which I mentioned before, but instead of a melodious chi