ached the Round Pond when I heard a startled
"squ-a-a-k!" at my feet, and a lame duck struggled up from the grass and
limped painfully off.

"Poor thing!" cried Lionel, who was a kind-hearted little chap. "You
nearly trod on it. I wonder how it got to be lame."

"Some boys," said an indistinct voice close at hand, "some boys threw a
stone at it this afternoon and injured its leg."

We looked round in great surprise, for there seemed to be nobody about
to account for the voice; but presently I could just discern Shin
Shira's face and yellow turban appearing.

"Can't shake hands yet," said he, nodding amiably, "for they haven't
arrived at present, but I've no doubt they'll be here shortly."

"I wonder how he'd get on if he wanted to scratch his nose," whispered
Lionel, who had a keen sense of the ridiculous.

"It's rude to whisper in company," said Shin Shira severely, evidently
aware that some remark had been made about himself--"but there, you're
only a boy, and boys are--Hullo! here come my legs! that's all right! I
thought I shouldn't have to wait long for them. Where are you off to?"
and the little Yellow Dwarf hurried up to us now that he was quite
complete.

"Oh, we're just walking home," I replied, "only Lionel had a fancy to
pass the Round Pond on our way; the little model yachts one often sees
there are very amusing to watch."

"Yes," agreed Shin Shira. "There's one been left behind to-day," he
continued. "The boys who threw the stone at the duck were seen by the
park keeper, and when he came after them they ran away, leaving their
boat behind them. Serve them right if they lose it."

"Oh, yes! There it is now!" cried Lionel, running towards the edge of
the Round Pond. "What a jolly little yacht. Why, it's a perfect model,"
and he regarded it with the greatest admiration. He took it from the
water and inspected it carefully.

"I say!" he cried excitedly, "wouldn't it be ripping if we could become
small enough to go for a sail in it!"

"It's a very simple matter to arrange, if you wish it," remarked Shin
Shira composedly.

"D-do you really m-mean that it would be possible for you to make us as
tiny as that?" stammered Lionel in his eagerness, his eyes bright with
excitement.

"I couldn't do it, but the fairies might," said the Dwarf, taking up the
little yellow book which I had restored to him after our last adventure.

"But should we be able to return to our proper size again?" I inquired
caref