t Carbolated Giant, will I?" Twinkle asked
doubtfully.

"He isn't carbolated; he's corrugated. No, you won't have to fight at
all. When the proper time comes I'll do the fighting myself. But you may
have to come with me to the Black Mountains, in order to set me free."

"Is it far?" she asked.

"Yes; but it won't take us long to go there," answered the turtle. "Now,
I'll tell you what to do and, if you follow my advice no one will ever
know you've been mixed up with fairies and strange adventures."

"And Collerated Giants," she added.

"Corrugated," he corrected. "It is too late, this Saturday, to start
upon our journey, so we must wait another week. But next Saturday
morning do you come to me bright and early, as soon as you've had
breakfast, and then I'll tell you what to do."

"All right," said Twinkle; "I won't forget."

"In the mean time, do give me a little clean water now and then. I'm a
mud-turtle, sure enough; but I'm also a fairy prince, and I must say I
prefer clean water."

"I'll attend to it," promised the girl.

"Now put me down and run away," continued the turtle. "It will take me
all the week to think over my plans, and decide exactly what we are to
do."

Chapter IV
Prince Turtle Remembers His Magic

TWINKLE was as nervous as she could be during all the week that followed
this strange conversation with Prince Turtle. Every day, as soon as
school was out, she would run to the tub to see if the turtle was still
safe--for she worried lest it should run away or disappear in some
strange manner. And during school hours it was such hard work to keep
her mind on her lessons that teacher scolded her more than once.

The fairy imprisoned in the turtle's form had nothing to say to her
during this week, because he would not be allowed to talk again until
Saturday; so the most that Twinkle could do to show her interest in the
Prince was to give him the choicest food she could get and supply him
with plenty of fresh, clean water.

At last the day of her adventure arrived, and as soon as she could get
away from the breakfast table Twinkle ran out to the tub. There was her
fairy turtle, safe as could be, and as she leaned over the tub he put
out his head and called "Good morning!" in his small, shrill voice.

"Good morning," she replied.

"Are you still willing and ready to assist me?" asked the turtle.

"To be sure," said Twinkle.

"Then take me in your hand," said he.

So she picked him ou