The Washington times., 1904-01-03

"A rounded by a swarm of little
L n fishes. that circled about as a
flock Of pigeons might. They
were red. with red and yellow eyes and
n band of blue across their heads like
muller. The Mermaid averred that they
were squirrel fishes. And here comes
q balloon"
..Where?" asked Doris. looking straight
NJ las il a real balloon could come
down here!"
why. there it is by your shoulder"
laughed the Mermaid. Doris jumped
aside and stared. Right over her head
it was. curious little round fish, Just
like a live football" she declared. The
sweIlfsh-that what it wGs-was COW
cred with pricxles and spines and was
perfectly globe shaped. 1t swan solemn
~ by, until Doris gave it a playful poke
with one finger. Gracious me-" she
shrieked for the innocent little fish had
squirted out from every spire in its sides
a brown fluid that simply hid every
thing. like a puff Of smoke.
We'll. what do you expect. poking the
poor thing that way7' said the Mermaid.
Il shan't touch It again, certainly"
shouted Doris, ITS an ink-fish." After
this they wandered on, over beds OF
lilies. sponges. and graceful grasses
Suddenly the Mermaid shrieked. "A
shockfishi" and tainted away. She lay
quite still among the tall sea lilies.
"Oh. you're killed" cried Doris. al
though she couldn't see anything dan
Serous anywhere. Something had GER
tainly hurt that poor Mermaid. Doris
pulled her into a big clump of the pale
weeds, when she revived at once.
'Mercy-what happened? ?" asked Doris.
1t was that hateful, spiteful shock
nsh- Look our for it-in those weeds
over there-I walked on it..
Doris peeped cautiously and saw at
last a small notified fat fish, looking
ike piece Of cooked liver, lying fiat
tened IN the mud 1t was moving its
long tail angrily and its small eyes
were fixed on her.
There. it's looking; let's hide" whis
pered Doris, scared by this accident. 1T
sees me and m 'fraid II will come"
Wen, let's go, said the Mermaid
feeling better
Where are we now?" asked Doris. a
trifie vague as TO locality In the
ocean, retorted the Mermaid, laughing
Come on
The two travellers now followed tn
sea lily beds to place where a steeple
Of rock rose through the water. Around
the rock number Of sharks were play
ing They all made a rush at Doris,
but the Mermaid seized a piece Of rock
and thumped them on their projecting
noses, so they went away.
This IS too much declared Doris.
Ing eaten so many times; let's go up x
Ali right" said the good-natured
Mermaid, we can get a sun bath up
there" and before Doris knew what
she was going TO do she took her hand
and sailed away straight upward
down so deep that it took a long time
10 reach the surface; but presently
pop-their heads were out Of water
The sunshine was delightful: and when
they had been there firnn he
together.
What" asked Doris. another ink
But the Mermaid had plunged into
the water again, and presently climbed
out on what appeared to be a rock
Doris followed and saw that IL was a
giant turtle, bigger than she had ever
seen before. He was floating. with his
ms spread out, on the top Of some
dead seaweeds They climbed up on his
back, which was a large as a parlOr
table. The sleepy old fellow turned his
head sideways a moment and then COM
menced swimming away. isn't this per-
20 niles Yes" retorted the Mermaid
II he does not turn over and dump Us
The -hawksbiH turtle proceeded quite
rapidly. and the sun was warm they
were very comfortable on his back. They
passed jeilyfish as large as dining Ia
bles: and sharks were nowhere to be
seen. their places being taken here by
large but harmless sunfish and mOonfish
that looked exactly like a pancake set
on edge with I'm on top and one under
meath. They passed whole fleets OF those
beautiful birds. the seagulls, floating on
the waves: and among them now and
then were a few great aibatross, with
wings, Doris said, ike the angels had
IN her books at home. And by looking
over the edge Of their floating support
they could see hocks Of little creatures
Ike butterflies. or like cups and saucers