204. WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [iv.

 

the mainland and its destination, when a little wind
began to rise and a ripple to come upon the surface
of the sea. Gradually, too, the sun seemed to become
dim, and a kind of twilight shade stole over the
heavens, much as if it had been an hour after sunset
instead of two o'clock in the middle of the day. Still
Molly rowed. bravely on, when, without any previous
warning, a voice close behind her boat called out in
accents of despair, ‘ Stop! stop! pray pick me up! I’m
drowning !’

Now Molly was a woman of’ tender heart, and
under ordinary circumstances would not have hesi-
tated to do as she was requested, and make every
effort to save the person who thus accosted her. For-
tunately, however, the written directions of the Rabbit
were still vividly impressed upon her recollection.
Moreover, she knew very well that she had passed
nobody hitherto in her passage, and if anybody had
been swimming so close to her boat as the voice
seemed to be, it was impossible but that she must
have seen that ‘anybody.’ So she continued to row,
perhaps a trifle more slowly for an instant, and then
at the same pace as before, gently but steadily, en-
tirely disregarding the voice and its request.

In another moment or two another voice, appa-
rently just in front of her boat, shouted, ‘ Look ahead !
you can’t pass here!’

Molly glanced round, still gently rowing on, and
seeing nobody in the way, still rowed on at the same
pace. But the water now grew rougher, and the
waves dashed against the little boat as if they would
swamp it. Somehow or other, though, they did not