142 The Catskill Fatrves.

Giant Drubb became angry with me because. I neglected to
invite him to a Christmas dinner, and he made an earthquake
to sink us beneath the sea, while I was chained to the rock.
Nothing but a blow from his iron dagger will release me.’

“«T may be able to help you, said Snowdrop.

“<Tf you do, I will take you to a wise woman who lives on
the mountain-side, and she must know all about the dove chain.
The Giant Drubb lives on the borders of the Arabian Desert.
Pause by the well under the palm-tree.’

“Tt was not easy to escape from the mermaid who had caught
Snowdrop. She wished to present her to Neptune, she said,
and she could not afford to lose her. Then Snowdrop clasped
her arms about the neck of the lovely mermaid and kissed her,
entreating that she might be released.

“«T must find the dove chain for my mother, who is watch-
ing for me all this long time,’ she pleaded; and the mermaid
made not another word of objection, but carried her up to the
shore. The mermaid was only frolicsome.

“ How astonished the dove mother would have been to see
her child carried in a mermaid’s arms, with her star-robe crisp
and dry!

“ For the first time Snowdrop remembered to use her ring
by wishing herself at the palm-tree, and she found herself there
sooner than any steamboat could have taken her. She saw
nobody, and looked down into the well. A rose-colored bubble
came up to the surface from the cool depths.

“«Don’t pause to eat in the grove, said a voice, and the
bubble sank.

“ Next a blue bubble appeared.