Lom veads Archie's Story. 221

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thought they would do for the fairies. He
did not tell them what he thought, but they
guessed from his face that he was more
satished than he cared to appear. He led
them at once to the river to choose the place
where to set the fleet ready. They fixed
upon a dear little bay, with a shore of tiny
pebbles, and a steep cliff about three inches
high, with a thick forest of grass growing on
the top. There was also a dear little wind-
ing path leading down to it for the fairies to
walk along.

“We mustn't stand too near,” said Ralph,
“or we shall disturb them. They can't bear
to feel themselves watched; and we mustn't
make the slightest noise.”

The children had asked leave to stay up on
purpose to see the fairies, and they were
allowed to do so, on condition that Ralph
went with them, and that they were all
home before the clock struck one. They
were to start that same evening, and could
scarcely eat any tea for thinking about it.
Ralph met them outside the gate. He walked