70 A Day with the Sea Urchins.

 

seen, and closer and closer their bills drew together as
they listened. Some said they did not believe it at all.
Some were for going down to see it for themselves (but
that was all talk, for they knew very well they could not
dive so far down). Others screamed excited questions,
till at last the old Puffin herself was aroused by the
clamour. She woke up and tried to listen, but her sleepy
brains could only take in a word or two here and there.

. “I hope she cut his head off,” she exclaimed at last,
in a very angry voice.

The whole club jumped with surprise, and the
members, looking at each other, tapped their foreheads
significantly with their toes.

“What do you mean, Madam?” asked Eider,
politely. .

“The Queen—the rude boy—I hope she cut his
head off,” repeated old Mrs. Puffin, still more viciously.

“T think not, Madam,” replied young Eider, “for
I saw him down below. there with his head still on his
shoulders, and a very handsome one it is too.”

“And he isn’t a bad fellow by any means,” chimed
in another. “He came and begged your pardon for
teasing you, mother. No one can do more than that,
. but you were too sleepy to hear him.”

“T hope she cut his head off,” muttered the old thing
again, but very drowsily this time.

“And if she had,” struck in a third member, “ you