40 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

of Willow Pond. The net of the rover was
- soon found, and, forming in line, the wee elves
tugged at the lines, while the woods about
echoed with their shrill voices. At last the
net appeared on the surface of the water, and
soon four fine bass were plunging on the
grassy bank of the pond.

“Two back with the nets we'll throw,” said
Pippi the Just, “and two we will put in the
hunter’s nets.”

All the elves assented to this as wise and
just,— all except that mischievous elf, Toto the
Slim, but no one thought of him. Then back
to Lily Pond went the troops of elves carrying
the two fishes, and not one of them noticed
that the wag Toto was left behind.

When the last elf had disappeared among
the forest trees, Toto, laughing softly to him-
self all the while, drew forth the rover’s net
once more, and opening it, out sped the two
fishes, and diving to the depths of the pond,
were quickly lost to view.

Next, this waggish imp gazed about with
his roguish eyes until they espied two flat
stones. These he rolled, with much exertion,
to the edge of the pond, and, putting them