42 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

CHAP BR Inve
FAIRY WELL AND PLOT OF GNOMES.

The next morning the little brown beetle
crawled from under a large leaf that grew on
a tree near by Lily Pond, where the hunter’s
nets were cast, and that had served him for a
roof during the night, and looked about him.
He had seen the revels of the elves or fairies,
and his little mind was still in a state of bewil-
derment, for the brown beetle’s mind moved
slowly, and the rapid manner in which the
little elves worked quite dazed his dull, honest
brain.

“It serves them right for being so envious!”
exclaimed a voice, suddenly disturbing the
brown beetle’s revery.

The beetle was not nervous, but he had
thought himself alone, and he gave a little
start of surprise as he turned in the direction
of the voice.

The blue dragon-fly was poised on a tall and