216 ‘THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

sible, King Cloudcatcher, holding his hood in
his hand, after the manner of a boy who is try-
ing to catch a butterfly, came up behind Wassa
at the very moment when she met the blue
dragon-fly, and, being as we said before, nervous
and hasty, and, moreover, never noted for
the sharpness of his wits, he hastily threw his
hood over Wassa and the blue dragon-fly, and,
tucking it under his arm, strode rapidly off
with his prize, never doubting for a moment
that he had captured the fairy prince and his
nurse.

A few long steps brought King Cloudcatcher
to the ocean, and he skirted along the edges
to cool his feet to prepare them for his long
walk. Then he stepped across to the Isles of
Shoals, as they are now called, and sat for a
moment’s rest on the island of Appledore.

All this time the giant held his hood securely
under his arm, but dared not take a good look
at his prisoners for fear the wilful prince might
take advantage of the opportunity to escape.

When sufficiently cooled off, King Cloud-
catcher resumed his journey, wading across
to New Hampshire in a few good strides, and
then heading straight for the White Mountains.