UNDER THE WATER. SKY. 63

In this weird place there was a table spread
with a dirty, greasy cloth, and set with dishes of
stewed snakes, fresh slime and sea-weed pud-
ding.

Elsie asked the little boy, in an awed
whisper,

“What are they doing with that fire ?”

“Boiling the Hop-toad King and all his
toads,’ was the reply. ‘Those are the witches.
We call them the three Fates. They have been
waiting years and years for their dinner, and they
could not catch and cook the evil animals until a
queen of goodness came from the people’s world
to wish the hop-toads’ downfall.”

Elsie burst into tears:

“ But I didn’t want the toads cooked alive!”
she sobbed. “I only wanted you fo win in the
checker game!”

There was clinking, and clanking, as of the
knocking together of heavy, iron chains, and
the witches turned from their work and looked
at Elsie. She had never been so frightened in
her life:

“ They heard you; they think you begrudge
them their toad food,” the little boy said.
“Come, let us hurry away.”

Elsie again found herself running for dear

Life.