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taken out。 At first we had hoped we would only be kept here for a while；
and that after we had been looked at sufficiently we would be returned to
freedom and the sea。 But as month after month went by； and we were left
undisturbed； our hearts grew heavy within our prison…walls of glass and
we spoke to one another less and less。
〃One day； when the crowd was thickest in the big room； a woman with
a red face fainted from the heat。 I watched through the glass and saw that
the rest of the people got highly excited though to me it did not seem to
be a matter of very great importance。 They threw cold water on her and
carried her out into the open air。
〃This made me think mightily； and presently a great idea burst upon
me。
〃 'Sister；' I said； turning to poor Clippa who was sulking at the bottom
of our prison trying to hide behind a stone from the stupid gaze of the
children who thronged about our tank； 'supposing that we pretended we
were sick： do you think they would take us also from this stuffy house？'
〃 'Brother；' said she wearily； 'that they might do。 But most likely they
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would throw us on a rubbish…heap； where we would die in the hot sun。'
〃 'But；' said I； 'why should they go abroad to seek a rubbish…heap；
when the harbor is so close？ While we were being brought here I saw men
throwing their rubbish into the water。 If they would only throw us also
there； we could quickly reach the sea。'
〃 'The Sea！' murmured poor Clippa with a faraway look in her eyes
（she had fine eyes； had my sister； Clippa）。 'How like a dream it sounds
the Sea！ Oh brother； will we ever swim in it again； think you？ Every night
as I lie awake on the floor of this evil…smelling dungeon I hear its hearty
voice ringing in my ears。 How I have longed for it！ Just to feel it once
again； the nice； big； wholesome homeliness of it all！ To jump； just to jump
from the crest of an Atlantic wave； laughing in the trade wind's spindrift；
down into the blue…green swirling trough！ To chase the shrimps on a
summer evening； when the sky is red and the light's all pink within the
foam！ To lie on the top； in the doldrums' noonday calm； and warm your
tummy in the tropic sun！ To wander hand in hand once more through the
giant seaweed forests of the Indian Ocean； seeking the delicious eggs of
the pop…pop！ To play hide…and…seek among the castles of the coral towns
with their pearl and jasper windows spangling the floor of the Spanish
Main！ To picnic in the anemone…meadows； dim blue and lilac…gray； that lie
in the lowlands beyond the South Sea Garden！ To throw somersaults on
the springy sponge…beds of the Mexican Gulf！ To poke about among the
dead ships and see what wonders and adventures lie inside！And then； on
winter nights when the Northeaster whips the water into froth； to swoop
down and down to get away from the cold； down to where the water's
warm and dark； down and still down； till we spy the twinkle of the fire…
eels far below where our friends and cousins sit chatting round the Council
Grottochatting； Brother； over the news and gossip of THE SEA！ 。 。 。 Oh
'
〃And then she broke down completely； sniffling。
〃 'Stop it！' I said。 'You make me homesick。 Look here： let's pretend
we're sickor better still； let's pretend we're dead； and see what happens。 If
they throw us on a rubbish…heap and we fry in the sun； we'll not be much
worse off than we are here in this smelly prison。 What do you say？ Will
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you risk it？'
〃 'I will；' she said'and gladly。'
〃So next morning two fidgits were found by the keeper floating on the
top of the water in their tank； stiff and dead。 We gave a mighty good
imitation of dead fishalthough I say it myself。 The keeper ran and got the
old gentlemen with spectacles and whiskers。 They threw up their hands in
horror when they saw us。 Lifting us carefully out of the water they laid us
on wet cloths。 That was the hardest part of all。 If you're a fish and get
taken out of the water you have to keep opening and shutting your mouth
to breathe at alland even that you can't keep up for long。 And all this
time we had to stay stiff as sticks and breathe silently through half…closed
lips。
〃Well； the old fellows poked us and felt us and pinched us till I thought
they'd never be done。 Then； when their backs were turned a moment； a
wretched cat got up on the table and nearly ate us。 Luckily the old men
turned round in time and shooed her away。 You may be sure though that
we took a couple of good gulps of air while they weren't looking； and that
was the only thing that saved us from choking。 I wanted to whisper to
Clippa to be brave and stick it out。 But I couldn't even do that； because； as
you know； most kinds of fish…talk cannot be heardnot even a shout
unless you're under water。
〃Then； just as we were about to give it up and let on that we were alive；
one of the old men shook his head sadly； lifted us up and carried us out of
the building。
〃 'Now for it！' I thought to myself。 'We'll soon know our fate： liberty or
the garbage…can。'
〃Outside； to our unspeakable horror； he made straight for a large ash…
barrel which stood against the wall on the other side of a yard。 Most
happily for us； however； while he was crossing this yard a very dirty man
with a wagon and horses drove up and took the ash…barrel away。 I suppose
it was his property。
〃Then the old man looked around for some other place to throw us。 He
seemed about to cast us upon the ground。 But he evidently thought that
this would make the yard untidy and he desisted。 The suspense was
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terrible。 He moved outside the yard…gate and my heart sank once more as I
saw that he now intended to throw us in the gutter of the roadway。 But
（fortune was indeed with us that day）； a large man in； blue clothes and
silver buttons stopped him in the nick of time。 Evidently； from the way the
large man lectured and waved a short thick stick； it was against the rules
of t