e loves tales dearly, but won't stay still and listen unless
they are always new and _very_ charming," said the bat, peeping out with
one eye to see who the stranger might be.

"I know hundreds! for I was born of a fancy, and my head is full of
lovely ones, and I sing such merry songs all the birds used to listen to
me for hours. If I could only reach this Willy Wisp I think I could
amuse him till the people got safely home," said Bud.

"Come and try; I'll carry you," said the bat, shutting his wings and
looking like a black mouse as he crept nearer for Bud to mount.

"No, no; stay with us, and don't go to that dismal marsh full of ugly
things and bad air," cried the honeysuckles, trying to hold her fast
with soft, sticky hands.

But Bud was eager to do all the good she might, and bravely mounted her
new horse, singing as she flew away,--

"On the bat's back I do fly
After summer, merrily."

"She won't do it," said the glow-worm, putting out his lamp as he went
to bed.

"Alas, no! Poor little thing! she will die over there, and never be a
fairy," sighed the flowers, looking like sad white ghosts in the dim
light.

A cloud of fireflies danced over the marsh, where frogs croaked,
mosquitoes hummed, and tall yellow lilies rang their freckled bells. The
air was damp and hot; a white mist rose from the water that glimmered
between the forests of reeds and the islands of bog moss, and sleek
muskrats and bright-eyed snakes glided about, while wild ducks slept
with their heads under their wings in quiet corners.

A strange, shadowy place, and Bud's heart died within her as she thought
of staying here alone. But she did want to see if she could make the bad
Willy behave better and not lead poor people into danger; so she held
fast while the bat skimmed to and fro looking for the naughty fellow.
Soon he came dancing toward them,--a dark little body with a big head
like a round lantern, all shining with the light inside.

"What have you brought me, old Leather-wing?--a pretty bride to cheer up
the marsh, or an elf to dance at my ball to-night?" he said, looking at
Bud with delight as she sat on the dusky bat, with her pink dress and
silvery veil glimmering in the brightness, that now shone over her like
moonlight.

"No; it is a famous story-teller, come to amuse you when you are tired
of whisking about and doing mischief. Be very polite or I will take her
away again," answered the bat, setting Bud down on a s