Corrulated Giant?" asked Twinkle, with breathless interest.

"The Corrugated Giant is a monster that is full of deep wrinkles,
because he has no bones inside him to hold his flesh up properly," said
the turtle. "I hated this giant, who is both wicked and cruel, I assure
you; and this giant hated me in return. So, when one day I tried to
destroy him, the monster transformed me into the helpless little being
you see before you."

"But who were you before you were transformed?" asked the girl.

"A fairy prince named Melga, the seventh son of the fairy Queen
Flutterlight, who rules all the fairies in the north part of this land."

"And how long have you been a turtle?"

"Fourteen years," replied the creature, with a deep sigh. "At least, I
think it is fourteen years; but of course when one is swimming around in
brooks and grubbing in the mud for food, one is apt to lose all track of
time."

"I should think so, indeed," said Twinkle. "But, according to that,
you're older than I am."

"Much older," declared the turtle. "I had lived about four hundred years
before the Corrugated Giant turned me into a turtle."

"Was your head gray?" she asked; "and did you have white whiskers?"

"No, indeed!" said the turtle. "Fairies are always young and beautiful
in appearance, no matter how many years they have lived. And, as they
never die, they're bound to get pretty old sometimes, as a matter of
course."

"Of course!" agreed Twinkle. "Mama has told me about the fairies. But
must you always be a mud-turtle?"

"That will depend on whether you are willing to help me or not," was the
answer.

"Why, it sounds just like a fairy tale in a book!" cried the little
girl.

"Yes," replied the turtle, "these things have been happening ever since
there were fairies, and you might expect some of our adventures would
get into books. But are you willing to help me? That is the important
thing just now."

"I'll do anything I can," said Twinkle.

"Then," said the turtle, "I may expect to get back to my own form again
in a reasonably short time. But you must be brave, and not shrink from
such a little thing as danger."

That made Twinkle look solemn.

"Of course I don't want to get hurt," she said. "My mama and papa would
go di_struc_ted if anything happened to me."

"Something will happen, _sure,_" declared the turtle; "but nothing that
happens will hurt you in the least if you do exactly as I tell you."

"I won't have to fight tha