id hers in
it timidly.

"Let me get near the rope!" she said, rather nervously.

"Here is the rope, close by your hand. Now, then, hold fast! There we
go!"

With one hand on the rope, and the other in Gerald's, Margaret slid into
the water, giving a little cry as it bubbled up about her. "Gerald!"

"Right here, my lady. There; both hands on the rope now. Take it easy!
Now you are all right."

"Ye'--yes, Gerald. Oh, isn't it glorious?"

"Rather! It's really the element to live in, you see. A mistake was
made somewhere. If I had but gills, I should ask no more of fate. As it
is--"

He dove, and came up on the other side of the rope. "Don't you think I
would be charming with gills,--pretty little quivering, rosy
gills,--instead of side whiskers?"

"I never saw you in side whiskers," said Margaret, demurely, "so I
cannot tell. You certainly don't seem to need the gills, though. How
_do_ you manage to keep under so long? Yesterday, when you stayed down
picking up these pebbles, I was sure something had happened. Really,
Gerald, I was very much frightened."

"I ought to have been switched," said Gerald. "I never thought of your
noticing. I say, come down with me, and I'll show you the trick of it.
It's just as easy!"

"Not for worlds!" cried Margaret, clutching the rope, as if she expected
to be dragged from it by force. "I never should come up alive. Oh,
look, Gerald! what are they going to do now?"

"Going to dive over the elephants. Do you mind--oh, here is the child,
Toots. Toots, will you stay here by Margaret, while I take my place in
the ring? You are sure you are all right, Margaret?"

"Oh, yes; do go. I want to see it. Gertrude, what _are_ they doing?"

"Look and see," said Gertrude. "Put your arms on the rope, and lift
yourself higher. That's right."

Phil and Jack and Willy had placed themselves side by side, on their
hands and knees, at the edge of the wharf, and were calling loudly for
Gerald. He stepped back to the farther end of the float, then, running
forward, soared into the air, over the backs of the "elephants," and
came down straight as an arrow into the water; then, scrambling out,
took his place in the row, while Phil performed the same manoeuvre.
Over and over and over they went, running, rising, plunging, rising
again. Margaret grew dizzy watching them. Now Mr. Merryweather advanced,
holding a rubber hoop, which was neither more nor less than the
discarded tire of a bicycle. This he