eefully, and
answered: "Worry no more, pretty bluebird, for I have it safely tucked
away inside of me."

"If that be the case, Sir Trout," joyously chirped the happy bird, "swim
at your greatest speed and deliver the ring to her majesty, the
Waterfall Fairy, Queen of the Lake. Tell her that Ned, her little mortal
friend, is in dire peril and that he needs her aid."

"That will I gladly do," answered the speckled trout, and without more
delay he darted off down the moat toward the dam at the farther side,
over which the water ran in a clear stream into the purling brook,
which finally led to the lake, where lived Ned's friend, the Fairy
Queen. Down the silvery cascade he glided and whirled away through the
running water, frightening the minnows and miller's thumbs lying among
the stones in the shallow places, and startling the crawfishes and
little fresh water lobsters hidden under the hollow banks.

Faster and faster he swam, like a courier with important dispatches,
down the clear stream running over its pebbly bed, with the luscious
meadow sweet and the large blue geranium blooming all about its banks,
and the wild rose on its bushes.

Nor did he pause until with a loud splash he dived over the waterfall
safely into the lake and rose to the surface close to the palace of the
Queen of the Lake.

A big black spider was busily at work mending the suspension bridge
which spanned the water at this narrow point, for the heavy drops of
dew had broken the slender strands in several places.

He stopped his work to look at the speckled trout, who at once addressed
him.

"I am the bearer of a most important dispatch for her highness," he
began.

"Well, and I am engaged in the most important duty of repairing her
highness' bridge," replied the spider.

"So, I see," answered the trout, "but----" At this very moment the Queen
herself, hearing voices at so early an hour outside her window, peeped
out. Catching sight of her the trout called out boldly:

"Listen to me, I beg of you, most gracious Queen. I have brought you the
gold ring from Ned, who sorely needs thy aid!"

[Illustration: "HERE IS THE RING," SAID THE TROUT.]

At this the Queen quickly withdrew her head, and in a short time
emerged from the doorway of her castle.

Hastily running to the water's edge, she leaned over, grasping hold of a
stalk to keep her from falling.

"Here is the ring," said the trout, holding it in his teeth and swimming
as close to