“Would you like to come down here and see the wonders of the great world under the sea?”
For a long time Tissemao hesitated, then she said:
“Why, Mr. Cuttle-fish, you must remember I’m not like you; I should soon die for the want of breath under the sea.”
“Oh dear, no!” said the artful Cuttle-fish, shaking its head slowly at the idea of such a ridiculous suggestion.
But very soon, hearing that there were so many strange and beautiful things under the sea, Tissemao, with the Cuttle-fish’s kind help, slid down gently into the deep water!
Directly she got beneath the surface, the Cuttle-fish seized her tightly by the arm, and said fiercely:
“Come on! now I’ve got you!”
Poor Tissemao was frightened out of her life as she felt the clutch of the Cuttle-fish as it dragged her down, down. It seemed such a long time ere she touched the bottom of the ocean. Still the Cuttle-fish clutched her, and breathed heavily, like one who had gained a rich prize and dreaded to lose it. Dragging her along the ocean floor, he came to a cavern. For a moment the Cuttle-fish looked round, then took her in. This cavern was lit up by a faint glimmer from the light of the sun that was shining up over the sea. As Tissemao looked round, the Cuttle-fish said:
“I am all that’s beautiful; if you expect to see anything more beautiful than a cuttle-fish, you are very, very much mistaken.”
Saying this, it lifted its ugly face and tried to assume a fascinating smile.