"Your father must be quite a traveller himself!" he exclaimed in reply; to which the little girl quickly responded:
"He is."
Then she pushed herself over and without invitation climbed on to the Vagabond's knee, which he carefully brushed with his old hat to receive her.
The merry group gathered closer and closer, and the circle gradually became smaller and smaller until now it was an all around squeeze; when one of the little girls somewhat relieved the crowded condition by pushing herself out from the rest and taking the place at the Vagabond's side that had just been vacated by the little maiden for the preferable seat on his knee. Half a dozen of the boys arose, took up the old oaken bucket and hurried away to the well.
All the children were in great haste for the story to continue, and it did not take long for the boys to return with the water. The sun was shining down red hot, although it was quite comfortable under the tree; and after the water had been passed around the circle and the faithful water carriers were seated in their respective places, the Vagabond went on with his story.
"In much less time than it has taken to refresh ourselves here under the tree, the two children beheld a beautiful barque bearing rapidly down upon them from far across the foam; and, as it approached, they noticed it was drawn by a pair of blue dolphins, guided by two mermaids who far exceeded in beauty any that accompanied the craft of the dolls.
"The Queen summoned Kimbo, and by the time he had lifted them down from the top of the tall rock, and they had dismounted from his hand upon the shore, the boat was ready to receive them.
"The Queen assisted the children on board, and they proceeded to examine the boat. Arthur said he had never beheld a real mermaid before, while little Maud declared that the closest she had ever been to one was in a picture-book. They kept their eyes turning from one mermaid to the other as the Queen said, by way of explanation:
"'You will notice that one of the mermaids has beautiful, long, golden hair that you might liken to sunlight, while that of the other is as black and glossy as the wing of a raven. Now, you see, it is no trouble to tell them apart, although it is a matter of mere taste as to which is the more beautiful. This one,' she continued, 'we call Day, and that one Night.'
"Day and Night gathered up their long golden reins as if ready to start, and the dolphins rolled impatiently in the tide.