"Why, Pierre!" she cried.
"Why, Iona," he answered. "Our caps are wonderful things, but I don't see yet how they are going to help us."
"We shall find out," replied Iona. "First of all I think we ought to search the river, don't you?"
"That would take us the rest of our lives," returned Pierre, "for the river begins in the mountains and flows into the sea."
"But the water-nixie will perhaps know," said Iona. "Rose-Petal believed there was hope of our finding the key or she would not have helped us. Her eyes looked kind. She wouldn't play tricks."
"No," returned Pierre, "I'm sure she was a good fairy. Then you will have to make up another verse, Iona."
"You do this one," suggested his sister.
Pierre scratched his head and wrinkled his forehead but rhymes wouldn't come, so Iona tried again.
They both stood close to the river and Pierre said, "I think our caps might help. Rose-Petal said we should understand everything better."
So, pushing the acorn cups down over their heads again they found they fitted perfectly and suddenly the river had become such a great torrent that they stepped back a little and Iona cried in a high, sweet voice,