Through the vapour Smaly and Redy could hear that the Fish and the Hen were continuing their search for the lost eye. Sometimes they were quite near the two little people, although no one could see any one else.
It was the Hen who finally discovered the lost eye.
"Why, it's still shut," said the younger Fish to the elder.
"Doubtless it must have fallen out before I had really shaken myself awake," replied the elder.
Taking the eye from the hands of the Hen, the Fish held it in its cupped paws to shake it, as one shakes a coin, to see whether it will come down heads or tails. When it had been well shaken the eye was open.
The little Fish took the eye and replaced it in the elder Fish's head; then they both flew out, making a buzzing noise like gigantic bluebottles.
The layers of coloured vapour now began to twirl about and mix like wreaths of steam, and once again various objects in the room became visible. The Hen saw that the big toes of the Historian had begun to move, and knowing that these signs of wakefulness would presently mount as far as his head, she hastened back to her little pots of white and yellow paste.
Indeed, the Historian was already almost awake; he had put down his hand and stopped the little snoring machine.
Smaly and Redy joined hands and ran out of the door.