"Is it really true?" said Freddie.
"On due consideration," said the Churchwarden, "I think Toby's right."
"Hi believe 'e is!" said Mr. Punch. "Blimy if I ever rode on the back of a fish before! Now 'e's got us on 'is back, what's 'e going to do with us?"
"We're moving!" cried Freddie.
"So we are!" said Aunt Amanda.
"Blamed if we ain't," said Toby.
The mattress craft was in fact moving; very slowly, indeed, but still moving; and it was moving in the opposite direction to the fish's tail, which could be seen now and then under the water, waving back and forth like the tail of a swimming fish.
"If this don't beat all," said Toby. "That fish down there has certainly got his fin hooked into our mattress, and he's swimming along with us on top of him. I've seen a snail crawlin' with his shell on top of him, but a fish with a load of mattresses and live-stock is a new thing to me!"
"I'm the captain," said Aunt Amanda, "and my orders is to sit as still as you can and see where he's taking us to."