Page:On a pincushion.djvu/224

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Through the Fire.
211

saved her, all the naughty thoughts left his mind.

“Surely,” he said to himself, “if this poor silly little wind-fairy can be so glad when he has done a good deed, I ought to be glad to help other people and not to think of myself;” and he made up his mind that whatever happened he would not desert the Princess, but would do exactly what she had told him.

On they went. Presently it began to grow very cold. In the sea beneath were great lumps of floating ice, and all sorts of strange sea monsters were springing about.

“We had better stop here, and I will get out the Princess’s fire-ball,” said the fairy, and he placed Jack on a great lump of floating ice. On it there sat a family of seals, and much frightened they looked when he was dropped amongst them.

“Don’t you know,” said the old seal, turning sharply to him, “that it is exceedingly rude to come into a person’s block of ice without asking leave?”

“I am very sorry, I am sure,” murmured Jack.

“Let him alone,” said another younger seal;