"They dream of the fairy-heaven where they shall grow old again and each shall have a mother and his own wonderful spring of milk. Now that day trees begin to grow in the ground beneath them. The trees grow fast, and all in a night they lift the sleeping fairies far above the ground. The wind rocks them and they lie dreaming in the tree-tops until a crane, as he is crossing over the sky, looks down and sees them and goes and takes them away. You know the cranes have to go through the sky every day and pick up the young fairies." She paused and sat holding the hands of little Sue and looking at them as if their beauty were a great wonder. "Where do they take them?" Master was returning, and the girl rose like one afraid and whispered to the children, "I will tell you if--if you will come again." "I shall ask your father if I may come and see you," said Master as he came near. "Ha! ha! ha!" the bird croaked, fluttering in the air and lighting on the shoulder of his mistress. The children stepped aside quickly, as if in fear of it. She took the crow on her finger and held him at arm's-length. He turned and tried to catch an end of the scarlet ribbon. She was a picture then to remind one of the days of falconry. She ran a few paces up a green aisle in the thicket. She stopped where the young man was unable to see her. "Could--could you bring the children again, sir?" she asked. "On Thursday, at the same hour," he answered. He heard again the warning of the little crow and her footsteps growing fainter in the dark trail of the deer. XII. MASTER paddled slowly to the landing where he had left Strong, and gathered lilies while they waited. He pushed up to the shore as soon as the Emperor had arrived. "Sp'ilt," said the latter, pointing in the direction of Robin Lake. "You mean that we cannot use the camp over there?" "Ay-ah," Strong almost whispered, with a face in which perspiration was mingled with regret and geniality. "S-see 'er?" "Yes," Master answered. "The children were a great help. She fell in love with them. We are to meet her again Thursday." "Uh-huh!" Strong exclaimed, in a tone which seemed to say, "I told you so." "S-sociable?" he inquired, after a little pause. "No, but interested." "Uh-huh, says I!" the Emperor exclaimed again, with playful conceit. When he was in the mood of self-congratulation he had an odd way of bringing out those two words--"says I." "She was afraid of me. I backed away and said very little," Master explained. "Th-they'll t-tame her," the Emperor assured him. "She has a wonderful crow with her," said the young man. "Her g-guide," Strong explained. "Alwus knows the n-nighest way home." "If you'll help me, I'll make my camp here," said Master. "Ay-ah," the Emperor answered.