To wake next morning on a bed of soft, dry, sweet-smelling seaweed, and to know that the day was to be spent in having a good time with the jolliest set of children she had ever met, was delightful to Lucy. Philip's delight was dashed by the knowledge that he must, sooner or later, _think_. But the day passed most agreeably. They all bathed in the rock pools, picked up shell-fish for dinner, played rounders in the afternoon, and in the evening danced to the music made by the M.A.'s who most of them carried flutes in their pockets, and who were all very flattered at being asked to play. So the pleasant days went on. Every morning Philip said to himself, 'Now to-day I really _must_ think of something,' and every night he said, 'I really ought to have thought of something.' But he never could think of anything to take away the fear of the gentle islanders. It was on the sixth night that the storm came. The wind blew and the sea roared and the castle shook to its very foundations. And Philip, awakened by the noise and the shaking, sat up in bed and understood what the fear was that spoiled the happiness of the Dwellers by the Sea. 'Suppose the sea did sweep us all away,' he said; 'and they haven't even got a boat.' And then, when he was quite far from expecting it, he did think of something. And he went on thinking about it so hard that he couldn't sleep any more. And in the morning he said to the parrot: 'I've thought of something. And I'm not going to tell the others. But I can't do it all by myself. Do you think you could get Perrin for me?' 'I will try with pleasure,' replied the obliging bird, and flew off without further speech. That afternoon, just as a picnic tea was ending, a great shadow fell on the party, and next moment the Hippogriff alighted with Mr. Perrin and the parrot on its back. 'Oh, _thank_ you,' said Philip, and led Mr. Perrin away and began to talk to him in whispers. 'No, sir,' Mr. Perrin answered suddenly and aloud. 'I'm sorry, but I couldn't think of it.' 'Don't you know _how_?' Philip asked. 'I know everything as is to be known in my trade,' said Mr. Perrin, 'but carpentry's one thing, and manners is another. Not but what I know manners too, which is why I won't be a party to no such a thing.' 'But you don't understand,' said Philip, trying to keep up with Mr. Perrin's long strides. 'What I want to do is for you to build a Noah's ark on the top of the highest tower. Then when the sea's rough and the wind blows, all the Sea-Dwellers can just get into their ark and then they'll be quite safe whatever happens.' 'You said all that afore,' said Mr. Perrin, 'and I wonder at you, so I do.' 'I thought it was _such_ a good idea,' said poor Philip in gloom. 'Oh, the _idea's_ all right,' said Mr. Perrin; 'there ain't nothing to complain of 'bout the _idea_.' 'Then what _is_ wrong?' Philip asked impatiently.