"Now look here," said the Sand Witch. "I won't let anybody talk _that_ way to me. If you don't believe I live underneath the sand come on down and see for yourself. Just hold your nose tight with the fingers of your _right_ hand, put your _left_ hand above your head, draw _in_ a deep breath; and down you go, like this." Thrusting a hand above her head, and grasping her nose, she took a deep breath, and zip--she sank through the sand like a flash, just the way Junior's father always sank into the ocean when he was bathing. Then bing--the next moment she popped up again, smiling cheerfully. "See how easy it is? Come on, now you try it!" "No, thank you," said Junior. "I'd rather stay on _top_ of the sand." "Oh, pshaw!" exclaimed the Sand Witch, "I never saw such a 'fraid cat! You're not only afraid to take a sea bath, but you don't even dare to take a sand bath. I'd be ashamed!" "Well, be ashamed, if you want!" said Junior, hotly. "I don't care! I don't like baths of any kind; in the ocean, or in the sand; or even in the bathtub. What's the use of them, anyway?" And with that he started digging again. And then it was that the Sand Witch showed what a thoroughly sociable nature she had, for although the boy had turned his back to her and was paying no attention, she wasn't in the least discouraged. "Did you ever see a crab wait on the table?" she asked. "Why, no," said Junior, whirling about and looking very much interested. "I thought all a crab could do was to pinch you." "Not at all! They wait on the table fine if you let 'em. And I've got a shooting starfish, too, that can't be beat. You come on down underneath the sand, and I'll show you. Oh, I've got dozens of delightful things down there. Why, the sand pies I make are the most delicious things you ever tasted. And I know you'll laugh when you see the clams skip rope." Well, you may be sure all this sounded very, _very_ good to Junior. He had often heard of starfish, but never of shooting starfish. A crab waiting on the table was bound to be interesting; and a clam skipping rope, even more so. As for sand pies, he had often made them himself, but never so they could be eaten. If there was a way to do the trick, he'd like to know it. In fact, it was like being promised a free ticket to the circus. So throwing his bucket and shovel aside he got to his feet without further parley. "Very well," he said, "I'll go with you. But I've got to be back in a half hour. My father is going to take me sailing as soon as he is through with his bath." "That's all right," said the Sand Witch. "When you're ready to go back, you just go back. And now do just as I do." So Junior held his nose tight, put his other hand above his head, took a deep breath, and then bing--he and the Sand Witch sank through the sand in a jiffy, and the next moment came out underneath it. [Illustration: So Junior held his nose tight] "Oh!" cried the boy.