Part 17 (1/2)

Andas though he had never done anything else in his life The wonderful thing was that he did not have to think about what he was doing: theit all for hi around in ti very embarrassed about it, too

”There,” said the Faun when they had finished, ”you _can_ dance, and very well Even old Phoenix can dance” Suddenly he juo--co where they were going and not caring The Phoenix ca to keep up They raced across the glade, through a stand of trees, and out into the meadow beyond There they came to a bank of daisies, and threw thean to pelt each other with blossoht up in the spirit of it, collected a huge bunch while they restling, flew suddenly over thee of flowers Near by was the stream They splashed in the shallows, skipped pebbles over the surface, and dug a harbor with two dikes in the sandy part of the shore The Faun showed David how to build little boats of reeds, and the Phoenix s

They had a tree-cli contest, which David won because his feet were better than hooves for standing on branches But the Faun won the jus They came out even in the handstand, somersault, and skin-the-cat contest

And the Phoenix hen they played skip-rope with a piece of vine, because it could hover in the air with its wings while the vine swished over and under

They had fun with the sheep and goats, too The Faun made the animals dance and caper to a tune from his pipes, and showed David how to ride on the rams You crept up very quietly frorip around their necks--and away in a rush!+ It was alot jolted off sooner or later Then watch out!--it took sory raoats alone, because of their sharper horns and the wicked look in their eyes

”I knohere some pictures are,” said the Faun ”Coed with shattered coluround there was covered with ot a stick to clear away the debris, and uncovered a beautiful mosaic pavement It was ed toout wine, minstrels with lyres, Gods with curly hair, and a beast which was halfto flute and dru with boars and lions, warriors clashi+ng with sword and shi+eld and spear There were series of pictures telling stories of wonders and adventures in far-distant lands, voyages, wars, conquests The Faun proudly pointed out a picture of other Fauns dancing with Nyhtfully at so in a nest of flames But the last pictures of this story had been broken up by roots, so they could not see how it ended

When they came to the end of the valley, where the rainbow arched over the pool, David told theold which is supposed to be at the foot of rainbows They looked for it, but without success, because the rainbow disappeared whenever they got too close to it So David and the Faun contented the each other andbubbly noises, while the Phoenix, who could not swim, stood on the shore and beamed at them They picked ferns froarlands, which they threw at the Phoenix's head like quoits The Faun showed them a certain place to shout from if you wanted to hear an echo The Phoenix shouted, ”A stitch in time saves nine!” and the echo dolorously answered, ”A switch is fine for cri in the pool, they stretched out in the sun to dry A grapevine grew near the their faces and hands with purple And David closed his eyes and thought, ”Now I' the sa in the dream, and I wish--oh, I wish none of us will ever wake up!”

But he had just opened his eyes again when the Faun leaped to his feet and cried ”Listen!” and flicked his pointed ears forward like a cat

David stood up and said in a puzzled voice, ”I don't hear anything”

He noticed that the Phoenix had also got up, and was listening uncomfortably to whatever it was

”Listen! Oh, listen!” cried the Faun There was a joyous light in his eyes as he leaned forith his lips slightly parted, straining toward the , I'!” and dashed off into the wood

”Good heavens,” otten about--this

Let us go ho had seized David's legs He still could hear nothing, but so quivering in the air about the up and down his whole body

”Oh, Phoenix, what is it, what is it?” he whispered

”I think we had best be going, ”

”Phoenix--” But he heard it now It ca--pipes such as the Faun had played, but greater, as an organ is greater than a flute The wild, sweet sound rose and fell, swelled like a full choir, dih and through, caressing and tugging, calling, ”Comecomerunrun”

”Phoenix!” David cried ”Oh, Phoenix, listen, listen!”

”Runrun ” the pipes whispered

”Let us go holy