and stood to see him float, since that is the way of all dead fishes. But Silver Fish was not dead, and he did not float. No sooner was he in the water than he became quite lively, and swam about to clean himself. Presently his little silver coat shone as bright as bright could be, and lo! there was the collar of gold round his neck, and the beautiful emerald in it, so bright and sparkling, for it was such a lovely moonlight night that all the frogs could see it quite plainly. Well, when the frogs saw that the dead fish was a live fish, and that he was Silver Fish with the collar of gold, and the emerald in it, they were in such a rage as frogs never were in before, but the angriest frog of all was Bulrush. "Now, you idiot!" he cried, shaking his fist at Jumper, and giving the young Gold Fish a kick, "is that Silver Fish! Come," he added, turning to the other frogs, "let us throw in the net again, and catch him!" "Yes, yes," cried the frogs, "let us catch him, the traitor, who was alive and pretended to be dead!" "More easily said than done!" laughed Silver Fish, diving down. And, indeed, it could not be done at all, for when the frogs thought to throw their net again, they found that the weight of the fishes had made a great big hole in it, and that it was worthless. 'Bulrush, what shall we do with this fish?" said Jumper, pointing to the young Gold Fish. "Let him lie there and die!" croaked Bulrush, in his deepest voice. "Bulrush, what shall we do with ourselves?" asked Jumper, scratching his head. "Go home," snarled Bulrush; and home all the frogs went, leaving the young Gold Fish on the edge of the pond, with his silver collar round his neck. And now the gold and silver fishes had got a lesson, and they begged little Silver Fish to forgive them; he did so willingly; but that gave them back neither bread nor cake, and they might have starved if the Queen had not luckily come home in time to set matters right. When she went to the pond, she found the young Gold Fish lying there in a dying state. Though much exhausted, he could still speak, and had breath enough left to tell the Queen of his treason, and of the misdeeds of Bulrush and the frogs. The Queen turned out her prime minister at once for having been too fond of lying in bed, gave the cook warning for not having obeyed her orders, and had the well stopped up, so that the frogs could never get out again, and make mischief. Bulrush died with spite, but Silver Fish was King all the days of his life. |