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too stupid to be able to steal my secrets。 This isn't a
pretty cottage； while outside are sunshine； broad
prairies and beautiful wildflowers。 Yet you insist on
sitting on that bench and annoying me with your
unwelcome presence。 What have you in that kettle？〃
〃Three fishes；〃 he answered readily。
〃Where did you get them？〃
〃I caught them in the Lake of the Skeezers。〃
〃What do you intend to do with the fishes？〃
〃I shall carry them to the home of a friend of mine
who has three children。 The children will love to have
the fishes for pets。〃
She came over to the bench and looked into the
kettle； where the three fishes were swimming quietly in
the water。
〃They're pretty；〃 said Reera。 〃Let me transform them
into something else。〃
〃No；〃 objected the Skeezer。
〃I love to transform things； it's so interesting。 And
I've never transformed any fishes in all my life。〃
〃Let them alone；〃 said Ervic。
〃What shapes would you prefer them to have？ I can
make them turtles； or cute little sea…horses； or I
could make them piglets； or rabbits； or guinea…pigs；
or； if you like I can make chickens of them； or eagles；
or bluejays。〃
〃Let them alone！〃 repeated Ervic。
〃You're not a very pleasant visitor；〃 laughed Red
Reera。 〃People accuse me of being cross and crabbed
and unsociable； and they are quite right。 If you had
come here pleading and begging for favors； and half
afraid of my Yookoohoo magic； I'd have abused you until
you ran away； but you're quite different from that。
You're the unsociable and crabbed and disagreeable one；
and so I like you； and bear with your grumpiness。 It's
time for my midday meal； are you hungry？〃
〃No；〃 said Ervic； although he really desired food。
〃Well； I am；〃 Reera declared and clapped her hands
together。 Instantly a table appeared； spread with linen
and bearing dishes of various foods； some smoking hot。
There were two plates laid； one at each end of the
table； and as soon as Reera seated herself all her
creatures gathered around her； as if they were
accustomed to be fed when she ate。 The wolf squatted at
her right hand and the kittens and chipmunks gathered
at her left。
〃Come； Stranger； sit down and eat；〃 she called
cheerfully； 〃and while we're eating let us decide into
what forms we shall change your fishes。〃
〃They're all right as they are；〃 asserted Ervic；
drawing up his bench to the table。 〃The fishes are
beauties one gold； one silver and one bronze。
Nothing that has life is more lovely than a beautiful
fish。〃
〃What！ Am I not more lovely？〃 Reera asked； smiling at
his serious face。
〃I don't object to you for a Yookoohoo； you know；〃
he said； helping himself to the food and eating with
good appetite。
〃And don't you consider a beautiful girl more lovely
than a fish； however pretty the fish may be？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Ervic； after a period of thought；
〃that might be。 If you transformed my three fish into
three girls girls who would be Adepts at Magic； you
know they might please me as well as the fish do。 You
won't do that of course； because you can't； with all
your skill。 And； should you be able to do so； I fear my
troubles would be more than I could bear。 They would
not consent to be my slaves especially if they were
Adepts at Magic and so they would command me to obey
them。 No； Mistress Reeraq let us not transform the
fishes at all。〃
The Skeezer had put his case with remarkable
cleverness。 He realized that if he appeared anxious for
such a transformation the Yookoohoo would not perform
it； yet he had skillfully suggested that they be made
Adepts at Magic。
Chapter Nineteen
Red Reera； the Yookoohoo
After the meal was over and Reera had fed her pets；
including the four monster spiders which had come down
from their webs to secure their share； she made the
table disappear from the floor of the cottage。
〃I wish you'd consent to my transforming your
fishes；〃 she said； as she took up her knitting again。
The Skeezer made no reply。 He thought it unwise to
hurry matters。 All during the afternoon they sat
silent。 Once Reera went to her cupboard and after
thrusting her hand into the same drawer as before；
touched the wolf and transformed it into a bird with
gorgeous colored feathers。 This bird was larger than a
parrot and of a somewhat different form； but Ervic had
never seen one like it before。
〃Sing！〃 said Reera to the bird； which had perched
itself on a big wooden peg as if it had been in the
cottage before and knew just what to do。
And the bird sang jolly； rollicking songs with words
to them just as a person who had been carefully
trained might do。 The songs were entertaining and Ervic
enjoyed listening to them。 In an hour or so the bird
stopped singing； tucked its head under its wing and
went to sleep。 Reera continued knitting but seemed
thoughtful。
Now Ervic had marked this cupboard drawer well and
had concluded that Reera took something from it which
enabled her to perform her transformations。 He thought
that if he managed to remain in the cottage； and Reera
fell asleep； he could slyly open the cupboard； take a
portion of whatever was in the drawer； and by dropping
it into the copper kettle transform the three fishes
into their natural shapes。 Indeed； he had firmly
resolved to carry out this plan when the Yookoohoo put
down her knitting and walked toward the door。
〃I'm going out for a few minutes；〃 said she； 〃do you
wish to go with me； or will you remain here？〃
Ervic did not answer but sat quietly on his bench。 So
Reera went out and closed the cottage door。
As soon as she was gone； Ervic rose and tiptoed to
the cupboard。
〃Take care！ Take care！〃 cried several voices； coming
from the kittens and chipmunks。 〃If you touch anything
we'll tell the Yookoohoo！〃
Ervic hesitated a moment but； remembering that he
need not consider Reera's anger if he succeeded in
transforming the fishes； he was about to open the
cupboard when he was arrested by the voices of the
fishes； which stuck their heads above the water in the
kettle and called out：
〃Come here； Ervic！〃
So he went back to the kettle and bent over it
〃Let the cupboard alone；〃 said the goldfish to him
earnestly。 〃You could not succeed by getting that magic
powder； for only the Yookoohoo knows how to use it。 The
best way is to allow her to transform us into three
girls； for then we will have our natural shapes and be
able to perform all the Arts of Magic we have learned
and well understand。 You are acting wisely and in the
most effective manner。 We did not know you were so
intelligent； or that Reera could be so easily deceived
by you。 Continue as you have begun and try to persuade
her to transform us。 But insist that we be given the
forms of girls。〃
The goldfish ducked its head down just as Reera r