When Pinkie Whiskers struck the water, he closed his mouth and his eyes
tight. He did not open his eyes until he felt Father Frog swimming
rapidly down the creek and he wondered where they were going.
He kicked and kicked, but the green reed held him so fast that he could
not free himself.
Father Frog swam on and on until they came to the mouth of the creek and
the creek flowed into a great, rushing river. Father Frog let loose of
the reed and as Pinkie Whiskers fell off from his back, said:
"Now, my little rat, you must take care of yourself. I am going home to
take your fish hook out of my poor little tadpole's mouth. Good-bye."
The water was so deep and it raced along so swiftly that Pinkie Whiskers
was very much frightened, but suddenly a beautiful, soft voice whispered
in his ear:
"Do not be afraid. I am the Water-Fairy and I will help you because my
dear friend, the Tree-Fairy asked me to do so. She told me all about how
you saved her."
Pinkie Whiskers was so amazed and delighted that he forgot that he was
in the water and started to speak. Of course, the water poured into his
open mouth and he began to sputter and choke.
The Water-Fairy pushed him to the top of the water and patted him on his
back until he was all right once more, then she said:
"I will make it possible for you to stay down under the water and
breathe and talk just like a fish and then you will never choke again."
Pinkie Whiskers smiled his thanks and the Water-Fairy made some passes
and, sure enough, he could breathe, talk and swim under water just like
a fish.
"Look! look!" cried the Water-Fairy. "There is a ship in the distance
and it is headed this way."
Sure enough, a beautiful, big, white ship was coming down the river. It
was coming so fast now they could see men moving about on her.
Pinkie Whiskers took out of his pocket his white handkerchief and waved
it around and around his head.
"Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!" he shouted.
"It will do you no good to signal the ship," said the Water-Fairy. "It
would never stop to take a rat on board. Oh, dear no! You will have to
get on the ship without anyone seeing you."
Pinkie Whiskers did not wait to hear any more. He swam for the passing
ship. When he was even with the dragging rope he tried to catch it with
his teeth, but he was not quick enough and the rope slipped out of his
reach.
Again and again he tried and at last he made a quick jump and landed
right upon the rope. He just clung to it as tight as he could with his
feet and rested.