136 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" Yes, of course they are," said Jimmy ; " I will go and get 

 them ; " and presently he came back with the little, soft, brown 

 things, which shed a circle of phosphorescent light for two or 

 three inches around them. 



" Put them into that empty jar with some grass, and we will 

 take them home with us." 



The glow-worm is the wingless female of a winged beetle. 

 The male has a dim light, but nothing to be compared to that 

 of his wife. The light issues from the three last segments of 

 her body, and is of a bright yellow in colour. In general she 

 shines from ten to twelve o'clock, but often much later, as on 

 this occasion. Why such a brown, ugly little 

 beetle should have such a beautiful light I do 

 not know. Perhaps it is to guide the male to 

 her. This beetle with the wonderful light has 

 GLOW-WORM. plebeian tastes, for she eats the flesh of snails, 

 and, unlike our Gallic neighbours, she does not 

 wait for the snails' decease first. 



The morning soon shone brightly, and again the fair east 

 wind blew ; 



"The sun was warm ; and the wind was cool," 



and the Swan spread her white wings to the favouring breeze 

 and glided between the narrowing banks, where the meadow- 

 sweet in full luxuriance waved its cloudy clusters, the forget- 

 me-not gleamed in turquoise blue, the tall iris or white flag 

 reared its flowers of gold over its green sword-shaped leaves, 

 and the modest ragged-robin showed its thin red petals amid 

 the dew-wet grass. 



Through Heigham Sounds and into Hickling Broad, and there 

 at the farther end was a group of people, waving their hand- 

 kerchiefs in greeting. 



" There they are," said Frank ; " give them three cheers ; " 

 and a " Hip ! hip ! hurrah ! " rang over the water with a hearty 

 good will. 



Mr. and Mrs. Merivale, Sir Richard Carleton, and Mary, 

 were all there to meet them. 



Frank brought the yacht up to her moorings in his best 

 manner, and in a few minutes they were ashore. 



" Dick," said Sir Richard, " I can scarcely believe my eyes. 

 I am delighted." 



