COMEDY AND TRAGEDY 27 



sank deeper to avoid any possible danger, 

 then rose tentatively for closer inspection. 



The orange seemed harmless. He even 

 punched it with his nose, looking ridicu- 

 lously serious the while. Behind him and 

 beneath there was a great rush: the entire 

 school was advancing to explore. 



Leaper the Delightful, always frolicsome 

 and gay, darted upward and with swirl of 

 tail spun the sphere round and round. He 

 darted beyond it and returned ; leaped clear 

 of the water and encircled it, his small body 

 flashing in the sun. 



It became a game. Nick-fin struck from 

 beneath and the orange bobbed up and 

 down. Even little Sidie, who had not been 

 acting just right of late, joined in the sport. 

 And, seeing her coming, Leaper cleared the 

 way for her so she might have a free chance 

 clear of the others. 



The little fellows were sportive. They 

 leaped clear of the water and came down 

 panting but thrilled. They churned the 

 surface to a tiny turmoil at which they grew 

 excited and fled only to return again. 



The game then took on the nature of a 

 training. For just as among humans play 



