24 THE FALL OF THE YEAR 



me," and he flapped in the burning sun and croaked 



again. 



Stooping quickly, I seized him, crowded him back 

 into the old shoe, and dipped him under water. He 

 gasped with new life and croaked again. 



"Now," said I, "I begin to understand you. That 

 croak means that you are glad to taste salt water 

 again"; and he croaked again, and I dipped him in 

 again. 



Then I looked him over thoughtfully. He was 

 about fifteen inches long, brown in color, and coarsely 

 marbled with a darker hue, which ran along the fins 

 in irregular wavy lines. 



"You are odd, certainly, and peculiar, and alto- 

 gether homely," said I ; "but really you are not very 

 ugly. Ugly? No, you are not ugly. How could any- 

 body be ugly with a countenance so wise and learned? 

 so thoughtful and meditative?" And the toad- 

 fish croaked and croaked again. And I dipped him 

 in again, and understood him better, and liked him 

 better all the time. 



Then I took him in his shoe to the edge of the 

 wharf. 



"I am glad to have made your acquaintance, sir," 

 said I. "If I come this way next summer, I shall look 

 you up; for I want to know more about you. Good- 

 by." And I heard him croak " Good-by," as he and 

 his shoe went sailing out and dropped with a splash 

 into the deep dark water of the Bay. 



