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. 



