LITTLE AIR POLICEMEN 
“ When can we go back to the pond?” queried 
Alice, a few evenings after the expedition which 
all had enjoyed so thoroughly. 
“ Some time in the next millennium, judging 
from the stack of work before me,” Uncle John 
returned ruefully. “ However,” he added more 
cheerfully, as he noted the dismay in the faces 
about him, “ there’s no reason why we can’t have 
some of the leading citizens brought up here. 
Tommy, do you know the 4 nymphs,’ as some call 
them—those comical looking little characters, 
with faces much like a bulldog? Perhaps you 
have watched some of them tacking about by 
means of the power they get from the recoil of 
their curious little water cannon, which is in truth 
a sort of yawning funnel, that serves the double 
purpose of breathing gills and swimming agency. 
“No? Well, you have missed some mighty 
interesting individuals. Suppose you take the 
garden rake and a bucket and go down to-mor¬ 
row afternoon. Rake out the first bunch of trash 
you note in the bottom. I dare say it will have 
several nymphs cradled in its meshes. Look 
240 
