STATELY MISS SWAN 
85 
with the terrible boola ready to whirl and 
throw. 
“Run! Run!” shrieked Tommie Specks, 
diving and scooting away. “Swim! Swim!” 
shrieked Little Baby Laughing Loon, play¬ 
ing submarine and scooting away. But what 
was Miss Swan to do? She couldn’t dive 
very well and she couldn’t play submarine. 
She just hung her head and expected every 
moment to feel the terrible boola string wind 
about her. But hanging her head happened 
to be the very best thing to do, for just as she 
did it, Omnok’s arm went out and away 
whirred the terrible boola right over Miss 
Swan, and splash! right into the ocean it 
went! And before Omnok could prepare 
another boola Miss Swan swam swiftly away. 
“Your rule does not suit me at all,” said 
Miss Swan to Tommie Specks next day. I d 
rather be quiet and dignified.” 
Tommie couldn’t answer her. He was 
quite sure he had been right about a cheerful 
childhood bringing a cheerful old age, but 
someway his rule didn’t seem to work right 
