Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/75

60 "But how are we to get away from here?" said Corette to her friend. "A little fellow like you can't sail that big boat."

The Floating Prince and other fairy tales, DJVU pg 75.jpg "'IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE BETTER,' SAID THE CONDENSED PIRATE."

"No," replied he, ruefully, "that's true. I could n't do it. But perhaps, sir, you could condense the boat."

"Oh no!" said the old gentleman, "that would never do. Such a little boat would be swamped before you reached shore, if a big fish did n't swallow you. No, I'll see that you get away safely."

So saying, he went to a small cage that stood in a window and took from it a pigeon.

"This fellow will take you," said he. "He is very strong and swift, and will go ever so much faster than your boat."