Chapter 9
THE NEVER BIRDThe last sound Peter heard before he was quite alone were the
mermaids retiring one by one to their bedchambers under the sea. He
was too far away to hear their doors shut; but every door in the
coral caves where they live rings a tiny bell when it opens or
closes (as in all the nicest houses on the mainland), and he heard
the bells.
Steadily the waters rose till they were nibbling at his feet;
and to pass the time until they made their final gulp, he watched
the only thing on the lagoon. He thought it was a piece of floating
paper, perhaps part of the kite, and wondered idly how long it
would take to drift ashore.
Presently he noticed as an odd thing that it was undoubtedly out
upon the lagoon with some definite purpose, for it was fighting the
tide,
