TROUBLE BELOW THE SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 20

TROUBLE BELOW THE SEA

(A story written by "Aute,1' 13, Island Bay.) C A UNETTE,' don't lean over the rail so far; you'll fall in," a weary /\voice reprimanded the small girl who was watching the waves disappear under the ship. "All right, Mummy," but the speaker did not take much notice of the War"When will we sight the East Cape, Captain?" the mother asked from the depths of a deckchair. "Tomorrow morning, I " "Oh, Mummy!" Annette interrupted. "Look at those flying-fish. Arent they, pretty! That's the best flyer. 00!— one has jumped on to the deck," and she ran to pick it up. • Yet had she known why the flying-fish leapt on to the liner, Annette would have pitied it instead of. admiring it. Sidney Shark had been chasing it for a meal. Already he had eaten five of the school when Samuel Sword,fish joined him. , : •■■.•■'■ , . _ "Sidney," said the Swordflsh, "there's a whale not far from here, but I can't manage him myself. Will you help me please?" Then, as the Shark hesitated, he added: "I'll give you half, of course.' "Oh, well—but flying-fish is tastier—l'll come." Sam then put his sword up in the water and observed loftily: "You need not if you don't want to. I can ask Stanley Shark instead." To which Sidney replied: "Lead me to Wilfred Whale." The two were soon swimming through the sea forest to where Wilfred Whale was basking in a few sunbeams which had penetrated the gloomy depths. With a poke of his sword Sammy stirred the huge fish.: *; ■ Next ,the Shark thrashed the whale's head. The Swordfish continue)! to thrust his deadly weapon into Wilfred underneath, and the thresher-shark to strike with repeated blows. In half an hour the victim ceased to lash its tail and died. , The question of. who should have the head, which was the tastiest, part, arose. <> '■ Sidney reasoned, "I did the most killing. Besides I am the bigger nsn so I think I should have the head." ' Being a smaller and.weaker fish, Sammy dared not oppose him, but S3 he swam home his' thoughts were full of revenge. :; Soon he had gathered his friends, the octopus regiment, to declare war on Sidney who, hearing of this, assembled his friends, the stingrays. That night a terrific battle was fought. The sand of the sea floor was churned when an octopus entwined its tentacles round a stingray. Tiny Henry Herring brought news of the fight to Neptune. ■ '{ Being very vexed at this unlawful behaviour, the Sea King commanded mer-policemen to arrest the leaders and bring them to him. The two culprits trembled before the throne. Neptune scolded severely, "I have told you repeatedly not to attack whales. Your food is the smaller fish—from now onwards you must eat only herrings. Besides, have you no code of honour? Two of you fighting one whale] Then having killed one of my most loyal subjects you started a quarrel which developed into a fight What punishment do you think they deserve, ray mermaids?" The mermaids, who were horrified with the shark.'s, deeds, replied: "We fine Sidney Shark ten rare red rock pebbles." (Sidney groaned, because to find one stone it took one year.) '.'Samuel Swordfish we ;fine;:flve pearls." ;(Sam. sighed, for the Oysters were never civil to him. V; H:

Anew day "dawned. Out of the grey haze on'the, horizon jutted a point of land—it was the East Cape. Annette's mother^ leaning over the-a'ail, took a long look at the first sign of New Zealand, but her little daughter wa3 more interested in a triangular fin which cut the waters at intervals... .:■•..'

It belonged to poor Sidney Shark, who was searching for ten rare red rock pebbles. • ,

PIXIE PEOPLE:,: .. ; ~ • ■..,.■, Bow. your welcome to that mysterious and enchanting lady, Madame Ocean, she who sends her white horses riding proudly up our wide beaches and her little grey kittens of wavelets to play at the edge of our sheltered bays. Here is your Sea Page for which you have ivorked hafder than for any other Special Page we have held in the Ring. I know it will bring back happy • memories of days spent on the sands and in the surf; of the lazy rocking of a fishing launch in the sun and the sudden excitement of a good catch; of all the jolly carefree days you have had tramping beside the sea, exploring rock pools and caverns and picnicking. , From Lua Tusitala," ivho knows the loveliness of the South Sea Islands, we have a legend . . . from "Lassie" a merry little tale of an under-ivater "school" . . . from "Le Rose Mousseuse" and "Buster Boy," dainty sketches and another delightful little poem from Nancy Hanron, Takaka. I Prizes ivill be sent to "A ute," "Buster Boy," "Le Rose Mousseuse," and Nancy Hanron for their very good work. ' 1 hope you enjoy our Sea Page, my elves (or should I call you urchins or water babies tonight?). My love to each one of you. ) ■ ' FAIRIEL. )