The Treasure Cave: sea tales of Tiptoes Lightly Read Free Page A

especially
wonderful. They were like living fountains that sprang from the earth. They
were flowing, glowing, shining fountains of light.”

    “That sounds
beautiful,” said June Berry.
    “They were,”
said Tiptoes. “But if one of those trees was here today you could walk right
through it. You’d be walking along, tum-dee-tum, minding your own business,
when all of a sudden you’d be warm. ‘Why am I so warm?’ you’d say, and take off
your jacket and scarf. Then you’d see shimmering light all around you. It’d be
rising out of the earth and springing high into the air. And if you were sick
and feeling bad you’d instantly be better and full of life. Way back then whole
forests of these wonderful trees grew on the earth, and Kalor and Vallor were
pleased.
    ‘That’s much
better,’ said Kalor.
    ‘Much, much
better,’ agreed Vallor. ‘Now the earth doesn’t look like a bald goose egg any
more,’ and the two brothers patted each other on the back and said what a great
job they had done.
    Their younger
Sister Vive was happy too. She gazed down and knew that her seeds would change
the earth—and that the earth would change her seeds.”
    Tiptoes
stopped speaking and looked at Farmer John. Suddenly his head jerked up. He
looked around the room with bleary eyes.
    “I had such a
strange dream,” he said. “I saw trees of light, but the light was flowing and
growing like fountains of water.”
    “You dreamed
the story,” laughed Tom and June.
    “I did?” said
Farmer John, rubbing his eyes.
    Tom and June
nodded yes.
    Farmer John
yawned and looked at his watch.
    “Nooooo!”
cried Tom, throwing himself onto his dad’s lap and covering his watch. “Don’t
send us to bed. Tiptoes hasn’t finished the story. She still hasn’t told us
about the fire fairies.”
    “But look how
late it is,” said Farmer John. “We’ve had a long day and it’s way past bedtime.
Tiptoes will have to finish her tale some other night.”

Chapter 9
    Tiptoes
goes out at Night
    That night
Tiptoes slipped out of the cottage. She flew into the mist that rolled inland
off the sea. Far away she saw the yellow glow of Summer’s Fort, and here and
there the lights from other houses gleamed in the darkness. High in the sky the
silver half moon was pale and misty.
    Tiptoes
stopped and listened. She heard the waves breaking on the shore. Their sound
went on forever, always shifting, always changing. She flew to the sea and
skimmed the waves of the falling tide. The breakers were gleaming white and
pearly in the moonlight as they curled and crashed and ran splashing up the
beach.

    Tiptoes turned
north. The long strand ended and the rocks began. She flew over pocket coves
and bays and beaches only big enough for one or two people. Seaweed covered the
low rocks or swayed back and forth in the swirling sea. She came to the flat
rocks where the seals hauled themselves out of the water. Beyond was a wide,
sweeping bay with a pebble beach and backed by close mountains. Out to sea, a
mile or so from shore, was a lighthouse with its light going round and round.
It was telling sailors to keep away, keep away, there’s ragged rocks in the
bay!
    Tiptoes
returned. She flew back along the cliffs and bluffs, past the sea stacks and
the lonely sea arch, past the caves hidden under the rocks, and in through the
keyhole of Farmer John’s cottage. She found June Berry’s woolen sweater lying
on the chair beside her bed. Tiptoes slipped inside one of the arms, curled up
comfortably and fell fast asleep.

Chapter 10
    ~
Sunday ~
    The
Cave
    Farmer John
lay in the shelter of a sandy hollow. It was sunny but windy, and he was
soaking up the sun. His hat lay over his eyes and he listened to the thunder of
the surf pounding on the beach. Behind him he heard the voices of Tom and June.
They were exploring the rocky bluff that ran along the shoreline.
    “Look,” said
Tom, scrambling up a steep slope. “There’s a hole.”
    “Wait for me,”
said June