beyond Slosh, for a great flood had come down from the mountains in the very centre of Toppititti, where there was neither land nor city; and this flood was supposed to have been caused by the continual removing of the earth and stones from the base of the hills by the people, who persisted in the absurd custom of digging up potatoes with two-pronged forks. This torrent had rushed down in a rapid stream to that point of the island where the Mayor's house stood on a rock; and there it had burst into a cataract, surrounding the whole place with a furious rush of water, so that the whole household were imprisoned in this small space, and the house itself was threatened with destruction. This had all come about through the malice of the Spider, who finding that Sauriana would have nothing to say to his suit, cast a spell upon her father, in which she was also involved; and having woven a web around the door of the house, which neither the Mayor nor his daughter could pass, had gone about his business just before the floods came. Now this web, which the Spider had woven, could not, by the laws of Batrachia, be broken by any but a native born, who must be of princely rank. Even the Queen Mother had no power over it, and the Governor whom Rana had appointed dared not touch it, though he had been Keeper of the King's Conscience. So that, although the old Toad said that he knew of a place where a strong swimmer might hope to cross the rapids, |