The Treasure Cave: sea tales of Tiptoes Lightly by Reg Down Page A

day the
King of the Sea came looking for his daughter. He entered her cave, but she was
not there. He looked at the floor and saw that seven of the oysters were closed
and not showing their pearly insides.
    ‘Open!’
commanded the King, and the oysters obeyed. Inside each one lay a pearl, a
royal pearl such as had never been seen before in size and beauty.
    ‘These are
treasures indeed,’ said the King, picking one up. ‘But how were they made?’
    The oysters
stayed silent.
    ‘Speak!’
ordered the King.
    ‘From the sand
of a beach that fell from your daughter’s lovely hair,’ replied the oysters.
    Then the King
of the Sea was furious. He swept up the pearls and stormed out of the cave.
    ‘Bring my
fairest daughter to me,’ he commanded, and she was brought.
    The daughter
of the King of the Sea saw how angry her father was and for the first time she
trembled before his throne.
    ‘What does
this mean?’ thundered the King, holding out the pearls in his hand.
    His daughter
hung her head.
    Then the King
ordered the pearls to be made into a necklace, a royal necklace fit for a
princess.
    ‘Never may you
take these pearls from around your neck,’ commanded the King of the Sea, as he
closed the golden clasp.

    “Oh, this was
a pretty punishment, a pretty punishment indeed,” said Obaro, “for the pearls
were beautiful and the necklace rare and precious and royal. But forever was
the daughter reminded that she had disobeyed her father, the King of the Sea;
forever was her shame hung around her neck for all to see, and forever was she
reminded of the beautiful beach of golden sand in the world of men.”
    “But how did
they get in this cave?” asked Tiptoes.
    “That is
another tale,” said Obaro. “Another tale altogether, and I must go,” and he
closed his deep-set eyes and vanished.

Chapter 29
    Riding
    After lunch
Farmer John asked if Tom and June would like to go horseback riding. This was a
silly question. Tom and June loved riding and even had their own pony back at
the farm.
    “Can Tiptoes
come too?” asked June Berry.
    “Of course she
can come,” said Farmer John. “I’m not sure these stables have fairy horses for
rent—but we can find out.”
    So Tiptoes
came in the car with them and they drove up the coast for a few miles. They
turned in at a farm with a barn and corral beside the road. On the barn was a
sign: Lonely Horseshoe Stables. A tough looking lady in a jean jacket and
cowboy boots came out of the barn and greeted them.

    “Y’all looking
fer a ride?” she asked, eyeing them over.
    They nodded.
    “Y’all look
like you know riding,” she said.
    They nodded.
    “Thought so,”
she said. “I’m Jo,” and she shook Farmer John’s hand.
    “Well, com’mon
outa that there metal stallion and chuse yer mount,” she said.
    “What about
our dog?” asked Farmer John out the window.
    The lady
stopped and turned.
    “He friendly?”
    Farmer John
nodded.
    “Got sense?”
    Farmer John
nodded.
    “Knows
horses?”
    Farmer John
nodded.
    “Obeys?”
    Farmer John
nodded.
    “He can mosey
along with us then,” said Jo, walking away.
    “I have a
feeling that Jo won’t have any fairy horses,” said Farmer John.
    “I don’t think
so either,” said June Berry.
    “Me neither,”
laughed Tiptoes. “I’ll see you later,” and out the window she flew.
    They got out
of the car and went into the barn. A row of stalls ran down either side. There
were horses in all of them. Farmer John chose a gentle looking mare, and Tom
and June chose pinto ponies with large brown patches.
    “Them thar
pintos be right good,” said Jo, praising Tom and June’s choice.
    “We have our
own pony,” said Tom. “His name’s Chiron. We ride him all the time—bareback
too.”
    “Do ya now,”
said Jo. “And where do y’all keep yer pony?”
    “At our farm,”
said Farmer John. “I’m a farmer.”
    Jo looked him
up and down.
    “Organic, I
bet,” she said.
    Farmer John
nodded.
    “Thought