When evening came, they saw the Diamond Swan, still keeping to the opposite shore of the lake, walk out of the water to the sands, shake her diamond-sprinkled feathers, and then disappear among the bushes to seek a resting place for the night.
"I'm hungry," said Ervic.
"I'm cold," said another Skeezer.
"I'm tired," said a third.
"I'm afraid," said the last one of them.
But it did them no good to complain.

Night fell and the moon rose and cast a silvery sheen over the surface of the water.
"Go to sleep," said Ervic to his companions.

"I'll stay awake and watch, for we may be rescued in some unexpected way." So the other three laid themselves down in the bottom of the boat and were soon fast asleep.
Ervic watched.

He rested himself by leaning over the bow of the boat, his face near to the moonlit water, and thought dreamily of the day's surprising events and wondered what would happen to the prisoners in the Great Dome.
Suddenly a tiny goldfish popped its head above the surface of the lake, not more than a foot from his eyes.

A silverfish then raised its head beside that of the goldfish, and a moment later a bronzefish lifted its head beside the others.