And he went up to the top of the water too , and peeped out to see what would happen . And as the creature sat in the warm bright sun , a wonderful change came over it . It grew strong and firm ; the most lovely colours began to show on its body , blue and yellow and black , spots and bars and rings ; out of its back rose four great wings of bright brown gauze ; and its eyes grew so large that they filled all its head , and shone like ten thousand diamonds . `` Oh , you beautiful creature ! '' said Tom ; and he put out his hand to catch it . But the thing whirred up into the air , and hung poised on its wings a moment , and then settled down again by Tom quite fearless . `` No ! '' it said , `` you can not catch me . I am a dragon-fly now , the king of all the flies ; and I shall dance in the sunshine , and hawk over the river , and catch gnats , and have a beautiful wife like myself . I know what I shall do . Hurrah ! '' And he flew away into the air , and began catching gnats . `` Oh ! come back , come back , '' cried Tom , `` you beautiful creature . I have no one to play with , and I am so lonely here . If you will but come back I will never try to catch you . '' `` I do n't care whether you do or not , '' said the dragon-fly ; `` for you ca n't . But when I have had my dinner , and looked a little about this pretty place , I will come back , and have a little chat about all I have seen in my travels . Why , what a huge tree this is ! and what huge leaves on it ! ''
It was only a big dock : but you know the dragon-fly had never seen any but little water-trees ; starwort , and milfoil , and water - crowfoot , and such XXXXX ; so it did look very big to him .
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