THE SEA FAIRIES

BY L. FRANK BAUM

AUTHOR OF THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ, DOROTHY AND THE

WIZARD IN OZ, OZMA OF OZ, THE ROAD TO OZ,

THE LAND OF OZ, ETC.

THE oceans are big and broad. I believe two-thirds of the

earth's surface is covered with water. What people inhabit

this water has always been a subject of curiosity to the

inhabitants of the land. Strange creatures come from the seas

at times, and perhaps in the ocean depths are many, more strange

than mortal eye has ever gazed upon.

This story is fanciful. In it the sea people talk and act

much as we do, and the mermaids especially are not unlike the

fairies with whom we have learned to be familiar. Yet they

are real sea people, for all that, and with the exception of Zog

the Magician they are all supposed to exist in the ocean's depths.

I am told that some very learned people deny that mermaids

or sea-serpents have ever inhabited the oceans, but it would be

very difficult for them to prove such an assertion unless they had

lived under the water as Trot and Cap'n Bill did in this story.

I hope my readers who have so long followed Dorothy's

adventures in the Land of Oz will be interested in Trot's equally

strange experiences. The ocean has always appealed to me as

a veritable wonderland, and this story has been suggested to me

many times by my young correspondents in their letters. Indeed,

a good many childred have implored me to "write something

about the mermaids," and I have willingly granted the request.

Hollywood, 1911.

L. FRANK BAUM.

TROT AND CAP'N BILL      CHAPTER 1

"Nobody," said Cap'n Bill solemnly, "ever sawr a mermaid an' lived

to tell the tale."

"Why not?" asked Trot, looking earnestly up into the old sailor's

face.

They were seated on a bench built around a giant acacia tree that

grew just at the edge of the bluff. Below them rolled the blue waves

of the great Pacific. A little way behind them was the house, a neat

frame cottage painted white and surrounded by huge eucalyptus and

pepper trees. Still farther behind that--a quarter of a mile distant

but built upon a bend of the coast--was the village, overlooking a

pretty bay.

Cap'n Bill and Trot came often to this tree to sit and watch the

ocean below them. The sailor man had one "meat leg" and one "hickory

leg," and he often said the wooden one was the best of the two. Once

Cap'n Bill had commanded and owned the "Anemone," a trading schooner

that plied along the coast; and in those days Charlie Griffiths, who

was Trot's father, had been the Captain's mate. But ever since Cap'n

Bill's accident, when he lost his leg, Charlie Griffiths had been

the captain of the little schooner while his old master lived

peacefully ashore with the Griffiths family.

This was about the time Trot was born, and the old sailor became

very fond of the baby girl. Her real name was Mayre, but when she

grew big enough to walk, she took so many busy little steps every

day that both her mother and Cap'n Bill nicknamed her "Trot," and so

she was thereafter mostly called.

It was the old sailor who taught the child to love the sea, to love

it almost as much as he and her father did, and these two, who

represented the "beginning and the end of life," became firm friends

and constant companions.

"Why hasn't anybody seen a mermaid and lived?" asked Trot again.

"'Cause mermaids is fairies, an' ain't meant to be seen by us mortal

folk," replied Cap'n Bill.

"But if anyone happens to see 'em, what then, Cap'n?"

"Then," he answered, slowly wagging his head, "the mermaids give 'em

a smile an' a wink, an' they dive into the water an' gets drownded."

"S'pose they knew how to swim, Cap'n Bill?"

"That don't make any diff'rence, Trot. The mermaids live deep down,

an' the poor mortals never come up again."

The little girl was thoughtful for a moment. "But why do folks dive

in the water when the mermaids smile an' wink?" she asked.

"Mermaids," he said gravely, "is the most beautiful creatures in the

world--or the water, either. You know what they're like, Trot,

they's got a lovely lady's form down to the waist, an' then the

other half of 'em's a fish, with green an' purple an' pink scales

all down it."

"Have they got arms, Cap'n Bill?"

"'Course, Trot; arms like any other lady. An' pretty faces that

smile an' look mighty sweet an' fetchin'. Their hair is long an'

soft an' silky, an' floats all around 'em in the water. When they

comes up atop the waves, they wring the water out'n their hair and

sing songs that go right to your heart. If anybody is unlucky enough

to be 'round jes' then, the beauty o' them mermaids an' their sweet

songs charm 'em like magic; so's they plunge into the waves to get

to the mermaids. But the mermaids haven't any hearts, Trot, no

more'n a fish has; so they laughs when the poor people drown an'

don't care a fig. That's why I says, an' I says it true, that nobody

never sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale."

"Nobody?" asked Trot.

"Nobody a tall."

"Then how do you know, Cap'n Bill?" asked the little girl, looking

up into his face with big, round eyes.

Cap'n Bill coughed. Then he tried to sneeze, to gain time. Then he

took out his red cotton handkerchief and wiped his bald head with

it, rubbing hard so as to make him think clearer. "Look, Trot; ain't

that a brig out there?" he inquired, pointing to a sail far out in

the sea.

"How does anybody know about mermaids if those who have seen them

never lived to tell about them?" she asked again.

"Know what about 'em, Trot?"

"About their green and pink scales and pretty songs and wet hair."

"They don't know, I guess. But mermaids jes' natcherly has to be

like that, or they wouldn't be mermaids."

She thought this over. "Somebody MUST have lived, Cap'n Bill," she

declared positively. "Other fairies have been seen by mortals; why

not mermaids?"

"P'raps they have, Trot, p'raps they have," he answered musingly.

"I'm tellin' you as it was told to me, but I never stopped to

inquire into the matter so close before. Seems like folks wouldn't

know so much about mermaids if they hadn't seen 'em; an' yet

accordin' to all accounts the victim is bound to get drownded."

"P'raps," suggested Trot softly, "someone found a fotygraph of one

of 'em."

"That might o' been, Trot, that might o' been," answered Cap'n Bill.

A nice man was Cap'n Bill, and Trot knew he always liked to explain

everything so she could fully understand it. The aged sailor was not

a very tall man, and some people might have called him chubby, or

even fat. He wore a blue sailor shirt with white anchors worked on

the corners of the broad, square collar, and his blue trousers were

very wide at the bottom. He always wore one trouser leg over his

wooden limb and sometimes it would flutter in the wind like a flag

because it was so wide and the wooden leg so slender. His rough

kersey coat was a pea-jacket and came down to his waistline. In the

big pockets of his jacket he kept a wonderful jackknife, and his

pipe and tobacco, and many bits of string, and matches and keys and

lots of other things. Whenever Cap'n Bill thrust a chubby hand into

one of his pockets, Trot watched him with breathless interest, for

she never knew what he was going to pull out.

The old sailor's face was brown as a berry. He had a fringe of hair

around the back of his head and a fringe of whisker around the edge

of his face, running from ear to ear and underneath his chin. His

eyes were light blue and kind in expression. His nose was big and

broad, and his few teeth were not strong enough to crack nuts with.

Trot liked Cap'n Bill and had a great deal of confidence in his

wisdom, and a great admiration for his ability to make tops and

whistles and toys with that marvelous jackknife of his. In the

village were many boys and girls of her own age, but she never had

as much fun playing with them as she had wandering by the sea

accompanied by the old sailor and listening to his fascinating

stories.

She knew all about the Flying Dutchman, and Davy Jones' Locker, and

Captain Kidd, and how to harpoon a whale or dodge an iceberg or

lasso a seal. Cap'n Bill had been everywhere in the world, almost,

on his many voyages. He had been wrecked on desert islands like

Robinson Crusoe and been attacked by cannibals, and had a host of

other exciting adventures. So he was a delightful comrade for the

little girl, and whatever Cap'n Bill knew Trot was sure to know in

time.

"How do the mermaids live?" she asked. "Are they in caves, or just

in the water like fishes, or how?"

"Can't say, Trot," he replied. "I've asked divers about that, but

none of 'em ever run acrost a mermaid's nest yet, as I've heard of."

"If they're fairies," she said, "their homes must be very pretty."

"Mebbe so, Trot, but damp. They are sure to be damp, you know."

"I'd like to see a mermaid, Cap'n Bill," said the child earnestly.

"What, an' git drownded?" he exclaimed.

"No, and live to tell the tale. If they're beautiful, and laughing,

and sweet, there can't be much harm in them, I'm sure."

"Mermaids is mermaids," remarked Cap'n Bill in his most solemn

voice. "It wouldn't do us any good to mix up with 'em, Trot."

"May-re! May-re!" called a voice from the house.

"Yes, Mamma!"

"You an' Cap'n Bill come in to supper."

THE MERMAIDS       CHAPTER 2

The next morning, as soon as Trot had helped wipe the breakfast

dishes and put them away in the cupboard, the little girl and Cap'n

Bill started out toward the bluff. The air was soft and warm and the

sun turned the edges of the waves into sparkling diamonds. Across

the bay the last of the fisherboats was speeding away out to sea,

for well the fishermen knew this was an ideal day to catch rockbass,

barracuda and yellowtail.

The old man and the young girl stood on the bluff and watched all

this with interest. Here was their world. "It isn't a bit rough this

morning. Let's have a boat ride, Cap'n Bill," said the child.

"Suits me to a T," declared the sailor. So they found the winding

path that led down the face of the cliff to the narrow beach below

and cautiously began the descent. Trot never minded the steep path

or the loose rocks at all, but Cap'n Bill's wooden leg was not so

useful on a downgrade as on a level, and he had to be careful not to

slip and take a tumble.

But by and by they reached the sands and walked to a spot just

beneath the big acacia tree that grew on the bluff. Halfway to the

top of the cliff hung suspended a little shed-like structure that

sheltered Trot's rowboat, for it was necessary to pull the boat out

of reach of the waves which beat in fury against the rocks at high

tide. About as high up as Cap'n Bill could reach was an iron ring

securely fastened to the cliff, and to this ring was tied a rope.

The old sailor unfastened the knot and began paying out the rope,

and the rowboat came out of its shed and glided slowly downward to

the beach. It hung on a pair of davits and was lowered just as a

boat is lowered from a ship's side. When it reached the sands, the

sailor unhooked the ropes and pushed the boat to the water's edge.

It was a pretty little craft, light and strong, and Cap'n Bill knew

how to sail it or row it, as Trot might desire.

Today they decided to row, so the girl climbed into the bow and her

companion stuck his wooden leg into the water's edge "so he wouldn't

get his foot wet" and pushed off the little boat as he climbed

aboard. Then he seized the oars and began gently paddling.

"Whither away, Commodore Trot?" he asked gaily.

"I don't care, Cap'n. It's just fun enough to be on the water," she

answered, trailing one hand overboard. So he rowed around by the

North Promontory, where the great caves were, and much as they were

enjoying the ride, they soon began to feel the heat of the sun.

"That's Dead Man's Cave, 'cause a skellington was found there,"

observed the child as they passed a dark, yawning mouth in the

cliff. "And that's Bumble Cave, 'cause the bumblebees make nests in

the top of it. And here's Smuggler's Cave, 'cause the smugglers used

to hide things in it."

She knew all the caves well, and so did Cap'n Bill. Many of them

opened just at the water's edge, and it was possible to row their

boat far into their dusky depths.

"And here's Echo Cave," she continued, dreamily, as they slowly

moved along the coast, "and Giant's Cave, and--oh, Cap'n Bill! Do

you s'pose there were ever any giants in that cave?"

"'Pears like there must o' been, Trot, or they wouldn't o' named it

that name," he replied, pausing to wipe his bald head with the red

handkerchief while the oars dragged in the water.

"We've never been into that cave, Cap'n," she remarked, looking at

the small hole in the cliff--an archway through which the water

flowed. "Let's go in now."

"What for, Trot?"

"To see if there's a giant there."

"Hm. Aren't you 'fraid?"

"No, are you? I just don't b'lieve it's big enough for a giant to

get into."

"Your father was in there once," remarked Cap'n Bill, "an' he says

it's the biggest cave on the coast, but low down. It's full o'

water, an' the water's deep down to the very bottom o' the ocean;

but the rock roof's liable to bump your head at high tide ."

"It's low tide now," returned Trot. "And how could any giant live in

there if the roof is so low down?"

"Why, he couldn't, mate. I reckon they must have called it Giant's

Cave 'cause it's so big, an' not 'cause any giant man lived there."

"Let's go in," said the girl again. "I'd like to 'splore it."

"All right," replied the sailor. "It'll be cooler in there than out

here in the sun. We won't go very far, for when the tide turns we

mightn't get out again." He picked up the oars and rowed slowly

toward the cave. The black archway that marked its entrance seemed

hardly big enough to admit the boat at first, but as they drew

nearer, the opening became bigger. The sea was very calm here, for

the headland shielded it from the breeze.

"Look out fer your head, Trot!" cautioned Cap'n Bill as the boat

glided slowly into the rocky arch. But it was the sailor who had to

duck, instead of the little girl. Only for a moment, though. Just

beyond the opening the cave was higher, and as the boat floated into

the dim interior they found themselves on quite an extensive branch

of the sea. For a time neither of them spoke and only the soft

lapping of the water against the sides of the boat was heard. A

beautiful sight met the eyes of the two adventurers and held them

dumb with wonder and delight.

It was not dark in this vast cave, yet the light seemed to come from

underneath the water, which all around them glowed with an exquisite

sapphire color. Where the little waves crept up the sides of the

rocks they shone like brilliant jewels, and every drop of spray

seemed a gem fit to deck a queen. Trot leaned her chin on her hands

and her elbows on her lap and gazed at this charming sight with real

enjoyment. Cap'n Bill drew in the oars and let the boat drift where

it would while he also sat silently admiring the scene.

Slowly the little craft crept farther and farther into the dim

interior of the vast cavern, while its two passengers feasted their

eyes on the beauties constantly revealed. Both the old seaman and

the little girl loved the ocean in all its various moods. To them it

was a constant companion and a genial comrade. If it stormed and

raved, they laughed with glee; if it rolled great breakers against

the shore, they clapped their hands joyfully; if it lay slumbering

at their feet, they petted and caressed it, but always they loved

it.

Here was the ocean yet. It had crept under the dome of overhanging

rock to reveal itself crowned with sapphires and dressed in azure

gown, revealing in this guise new and unexpected charms. "Good

morning, Mayre," said a sweet voice.

Trot gave a start and looked around her in wonder. Just beside her

in the water were little eddies--circles within circles--such as are

caused when anything sinks below the surface. "Did--did you hear

that, Cap'n Bill?" she whispered solemnly.

Cap'n Bill did not answer. He was staring with eyes that fairly

bulged out at a place behind Trot's back, and he shook a little, as

if trembling from cold. Trot turned half around, and then she

stared, too. Rising from the blue water was a fair face around which

floated a mass of long, blonde hair. It was a sweet, girlish face

with eyes of the same deep blue as the water and red lips whose

dainty smile disposed two rows of pearly teeth. The cheeks were

plump and rosy, the brows gracefully penciled, while the chin was

rounded and had a pretty dimple in it.

"The most beauti-ful-est in all the world," murmured Cap'n Bill in a

voice of horror, "an' no one has ever lived to--to tell the tale!"

There was a peal of merry laughter at this, laughter that rippled

and echoed throughout the cavern. Just at Trot's side appeared a new

face even fairer than the other, with a wealth of brown hair

wreathing the lovely features. And the eyes smiled kindly into those

of the child. "Are you a--a mermaid?" asked Trot curiously. She was

not a bit afraid. They seemed both gentle and friendly.

"Yes, dear," was the soft answer.

"We are all mermaids!" chimed a laughing chorus, and here and there,

all about the boat, appeared pretty faces lying just upon the

surface of the water.

"Are you part fishes?" asked Trot, greatly pleased by this wonderful

sight.

"No, we are all mermaid," replied the one with the brown hair. "The

fishes are partly like us, because they live in the sea and must

move about. And you are partly like us, Mayre dear, but have awkward

stiff legs so you may walk on the land. But the mermaids lived

before fishes and before mankind, so both have borrowed something

from us."

"Then you must be fairies if you've lived always," remarked Trot,

nodding wisely.

"We are, dear. We are the water fairies," answered the one with the

blonde hair, coming nearer and rising till her slender white throat

showed plainly.

"We--we're goners, Trot!" sighed Cap'n Bill with a white, woebegone

face.

"I guess not, Cap'n," she answered calmly. "These pretty mermaids

aren't going to hurt us, I'm sure."

"No indeed," said the first one who had spoken. "If we were wicked

enough to wish to harm you, our magic could reach you as easily upon

the land as in this cave. But we love little girls dearly and wish

only to please them and make their lives more happy."

"I believe that!" cried Trot earnestly.

Cap'n Bill groaned.

"Guess why we have appeared to you," said another mermaid, coming to

the side of the boat.

"Why?" asked the child.

"We heard you say yesterday you would like to see a mermaid, and so

we decided to grant your wish."

"That was real nice of you," said Trot gratefully.

"Also, we heard all the foolish things Cap'n Bill said about us,"

remarked the brown-haired one smilingly, "and we wanted to prove to

him that they were wrong."

"I on'y said what I've heard," protested Cap'n Bill. "Never havin'

seen a mermaid afore, I couldn't be ackerate, an' I never expected

to see one an' live to tell the tale."

Again the cave rang with merry laughter, and as it died away, Trot

said, "May I see your scales, please? And are they green and purple

and pink like Cap'n Bill said?" They seemed undecided what to say to

this and swam a little way off, where the beautiful heads formed a

group that was delightful to see. Perhaps they talked together, for

the brown-haired mermaid soon came back to the side of the boat and

asked, "Would you like to visit our kingdom and see all the wonders

that exist below the sea?"

"I'd like to," replied Trot promptly, "but I couldn't. I'd get

drowned."

"That you would, mate!" cried Cap'n Bill.

"Oh no," said the mermaid. "We would make you both like one of

ourselves, and then you could live within the water as easily as we

do."

"I don't know as I'd like that," said the child, "at least for

always."

"You need not stay with us a moment longer than you please,"

returned the mermaid, smiling as if amused at the remark. "Whenever

you are ready to return home, we promise to bring you to this place

again and restore to you the same forms you are now wearing."

"Would I have a fish's tail?" asked Trot earnestly.

"You would have a mermaid's tail," was the reply.

"What color would my scales be--pink, or purple?"

"You may choose the color yourself."

"Look ahere, Trot!" said Cap'n Bill in excitement. "You ain't

thinkin' o' doin' such a fool thing, are you?"

"'Course I am," declared the little girl. "We don't get such

inv'tations every day, Cap'n, and if I don't go now I may never find

out how the mermaids live."

"I don't care how they live, myself," said Cap'n Bill. "I jes' want

'em to let ME live."

"There's no danger," insisted Trot.

"I do' know 'bout that. That's what all the other folks said when

they dove after the mermaids an' got drownded."

"Who?" asked the girl.

"I don't know who, but I've heard tell--"

"You've heard that no one ever saw a mermaid and lived," said Trot.

"To tell the tale," he added, nodding. "An' if we dives down like

they says, we won't live ourselves."

All the mermaids laughed at this, and the brown-haired one said,

"Well, if you are afraid, don't come. You may row your boat out of

this cave and never see us again, if you like. We merely thought it

would please little Mayre, and were willing to show her the sights

of our beautiful home."

"I'd like to see 'em, all right," said Trot, her eyes glistening

with pleasure.

"So would I," admitted Cap'n Bill, "if we would live to tell the

tale."

"Don't you believe us?" asked the mermaid, fixing her lovely eyes on

those of the old sailor and smiling prettily. "Are you afraid to

trust us to bring you safely back?"

"N-n-no," said Cap'n Bill, "'tain't that. I've got to look after

Trot."

"Then you'll have to come with me," said Trot decidedly, "for I'm

going to 'cept this inv'tation. If you don't care to come, Cap'n

Bill, you go home and tell mother I'm visitin' the mermaids."

"She'd scold me inter shivers!" moaned Cap'n Bill with a shudder. "I

guess I'd ruther take my chance down below."

"All right, I'm ready, Miss Mermaid," said Trot. "What shall I do?

Jump in, clothes and all?"

"Give me your hand, dear," answered the mermaid, lifting a lovely

white arm from the water. Trot took the slender hand and found it

warm and soft and not a bit "fishy."

"My name is Clia," continued the mermaid, "and I am a princess in

our deep-sea kingdom."

Just then Trot gave a flop and flopped right out of the boat into

the water. Cap'n Bill caught a gleam of pink scales as his little

friend went overboard, and the next moment there was Trot's face in

the water among those of the mermaids. She was laughing with glee as

she looked up into Cap'n Bill's face and called, "Come on in, Cap'n!

It didn't hurt a bit!"

THE DEPTHS OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA  CHAPTER 3

Cap'n Bill stood up in the boat as if undecided what to do. Never a

sailor man was more bewildered than this old fellow by the

strangeness of the adventure he had encountered. At first he could

hardly believe it was all true and that he was not dreaming; but

there was Trot in the water, laughing with the mermaids and floating

comfortably about, and he couldn't leave his dear little companion

to make the trip to the depths of the ocean alone.

"Take my hand, please, Cap'n Bill," said Princess Clia, reaching her

dainty arm toward him; and suddenly the old man took courage and

clasped the soft fingers in his own. He had to lean over the boat to

do this, and then there came a queer lightness to his legs and he

had a great longing to be in the water. So he gave a flop and

flopped in beside Trot, where he found himself comfortable enough,

but somewhat frightened.

"Law sakes!" he gasped. "Here's me in the water with my rheumatics!

I'll be that stiff termorrer I can't wiggle."

"You're wigglin' all right now," observed Trot. "That's a fine tail

you've got, Cap'n, an' its green scales is jus' beautiful."

"Are they green, eh?" he asked, twisting around to try to see them.

"Green as em'ralds, Cap'n. How do they feel?"

"Feel, Trot, feel? Why, this tail beats that ol' wooden leg all

holler! I kin do stunts now that I couldn't o' done in a thousand

years with ol' peg."

"And don't be afraid of the rheumatism," advised the Princess. "No

mermaid ever catches cold or suffers pain in the water."

"Is Cap'n Bill a mermaid now?" asked Trot.

"Why, he's a merMAN, I suppose," laughed the pretty princess. "But

when he gets home, he will be just Cap'n Bill again."

"Wooden leg an' all?" inquired the child.

"To be sure, my dear."

The sailor was now trying his newly discovered power of swimming,

and became astonished at the feats he could accomplish. He could

dart this way and that with wonderful speed, and turn and dive, and

caper about in the water far better than he had ever been able to do

on land--even before he got the wooden leg. And a curious thing

about this present experience was that the water did not cling to

him and wet him as it had always done before. He still wore his

flannel shirt and pea jacket and his sailor cap; but although he was

in the water and had been underneath the surface, the cloth still

seemed dry and warm. As he dived down and came up again, the drops

flashed from his head and the fringe of beard, but he never needed

to wipe his face or eyes at all.

Trot, too, was having queer experiences and enjoying them. When she

ducked under water, she saw plainly everything about her as easily

and distinctly as she had ever seen anything above water. And by

looking over her shoulder she could watch the motion of her new

tail, all covered with pretty iridescent pink scales, which gleamed

like jewels. She wore her dress the same as before, and the water

failed to affect it in the least.

She now noticed that the mermaids were clothed, too, and their

exquisite gowns were the loveliest thing the little girl had ever

beheld. They seemed made of a material that was like sheeny silk,

cut low in the neck and with wide, flowing sleeves that seldom

covered the shapely, white arms of her new friends. The gowns had

trains that floated far behind the mermaids as they swam, but were

so fleecy and transparent that the sparkle of their scales might be

seen reaching back of their waists, where the human form ended and

the fish part began. The sea fairies wore strings of splendid pearls

twined around their throats, while more pearls were sewn upon their

gowns for trimmings. They did not dress their beautiful hair at all,

but let it float around them in clouds.

The little girl had scarcely time to observe all this when the

princess said, "Now, my dear, if you are ready, we will begin our

journey, for it is a long way to our palaces."

"All right," answered Trot, and took the hand extended to her with a

trustful smile.

"Will you allow me to guide you, Cap'n Bill?" asked the blonde

mermaid, extending her hand to the old sailor.

"Of course, ma'am," he said, taking her fingers rather bashfully.

"My name is Merla," she continued, "and I am cousin to Princess

Clia. We must all keep together, you know, and I will hold your hand

to prevent your missing the way."

While she spoke they began to descend through the water, and it grew

quite dark for a time because the cave shut out the light. But

presently Trot, who was eagerly looking around her, began to notice

the water lighten and saw they were coming into brighter parts of

the sea. "We have left the cave now," said Clia, "and may swim

straight home."

"I s'pose there are no winding roads in the ocean," remarked the

child, swimming swiftly beside her new friend.

"Oh yes indeed. At the bottom, the way is far from being straight or

level," replied Clia. "But we are in mid-water now, where nothing

will hinder our journey, unless--"

She seemed to hesitate, so Trot asked, "Unless what?"

"Unless we meet with disagreeable creatures," said the Princess.

"The mid-water is not as safe as the very bottom, and that is the

reason we are holding your hands."

"What good would that do?" asked Trot.

"You must remember that we are fairies," said Princess Clia. "For

that reason, nothing in the ocean can injure us, but you two are

mortals and therefore not entirely safe at all times unless we

protect you."

Trot was thoughtful for a few moments and looked around her a little

anxiously. Now and then a dark form would shoot across their pathway

or pass them at some distance, but none was near enough for the girl

to see plainly what it might be. Suddenly they swam right into a big

school of fishes, all yellowtails and of very large size. There must

have been hundreds of them lying lazily in the water, and when they

saw the mermaids they merely wriggled to one side and opened a path

for the sea fairies to pass through. "Will they hurt us?" asked

Trot.

"No indeed," laughed the Princess. "Fishes are stupid creatures

mostly, and this family is quite harmless."

"How about sharks?" asked Cap'n Bill, who was swimming gracefully

beside them, his hand clutched in that of pretty Merla.

"Sharks may indeed be dangerous to you," replied Clia, "so I advise

you to keep them at a safe distance. They never dare attempt to bite

a mermaid, and it may be they will think you belong to our band; but

it is well to avoid them if possible."

"Don't get careless, Cap'n," added Trot.

"I surely won't, mate," he replied. "You see, I didn't use to be

'fraid o' sharks 'cause if they came near I'd stick my wooden leg at

'em. But now, if they happens to fancy these green scales, it's all

up with ol' Bill."

"Never fear," said Merla, "I'll take care of you on our journey, and

in our palaces you will find no sharks at all."

"Can't they get in?" he asked anxiously.

"No. The palaces of the mermaids are inhabited only by themselves."

"Is there anything else to be afraid of in the sea?" asked the

little girl after they had swum quite a while in silence.

"One or two things, my dear," answered Princess Clia. "Of course, we

mermaids have great powers, being fairies; yet among the sea people

is one nearly as powerful as we are, and that is the devilfish."

"I know," said Trot. "I've seen 'em."

"You have seen the smaller ones, I suppose, which sometimes rise to

the surface or go near the shore, and are often caught by

fishermen," said Clia, "but they are only second cousins of the

terrible deep-sea devilfish to which I refer."

"Those ones are bad enough, though," declared Cap'n Bill. "If you

know any worse ones, I don't want a interduction to 'em."

"The monster devilfish inhabit caves in the rugged, mountainous

regions of the ocean," resumed the Princess, "and they are evil

spirits who delight in injuring all who meet them. None lives near

our palaces, so there is little danger of your meeting any while you

are our guests."

"I hope we won't," said Trot.

"None for me," added Cap'n Bill. "Devils of any sort ought to be

give a wide berth, an' devilfish is worser ner sea serpents."

"Oh, do you know the sea serpents?" asked Merla as if surprised.

"Not much I don't," answered the sailor, "but I've heard tell of

folks as has seen 'em."

"Did they ever live to tell the tale?" asked Trot.

"Sometimes," he replied. "They're jes' ORful creatures, mate."

"How easy it is to be mistaken," said Princess Clia softly. "We know

the sea serpents very well, and we like them."

"You do!" exclaimed Trot.

"Yes, dear. There are only three of them in all the world, and not

only are they harmless, but quite bashful and shy. They are

kind-hearted, too, and although not beautiful in appearance, they do

many kind deeds and are generally beloved."

"Where do they live?" asked the child.

"The oldest one, who is king of this ocean, lives quite near us,"

said Clia. "His name is Anko."

"How old is he?" inquired Cap'n Bill curiously.

"No one knows. He was here before the ocean came, and he stayed here

because he learned to like the water better than the land as a

habitation. Perhaps King Anko is ten thousand years old, perhaps

twenty thousand. We often lose track of the centuries down here in

the sea."

"That's pretty old, isn't it?" said Trot. "Older than Cap'n Bill, I

guess."

"Summat," chuckled the sailor man, "summat older, mate, but not

much. P'raps the sea serpent ain't got gray whiskers."

"Oh yes he has," responded Merla with a laugh. "And so have his two

brothers, Unko and Inko. They each have an ocean of their own, you

know; and once every hundred years they come here to visit their

brother Anko. So we've seen all three many times."

"Why, how old are mermaids, then?" asked Trot, looking around at the

beautiful creatures wonderingly.

"We are like all ladies of uncertain age," rejoined the Princess

with a smile. "We don't care to tell."

"Older than Cap'n Bill?"

"Yes, dear," said Clia.

"But we haven't any gray whiskers," added Merla merrily, "and our

hearts are ever young."

Trot was thoughtful. It made her feel solemn to be in the company of

such old people. The band of mermaids seemed to all appearances

young and fresh and not a bit as if they'd been soaked in water for

hundreds of years. The girl began to take more notice of the sea

maidens following after her. More than a dozen were in the group;

all were lovely in appearance and clothed in the same gauzy robes as

Merla and the Princess. These attendants did not join in the

conversation but darted here and there in sportive play, and often

Trot heard the tinkling chorus of their laughter. Whatever doubts

might have arisen in the child's mind through the ignorant tales of

her sailor friend, she now found the mermaids to be light-hearted,

joyous and gay, and from the first she had not been in the least

afraid of her new companions.

"How much farther do we have to go?" asked Cap'n Bill presently.

"Are you getting tired?" Merla inquired.

"No," said he, "but I'm sorter anxious to see what your palaces look

like. Inside the water ain't as interestin' as the top of it. It's

fine swimmin', I'll agree, an' I like it, but there ain't nuthin'

special to see that I can make out."

"That is true, sir," replied the Princess. "We have purposely led

you through the mid-water hoping you would see nothing to alarm you

until you get more accustomed to our ocean life. Moreover, we are

able to travel more swiftly here. How far do you think we have

already come, Cap'n?"

"Oh, 'bout two mile," he answered.

"Well, we are now hundreds of miles from the cave where we started,"

she told him.

"You don't mean it!" he exclaimed in wonder.

"Then there's magic in it," announced Trot soberly.

"True, my dear. To avoid tiring you and to save time, we have used a

little of our fairy power," said Clia. "The result is that we are

nearing our home. Let us go downward a bit, now, for you must know

that the mermaid palaces are at the very bottom of the ocean, and in

its deepest part."

THE PALACE OF QUEEN AQUAREINE   CHAPTER 4

Trot was surprised to find it was not at all dark or gloomy as they

descended farther into the deep sea. Things were not quite so clear

to her eyes as they had been in the bright sunshine above the

ocean's surface, but every object was distinct nevertheless, as if

she saw through a pane of green-tainted glass. The water was very

clear except for this green shading, and the little girl had never

before felt so light and buoyant as she did now. It was no effort at

all to dart through the water, which seemed to support her on all

sides.

"I don't believe I weigh anything at all," she said to Cap'n Bill.

"No more do I, Trot," said he. "But that's nat'ral, seein' as we're

under water so far. What bothers me most is how we manage to

breathe, havin' no gills like fishes have."

"Are you sure we haven't any gills?" she asked, lifting her free

hand to feel her throat.

"Sure. Ner the mermaids haven't any, either," declared Cap'n Bill.

"Then," said Trot, "we're breathing by magic."

The mermaids laughed at this shrewd remark, and the Princess said,

"You have guessed correctly, my dear. Go a little slower, now, for

the palaces are in sight."

"Where?" asked Trot eagerly.

"Just before you."

"In that grove of trees?" inquired the girl. And really, it seemed

to her that they were approaching a beautiful grove. The bottom of

the sea was covered with white sand, in which grew many varieties of

sea shrubs with branches like those of trees. Not all of them were

green, however, for the branches and leaves were of a variety of

gorgeous colors. Some were purple, shading down to a light lavender;

and there were reds all the way from a delicate rose-pink to vivid

shades of scarlet. Orange, yellow and blue shades were there, too,

mingling with the sea-greens in a most charming manner. Altogether,

Trot found the brilliant coloring somewhat bewildering.

These sea shrubs, which in size were quite as big and tall as the

trees on earth, were set so close together that their branches

entwined; but there were several avenues leading into the groves,

and at the entrance to each avenue the girl noticed several large

fishes with long spikes growing upon their noses.

"Those are swordfishes," remarked the Princess as she led the band

past one of these avenues.

"Are they dang'rous?" asked Trot.

"Not to us," was the reply. "The swordfishes are among our most

valued and faithful servants, guarding the entrances to the gardens

which surround our palaces. If any creatures try to enter uninvited,

these guards fight them and drive them away. Their swords are sharp

and strong, and they are fierce fighters, I assure you."

"I've known 'em to attack ships, an' stick their swords right

through the wood," said Cap'n Bill.

"Those belonged to the wandering tribes of swordfishes," explained

the Princess. "These, who are our servants, are too sensible and

intelligent to attack ships."

The band now headed into a broad passage through the "gardens," as

the mermaids called these gorgeous groves, and the great swordfishes

guarding the entrance made way for them to pass, afterward resuming

their posts with watchful eyes. As they slowly swam along the

avenue, Trot noticed that some of the bushes seemed to have fruits

growing upon them, but what these fruits might be neither she nor

Cap'n Bill could guess.

The way wound here and there for some distance, till finally they

came to a more open space all carpeted with sea flowers of exquisite

colorings. Although Trot did not know it, these flowers resembled

the rare orchids of earth in their fanciful shapes and marvelous

hues. The child did not examine them very closely, for across the

carpet of flowers loomed the magnificent and extensive palaces of

the mermaids.

These palaces were built of coral; white, pink and yellow being

used, and the colors arranged in graceful designs. The front of the

main palace, which now faced them, had circular ends connecting the

straight wall, not unlike the architecture we are all familiar with;

yet there seemed to be no windows to the building, although a series

of archways served as doors.

Arriving at one of the central archways, the band of sea maidens

separated. Princess Clia and Merla leading Trot and Cap'n Bill into

the palace, while the other mermaids swam swiftly away to their own

quarters.

"Welcome!" said Clia in her sweet voice. "Here you are surrounded

only by friends and are in perfect safety. Please accept our

hospitality as freely as you desire, for we consider you honored

guests. I hope you will like our home," she added a little shyly.

"We are sure to, dear Princess," Trot hastened to say.

Then Clia escorted them through the archway and into a lofty hall.

It was not a mere grotto, but had smoothly built walls of pink coral

inlaid with white. Trot at first thought there was no roof, for

looking upward she could see the water all above them. But the

princess, reading her thought, said with a smile, "Yes, there is a

roof, or we would be unable to keep all the sea people out of our

palace. But the roof is made of glass to admit the light."

"Glass!" cried the astonished child. "Then it must be an awful big

pane of glass."

"It is," agreed Clia. "Our roofs are considered quite wonderful, and

we owe them to the fairy powers of our queen. Of course, you

understand there is no natural way to make glass under water."

"No indeed," said Cap'n Bill. And then he asked, "Does your queen

live here?"

"Yes. She is waiting now, in her throne room, to welcome you. Shall

we go in?"

"I'd just as soon," replied Trot rather timidly, but she boldly

followed the princess, who glided through another arch into another

small room where several mermaids were reclining upon couches of

coral. They were beautifully dressed and wore many sparkling jewels.

"Her Majesty is awaiting the strangers, Princess Clia," announced

one of these. "You are asked to enter at once."

"Come, then," said Clia, and once more taking Trot's hand, she led

the girl through still another arch, while Merla followed just

behind them, escorting Cap'n Bill. They now entered an apartment so

gorgeous that the child fairly gasped with astonishment. The queen's

throne room was indeed the grandest and most beautiful chamber in

all the ocean palaces. Its coral walls were thickly inlaid with

mother-of-pearl, exquisitely shaded and made into borders and floral

decorations. In the corners were cabinets, upon the shelves of which

many curious shells were arranged, all beautifully polished. The

floor glittered with gems arranged in patterns of flowers, like a

brilliant carpet.

Near the center of the room was a raised platform of mother-of-pearl

upon which stood a couch thickly studded with diamonds, rubies,

emeralds and pearls. Here reclined Queen Aquareine, a being so

lovely that Trot gazed upon her spellbound and Cap'n Bill took off

his sailor cap and held it in his hands.

All about the room were grouped other mother-of-pearl couches, not

raised like that of the queen, and upon each of these reclined a

pretty mermaid. They could not sit down as we do, Trot readily

understood, because of their tails; but they rested very gracefully

upon the couches with their trailing gauzy robes arranged in fleecy

folds.

When Clia and Merla escorted the strangers down the length of the

great room toward the royal throne, they met with pleasant looks and

smiles on every side, for the sea maidens were too polite to indulge

in curious stares. They paused just before the throne, and the queen

raised her head upon one elbow to observe them. "Welcome, Mayre,"

she said, "and welcome, Cap'n Bill. I trust you are pleased with

your glimpse of the life beneath the surface of our sea."

"I am," answered Trot, looking admiringly at the beautiful face of

the queen.

"It's all mighty cur'ous an' strange-like," said the sailor slowly.

"I'd no idee you mermaids were like this, at all!"

"Allow me to explain that it was to correct your wrong ideas about

us that led me to invite you to visit us," replied the Queen. "We

usually pay little heed to the earth people, for we are content in

our own dominions; but, of course, we know all that goes on upon

your earth. So when Princess Clia chanced to overhear your absurd

statements concerning us, we were greatly amused and decided to let

you see with your own eyes just what we are like."

"I'm glad you did," answered Cap'n Bill, dropping his eyes in some

confusion as he remembered his former description of the mermaids.

"Now that you are here," continued the Queen in a cordial, friendly

tone, "you may as well remain with us a few days and see the

wonderful sights of our ocean."

"I'm much obliged to you, ma'am," said Trot, "and I'd like to stay

ever so much, but mother worries jus' dreadfully if we don't get

home in time."

"I'll arrange all that," said Aquareine with a smile.

"How?" asked the girl.

"I will make your mother forget the passage of time so she will not

realize how long you are away. Then she cannot worry."

"Can you do that?" inquired Trot.

"Very easily. I will send your mother into a deep sleep that will

last until you are ready to return home. Just at present she is

seated in her chair by the front window, engaged in knitting." The

queen paused to raise an arm and wave it slowly to and fro. Then she

added, "Now your good mother is asleep, little Mayre, and instead of

worries I promise her pleasant dreams."

"Won't someone rob the house while she's asleep?" asked the child

anxiously.

"No, dear. My charm will protect the house from any intrusion."

"That's fine!" exclaimed Trot in delight.

"It's jes' won-erful!" said Cap'n Bill. "I wish I knew it was so.

Trot's mother has a awful sharp tongue when she's worried."

"You may see for yourselves," declared the Queen, and waved her hand

again. At once they saw before them the room in the cottage, with

Mayre's mother asleep by the window. Her knitting was in her lap,

and the cat lay curled up beside her chair. It was all so natural

that Trot thought she could hear the clock over the fireplace tick.

After a moment the scene faded away, when the queen asked with

another smile, "Are you satisfied?"

"Oh yes!" cried Trot. "But how could you do it?"

"It is a form of mirage," was the reply. "We are able to bring any

earth scene before us whenever we wish. Sometimes these scenes are

reflected above the water so that mortals also observe them."

"I've seen 'em," said Cap'n Bill, nodding. "I've seen mirages, but I

never knowed what caused 'em afore now."

"Whenever you see anything you do not understand and wish to ask

questions, I will be very glad to answer them," said the Queen.

"One thing that bothers me," said Trot, "is why we don't get wet,

being in the ocean with water all around us."

"That is because no water really touches you," explained the Queen.

"Your bodies have been made just like those of the mermaids in order

that you may fully enjoy your visit to us. One of our peculiar

qualities is that water is never permitted to quite touch our

bodies, or our gowns. Always there remains a very small space,

hardly a hair's breadth, between us and the water, which is the

reason we are always warm and dry."

"I see," said Trot. "That's why you don't get soggy or withered."

"Exactly," laughed the Queen, and the other mermaids joined in her

merriment.

"I s'pose that's how we can breathe without gills," remarked Cap'n

Bill thoughtfully.

"Yes. The air space is constantly replenished from the water, which

contains air, and this enables us to breathe as freely as you do

upon the earth."

"But we have fins," said Trot, looking at the fin that stood upright

on Cap'n Bill's back.

"Yes. They allow us to guide ourselves as we swim, and so are very

useful," replied the Queen.

"They make us more finished," said Cap'n Bill with a chuckle. Then,

suddenly becoming grave, he added, "How about my rheumatics, ma'am?

Ain't I likely to get stiffened up with all this dampness?"

"No indeed," Aquareine answered. "There is no such thing as

rheumatism in all our dominions. I promise no evil result shall

follow this visit to us, so please be as happy and contented as

possible."

THE SEA-SERPENT            CHAPTER 5

Just then Trot happened to look up at the glass roof and saw a

startling sight. A big head with a face surrounded by stubby gray

whiskers was poised just over them, and the head was connected with

a long, curved body that looked much like a sewer pipe.

"Oh, there is King Anko," said the Queen, following the child's

gaze. "Open a door and let him in, Clia, for I suppose our old

friend is anxious to see the earth people."

"Won't he hurt us?" asked the little girl with a shiver of fear.

"Who, Anko? Oh no, my dear! We are very fond of the sea serpent, who

is king of this ocean, although he does not rule the mermaids. Old

Anko is a very agreeable fellow, as you will soon discover."

"Can he talk?" asked Trot.

"Yes indeed."

"And can we understand what he says?"

"Perfectly," replied the Queen. "I have given you power, while you

remain here, to understand the language of every inhabitant of the

sea."

"That's nice," said Trot gratefully.

The Princess Clia swam slowly to one of the walls of the throne room

where, at a wave of her hand, a round hole appeared in the coral.

The sea serpent at once observed this opening and the head left the

roof of glass only to reappear presently at the round hole. Through

this he slowly crawled until his head was just beneath the throne of

Queen Aquareine, who said to him:

"Good morning, your Majesty. I hope you are quite well?"

"Quite well, thank your Majesty," answered Anko; and then he turned

to the strangers. "I suppose these are the earth folks you were

expecting?"

"Yes," returned the Queen. "The girl is named Mayre and the man

Cap'n Bill."

While the sea serpent looked at the visitors, they ventured to look

at him. He certainly was a queer creature, yet Trot decided he was

not at all frightful. His head was round as a ball, but his ears

were sharp-pointed and had tassels at the ends of them. His nose was

flat, and his mouth very wide indeed, but his eyes were blue and

gentle in expression. The white, stubby hairs that surrounded his

face were not thick like a beard, but scattered and scraggly. From

the head, the long, brown body of the sea serpent extended to the

hole in the coral wall, which was just big enough to admit it; and

how much more of the body remained outside the child could not tell.

On the back of the body were several fins, which made the creature

look more like an eel than a serpent.

"The girl is young and the man is old," said King Anko in a soft

voice. "But I'm quite sure Cap'n Bill isn't as old as I am."

"How old are you?" asked the sailor.

"I can't say exactly. I can remember several thousands of years

back, but beyond that my memory fails me. How's your memory, Cap'n

Bill?"

"You've got me beat," was the reply. "I'll give in that you're older

than I am."

This seemed to please the sea serpent. "Are you well?" he asked.

"Pretty fair," said Cap'n Bill. "How's yourself?"

"Oh, I'm very well, thank you," answered Anko. "I never remember to

have had a pain but three times in my life. The last time was when

Julius Sneezer was on earth."

"You mean Julius Caesar," said Trot, correcting him.

"No, I mean Julius Sneezer," insisted the Sea Serpent. "That was his

real name--Sneezer. They called him Caesar sometimes just because he

took everything he could lay hands on. I ought to know, because I

saw him when he was alive. Did you see him when he was alive, Cap'n

Bill?"

"I reckon not," admitted the sailor.

"That time I had a toothache," continued Anko, "but I got a lobster

to pull the tooth with his claw, so the pain was soon over."

"Did it hurt to pull it?" asked Trot.

"Hurt!" exclaimed the Sea Serpent, groaning at the recollection. "My

dear, those creatures have been called lobsters ever since! The

second pain I had way back in the time of Nevercouldnever."

"Oh, I s'pose you mean Nebuchadnezzar," said Trot.

"Do you call him that now?" asked the Sea Serpent as if surprised.

"He used to be called Nevercouldnever when he was alive, but this

new way of spelling seems to get everything mixed up. Nebuchadnezzar

doesn't mean anything at all, it seems to me."

"It means he ate grass," said the child.

"Oh no, he didn't," declared the Sea Serpent. "He was the first to

discover that lettuce was good to eat, and he became very fond of

it. The people may have called it grass, but they were wrong. I

ought to know, because I was alive when Nevercouldnever lived. Were

you alive, then?"

"No," said Trot.

"The pain I had then," remarked Anko, "was caused by a kink in my

tail about three hundred feet from the end. There was an old octopus

who did not like me, and so he tied a knot in my tail when I wasn't

looking."

"What did you do?" asked Cap'n Bill.

"Well, first I transformed the octopus into a jellyfish, and then I

waited for the tide to turn. When my tail was untied, the pain

stopped."

"I--I don't understand that," said Trot, somewhat bewildered.

"Thank you, my dear," replied the Sea Serpent in a grateful voice.

"People who are always understood are very common. You are sure to

respect those you can't understand, for you feel that perhaps they

know more than you do."

"About how long do you happen to be?" inquired Cap'n Bill.

"When last measured, I was seven thousand four hundred and

eighty-two feet, five inches and a quarter. I'm not sure about the

quarter, but the rest is probably correct. Adam measured me when

Cain was a baby."

"Where's the rest of you, then?" asked Trot.

"Safe at home, I hope, and coiled up in my parlor," answered the Sea

Serpent. "When I go out, I usually take along only what is needed.

It saves a lot of bother and I can always find my way back in the

darkest night by just coiling up the part that has been away."

"Do you like to be a sea serpent?" inquired the child.

"Yes, for I'm King of my Ocean, and there is no other sea serpent to

imagine he is just as good as I am. I have two brothers who live in

other oceans, but one is seven inches shorter than I am, and the

other several feet shorter. It's curious to talk about feet when we

haven't any feet, isn't it?"

"Seems so," acknowledged Trot.

"I feel I have much to be proud of," continued Anko in a dreamy

tone. "My great age, my undisputed sway, and my exceptional length."

"I don't b'lieve I'd care to live so long," remarked Cap'n Bill

thoughtfully.

"So long as seven thousand four hundred and eighty-two feet, five

inches and a quarter?" asked the Sea Serpent.

"No, I mean so many years," replied the sailor.

"But what can one do if one happens to be a sea serpent?" Anko

inquired. "There is nothing in the sea that can hurt me, and I

cannot commit suicide because we have no carbolic acid or firearms

or gas to turn on. So it isn't a matter of choice, and I'd about as

soon be alive as dead. It does not seem quite so monotonous, you

know. But I guess I've stayed about long enough, so I'll go home to

dinner. Come and see me when you have time."

"Thank you," said Trot, and Merla added, "I'll take you over to his

majesty's palace when we go out and let you see how he lives."

"Yes, do," said Anko. And then he slowly slid out of the hole, which

immediately closed behind him, leaving the coral wall as solid as

before.

"Oh!" exclaimed Trot. "King Anko forgot to tell us what his third

pain was about."

"So he did," said Cap'n Bill. "We must ask him about that when we

see him. But I guess the ol' boy's mem'ry is failin', an' he can't

be depended on for pertic'lars."

EXPLORING THE OCEAN  CHAPTER 6

The queen now requested her guests to recline upon couches that they

might rest themselves from their long swim and talk more at their

ease. So the girl and the sailor allowed themselves to float

downward until they rested their bodies on two of the couches

nearest the throne, which were willingly vacated for them by the

mermaids who occupied them until then.

The visitors soon found themselves answering a great many questions

about their life on the earth, for although the queen had said she

kept track of what was going on on the land, there were many details

of human life in which all the mermaids seemed greatly interested.

During the conversation several sea-maids came swimming into the

room bearing trays of sea apples and other fruit, which they first

offered to the queen, and then passed the refreshments around to the

company assembled. Trot and Cap'n Bill each took some, and the

little girl found the fruits delicious to eat, as they had a richer

flavor than any that grew upon land. Queen Aquareine was much

pleased when the old sailor asked for more, but Merla warned him

dinner would soon be served and he must take care not to spoil his

appetite for that meal. "Our dinner is at noon, for we have to cook

in the middle of the day when the sun is shining," she said.

"Cook!" cried Trot. "Why, you can't build a fire in the water, can

you?"

"We have no need of fires," was the reply. "The glass roof of our

kitchen is so curved that it concentrates the heat of the sun's

rays, which are then hot enough to cook anything we wish."

"But how do you get along if the day is cloudy, and the sun doesn't

shine?" inquired the little girl.

"Then we use the hot springs that bubble up in another part of the

palace," Merla answered. "But the sun is the best to cook by." So it

was no surprise to Trot when, about noon, dinner was announced and

all the mermaids, headed by their queen and their guests, swam into

another spacious room where a great, long table was laid. The dishes

were of polished gold and dainty-cut glass, and the cloth and

napkins of fine gossamer. Around the table were ranged rows of

couches for the mermaids to recline upon as they ate. Only the

nobility and favorites of Queen Aquareine were invited to partake of

this repast, for Clia explained that tables were set for the other

mermaids in different parts of the numerous palaces.

Trot wondered who would serve the meal, but her curiosity was soon

satisfied when several large lobsters came sliding into the room

backward, bearing in their claws trays loaded with food. Each of

these lobsters had a golden band behind its neck to show it was the

slave of the mermaids.

These curious waiters were fussy creatures, and Trot found much

amusement in watching their odd motions. They were so spry and

excitable that at times they ran against one another and upset the

platters of food, after which they began to scold and argue as to

whose fault it was, until one of the mermaids quietly rebuked them

and asked them to be more quiet and more careful.

The queen's guests had no cause to complain of the dinner provided.

First the lobsters served bowls of turtle soup, which proved hot and

deliciously flavored. Then came salmon steaks fried in fish oil,

with a fungus bread that tasted much like field mushrooms. Oysters,

clams, soft-shell crabs and various preparations of seafoods

followed. The salad was a delicate leaf from some seaweed that Trot

thought was much nicer than lettuce. Several courses were served,

and the lobsters changed the plates with each course, chattering and

scolding as they worked, and as Trot said, "doing everything

backwards" in their nervous, fussy way.

Many of the things offered them to eat were unknown to the visitors,

and the child was suspicious of some of them, but Cap'n Bill asked

no questions and ate everything offered him, so Trot decided to

follow his example. Certain it is they found the meal very

satisfying, and evidently there was no danger of their being hungry

while they remained the guests of the mermaids. When the fruits

came, Trot thought that must be the last course of the big dinner,

but following the fruits were ice creams frozen into the shape of

flowers.

"How funny," said the child, "to be eating ice cream at the bottom

of the sea."

"Why does that surprise you?" inquired the Queen.

"I can't see where you get the ice to freeze it," Trot replied.

"It is brought to us from the icebergs that float in the northern

parts of the ocean," explained Merla.

"O' course, Trot. You orter thought o' that. I did," said Cap'n

Bill.

The little girl was glad there was no more to eat, for she was

ashamed to feel she had eaten every morsel she could. Her only

excuse for being so greedy was that "ev'rything tasted just

splendid!" as she told the queen.

"And now," said Aquareine, "I will send you out for a swim with

Merla, who will show you some of the curious sights of our sea. You

need not go far this afternoon, and when you return, we will have

another interesting talk together." So the blonde mermaid led Trot

and Cap'n Bill outside the palace walls, where they found themselves

in the pretty flower gardens.

"I'd feel all right, mate, if I could have a smoke," remarked the

old sailor to the child, "but that's a thing as can't be did here in

the water."

"Why not?" asked Merla, who overheard him.

"A pipe has to be lighted, an' a match wouldn't burn," he replied.

"Try it," suggested the mermaid. "I do not mind your smoking at all,

if it will give you pleasure."

"It's a bad habit I've got, an' I'm too old to break myself of it,"

said Cap'n Bill. Then he felt in the big pocket of his coat and took

out a pipe and a bag of tobacco. After he had carefully filled his

pipe, rejoicing in the fact that the tobacco was not at all wet, he

took out his matchbox and struck a light. The match burned brightly,

and soon the sailor was puffing the smoke from his pipe in great

contentment. The smoke ascended through the water in the shape of

bubbles, and Trot wondered what a nyone who happened to be floating

upon the surface of the ocean would think to see smoke coming from

the water.

"Well, I find I can smoke, all right," remarked Cap'n Bill, "but it

bothers me to understand why."

"It is because of the air space existing between the water and

everything you have about you," explained Merla. "But now, if you

will come this way, I will take you to visit some of our neighbors."

They passed over the carpet of sea flowers, the gorgeous blossoms

swaying on their stems as the motion of the people in the water

above them disturbed their repose, and presently the three entered

the dense shrubbery surrounding the palace. They had not proceeded

far when they came to a clearing among the bushes, and here Merla

paused.

Trot and Cap'n Bill paused, too, for floating in the clear water was

a group of beautiful shapes that the child thought looked like molds

of wine jelly. They were round as a dinner plate, soft and

transparent, but tinted in such lovely hues that no artist's brush

has ever been able to imitate them. Some were deep sapphire blue;

others rose pink; still others a delicate topaz color. They seemed

to have neither heads, eyes nor ears, yet it was easy to see they

were alive and able to float in any direction they wished to go. In

shape they resembled inverted flowerpots, with the upper edges

fluted, and from the centers floated what seemed to be bouquets of

flowers.

"How pretty!" exclaimed Trot, enraptured by the sight.

"Yes, this is a rare variety of jellyfish," replied Merla. "The

creatures are not so delicate as they appear, and live for a long

time--unless they get too near the surface and the waves wash them

ashore."

After watching the jellyfish a few moments, they followed Merla

through the grove, and soon a low chant, like that of an Indian

song, fell upon their ears. It was a chorus of many small voices and

grew louder as they swam on. Presently a big rock rose suddenly

before them from the bottom of the sea, rearing its steep side far

up into the water overhead, and this rock was thickly covered with

tiny shells that clung fast to its surface. The chorus they heard

appeared to come from these shells, and Merla said to her

companions, "These are the singing barnacles. They are really very

amusing, and if you listen carefully, you can hear what they say."

So Trot and Cap'n Bill listened, and this is what the barnacles

sang:

"We went to topsy-turvy land to see a man-o'-war,

And we were much attached to it, because we simply were;

We found an anchor-ite within the mud upon the lea

For the ghost of Jonah's whale he ran away and went to sea.

Oh, it was awful!

It was unlawful!

We rallied round the flag in sev'ral millions;

They couldn't shake us;

They had to take us;

So the halibut and cod they danced cotillions."

"What does it all mean?" asked Trot.

"I suppose they refer to the way barnacles have of clinging to

ships," replied Merla, "but usually the songs mean nothing at all.

The little barnacles haven't many brains, so we usually find their

songs quite stupid."

"Do they write some comic operas?" asked the child.

"I think not," answered the mermaid.

"They seem to like the songs themselves," remarked Cap'n Bill.

"Oh yes, they sing all day long. But it never matters to them

whether their songs mean anything or not. Let us go in this

direction and visit some other sea people."

So they swam away from the barnacle-covered rock, and Trot heard the

last chorus as she slowly followed their conductor. The barnacles

were singing:

"Oh, very well, then, I hear the curfew,

Please go away and come some other day;

Goliath tussels

With Samson's muscles,

Yet the muscles never fight in Oyster Bay."

"It's jus' nonsense!" said Trot scornfully. "Why don't they sing

'Annie Laurie' or 'Home, Sweet Home' or else keep quiet?"

"Why, if they were quiet," replied Merla, "they wouldn't be singing

barnacles."

They now came to one of the avenues which led from the sea garden

out into the broad ocean, and here two swordfishes were standing

guard. "Is all quiet?" Merla asked them.

"Just as usual, your Highness," replied one of the guards.

"Mummercubble was sick this morning and grunted dreadfully, but he's

better now and has gone to sleep. King Anko has been stirring around

some, but is now taking his after-dinner nap. I think it will be

perfectly safe for you to swim out for a while, if you wish."

"Who's Mummercubble?" asked Trot as they passed out into deep water.

"He's the sea pig," replied Merla. "I am glad he's asleep, for now

we won't meet him."

"Don't you like him?" inquired Trot.

"Oh, he complains so bitterly of everything that he bores us," Merla

answered. "Mummercubble is never contented or happy for a single

minute."

"I've seen people like that," said Cap'n Bill with a nod of his

head. "An' they has a way of upsettin' the happiest folks they

meet."

"Look out!" suddenly cried the mermaid. "Look out for your fingers!

Here are the snapping eels."

"Who? Where?" asked Trot anxiously.

And now they were in the midst of a cluster of wriggling, darting

eels which sported all around them in the water with marvelous

activity. "Yes, look out for your fingers and your noses!" said one

of the eels, making a dash for Cap'n Bill. At first the sailor was

tempted to put out a hand and push the creature away, but

remembering that his fingers would thus be exposed, he remained

quiet, and the eel snapped harmlessly just before his face and then

darted away.

"Stop it!" said Merla. "Stop it this minute, or I'll report your

impudence to Aquareine."

"Oh, who cares?" shouted the Eels. "We're not afraid of the

mermaids."

"She'll stiffen you up again, as she did once before," said Merla,

"if you try to hurt the earth people."

"Are these earth people?" asked one. And then they all stopped their

play and regarded Trot and Cap'n Bill with their little black eyes.

"The old polliwog looks something like King Anko," said one of them.

"I'm not a polliwog!" answered Cap'n Bill angrily. "I'm a respec'ble

sailor man, an' I'll have you treat me decent or I'll know why."

"Sailor!" said another. "That means to float on the water--not IN

it. What are you doing down here?"

"I'm jes' a-visitin'," answered Cap'n Bill.

"He is the guest of our queen," said Merla, "and so is this little

girl. If you do not behave nicely to them, you will surely be

sorry."

"Oh, that's all right," replied one of the biggest eels, wriggling

around in a circle and then snapping at a companion, which as

quickly snapped out of his way. "We know how to be polite to company

as well as the mermaids. We won't hurt them."

"Come on, fellows, let's go scare old Mummercubble," cried another;

and then in a flash they all darted away and left our friends to

themselves. Trot was greatly relieved.

"I don't like eels," she said.

"They are more mischievous than harmful," replied Merla, "but I do

not care much for them myself."

"No," added Cap'n Bill, "they ain't respec'ful."

THE ARISTOCRATIC CODFISH    CHAPTER 7

The three swam slowly along, quite enjoying the cool depths of the

water. Every little while they met with some strange creature--or

one that seemed strange to the earth people--for although Trot and

Cap'n Bill had seen many kinds of fish, after they had been caught

and pulled from the water, that was very different from meeting them

in their own element, "face to face," as Trot expressed it. Now that

the various fishes were swimming around free and unafraid in their

deep-sea home, they were quite different from the gasping, excited

creatures struggling at the end of a fishline or flopping from a

net.

Before long they came upon a group of large fishes lying lazily near

the bottom of the sea. They were a dark color upon their backs and

silver underneath, but not especially pretty to look at. The fishes

made no effort to get out of Merla's way and remained motionless

except for the gentle motion of their fins and gills.

"Here," said the mermaid, pausing, "is the most aristocratic family

of fish in all the sea."

"What are they?" asked the girl.

"Codfish," was the reply. "Their only fault is that they are too

haughty and foolishly proud of their pedigree."

Overhearing this speech, one codfish said to another in a very

dignified tone of voice, "What insolence!"

"Isn't it?" replied the other. "There ought to be a law to prevent

these common mermaids from discussing their superiors."

"My sakes!" said Trot, astonished. "How stuck up they are, aren't

they?"

For a moment the group of fishes stared at her solemnly. Then one of

the remarked in a disdainful manner, "Come, my dear, let us leave

these vulgar creatures."

"I'm not as vulgar as you are!" exclaimed Trot, much offended by

this speech. "Where I come from, we only eat codfish when there's

nothing else in the house to eat."

"How absurd!" observed one of the creatures arrogantly.

"Eat codfish indeed!" said another in a lofty manner.

"Yes, and you're pretty salty, too, I can tell you. At home you're

nothing but a pick-up!" said Trot.

"Dear me!" exclaimed the first fish who had spoken. "Must we stand

this insulting language--and from a person to whom we have never

been introduced?"

"I don't need no interduction," replied the girl. "I've eaten you,

and you always make me thirsty."

Merla laughed merrily at this, and the codfish said, with much

dignity, "Come, fellow aristocrats, let us go."

"Never mind, we're going ourselves," announced Merla, and followed

by her guests the pretty mermaid swam away.

"I've heard tell of codfish aristocracy," said Cap'n Bill, "but I

never knowed 'zac'ly what it meant afore."

"They jus' made me mad with all their airs," observed Trot, "so I

gave 'em a piece of my mind."

"You surely did, mate," said the sailor, "but I ain't sure they

understand what they're like when they're salted an' hung up in the

pantry. Folks gener'ly gets stuck-up 'cause they don't know

theirselves like other folks knows 'em."

"We are near Crabville now," declared Merla. "Shall we visit the

crabs and see what they are doing?"

"Yes, let's," replied Trot. "The crabs are lots of fun. I've often

caught them among the rocks on the shore and laughed at the way they

act. Wasn't it funny at dinnertime to see the way they slid around

with the plates?"

"Those were not crabs, but lobsters and crawfish," remarked the

mermaid. "They are very intelligent creatures, and by making them

serve us we save ourselves much household work. Of course, they are

awkward and provoke us sometimes, but no servants are perfect, it is

said, so we get along with ours as well as we can."

"They're all right," protested the child, "even if they did tip

things over once in a while. But it is easy to work in a sea palace,

I'm sure, because there's no dusting or sweeping to be done."

"Or scrubbin'," added Cap'n Bill.

"The crabs," said Merla, "are second cousins to the lobsters,

although much smaller in size. There are many families or varieties

of crabs, and so many of them live in one place near here that we

call it Crabville. I think you will enjoy seeing these little

creatures in their native haunts."

They now approached a kelp bed, the straight, thin stems of the kelp

running far upward to the surface of the water. Here and there upon

the stalks were leaves, but Trot thought the growing kelp looked

much like sticks of macaroni, except they were a rich red-brown

color. It was beyond the kelp--which they had to push aside as they

swam through, so thickly did it grow--that they came to a higher

level, a sort of plateau on the ocean's bottom. It was covered with

scattered rocks of all sizes, which appeared to have broken off from

big shelving rocks they observed nearby. The place they entered

seemed like one of the rocky canyons you often see upon the earth.

"Here live the fiddler crabs," said Merla, "but we must have taken

them by surprise, it is so quiet."

Even as she spoke, there was a stirring and scrambling among the

rocks, and soon scores of light-green crabs were gathered before the

visitors. The crabs bore fiddles of all sorts and shapes in their

claws, and one big fellow carried a leader's baton. The latter crab

climbed upon a flat rock and in an excited voice called out, "Ready,

now--ready, good fiddlers. We'll play Number 19, Hail to the

Mermaids. Ready! Take aim! Fire away!"

At this command every crab began scraping at his fiddle as hard as

he could, and the sounds were so shrill and unmusical that Trot

wondered when they would begin to play a tune. But they never did;

it was one regular mix-up of sounds from beginning to end. When the

noise finally stopped, the leader turned to his visitors and, waving

his baton toward them, asked, "Well, what did you think of that?"

"Not much," said Trot honestly. "What's it all about?"

"I composed it myself!" said the Fiddler Crab. "But it's highly

classical, I admit. All really great music is an acquired taste."

"I don't like it," remarked Cap'n Bill. "It might do all right to

stir up a racket New Year's Eve, but to call that screechin'

music--"

Just then the crabs started fiddling again, harder than ever, and as

it promised to be a long performance, they left the little creatures

scraping away at their fiddles as if for dear life and swam along

the rocky canyon until, on turning a corner, they came upon a new

and different scene.

There were crabs here, too, many of them, and they were performing

the queerest antics imaginable. Some were building themselves into a

pyramid, each standing on edge, with the biggest and strongest ones

at the bottom. When the crabs were five or six rows high, they would

all tumble over, still clinging to one another and, having reached

the ground, they would separate and commence to build the pyramid

over again. Others were chasing one another around in a circle,

always moving backward or sidewise, and trying to play "leapfrog" as

they went. Still others were swinging on slight branches of seaweed

or turning cartwheels or indulging in similar antics.

Merla and the earth people watched the busy little creatures for

some time before they were themselves observed, but finally Trot

gave a laugh when one crab fell on its back and began frantically

waving its legs to get right-side-up again. At the sound of her

laughter they all stopped their play and came toward the visitors in

a flock, looking up at them with their bright eyes in a most comical

way.

"Welcome home!" cried one as he turned a back somersault and knocked

another crab over.

"What's the difference between a mermaid and a tadpole?" asked

another in a loud voice, and without a pause continued, "Why, one

drops its tail and the other holds onto it. Ha, ha! Ho, ho! Hee,

hee!"

"These," said Merla, "are the clown crabs. They are very silly

things, as you may already have discovered, but for a short time

they are rather amusing. One tires of them very soon."

"They're funny," said Trot, laughing again. "It's almost as good as

a circus. I don't think they would make me tired, but then I'm not a

mermaid."

The clown crabs had now formed a row in front of them. "Mr.

Johnsing," asked one, "why is a mermaid like an automobile?"

"I don't know, Tommy Blimken," answered a big crab in the middle of

the row. "WHY do you think a mermaid is like an automobile?"

"Because they both get tired," said Tommy Blimken. Then all the

crabs laughed, and Tommy seemed to laugh louder than the rest.

"How do the crabs in the sea know anything 'bout automobiles?" asked

Trot.

"Why, Tommy Blimken and Harry Hustle were both captured once by

humans and put in an aquarium," answered the mermaid. "But one day

they climbed out and escaped, finally making their way back to the

sea and home again. So they are quite traveled, you see, and great

favorites among the crabs. While they were on land they saw a great

many curious things, and so I suppose they saw automobiles."

"We did, we did!" cried Harry Hustle, an awkward crab with one big

claw and one little one. "And we saw earth people with legs, awfully

funny they were; and animals called horses, with legs; and other

creatures with legs; and the people cover themselves with the

queerest things--they even wear feathers and flowers on their heads,

and--"

"Oh, we know all about that," said Trot. "We live on the earth

ourselves."

"Well, you're lucky to get off from it and into the good water,"

said the Crab. "I nearly died on the earth; it was so stupid, dry

and airy. But the circus was great. They held the performance right

in front of the aquarium where we lived, and Tommy and I learned all

the tricks of the tumblers. Hi! Come on, fellows, and show the earth

people what you can do!"

At this the crabs began performing their antics again, but they did

the same things over and over, so Cap'n Bill and Trot soon tired, as

Merla said they would, and decided they had seen enough of the crab

circus. So they proceeded to swim farther up the rocky canyon, and

near its upper end they came to a lot of conch shells lying upon the

sandy bottom. A funny-looking crab was sticking his head out from

each of these shells.

"These are the hermit crabs," said one of the mermaids. "They steal

these shells and live in them so no enemies can attack them."

"Don't they get lonesome?" asked Trot.

"Perhaps so, my dear. But they do not seem to mind being lonesome.

They are great cowards, and think if they can but protect their

lives there is nothing else to care for. Unlike the jolly crabs we

have just left, the hermits are cross and unsociable."

"Oh, keep quiet and go away!" said one of the hermit crabs in a

grumpy voice. "No one wants mermaids around here." Then every crab

withdrew its head into its shell, and our friends saw them no more.

"They're not very polite," observed Trot, following the mermaid as

Merla swam upward into the middle water.

"I know now why cross people are called 'crabbed,'" said Cap'n Bill.

"They've got dispositions jes' like these 'ere hermit crabs."

Presently they came upon a small flock of mackerel, and noticed that

the fishes seemed much excited. When they saw the mermaid, they

cried out, "Oh, Merla! What do you think? Our Flippity has just gone

to glory!"

"When?" asked the mermaid.

"Just now," one replied. "We were lying in the water, talking

quietly together when a spinning, shining thing came along and our

dear Flippity ate it. Then he went shooting up to the top of the

water and gave a flop and--went to glory! Isn't it splendid, Merla?"

"Poor Flippity!" sighed the mermaid. "I'm sorry, for he was the

prettiest and nicest mackerel in your whole flock."

"What does it mean?" asked Trot. "How did Flippity go to glory?"

"Why, he was caught by a hook and pulled out of the water into some

boat," Merla explained. "But these poor stupid creatures do not

understand that, and when one of them is jerked out of the water and

disappears, they have the idea he has gone to glory, which means to

them some unknown but beautiful sea."

"I've often wondered," said Trot, "why fishes are foolish enough to

bite on hooks."

"They must know enough to know they're hooks," added Cap'n Bill

musingly.

"Oh, they do," replied Merla. "I've seen fishes gather around a hook

and look at it carefully for a long time. They all know it is a hook

and that if they bite the bait upon it they will be pulled out of

the water. But they are curious to know what will happen to them

afterward, and think it means happiness instead of death. So finally

one takes the hook and disappears, and the others never know what

becomes of him."

"Why don't you tell 'em the truth?" asked Trot.

"Oh, we do. The mermaids have warned them many times, but it does no

good at all. The fish are stupid creatures."

"But I wish I was Flippity," said one of the mackerel, staring at

Trot with his big, round eyes. "He went to glory before I could eat

the hook myself."

"You're lucky," answered the child. "Flippity will be fried in a pan

for someone's dinner. You wouldn't like that, would you?"

"Flippity has gone to glory!" said another, and then they swam away

in haste to tell the news to all they met.

"I never heard of anything so foolish," remarked Trot as she swam

slowly on through the clear, blue water.

"Yes, it is very foolish and very sad," answered Merla. "But if the

fish were wise, men could not catch them for food, and many poor

people on your earth make their living by fishing."

"It seems wicked to catch such pretty things," said the child.

"I do not think so," Merla replied laughingly, "for they were born

to become food for someone, and men are not the only ones that eat

fishes. Many creatures of the sea feed upon them. They even eat one

another at times. And if none was ever destroyed, they would soon

become so numerous that they would clog the waters of the ocean and

leave no room for the rest of us. So after all, perhaps it is just

as well they are thoughtless and foolish."

Presently they came to some round balls that looked much like

balloons in shape and were gaily colored. They floated quietly in

the water, and Trot inquired what they were.

"Balloonfish," answered Merla. "They are helpless creatures, but

have little spikes all over them so their enemies dare not bite them

for fear of getting pricked."

Trot found the balloonfish quite interesting. They had little dots

of eyes and dots for mouths, but she could see no noses, and their

fins and tails were very small.

"They catch these fish in the South Sea Islands and make lanterns of

'em," said Cap'n Bill. "They first skin 'em and sew the skin up

again to let it dry, and then they put candles inside, and the light

shines through the dried skin."

Many other curious sights they saw in the ocean that afternoon, and

both Cap'n Bill and Trot thoroughly enjoyed their glimpse of sea

life. At last Merla said it was time to return to the palace, from

which she claimed they had not at any time been very far distant.

"We must prepare for dinner, as it will soon begin to grow dark in

the water," continued their conductor. So they swam leisurely back

to the groves that surrounded the palaces, and as they entered the

gardens the sun sank, and deep shadows began to form in the ocean

depths.

A BANQUET UNDER WATER        CHAPTER 8

The palaces of the mermaids were all aglow with lights as they

approached them, and Trot was amazed at the sight.

"Where do the lamps come from?" she asked their guide wonderingly.

"They are not lamps, my dear," replied Merla, much amused at this

suggestion. "We use electric lights in our palaces and have done so

for thousands of years--long before the earth people knew of

electric lights."

"But where do you get 'em?" inquired Cap'n Bill, who was as much

astonished as the girl.

"From a transparent jellyfish which naturally emits a strong and

beautiful electric light," was the answer. "We have many hundreds of

them in our palaces, as you will presently see."

Their way was now lighted by small, phosphorescent creatures

scattered about the sea gardens and which Merla informed them were

hyalaea, or sea glowworms. But their light was dim when compared to

that of the electric jellyfish, which they found placed in clusters

upon the ceilings of all the rooms of the palaces, rendering them

light as day. Trot watched these curious creatures with delight, for

delicately colored lights ran around their bodies in every direction

in a continuous stream, shedding splendid rays throughout the vast

halls.

A group of mermaids met the visitors in the hall of the main palace

and told Merla the queen had instructed them to show the guests to

their rooms as soon as they arrived. So Trot followed two of them

through several passages, after which they swam upward and entered a

circular opening. There were no stairs here, because there was no

need of them, and the little girl soon found herself in an upper

room that was very beautiful indeed.

All the walls were covered with iridescent shells, polished till

they resembled mother-of-pearl, and upon the glass ceiling were

clusters of the brilliant electric jellyfish, rendering the room

bright and cheerful with their radiance. In one corner stood a couch

of white coral, with gossamer draperies hanging around it from the

four high posts. Upon examining it, the child found the couch was

covered with soft, amber sponges, which rendered it very comfortable

to lie upon. In a wardrobe she found several beautiful gossamer

gowns richly embroidered in colored seaweeds, and these Mayre was

told she might wear while she remained the guest of the mermaids.

She also found a toilet table with brushes, combs and other

conveniences, all of which were made of polished tortoise-shell.

Really, the room was more dainty and comfortable than one might

suppose possible in a palace far beneath the surface of the sea, and

Trot was greatly delighted with her new quarters. The mermaid

attendants assisted the child to dress herself in one of the

prettiest robes, which she found to be quite dry and fitted her

comfortably. Then the sea-maids brushed and dressed her hair, and

tied it with ribbons of cherry-red seaweed. Finally they placed

around her neck a string of pearls that would have been priceless

upon the earth, and now the little girl announced she was ready for

supper and had a good appetite.

Cap'n Bill had been given a similar room near Trot, but the old

sailor refused to change his clothes for any others offered him, for

which reason he was ready for supper long before his comrade. "What

bothers me, mate," he said to the little girl as the y swam toward

the great banquet hall where Queen Aquareine awaited them, "is why

ain't we crushed by the pressin' of the water agin us, bein' as

we're down here in the deep sea."

"How's that, Cap'n? Why should we be crushed?" she asked.

"Why, ev'r'body knows that the deeper you go in the sea, the more

the water presses agin you," he explained. "Even the divers in their

steel jackets can't stand it very deep down. An' here we be, miles

from the top o' the water, I s'pect, an' we don't feel crowded a

bit."

"I know why," answered the child wisely. "The water don't touch us,

you see. If it did, it might crush us, but it don't. It's always

held a little way off from our bodies by the magic of the fairy

mermaids."

"True enough, Trot," declared the sailor man. "What an idjut I was

not to think o' that myself!"

In the royal banquet hall were assembled many of the mermaids,

headed by the lovely queen, and as soon as their earth guests

arrived, Aquareine ordered the meal to be served. The lobsters again

waited upon the table, wearing little white caps and aprons which

made them look very funny; but Trot was so hungry after her

afternoon's excursion that she did not pay as much attention to the

lobsters as she did to her supper, which was very delicious and

consisted of many courses. A lobster spilled some soup on Cap'n

Bill's bald head and made him yell for a minute, because it was hot

and he had not expected it, but the queen apologized very sweetly

for the awkwardness of her servants, and the sailor soon forgot all

about the incident in his enjoyment of the meal.

After the feast ended, they all went to the big reception room,

where some of the mermaids played upon harps while others sang

pretty songs. They danced together, too--a graceful, swimming dance,

so queer to the little girl that it interested and amused her

greatly. Cap'n Bill seemed a bit bashful among so many beautiful

mermaids, yet he was pleased when the queen offered him a place

beside her throne, where he could see and hear all the delightful

entertainment provided for the royal guests. He did not talk much,

being a man of few words except when alone with Trot, but his

light-blue eyes were big and round with wonder at the sights he saw.

Trot and the sailor man went to bed early and slept soundly upon

their sponge-covered couches. The little girl never wakened until

long after the sun was shining down through the glass roof of her

room, and when she opened her eyes she was startled to find a number

of big, small and middle-sized fishes staring at her through the

glass. "That's one bad thing 'bout this mermaid palace," she said to

herself. "It's too public. Ever'thing in the sea can look at you

through the glass as much as it likes. I wouldn't mind fishes

looking at me if they hadn't such big eyes, an'--goodness me!

There's a monster that's all head! And there goes a fish with a sail

on its back, an' here's old Mummercubble, I'm sure, for he's got a

head just like a pig."

She might have watched the fishes on the roof for hours, had she not

remembered it was late and breakfast must be ready. So she dressed

and made her toilet, and swam down into the palace to find Cap'n

Bill and the mermaids politely waiting for her to join them. The sea

maidens were as fresh and lovely as ever, while each and all proved

sweet tempered and merry, even at the breakfast table--and that is

where people are cross, if they ever are. During the meal the queen

said, "I shall take you this morning to the most interesting part of

the ocean, where the largest and most remarkable sea creatures live.

And we must visit King Anko, too, for the sea serpent would feel

hurt and slighted if I did not bring my guests to call upon him."

"That will be nice," said Trot eagerly.

But Cap'n Bill asked, "Is there any danger, ma'am?"

"I think not," replied Queen Aquareine. "I cannot say that you will

be exposed to any danger at all, so long as I'm with you. But we are

going into the neighborhood of such fierce and even terrible beings

which would attack you at once did they suspect you to be earth

people. So in order to guard your safety, I intend to draw the Magic

Circle around both of you before we start."

"What is the Magic Circle?" asked Trot.

"A fairy charm that prevents any enemy from touching you. No monster

of the sea, however powerful, will be able to reach your body while

you are protected by the Magic Circle," declared the Queen.

"Oh, then I'll not be a bit afraid," returned the child with perfect

confidence.

"Am I to have the Magic Circle drawn around me, too?" asked Cap'n

Bill.

"Of course," answered Aquareine. "You will need no other protection

than that, yet both Princess Clia and I will both be with you. For

today I shall leave Merla to rule our palaces in my place until we

return."

No sooner was breakfast finished than Trot was anxious to start. The

girl was also curious to discover what the powerful Magic Circle

might prove to be, but she was a little disappointed in the

ceremony. The queen merely grasped her fairy wand in her right hand

and swam around the child in a circle, from left to right. Then she

took her wand in her left hand and swam around Trot in another

circle, from right to left. "Now, my dear," said she, "you are safe

from any creature we are liable to meet."

She performed the same ceremony for Cap'n Bill, who was doubtful

about the Magic Circle because he felt the same after it as he had

before. But he said nothing of his unbelief, and soon they left the

palace and started upon their journey.

THE BASHFUL OCTOPUS CHAPTER 9

It was a lovely day, and the sea was like azure under the rays of

the sun.

Over the flower beds and through the gardens they swam, emerging

into the open sea in a direction opposite that taken by the visitors

the day before. The party consisted of but four: Queen Aquareine,

Princess Clia, Trot and Cap'n Bill.

"People who live upon the land know only those sea creatures which

they are able to catch in nets or upon hooks or those which become

disabled and are washed ashore," remarked the Queen as they swam

swiftly through the clear water. "And those who sail in ships see

only the creatures who chance to come to the surface. But in the

deep ocean caverns are queer beings that no mortal has ever heard of

or beheld, and some of these we are to visit. We shall also see some

sea shrubs and flowering weeds which are sure to delight you with

their beauty."

The sights really began before they had gone very far from the

palace, and a school of butterfly fish, having gorgeous colors

spattered over their broad wings, was first to delight the

strangers. They swam just as butterflies fly, with a darting, jerky

motion, and called a merry "Good morning!" to the mermaids as they

passed.

"These butterfly fish are remarkably active," said the Princess,

"and their quick motions protect them from their enemies. We like to

meet them; they are always so gay and good-natured."

"Why, so am I!" cried a sharp voice just beside them, and they all

paused to discover what creature had spoken to them.

"Take care," said Clia in a low voice. "It's an octopus."

Trot looked eagerly around. A long, brown arm stretched across their

way in front and another just behind them, but that did not worry

her. The octopus himself came slowly sliding up to them and proved

to be well worth looking at. He wore a red coat with brass buttons,

and a silk hat was tipped over one ear. His eyes were somewhat dull

and watery, and he had a moustache of long, hair-like "feelers" that

curled stiffly at the ends. When he tried to smile at them, he

showed two rows of sharp, white teeth. In spite of his red coat and

yellow-embroidered vest, his standing collar and carefully tied

cravat, the legs of the octopus were bare, and Trot noticed he used

some of his legs for arms, as in one of them was held a slender cane

and in another a handkerchief.

"Well, well!" said the Octopus. "Are you all dumb? Or don't you know

enough to be civil when you meet a neighbor?"

"We know how to be civil to our friends," replied Trot, who did not

like the way he spoke.

"Well, are we not friends, then?" asked the Octopus in an airy tone

of voice.

"I think not," said the little girl. "Octopuses are horrid

creatures."

"OctoPI, if you please; octoPI," said the monster with a laugh.

"I don't see any pie that pleases me," replied Trot, beginning to

get angry.

"OctoPUS means one of us; two or more are called octoPI," remarked

the creature, as if correcting her speech.

"I suppose a lot of you would be a whole bakery!" she said

scornfully.

"Our name is Latin. It was given to us by learned scientists years

ago," said the Octopus."

"That's true enough," agreed Cap'n Bill. "The learned scientists

named ev'ry blamed thing they come across, an' gener'ly they picked

out names as nobody could understand or pernounce."

"That isn't our fault, sir," said the Octopus. "Indeed, it's pretty

hard for us to go through life with such terrible names. Think of

the poor little seahorse. He used to be a merry and cheerful fellow,

but since they named him 'hippocampus' he hasn't smiled once."

"Let's go," said Trot. "I don't like to 'sociate with octopuses."

"OctoPI," said the creature, again correcting her.

"You're jus' as horrid whether you're puses or pies," she declared.

"Horrid!" cried the monster in a shocked tone of voice.

"Not only horrid, but horrible!" persisted the girl.

"May I ask in what way?" he inquired, and it was easy to see he was

offended.

"Why, ev'rybody knows that octopuses are jus' wicked an' deceitful,"

she said. "Up on the earth, where I live, we call the Stannerd Oil

Company an octopus, an' the Coal Trust an octopus, an'--"

"Stop, stop!" cried the monster in a pleading voice. "Do you mean to

tell me that the earth people whom I have always respected compare

me to the Stannerd Oil Company?"

"Yes," said Trot positively.

"Oh, what a disgrace! What a cruel, direful, dreadful disgrace!"

moaned the Octopus, drooping his head in shame, and Trot could see

great tears falling down his cheeks.

"This comes of having a bad name," said the Queen gently, for she

was moved by the monster's grief.

"It is unjust! It is cruel and unjust!" sobbed the creature

mournfully. "Just because we have several long arms and take

whatever we can reach, they accuse us of being like--like--oh, I

cannot say it! It is too shameful, too humiliating."

"Come, let's go," said Trot again. So they left the poor octopus

weeping and wiping his watery eyes with his handkerchief and swam on

their way. "I'm not a bit sorry for him," remarked the child, "for

his legs remind me of serpents."

"So they do me," agreed Cap'n Bill.

"But the octopi are not very bad," said the Princess, "and we get

along with them much better than we do with their cousins, the sea

devils."

"Oh. Are the sea devils their cousins?" asked Trot.

"Yes, and they are the only creatures of the ocean which we greatly

fear," replied Aquareine. "I hope we shall meet none today, for we

are going near to the dismal caverns where they live."

"What are the sea devils like, ma'am?" inquired Cap'n Bill a little

uneasily.

"Something like the octopus you just saw, only much larger and of a

bright scarlet color, striped with black," answered the Queen. "They

are very fierce and terrible creatures and nearly as much dreaded by

the inhabitants of the ocean as is Zog, and nearly as powerful as

King Anko himself."

"Zog! Who is Zog?" questioned the girl. "I haven't heard of him

before now."

"We do not like to mention Zog's name," responded the Queen in a low

voice. "He is the wicked genius of the sea, and a magician of great

power."

"What's he like?" asked Cap'n Bill.

"He is a dreadful creature, part fish, part man, part beast and part

serpent. Centuries ago they cast him off the earth into the sea,

where he has caused much trouble. Once he waged a terrible war

against King Anko, but the sea serpent finally conquered Zog and

drove the magician into his castle, where he now stays shut up. For

if ever Anko catches the monster outside of his enchanted castle, he

will kill him, and Zog knows that very well."

"Seems like you have your troubles down here just as we do on top

the ground," remarked Cap'n Bill.

"But I'm glad old Zog is shut up in his castle," added Trot. "Is it

a sea castle like your own palace?"

"I cannot say, my dear, for the enchantment makes it invisible to

all eyes but those of its inhabitants," replied Aquareine. "No one

sees Zog now, and we scarcely ever hear of him, but all the sea

people know he is here someplace and fear his power. Even in the old

days, before Anko conquered him, Zog was the enemy of the mermaids,

as he was of all the good and respectable seafolk. But do not worry

about the magician, I beg of you, for he has not dared to do an evil

deed in many, many years."

"Oh, I'm not afraid," asserted Trot.

"I'm glad of that," said the Queen. "Keep together, friends, and be

careful not to separate, for here comes an army of sawfishes."

Even as Aquareine spoke, they saw a swirl and commotion in the water

ahead of them, while a sound like a muffled roar fell upon their

ears. Then swiftly there dashed upon them a group of great fishes

with long saws sticking out in front of their noses, armed with

sharp, hooked teeth, all set in a row. They were larger than the

swordfishes and seemed more fierce and bold. But the mermaids and

Trot and Cap'n Bill quietly awaited their attack, and instead of

tearing them with their saws as they expected to do, the fishes were

unable to touch them at all. They tried every possible way to get at

their proposed victims, but the Magic Circle was all powerful and

turned aside the ugly saws; so our friends were not disturbed at

all. Seeing this, the sawfishes soon abandoned the attempt and with

growls and roars of disappointment swam away and were quickly out of

sight.

Trot had been a wee bit frightened during the attack, but now she

laughed gleefully and told the queen that it seemed very nice to be

protected by fairy powers. The water grew a darker blue as they

descended into its depths, farther and farther away from the rays of

the sun. Trot was surprised to find she could see so plainly through

the high wall of water above her, but the sun was able to shoot its

beams straight down through the transparent sea, and they seemed to

penetrate to every nook and crevice of the rocky bottom.

In this deeper part of the ocean some of the fishes had a

phosphorescent light of their own, and these could be seen far ahead

as if they were lanterns. The explorers met a school of argonauts

going up to the surface for a sail, and the child watched these

strange creatures with much curiosity. The argonauts live in shells

in which they are able to hide in case of danger from prowling wolf

fishes, but otherwise they crawl out and carry their shells like

humps upon their backs. Then they spread their skinny sails above

them and sail away under water till they come to the surface, where

they float and let the currents of air carry them along the same as

the currents of water had done before. Trot thought the argonauts

comical little creatures, with their big eyes and sharp noses, and

to her they looked like a fleet of tiny ships.

It is said that men got their first idea of boats and of how to sail

them from watching these little argonauts.

THE UNDISCOVERED ISLAND      CHAPTER 10

In following the fleet of argonauts, the four explorers had risen

higher in the water and soon found they had wandered to an open

space that seemed to Trot like the flat top of a high hill. The

sands were covered with a growth of weeds so gorgeously colored that

one who had never peered beneath the surface of the sea would

scarcely believe they were not the product of a dye shop. Every

known hue seemed represented in the delicate, fern-like leaves that

swayed softly to and fro as the current moved them. They were not

set close together, these branches of magnificent hues, but were

scattered sparsely over the sandy bottom of the sea so that while

from a distance they seemed thick, a nearer view found them spread

out with ample spaces of sand between them.

In these sandy spaces lay the real attractiveness of the place, for

here were many of those wonders of the deep that have surprised and

interested people in all ages.

First were the starfishes--hundreds of them, it seemed--lying

sleepily on the bottom, with their five or six points extended

outward. They were of various colors, some rich and brilliant,

others of dark brown hues. A few had wound their arms around the

weeds or were creeping slowly from one place to another, in the

latter case turning their points downward and using them as legs.

But most of them were lying motionless, and as Trot looked down upon

them she thought they resembled stars in the sky on a bright night,

except that the blue of the heavens was here replaced by the white

sand, and the twinkling diamond stars by the colored starfish.

"We are near an island," said the Queen, "and that is why so many

starfishes are here, as they love to keep close to shore. Also the

little seahorses love these weeds, and to me they are more

interesting than the starfish."

Trot now noticed the seahorses for the first time. They were quite

small--merely two or three inches high--but had funny little heads

that were shaped much like the head of a horse, and bright,

intelligent eyes. They had no legs, though, for their bodies ended

in tails which they twined around the stems of seaweeds to support

themselves and keep the currents from carrying them away.

Trot bent down close to examine one of the queer little creatures

and exclaimed, "Why, the seahorses haven't any fins or anything to

swim with."

"Oh yes we have," replied the Sea Horse in a tiny but distinct

voice. "These things on the side of my head are fins."

"I thought they were ears," said the girl.

"So they are. Fins and ears at the same time," answered the little

sea animal. "Also, there are small fins on our backs. Of course, we

can't swim as the mermaids do, or even as swiftly as fishes; but we

manage to get around, thank you."

"Don't the fishes catch and eat you?" inquired Trot curiously.

"Sometimes," admitted the Sea Horse, "and there are many other

living things that have a way of destroying us. But here I am, as

you see, over six weeks old, and during that time I have escaped

every danger. That isn't so bad, is it?"

"Phoo!" said a Starfish lying near. "I'm over three months old.

You're a mere baby, Sea Horse."

"I'm not!" cried the Sea Horse excitedly. "I'm full-grown and may

live to be as old as you are!"

"Not if I keep on living," said the Starfish calmly, and Trot knew

he was correct in his statement.

The little girl now noticed several sea spiders creeping around and

drew back because she did not think them very pretty. They were

shaped not unlike the starfishes, but had slender legs and big heads

with wicked-looking eyes sticking out of them.

"Oh, I don't like those things!" said Trot, coming closer to her

companions.

"You don't, eh?" said a big Sea Spider in a cross voice. "Why do you

come around here, then, scaring away my dinner when you're not

wanted?"

"It isn't YOUR ocean," replied Trot.

"No, and it isn't yours," snapped the Spider. "But as it's big

enough for us both, I'd like you to go away."

"So we will," said Aquareine gently, and at once she moved toward

the surface of the water. Trot and Cap'n Bill followed, with Clia,

and the child asked, "What island are we near?"

"It has no name," answered the Queen, "for it is not inhabited by

man, nor has it ever yet been discovered by them. Perhaps you will

be the first humans to see this island. But it is a barren, rocky

place, and only fit for seals and turtles."

"Are any of them there now?" Cap'n Bill inquired.

"I think so. We will see."

Trot was astonished to find how near they were to the "top" of the

ocean, for they had not ascended through the water very long when

suddenly her head popped into the air, and she gave a gasp of

surprise to find herself looking at the clear sky for the first time

since she had started upon this adventure by rowing into Giant's

Cave.

She floated comfortably in the water, with her head and face just

out of it, and began to look around her. Cap'n Bill was at her side,

and so were the two mermaids. The day was fair, and the surface of

the sea, which stretched far away as the eye could reach, rippled

under a gentle breeze. They had risen almost at the edge of a small,

rocky islet, high in the middle, but gradually slanting down to the

water. No trees or bushes or grass grew anywhere about; only rocks,

gray and bleak, were to be seen.

Trot scarcely noticed this at first, however, for the island seemed

covered with groups of forms, some still and some moving, which the

old sailor promptly recognized as seals. Many were lying asleep or

sunning themselves; others crept awkwardly around, using their

strong fins as legs or "paddles" and caring little if they disturbed

the slumbers of the others. Once in a while one of those crowded out

of place would give a loud and angry bark, which awakened others and

set them to barking likewise.

Baby seals were there in great numbers, and were more active and

playful than their elders. It was really wonderful how they could

scramble around on the land, and Trot laughed more than once at

their antics.

At the edge of the water lay many huge turtles, some as big around

as a wagon wheel and others much smaller in size.

"The big ones are very old," said the Queen, seeing Trot's eyes

fixed on the turtles.

"How old?" asked the child.

"Hundreds of years, I think. They live to a great age, for nothing

can harm them when they withdraw their legs and heads into their

thick shells. We use some of the turtles for food, but prefer the

younger ones. Men also fish for turtles and eat them, but of course

no men ever come to this out-of-the-way place in the ocean, so the

inhabitants of this little island know they are perfectly safe."

In the center of the island rose high cliffs on top of which were to

be seen great flocks of seagulls, some whirling in the air, while

others were perched upon the points of rock.

"What do the birds find to eat?" asked Cap'n Bill.

"They often feed upon seals which die of accident or old age, and

they are expert fishermen," explained Queen Aquareine. "Curiously

enough, the seals also feed upon these birds, which they are often

able to catch in their strong jaws when the gulls venture too near.

And then, the seals frequently rob the nests of eggs, of which they

are very fond."

"I'd like a few gulls' eggs now," remarked a big seal that lay near

them upon the shore. Trot had thought him sound asleep, but now he

opened his eyes to blink lazily at the group in the water.

"Good morning," said the Queen. "Aren't you Chief Muffruff?"

"I am," answered the old seal. "And you are Aquareine, the mermaid

queen. You see, I remember you, although you haven't been here for

years. And isn't that Princess Clia? To be sure! But the other

mermaids are strangers to me, especially the bald-headed one."

"I'm not a mermaid," asserted Cap'n Bill. "I'm a sailor jes'

a-visitin' the mermaids."

"Our friends are earth dwellers," explained the Queen.

"That's odd," said Muffruff. "I can't remember that any earth

dwellers ever came this way before. I never travel far, you see, for

I'm chief of this disorderly family of seals that live on this

island--on it and off it, that is."

"You're a poor chief," said a big turtle lying beside the seal. "If

your people are disorderly, it is your own fault."

Muffruff gave a chuckling laugh. Then, with a movement quick as

lightning, he pushed his head under the shell of the turtle and gave

it a sudden jerk. The huge turtle was tossed up on edge and then

turned flat upon its back, where its short legs struggled vainly to

right its overturned body.

"There!" snorted the Seal contemptuously. "Perhaps you'll dare

insult me again in the presence of visitors, you old mud-wallower!"

Seeing the plight of the turtle, several young seals came laughingly

wabbling to the spot, and as they approached the helpless creature

drew in his legs and head and closed his two shells tightly

together. The seals bumped against the turtle and gave it a push

that sent it sliding down the beach like a toboggan, and a minute

later it splashed into the water and sank out of sight. But that was

just what the creature wanted. On shore the upset turtle was quite

helpless; but the mischievous seals saved him. For as soon as he

touched the water, he was able to turn and right himself, which he

promptly did. Then he raised his head above the water and asked:

"Is it peace or war, Muffruff?"

"Whichever you like," answered the Seal indifferently.

Perhaps the turtle was angry, for it ran on shore with remarkable

swiftness, uttering a shrill cry as it advanced. At once all the

other turtles awoke to life and with upraised heads joined their

comrade in the rush for the seals. Most of Chief Muffruff's band

scrambled hastily down the rocks and plunged into the water of the

sea without waiting for the turtles to reach them; but the chief

himself was slow in escaping. It may be that he was ashamed to run

while the mermaids were watching, but if this was so he made a great

mistake. The turtles snapped at his fins and tail and began biting

round chunks out of them so that Chief Muffruff screamed with pain

and anger and floundered into the water as fast as he could go. The

vengeful turtles were certainly the victors, and now held undisputed

possession of the island.

Trot laughed joyously at the incident, not feeling a bit sorry for

the old seal who had foolishly begun the battle. Even the gentle

queen smiled as she said:

"These quarrels between the turtles and the seals are very frequent,

but they are soon ended. An hour from now they will all be lying

asleep together just as we found them; but we will not wait for

that. Let us go."

She sank slowly beneath the water again, and the others followed

after her.

ZOG THE TERRIBLE AND HIS SEA DEVILS       CHAPTER 11

"The sun must be going under a cloud," said Trot, looking ahead.

They had descended far into the ocean depths again--further, the

girl thought, than they had ever been before.

"No," the Queen answered after a glance ahead of them, "that is a

cuttlefish, and he is dyeing the sea around him with ink so that he

can hide from us. Let us turn a little to the left, for we could see

nothing at all in that inky water."

Following her advice, they made a broad curve to the left, and at

once the water began to darken in that direction.

"Why, there's another of 'em," said Cap'n Bill as the little party

came to a sudden halt.

"So there is," returned the Queen, and Trot thought there was a

little quiver of anxiety in her voice. "We must go far to the right

to escape the ink."

So they again started, this time almost at a right angle to their

former course, the little girl inquired:

"How can the cuttlefish color the water so very black?"

"They carry big sacks in front of them where they conceal the ink,"

Princess Clia answered. "Whenever they choose, the cuttlefish are

able to press out this ink, and it colors the water for a great

space around them."

The direction in which they were now swimming was taking them far

out of their way. Aquareine did not wish to travel very far to the

right, so when she thought they had gone far enough to escape the

inky water, she turned to lead her party toward the left--the

direction in which she DID wish to go. At once another cloud of ink

stained the water and drove them to the right again.

"Is anything wrong, ma'am?" asked Cap'n Bill, seeing a frown gather

upon the queen's lovely face.

"I hope not," she said. "But I must warn you that these cuttlefish

are the servants of the terrible sea devils, and from the way they

are acting they seem determined to drive us toward the Devil Caves,

which I wished to avoid."

This admission on the part of their powerful protector, the fairy

mermaid, sent a chill to the hearts of the earth people. Neither

spoke for a time, but finally Cap'n Bill asked in a timid voice:

"Hadn't we better go back, ma'am?"

"Yes," decided Aquareine after a moment's thought. "I think it will

be wise to retreat. The sea devils are evidently aware of our

movements and wish to annoy us. For my part, I have no fear of them,

but I do not care to have you meet such creatures."

But when they turned around to abandon their journey, another inky

cloud was to be seen behind them. They really had no choice but to

swim in the only streak of clear water they could find, and the

mermaids well knew this would lead them nearer and nearer to the

caves of their enemies.

But Aquareine led the way, moving very slowly, and the others

followed her. In every other direction they were hemmed in by the

black waters, and they did not dare to halt, because the inky fluid

crept swiftly up behind them and drove them on.

The queen and the princess had now become silent and grave. They

swam on either side of their guests as if to better protect them.

"Don't look up," whispered Clia, pressing close to the little girl's

side.

"Why not?" asked Trot, and then she did exactly what she had been

told not to do. She lifted her head and saw stretched over them a

network of scrawny, crimson arms interlaced like the branches of

trees in winter when the leaves have fallen and left them bare.

Cap'n Bill gave a start and muttered "Land sakes!" for he, too, had

gazed upward and seen the crimson network of limbs.

"Are these the sea devils?" asked the child, more curious than

frightened.

"Yes, dear," replied the Queen. "But I advise you to pay no

attention to them. Remember, they cannot touch us."

In order to avoid the threatening arms overhead, which followed them

as they swam, our friends kept near to the bottom of the sea, which

was here thickly covered with rough and jagged rocks. The inky water

had now been left far behind, but when Trot looked over her

shoulder, she shuddered to find a great crimson monster following

closely after them, with a dozen long, snaky feelers stretched out

as if to grab anyone that lagged behind. And there, at the side of

Princess Clia, was another devil, leering silently with his cruel,

bulging eyes at the pretty mermaid. Beside the queen swam still

another of their enemies. Indeed, the sea devils had crept upon them

and surrounded them everywhere except at the front, and Trot began

to feel nervous and worried for the first time.

Cap'n Bill kept mumbling queer words under his breath, for he had a

way of talking to himself when anything "upsot him," as he would

quaintly remark. Trot always knew he was disturbed or in trouble

when he began to "growl."

The only way now open was straight ahead. They swam slowly, yet fast

enough to keep a safe distance from the dreadful creature behind

them.

"I'm afraid they are driving us into a trap," whispered the Queen

softly. "But whatever happens, do not lose courage, earth friends.

Clia and I are here to protect you, and our fairy powers are

sufficient to keep you from all harm."

"Oh, I don't mind so very much," declared Trot calmly. "It's like

the fairy adventures in storybooks, and I've often thought I'd like

that kind of adventures, 'cause the story always turns out the right

way."

Cap'n Bill growled something just then, but the only words Trot

could make out were, "never lived to tell the tale."

"Oh, pshaw, Cap'n," she said. "We may be in danger, right enough,

an' to be honest, I don't like the looks of these sea devils at all.

But I'm sure it's no KILLING matter, for we've got the fairy circles

all around us."

"Ha ha!" laughed the monster beside her. "WE know all about the

fairy circles, don't we, Migg?"

"Ho ho!" laughed the monster on the other side. "We do, Slibb, my

boy, and we don't think much of fairy circles, either!"

"They have foiled our enemies many a time," declared the Princess

with much dignity.

"Ha ha!" laughed one. "That's why we're here now."

"Ho ho!" laughed the other. "We've learned a trick or two, and we've

got you fast this time."

Then all the sea devils--those above and the one behind, and the two

on the sides--laughed all together, and their laughter was so

horrible that it made even Trot shudder.

But now the queen stopped short, and the others stopped with her.

"I will go no farther," she said firmly, not caring if the monsters

overheard her. "It is evident that these monsters are trying to

drive us into some secret place, and it is well known that they are

in league with Zog the Terrible, whom they serve because they are as

wicked as he is. We must be somewhere near the hidden castle of Zog,

so I prefer to stay here rather than be driven into some place far

more dangerous. As for the sea devils, they are powerless to injure

us in any way. Not one of those thousand arms about us can possibly

touch our bodies."

The only reply to this defiant speech was another burst of horrible

laughter; and now there suddenly appeared before them still another

of the monsters, which thus completely hemmed them in. Then the

creatures began interlacing their long arms--or "feelers"--until

they formed a perfect cage around the prisoners, not an opening

being left that was large enough for one of them to escape through.

The mermaids and the girl and sailor man kept huddled close

together, for although they might be walled in by the sea devils,

their captors could not touch them because of the protecting magic

circles.

All at once Trot exclaimed, "Why, we must be moving!"

This was startling news, but by watching the flow of water past them

they saw that the little girl was right. The sea devils were

swimming, all together, and as the cage they were in moved forward,

our friends were carried with it.

Queen Aquareine had a stern look upon her beautiful face. Cap'n Bill

guessed from this look that the mermaid was angry, for it seemed

much like the look Trot's mother wore when they came home late to

dinner. But however angry the queen might be, she was unable to help

herself or her guests just now or to escape from the guidance of the

dreaded sea devils. The rest of the party had become sober and

thoughtful, and in dignified silence they awaited the outcome of

this strange adventure.

THE ENCHANTED ISLAND            CHAPTER 12

All at once it grew dark around them. Neither Cap'n Bill nor Trot

liked this gloom, for it made them nervous not to be able to see

their enemies.

"We must be near a sea cavern, if not within one," whispered

Princess Clia, and even as she spoke the network of scarlet arms

parted before them, leaving an avenue for them to swim out of the

cage. There was brighter water ahead, too, so the queen said without

hesitation:

"Come along, dear friends; but let us clasp hands and keep close

together."

They obeyed her commands and swam swiftly out of their prison and

into the clear water before them, glad to put a distance between

themselves and the loathesome sea devils. The monsters made no

attempt to follow them, but they burst into a chorus of harsh

laughter which warned our friends that they had not yet accomplished

their escape.

The four now found themselves in a broad, rocky passage, which was

dimly lighted from some unknown source. The walls overhead, below

them and at the sides all glistened as if made of silver, and in

places were set small statues of birds, beasts and fishes, occupying

niches in the walls and seemingly made from the same glistening

material.

The queen swam more slowly now that the sea devils had been left

behind, and she looked exceedingly grave and thoughtful.

"Have you ever been here before?" asked Trot.

"No, dear," said the Queen with a sigh.

"And do you know where we are?" continued the girl.

"I can guess," replied Aquareine. "There is only one place in all

the sea where such a passage as that we are in could exist without

my knowledge, and that is in the hidden dominions of Zog. If we are

indeed in the power of that fearful magician, we must summon all our

courage to resist him, or we are lost!"

"Is Zog more powerful than the mermaids?" asked Trot anxiously.

"I do not know, for we have never before met to measure our

strength," answered Aquareine. "But if King Anko could defeat the

magician, as he surely did, then I think I shall be able to do so."

"I wish I was sure of it," muttered Cap'n Bill.

Absolute silence reigned in the silver passage. No fish were there;

not even a sea flower grew to relieve the stern grandeur of this

vast corridor. Trot began to be impressed with the fact that she was

a good way from her home and mother, and she wondered if she would

ever get back again to the white cottage on the cliff. Here she was,

at the bottom of the great ocean, swimming through a big tunnel that

had an enchanted castle at the end, and a group of horrible sea

devils at the other! In spite of this thought, she was not very much

afraid. Although two fairy mermaids were her companions, she relied,

strange to say, more upon her tried and true friend, Cap'n Bill,

than upon her newer acquaintances to see her safely out of her

present trouble.

Cap'n Bill himself did not feel very confident.

"I don't care two cents what becomes o' me," he told Princess Clia

in a low voice, "but I'm drea'ful worried over our Trot. She's too

sweet an' young to be made an end of in this 'ere fashion."

Clia smiled at this speech. "I'm sure you will find the little

girl's end a good way off," she replied. "Trust to our powerful

queen, and be sure she will find some means for us all to escape

uninjured."

The light grew brighter as they advanced, until finally they

perceived a magnificent archway just ahead of them. Aquareine

hesitated a moment whether to go on or turn back, but there was no

escaping the sea devils behind them, and she decided the best way

out of their difficulties was to bravely face the unknown Zog and

rely upon her fairy powers to prevent his doing any mischief to

herself or her friends. So she led the way, and together they

approached the archway and passed through it.

They now found themselves in a vast cavern, so great in extent that

the dome overhead looked like the sky when seen from earth. In the

center of this immense sea cavern rose the towers of a splendid

castle, all built of coral inlaid with silver and having windows of

clear glass.

Surrounding the castle were beds of beautiful sea flowers, many

being in full bloom, and these were laid out with great care in

artistic designs. Goldfish and silverfish darted here and there

among the foliage, and the whole scene was so pretty and peaceful

that Trot began to doubt there was any danger lurking in such a

lovely place.

As they approached to look around them, a brilliantly colored

gregfish approached and gazed at them curiously with his big,

saucer-like eyes. "So Zog has got you at last!" he said in a pitying

tone. "How foolish you were to swim into that part of the sea where

he is powerful."

"The sea devils made us," explained Clia.

"Well, I'm sorry for you, I'm sure," remarked the Greg, and with a

flash of his tail, he disappeared among the sea foliage.

"Let us go to the castle," said the Queen in a determined voice. "We

may as well boldly defy our fate as to wait until Zog seeks us out."

So they swam to the entrance of the castle. The doors stood wide

open, and the interior seemed as well lighted as the cavern itself,

although none of them could discover from whence the light came.

At each side of the entrance lay a fish such as they had never seen

before. It was flat as a doormat and seemed to cling fast to the

coral floor. Upon its back were quills like those of a porcupine,

all pointed and sharp. From the center of the fish arose a head

shaped like a round ball, with a circle of piercing, bead-like eyes

set in it. These strange guardians of the entrance might be able to

tell what their numerous eyes saw, yet they remained silent and

watchful. Even Aquareine gazed upon them curiously, and she gave a

little shudder as she did so.

Inside the entrance was a domed hall with a flight of stairs leading

to an upper balcony. Around the hall were several doorways hung with

curtains made of woven seaweeds. Chairs and benches stood against

the wall, and these astonished the visitors because neither stairs

nor chairs seemed useful in a kingdom where every living thing was

supposed to swim and have a fish's tail. In Queen Aquareine's

palaces benches for reclining were used, and stairs were wholly

unnecessary, but in the Palace of Zog the furniture and fittings

were much like those of a house upon earth, and except that every

space here was filled with water instead of air, Trot and Cap'n Bill

might have imagined themselves in a handsome earthly castle.

The little group paused half fearfully in the hall, yet so far there

was surely nothing to be afraid of. They were wondering what to do

next when the curtains of an archway were pushed aside and a boy

entered. To Trot's astonishment, he had legs and walked upon them

naturally and with perfect ease. He was a delicate, frail-looking

little fellow, dressed in a black velvet suit with knee breeches.

The bows at his throat and knees were of colored seaweeds, woven

into broad ribbons. His hair was yellow and banged across his

forehead. His eyes were large and dark, with a pleasant, merry

sparkle in them. Around his neck he wore a high ruff, but in spite

of this Trot could see that below his plump cheeks were several

scarlet-edged slits that looked like the gills of fishes, for they

gently opened and closed as the boy breathed in the water by which

he was surrounded. These gills did not greatly mar the lad's

delicate beauty, and he spread out his arms and bowed low and

gracefully in greeting.

"Hello," said Trot.

"Why, I'd like to," replied the boy with a laugh, "but being a mere

slave, it isn't proper for me to hello. But it's good to see earth

people again, and I'm glad you're here."

"We're not glad," observed the girl. "We're afraid."

"You'll get over that," declared the boy smilingly. "People lose a

lot of time being afraid. Once I was myself afraid, but I found it

was no fun, so I gave it up."

"Why were we brought here?" inquired Queen Aquareine gently.

"I can't say, madam, being a mere slave," replied the boy. "But you

have reminded me of my errand. I am sent to inform you all that Zog

the Forsaken, who hates all the world and is hated by all the world,

commands your presence in his den."

"Do you hate Zog, too?" asked Trot.

"Oh no," answered the boy. "People lose a lot of time in hating

others, and there's no fun in it at all. Zog may be hateful, but I'm

not going to waste time hating him. You may do so, if you like."

"You are a queer child," remarked the Mermaid Queen, looking at him

attentively. "Will you tell us who you are?"

"Once I was Prince Sacho of Sacharhineolaland, which is a sweet

country, but hard to pronounce," he answered. "But in this domain I

have but one title and one name, and that is 'Slave.'"

"How came you to be Zog's slave?" asked Clia.

"The funniest adventure you ever heard of," asserted the boy with

eager pride. "I sailed in a ship that went to pieces in a storm. All

on board were drowned but me, and I came mighty near it, to tell the

truth. I went down deep, deep into the sea, and at the bottom was

Zog, watching the people drown. I tumbled on his head, and he

grabbed and saved me, saying I would make a useful slave. By his

magic power he made me able to live under water as the fishes live,

and he brought me to this castle and taught me to wait upon him as

his other slaves do."

"Isn't it a dreadful, lonely life?" asked Trot.

"No indeed," said Sacho. "We haven't any time to be lonely, and the

dreadful things Zog does are very exciting and amusing, I assure

you. He keeps us guessing every minute, and that makes the life here

interesting. Things were getting a bit slow an hour ago, but now

that you are here, I'm in hopes we will all be kept busy and amused

for some time."

"Are there many others in the castle besides you and Zog?" asked

Aquareine.

"Dozens of us. Perhaps hundreds. I've never counted them," said the

boy. "But Zog is the only master; all the rest of us are in the same

class, so there is no jealousy among the slaves."

"What is Zog like?" Cap'n Bill questioned.

At this the boy laughed, and the laugh was full of mischief. "If I

could tell you what Zog is like, it would take me a year," was the

reply. "But I can't tell you. Every one has a different idea of what

he's like, and soon you will see him yourselves."

"Are you fond of him?" asked Trot.

"If I said yes, I'd get a good whipping," declared Sacho. "I am

commanded to hate Zog, and being a good servant, I try to obey. If

anyone dared to like Zog, I am sure he'd be instantly fed to the

turtles; so I advise you not to like him."

"Oh, we won't," promised Trot.

"But we're keeping the master waiting, and that is also a dangerous

thing to do," continued the boy. "If we don't hurry up, Zog will

begin to smile, and when he smiles there is trouble brewing."

The queen sighed. "Lead the way, Sacho," she said. "We will follow."

The boy bowed again, and going to an archway, held aside the

curtains for them. They first swam into a small anteroomn which led

into a long corridor, at the end of which was another curtained

arch. Through this Sacho also guided them, and now they found

themselves in a cleverly constructed maze. Every few feet were

twists and turns and sharp corners, and sometimes the passage would

be wide, and again so narrow that they could just squeeze through in

single file. "Seems like we're gettin' further into the trap,"

growled Cap'n Bill. "We couldn't find our way out o' here to save

our lives."

"Oh yes we could," replied Clia, who was just behind him. "Such a

maze may indeed puzzle you, but the queen or I could lead you safely

through it again, I assure you. Zog is not so clever as he thinks

himself."

The sailor, however, found the maze very bewildering, and so did

Trot. Passages ran in every direction, crossing and recrossing, and

it seemed wonderful that the boy Sacho knew just which way to go.

But he never hesitated an instant. Trot looked carefully to see if

there were any marks to guide him, but every wall was of plain,

polished marble, and every turning looked just like all the others.

Suddenly Sacho stopped short. They were now in a broader passage,

but as they gathered around their conductor they found further

advance blocked. Solid walls faced them, and here the corridor

seemed to end.

"Enter!" said a clear voice.

"But we can't!" protested Trot.

"Swim straight ahead," whispered the boy in soft tones. "There is no

real barrier before you. Your eyes are merely deceived by magic."

"Ah, I understand," said Aquareine, nodding her pretty head. And

then she took Mayre's hand and swam boldly forward, while Cap'n Bill

followed holding the hand of Clia. And behold! the marble wall

melted away before them, and they found themselves in a chamber more

splendid than even the fairy mermaids had ever seen before.

PRISONERS OF THE SEA MONSTER      CHAPTER 13

The room in the enchanted castle which Zog called the "den" and in

which the wicked sea monster passed most of his time was a perfectly

shaped dome of solid gold. The upper part of this dome was thickly

set with precious jewels--diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds,

which sparkled beautifully through the crystal water. The lower

walls were as thickly studded with pearls, all being of perfect

shape and color. Many of the pearls were larger than any which may

be found upon earth, for the sea people knew where to find the very

best and hide them away where men cannot discover them.

The golden floor was engraved with designs of rare beauty, depicting

not only sea life, but many adventures upon land. In the room were

several large, golden cabinets, the doors of which were closed and

locked, and in addition to the cabinets there were tables, chairs

and sofas, the latter upholstered with softest sealskins. Handsome

rugs of exquisitely woven seaweeds were scattered about, the colors

of which were artistically blended together. In one corner a

fountain of air bubbled up through the water. The entire room was

lighted as brilliantly as if exposed to the direct rays of the sun,

yet where this light came from our friends could not imagine. No

lamp or other similar device was visible anywhere.

The strangers at first scarcely glanced at all these beautiful

things, for in an easy chair sat Zog himself, more wonderful than

any other living creature, and as they gazed upon him, their eyes

seemed fascinated as if held by a spell. Zog's face was the face of

a man, except that the tops of his ears were pointed like horns and

he had small horns instead of eyebrows and a horn on the end of his

chin. In spite of these deformities, the expression of the face was

not unpleasant or repulsive. His hair was carefully parted and

brushed, and his mouth and nose were not only perfect in shape but

quite handsome.

Only the eyes betrayed Zog and made him terrible to all beholders.

They seemed like coals of glowing fire and sparkled so fiercely that

no one ever cared to meet their gaze for more than an instant.

Perhaps the monster realized this, for he usually drooped his long

lashes over his fiery eyes to shut out their glare. Zog had two

well-shaped legs which ended in the hoofs of beasts instead of feet,

and these hoofs were shod with gold. His body was a shapeless mass

covered with richly embroidered rainment, over which a great robe of

cloth of gold fell in many folds. This robe was intended to hide the

magician's body from view, but Trot noticed that the cloth moved

constantly in little ripples, as if what lay underneath would not

keep still.

The best features of which Zog could boast were his arms and hands,

the latter being as well formed, as delicate and white as those of a

well-bred woman. When he spoke, his voice sounded sweet and clear,

and its tones were very gentle. He had given them a few moments to

stare at him, for he was examining them in turn with considerable

curiosity. "Well," said he, "do you not find me the most hateful

creature you have ever beheld?"

The queen refrained from answering, but Trot said promptly, "We do.

Nothing could be more horrider or more disgustin' than you are, it

seems to me."

"Very good, very good indeed," declared the monster, lifting his

lashes to flash his glowing eyes upon them. Then he turned toward

Cap'n Bill. "Man-fish," he continued, "what do YOU think of me?"

"Mighty little," the sailor replied. "You orter be 'shamed to ask

sech a question, knowin' you look worse ner the devil himself."

"Very true," answered Zog, frowning. He felt that he had received a

high compliment, and the frown showed he was pleased with Cap'n

Bill.

But now Queen Aquareine advanced to a position in front of their

captor and said, "Tell me, Zog, why have you trapped us and brought

us here?"

"To destroy you," was the quick answer, and the magician turned for

an instant to flash his eyes upon the beautiful mermaid. "For two

hundred years I have been awaiting a chance to get within my power

some friend of Anko the Sea Serpent--of Anko, whom I hate!" he

added, smiling sweetly. "When you left your palace today, my swift

spies warned me, and so I sent the sea devils to capture you. Often

have they tried to do this before, but always failed. Today, acting

by my command, they tricked you, and by surrounding you forced you

to the entrance of my enchanted castle. The result is a fine capture

of important personages. I have now in my power the queen and

princess of the fairy mermaids, as well as two wandering earth

people, and I assure you I shall take great pleasure in destroying

you utterly."

"You are a coward," declared the Queen proudly. "You dared not meet

us in the open sea."

"No, I dare not leave this castle," Zog admitted, still smiling.

"But here in my own domain my power is supreme. Nothing can

interfere with my vengeance."

"That remains to be seen," said Aquareine, firmly meeting the gaze

of the terrible eyes.

"Of course," he answered, nodding his head with a graceful movement.

"You will try to thwart me and escape. You will pit your fairy power

against my powers of magic. That will give me great pleasure, for

the more you struggle, the greater will be my revenge."

"But why should you seek revenge upon us?" asked Clia. "We have

never harmed you."

"That is true," replied Zog. "I bear you no personal ill will. But

you are friends of my great enemy, King Anko, and it will annoy him

very much when he finds that you have been destroyed by me. I cannot

hurt the rascally old sea serpent himself, but through you I can

make him feel my vengeance."

"The mermaids have existed thousands of years," said the Queen in a

tone of pride. "Do you imagine the despised and conquered Zog has

power to destroy them?"

"I do not know," was the quiet answer. "It will be interesting to

discover which is the more powerful."

"I challenge you to begin the test at once, vile magician!"

exclaimed Aquareine.

"There is no hurry, fair Queen," answered Zog in his softest tones.

"I have been so many years in accomplishing your capture that it is

foolish to act hastily now. Besides, I am lonely. Here in my forced

retirement I see only those uninteresting earth mortals whom I have

made my slaves, for all sea dwellers are forbidden to serve me save

the sea devils, and they dare not enter my castle. I have saved many

mortals from drowning and brought them here to people my castle, but

I do not love mortals. Two lovely mermaids are much more

interesting, and before I allow you to perish, I shall have much

amusement in witnessing your despair and your struggles to escape.

You are now my prisoners. By slow degrees I shall wear out your

fairy powers and break your hearts, as well as the hearts of these

earth dwellers who have no magic powers, and I think it will be a

long time before I finally permit you to die."

"That's all right," said Trot cheerfully. "The longer you take, the

better I'll be satisfied."

"That's how I feel about it," added Cap'n Bill. "Don't get in a

hurry to kill us Zog. It'll be such a wear an' tear on your nerves.

Jes' take it easy an' let us live as long as we can."

"Don't you care to die?" asked the magician.

"It's a thing I never longed for," the sailor replied. "You see, we

had no business to go on a trip with the mermaids to begin with.

I've allus heard tell that mermaids is dangerous, an' no one as met

'em ever lived to tell the tale. Eh, Trot?"

"That's what you said, Cap'n Bill."

"So I guess we're done for, one way 'r 'nother, an' it don't matter

much which. But Trot's a good child, an' mighty young an' tender. It

don't seem like her time has come to die. I'd like to have her sent

safe home to her mother. So I've got this 'ere proposition to make,

Zog. If your magic could make ME die twice, or even THREE times fer

good measure, why you go ahead an' do it an' I won't complain. All I

ask is fer you to send this little girl safe back to dry land

again."

"Don't you do it, Zog!" cried Trot indignantly, and turning to Cap'n

Bill, she added, "I'm not goin' to leave you down here in all this

mess, Cap'n, and don't you think it. If one of us gets out of the

muddle we're in, we'll both get out, so don't you make any bargains

with Zog to die twice."

Zog listened to this conversation very carefully. "The dying does

not amount to much," he said. "It is the thinking about it that

hurts you mortals most. I've watched many a shipwreck at sea, and

the people would howl and scream for hours before the ship broke up.

Their terror was very enjoyable. But when the end came, they all

drowned as peacefully as if they were going to sleep, so it didn't

amuse me at all."

"I'm not worrying," said Trot.

"Ner me," said Cap'n Bill. "You'll find we can take what comes jes'

as easy as anybody."

"I do not expect to get much from you poor mortals," said Zog

carelessly. "You are merely a side show to my circus, a sort of

dessert to my feast of vengeance. When the time comes, I can find a

hundred ways to kill you. My most interesting prisoners are these

pretty mermaids, who claim that none of their race has ever yet died

or been destroyed. The first mermaid ever created is living yet, and

I am told she is none other than Queen Aquareine. So I have a pretty

problem before me to invent some way to destroy the mermaids or put

them out of existence. And it will require some thought."

"Also, it will require some power you do not possess," suggested the

Queen.

"That may be," replied Zog softly. "But I am going to experiment,

and I believe I shall be able to cause you a lot of pain and sorrow

before I finally make an end of you. I have not lived twenty-seven

thousand years, Aquareine, without getting a certain amount of

wisdom, and I am more powerful than you suspect."

"You are a monster and a wicked magician," said the Mermaid Queen.

"I am," agreed Zog, "but I cannot help it. I was created part man,

part bird, part fish, part beast and part reptile, and such a

monstrosity could not be otherwise than wicked. Everybody hates me,

and I hate everybody."

"Why don't you kill yourself?" asked Trot.

"I've tried that and failed," he answered. "Only one being in the

world has power to destroy me, and that is King Anko, the sea

serpent."

"Then you'd better let him do it," advised the little girl.

"No. Much as I long to die, I cannot allow King Anko the pleasure of

killing me. He has always been my worst enemy, and it would be such

a joy to him to kill me that I really cannot allow him. Indeed, I

have always hoped to kill Anko. I have now been three thousand six

hundred and forty-two years, eleven months and nine days figuring

out a plan to destroy old Anko, and as yet I have not discovered a

way."

"I'd give it up, if I were you," advised Trot. "Don't you think you

could get some fun out of trying to be good?"

"No!" cried Zog, and his voice was not so soft as before. "Listen,

Aquareine, you and your attendants shall be prisoners in this castle

until I can manage to stop you from living. Rooms will be placed at

your disposal, and I wish you to go to them at o nce, as I am tired

of looking at you."

"You're no more tired than we are," remarked Trot. "It's lucky you

can't see yourself, Zog."

He turned his glowing eyes full upon her. "The worst of my queer

body I keep concealed," he said. "If ever you see it, you will

scream with terror." He touched a bell beside him, and the girl was

surprised to find how clearly its tones rang out through the water.

In an instant the boy Sacho appeared and bowed low before his

dreadful master. "Take the mermaids and the child to the Rose

Chamber," commanded Zog, "and take the old man-fish to the Peony

Room."

Sacho turned to obey. "Are the outer passages well guarded?" asked

the monster.

"Yes, as you have commanded," said the boy.

"Then you may allow the prisoners to roam at will throughout the

castle. Now, go!"

The prisoners followed Sacho from the room, glad to get away. The

presence of this evil being had grown oppressive to them, and Zog

had himself seemed ill at ease during the last few minutes. The robe

so closely wound around his body moved jerkily, as if something

beneath disturbed it, and at such times Zog shifted nervously in his

seat.

Sacho's thin little legs trotted through the water and led the way

into a different passage from the one by which they had entered.

They swam slowly after him and breathed easier when they had left

the golden domed chamber where their wicked enemy sat enthroned.

"Well, how do you like him?" asked Sacho with a laugh.

"We hate him!" declared Trot emphatically.

"Of course you do," replied Sacho. "But you're wasting time hating

anything. It doesn't do you any good, or him any harm. Can you

sing?"

"A little," said Trot, "but I don't feel like singing now."

"You're wrong about that," the boy asserted. "Anything that keeps

you from singing is foolishness, unless it's laughter. Laughter, joy

and song are the only good things in the world."

Trot did not answer this queer speech, for just then they came to a

flight of stairs, and Sacho climbed up them while the others swam.

And now they were in a lofty, broad corridor having many doors hung

with seaweed draperies. At one of these doorways Sacho stopped and

said, "Here is the Rose Chamber where the master commands you to

live until you die. You may wander anywhere in the castle as you

please; to leave it is impossible. Whenever you return to the Rose

Chamber, you will know it by this design of roses sewn in pearls

upon the hangings. The Peony Room where the man-fish is to live is

the next one farther on."

"Thank you," replied Queen Aquareine. "Are we to be fed?"

"Meals will be served in your rooms. If you desire anything, ring

the bell and some of the slaves will be sure to answer it. I am

mostly in attendance upon my master, but whenever I am at liberty I

will look after your comfort myself."

Again they thanked the strange boy, and he turned and left them.

They could hear him whistle and sing as he returned along the

passage. Then Princess Clia parted the curtains that her queen and

companions might enter the Rose Chamber.

CAP'N JOE AND CAP'N BILL         CHAPTER 14

The rooms Zog had given his prisoners were as handsome as all other

parts of this strange enchanted castle. Gold was used plentifully in

the decorations, and in the Rose Chamber occupied by the mermaids

and Trot golden roses formed a border around the entire room. The

sea maidens had evidently been expected, for the magician had

provided couches for them to recline upon similar to the ones used

in the mermaid palaces. The frames were of mother of pearl and the

cushions of soft, white sponges. In the room were toilet tables,

mirrors, ornaments and many articles used by earth people, which

they afterward learned had been plundered by Zog from sunken ships

and brought to his castle by his allies, the sea devils.

While the mermaids were examining and admiring their room, Cap'n

Bill went to the Peony Room to see what it was like and found his

quarters were very cozy and interesting. There were pictures on the

wall, portraits of grave-looking porpoises, bashful seals, and smug

and smiling walruses. Some of the wall panels were formed of mirrors

and reflected clearly the interior of the room. Around the ceiling

was a frieze of imitation peonies in silver, and the furniture was

peony-shaped, the broad leaves being bent to form seats and couches.

Beside a pretty dressing table hung a bell cord with a tassel at the

end. Cap'n Bill did not know it was a bell cord, so he pulled it to

see what would happen and was puzzled to find that nothing seemed to

happen at all, the bell being too far away for him to hear it. Then

he began looking at the treasures contained in this royal apartment,

and was much pleased with a golden statue of a mermaid that

resembled Princess Clia in feature. A silver flower vase upon a

stand contained a bouquet of gorgeous peonies, "as nat'ral as life,"

said Cap'n Bill, although he saw plainly that they must be made of

metal.

Trot came in just then to see how her dear friend was located. She

entered from the doorway that connected the two rooms and said,

"Isn't it pretty, Cap'n? And who'd ever think that awful creature

Zog owned such a splendid castle and kept his prisoners in such

lovely rooms?"

"I once heard tell," said the sailor, "of a foreign people that

sacrificed humans to please their pagan gods, an' before they killed

'em outright they stuffed the victims full of good things to eat an'

dressed 'em in pretty clothes an' treated 'em like princes. That's

why I don't take much comfort in our fine surroundin's, Trot. This

Zog is a pagan, if ever there was one, an' he don't mean us any

good, you may depend on 't."

"No," replied Trot soberly, "I'm sure he does not expect us to be

happy here. But I'm going to fool him and have just as good a time

as I can." As she spoke they both turned around--an easy thing to do

with a single flop of their flexible tails--and Cap'n Bill uttered a

cry of surprise. Just across the room stood a perfect duplicate of

himself. The round head, with its bald top and scraggly whiskers,

the sailor cap and shirt, the wide pantaloons, even the wooden leg,

each and every one were exact copies of those owned by Cap'n Bill.

Even the expression in the light-blue eyes was the same, and it is

no wonder the old sailor stared at his "double" in amazement. But

the next minute he laughed and said, "Why, Trot, it's ME reflected

in a mirror. But at first I thought it was someone else."

Trot was staring, too. "Look, Cap'n!" she whispered. "Look at the

wooden leg."

"Well, it's MY wooden leg, ain't it?" he inquired.

"If it is, it can't be a reflection in a mirror," she argued, "for

YOU haven't got a wooden leg. You've got a fish's tail."

The old sailor was so startled by this truth that he gave a great

flop with his tail that upset his balance and made him keel a

somersault in the water before he got right side up again. Then he

found the other sailor man laughing at him and was horrified to find

the "reflection" advancing toward them by stumping along on its

wooden leg. "Keep away! Get out, there!" yelled Cap'n Bill. "You're

a ghost, the ghost o' me that once was, an' I can't bear the sight

o' you. Git out!"

"Did you ring jes' to tell me to git out?" asked the other in a mild

voice.

"I--I didn't ring," declared Cap'n Bill.

"You did. You pulled that bell cord," said the one-legged (one or

more lines missing here in this edition)

"Oh, did pullin' that thing ring a bell?" inquired the Cap'n, a

little ashamed of his ignorance and reassured by hearing the "ghost"

talk.

"It surely did," was the reply, "and Sacho told me to answer your

bell and look after you. So I'm a-lookin' after you."

"I wish you wouldn't," protested Cap'n Bill. "I've no use fer--fer

ghostses, anyhow."

The strange sailor began to chuckle at hearing this, and his chuckle

was just like Cap'n Bill's chuckle, so full of merry humor that it

usually made everyone laugh with him.

"Who are you?" asked Trot, who was very curious and much surprised.

"I'm Cap'n Joe," was the reply. "Cap'n Joe Weedles, formerly o' the

brig 'Gladsome' an' now a slave o' Zog at the bottom o' the sea."

"J--J--Joe Wee-Weedles!" gasped Cap'n Bill, amazed. "Joe Weedles o'

the 'Gladsome'! Why, dash my eyes, mate, you must be my brother!"

"Are YOU Bill Weedles?" asked the other. And then he added, "But no,

you can't be. Bill wasn't no mermaid. He were a human critter like

myself."

"That's what I am," said Cap'n Bill hastily. "I'm a human critter,

too. I've jes' borrered this fish tail to swim with while I'm

visitin' the mermaids."

"Well, well," said Cap'n Joe in astonishment. "Who'd o' thought it!

An' who'd ever o' thought as I'd find my long-lost brother in Zog's

enchanted castle full fifty fathoms deep down in the wet, wet

water!"

"Why, as fer that," replied Cap'n Bill, "it's YOU as is the

long-lost brother, not me. You an' your ship disappeared many a year

ago, an' ain't never been heard of since, while, as you see, I'm

livin' on earth yet."

"You don't look it to all appearances," remarked Cap'n Joe in a

reflective tone of voice. "But I'll agree it's many a year since I

saw the top o' the water, an' I'm not expectin' to ever tramp on dry

land again."

"Are you dead, or drownded, or what?" asked Cap'n Bill.

"Neither one nor t'other," was the answer. "But Zog gave me gills

so's I could live in the water like fishes do, an' if I got on land

I couldn't breathe air any more'n a fish out o' water can. So I

guess as long as I live, I'll hev to stay down here."

"Do you like it?" asked Trot.

"Oh, I don't objec' much," said Cap'n Joe. "There ain't much

excitement here, fer we don't catch a flock o' mermaids ev'ry day,

but the work is easy an' the rations fair. I might o' been worse

off, you know, for when my brig was wrecked, I'd 'a' gone to Davy

Jones's Locker if Zog hadn't happened to find me an' made me a

fish."

"You don't look as much like a fish as Cap'n Bill does," observed

Trot.

"P'raps not," said Cap'n Joe, "but I notice Bill ain't got any gills

an' breathes like you an' the mermaids does. When he gets back to

land, he'll have his two legs again an' live in comfort breathin'

air."

"I won't have two legs," asserted Cap'n Bill, "for when I'm on earth

I'm fitted with one wooden leg, jes' the same as you are, Joe."

"Oh, I hadn't heard o' that, Bill, but I'm not surprised," replied

Brother Joe. "Many a sailor gets to wear a wooden leg in time.

Mine's hick'ry."

"So's mine," said Cap'n Bill with a air of pride. "I'm glad I've run

across you, Joe, for I often wondered what had become of you. Seems

too bad, though, to have to spend all your life under water."

"What's the odds?" asked Cap'n Joe. "I never could keep away from

the water since I was a boy, an' there's more dangers to be met

floatin' on it than there is soakin' in it. An' one other thing

pleases me when I think on it: I'm parted from my wife, a mighty

good woman with a tongue like a two-edge sword, an' my pore

widder'll get the insurance money an' live happy. As fer me, Bill,

I'm a good deal happier than I was when she kep' scoldin' me from

mornin' to night every minute I was home."

"Is Zog a kind master?" asked Trot.

"I can't say he's kind," replied Cap'n Joe, "for he's as near a

devil as any livin' critter CAN be. He grumbles an' growls in his

soft voice all day, an' hates himself an' everybody else. But I

don't see much of him. There's so many of us slaves here that Zog

don't pay much attention to us, an' we have a pretty good time when

the ol' magician is shut up in his den, as he mostly is."

"Could you help us to escape?" asked the child.

"Why, I don't know how," admitted Cap'n Joe. "There's magic all

around us, and we slaves are never allowed to leave this great cave.

I'll do what I can, o' course, but Sacho is the boy to help you if

anyone can. That little chap knows a heap, I can tell you. So now,

if nothin' more's wanted, I must get back to work."

"What work do you do?" Cap'n Bill asked.

"I sew buttons on Zog's clothes. Every time he gets mad, he busts

his buttons off, an' I have to sew 'em on again. As he's mad most o'

the time, it keeps me busy."

"I'll see you again, won't I, Joe?" said Cap'n Bill.

"No reason why you shouldn't, if you manage to keep alive," said

Cap'n Joe. "But you mustn't forget, Bill, this Zog has his grip on

you, an' I've never known anything to escape him yet."

Saying this, the old sailor began to stump toward the door, but

tripped his foot against his wooden leg and gave a swift dive

forward. He would have fallen flat had he not grabbed the drapery at

the doorway and saved himself by holding fast to it with both hands.

Even then he rolled and twisted so awkwardly before he could get

upon his legs that Trot had to laugh outright at his antics. "This

hick'ry leg," said Cap'n Joe, "is so blamed light that it always

wants to float. Agga-Groo, the goldworker, has promised me a gold

leg that will stay down, but he never has time to make it. You're

mighty lucky, Bill, to have a merman's tail instead o' legs."

"I guess I am, Joe," replied Cap'n Bill, "for in such a wet country

the fishes have the best of it. But I ain't sure I'd like this sort

o' thing always."

"Think o' the money you'd make in a side show," said Cap'n Joe with

his funny chuckling laugh. Then he pounded his wooden leg against

the hard floor and managed to hobble from the room without more

accidents.

When he had gone, Trot said, "Aren't you glad to find your brother

again, Cap'n Bill?"

"Why, so-so," replied the sailor. "I don't know much about Joe,

seein' as we haven't met before for many a long year, an' all I

remember about our boyhood days is that we fit an' pulled hair most

o' the time. But what worries me most is Joe's lookin' so much like

me myself, wooden leg an' all. Don't you think it's rather cheeky

an' unbrotherly, Trot?"

"Perhaps he can't help it," suggested the child. "And anyhow, he'll

never be able to live on land again."

"No," said Cap'n Bill with a sigh. "Joe's a fish, now, an' so he

ain't likely to be took for me by one of our friends on the earth."

THE MAGIC OF THE MERMAIDS  CHAPTER 15

When Trot and Cap'n Bill entered the Rose Chamber they found the two

mermaids reclining before an air fountain that was sending thousands

of tiny bubbles up through the water.

"These fountains of air are excellent things," remarked Queen

Aquareine, "for they keep the water fresh and sweet, and that is the

more necessary when it is confined by walls, as it is in this

castle. But now, let us counsel together and decide what to do in

the emergency that confronts us."

"How can we tell what to do without knowing what's going to happen?"

asked Trot.

"Somethin's sure to happen," said Cap'n Bill.

As if to prove his words, a gong suddenly sounded at their door and

in walked a fat little man clothed all in white, including a white

apron and white cap. His face was round and jolly, and he had a big

mustache that curled up at the ends.

"Well, well!" said the little man, spreading out his legs and

putting his hands on his hips as he stood looking at them. "Of all

the queer things in the sea, you're the queerest! Mermaids, eh?"

"Don't bunch us that way!" protested Cap'n Bill.

"You are quite wrong," said Trot. "I'm a--a girl."

"With a fish's tail?" he asked, laughing at her.

"That's only just for a while," she said, "while I'm in the water,

you know. When I'm at home on the land I walk just as you do, an' so

does Cap'n Bill."

"But we haven't any gills," remarked the Cap'n, looking closely at

the little man's throat, "so I take it we're not as fishy as some

others."

"If you mean me, I must admit you are right," said the little man,

twisting his mustache. "I'm as near a fish as a man can be. But you

see, Cap'n, without the gills that make me a fish, I could not live

under water."

"When it comes to that, you've no business to live under water,"

asserted the sailor. "But I s'pose you're a slave and can't help

it."

"I'm chief cook for that old horror Zog. And that reminds me, good

mermaids, or good people, or good girls and sailors, or whatever you

are, that I'm sent here to ask what you'd like to eat."

"Good to see you, sir," said Cap'n Bill. "I'm nearly starved,

myself."

"I had it in mind," said the little man, "to prepare a regular

mermaid dinner, but since you're not mermaids--"

"Oh, two of us are," said the Queen, smiling. "I, my good cook, am

Aquareine, the ruler of the mermaids, and this is the Princess

Clia."

"I've often heard of you, your Majesty," returned the chief cook,

bowing respectfully, "and I must say I've heard only good of you.

Now that you have unfortunately become my master's prisoners, it

will give me pleasure to serve you as well as I am able."

"We thank you, good sir," said Aquareine.

"What have you got to eat?" inquired Trot. "Seems to me I'm hollow

way down to my toes--my tail, I mean--and it'll take a lot to fill

me up. We haven't eaten a morsel since breakfast, you know."

"I think I shall be able to give you almost anything you would

like," said the cook. "Zog is a wonderful magician and can procure

anything that exists with no more effort than a wiggle of his thumb.

But some eatables, you know, are hard to serve under water, because

they get so damp that they are soon ruined."

"Ah, it is different with the mermaids," said Princess Clia.

"Yes, all your things are kept dry because they are surrounded by

air. I've heard how the mermaids live. But here it is different."

"Take this ring," said the Queen, handing the chief cook a circlet

which she drew from her finger. "While it is in your possession, the

food you prepare will not get wet, or even moist."

"I thank your Majesty," returned the cook, taking the ring. "My name

is Tom Atto, and I'll do my best to please you. How would you like

for luncheon some oysters on the half-shell, clam broth, shrimp

salad, broiled turtle steak and watermelon?"

"That will do very nicely," answered the Queen.

"Do watermelons grow in the sea?" asked Trot.

"Of course, that is why they are called watermelons," replied Tom

Atto. "I think I shall serve you a water ice, in addition to the

rest. Water ice is an appropriate sea food."

"Have some watercress with the salad," said Cap'n Bill.

"I'd thought of that," declared the cook. "Doesn't my bill of fare

make your mouths water?"

"Hurry up and get it ready," suggested Trot.

Tom Atto at once bowed and retired, and when they were done, Cap'n

Bill said to the queen, "Do you think, ma'am, we can manage to

escape from Zog and his castle?"

"I hope we shall find a way," replied Aquareine. "The evil powers of

magic which Zog controls may not prove to be as strong as the fairy

powers I possess, but of course I cannot be positive until I

discover what this wicked magician is able to do."

Princess Clia was looking out of one of the windows. "I think I can

see an opening far up in the top of the dome," she said. They all

hastened to the windows to look, and although Trot and Cap'n Bill

could see nothing but a solid dome above the castle--perhaps because

it was so far away from them--the sharp eyes of Aquareine were not

to be deceived.

"Yes," she announced, "there is surely an opening in the center of

the great dome. A little thought must convince us that such an

opening is bound to exist, for otherwise the water confined within

the dome would not be fresh or clear."

"Then if we could escape from this castle, we could swim up to the

hole in the dome and get free!" exclaimed Trot.

"Why, Zog has probably ordered the opening well guarded, as he has

all the other outlets," responded the Queen. "Yet it may be worth

while for us to make the attempt to get back into the broad ocean

this way. The night would be the best time, when all are asleep, and

surely it will be quicker to reach the ocean through this hole in

the roof than by means of the long, winding passages by which we

entered."

"But we will have to break out of the castle in some way," observed

Cap'n Bill.

"That will not be difficult," answered Aquareine. "It will be no

trouble for me to shatter one of these panes of glass, allowing us

to pass out and swim straight up to the top of the dome."

"Let's do it now!" said Trot eagerly.

"No, my dear, we must wait for a good opportunity when we are not

watched closely. We do not wish the terrible Zog to thwart our

plan," answered the Queen gently.

Presently two sailor boys entered bearing trays of food, which they

placed upon a large table. They were cheery-faced young fellows with

gills at their throats, but had laughing eyes, and Trot was

astonished not to find any of the slaves of Zog weeping or

miserable. Instead, they were as jolly and good-natured as could be

and seemed to like their life under the water. Cap'n Bill asked one

of the boys how many slaves were in the castle, and the youth

replied that he would try to count them and let him know.

Tom Atto had, they found, prepared for them an excellent meal, and

they ate heartily because they were really hungry. After luncheon

Cap'n Bill smoked his pipe contentedly, and they renewed their

conversation, planning various ways to outwit Zog and make their

escape. While thus engaged, the gong at the door sounded and Sacho

entered.

"My diabolical master commands you to attend him," said the boy.

"When?" asked Aquareine.

"At once, your Majesty."

"Very well, we will follow you," she said. So they swam down the

corridors following Sacho until they again reached the golden-domed

room they had formerly visited. Here sat Zog just as they had left

him, seemingly, but when his prisoners entered, the magician arose

and stood upon his cloven feet and then silently walked to a

curtained archway.

Sacho commanded the prisoners to follow, and beyond the archway they

found a vast chamber that occupied the center of the castle and was

as big as a ballroom. Zog, who seemed to walk with much difficulty

because his ungainly body swayed back and forth, did not go far

beyond the arched entrance. A golden throne was set nearby, and in

this the monster seated himself. At one side of the throne stood a

group of slaves. They were men, women and children. All had broad

gold bands clasped around their ankles as a badge of servitude, and

at each throat were the fish's gills that enabled them to breathe

and live under water. Yet every face was smiling and serene, even in

the presence of their dread master. In parts of the big hall were

groups of other slaves.

Sacho ranged the prisoners in a circle before Zog's throne, and

slowly the magician turned his eyes, glowing like live coals, upon

the four. "Captives," said he, speaking in his clear, sweet voice,

"in our first interview you defied me, and both the mermaid queen

and the princess declared they could not die. But if that is a true

statement, as I have yet to discover, there are various ways to make

you miserable and unhappy, and this I propose to do in order to

amuse myself at your expense. You have been brought here to undergo

the first trial of strength between us." None of the prisoners

replied to this speech, so Zog turned to one of his slaves and said,

"Rivivi, bring in the Yell-Maker."

Rivivi was a big fellow, brown of skin and with flashing, black

eyes. He bowed to his master and left the room by an archway covered

with heavy draperies. The next moment these curtains were violently

pushed aside, and a dreadful sea creature swam into the hall. It had

a body much like that of a crab, only more round and of a jet-black

color. Its eyes were bright yellow balls set on the ends of two

horns that stuck out of its head. They were cruel-looking eyes, too,

and seemed able to see every person in the room at the same time.

The legs of the Yell-Maker, however, were the most curious part of

the creature. There were six of them, slender and black as coal, and

each extended twelve to fifteen feet from its body when stretched

out in a straight line. They were hinged in several places so they

could be folded up or extended at will. At the ends of these thin

legs were immense claws shaped like those of a lobster, and they

were real "nippers" of a most dangerous sort.

The prisoners knew, as soon as they saw the awful claws, why the

thing was called the "Yell-Maker," and Trot gave a little shiver and

crept closer to Cap'n Bill. Zog looked with approval upon the

creature he had summoned and said to it, "I give you four victims,

the four people with fish's tails. Let me hear how loud they can

yell."

The Yell-Maker uttered a grunt of pleasure and in a flash stretched

out one of its long legs toward the queen's nose, where its powerful

claws came together with a loud noise. Aquareine did not stir; she

only smiled. Both Zog and the creature that had attacked her seemed

much surprised to find she was unhurt. "Again!" cried Zog, and again

the Yell-Maker's claw shot out and tried to pinch the queen's pretty

ear. But the magic of the fairy mermaid was proof against this

sea-rascal's strength and swiftness, nor could he touch any part of

Aquareine, although he tried again and again, roaring with anger

like a mad bull.

Trot began to enjoy this performance, and as her merry, childish

laughter rang out, the Yell-Maker turned furiously upon the little

girl, two of the dreadful claws trying to nip her at the same time.

She had no chance to cry out or jump backward, yet she remained

unharmed. For the Fairy Circle of Queen Aquareine kept her safe. Now

Cap'n Bill was attacked, and Princess Clia as well. The half-dozen

slender legs darted in every direction like sword thrusts to reach

their victims, and the cruel claws snapped so rapidly that the sound

was like the rattling of castanets. But the four prisoners regarded

their enemy with smiling composure, and no yell greeted the

Yell-Maker's efforts.

"Enough!" said Zog, softly and sweetly. "You may retire, my poor

Yell-Maker, for with these people you are powerless."

The creature paused and rolled its yellow eyes. "May I nip just one

of the slaves, oh Zog?" it asked pleadingly. "I hate to leave

without pleasing your ears with a single yell."

"Let my slaves alone," was Zog's answer. "They are here to serve me

and must not be injured. Go, feeble one."

"Not so!" cried the Queen. "It is a shame, Zog, that such an evil

thing should exist in our fair sea." With this, she drew her fairy

wand from a fold of her gown and waved it toward the creature. At

once the Yell-Maker sank down unconscious upon the floor; its legs

fell apart in many pieces, the claws tumbling in a heap beside the

body. Then all grew withered and lost shape, becoming a pulpy mass,

like gelatin. A few moments later the creature had melted away to

nothing at all, forever disappearing from the ocean where it had

caused so much horror and pain.

Zog watched this destruction with surprising patience. When it was

all over, he nodded his head and smiled, and Trot noticed that

whenever Zog smiled, his slaves lost their jolly looks and began to

tremble. "That is very pretty magic, Aquareine," said the monster.

"I myself learned the trick several thousand years ago, so it does

not astonish me. Have you fairies nothing that is new to show me?"

"We desire only to protect ourselves," replied the Queen with

dignity.

"Then I will give you a chance to do so," said Zog. As he spoke, the

great marble blocks in the ceiling of the room directly over the

heads of the captives gave way and came crashing down upon them.

Many tons of weight were in these marble blocks, and the magician

had planned to crush his victims where they stood. But the four were

still unharmed. The marble, being unable to touch them, was diverted

from its course, and when the roar of the great crash had died away,

Zog saw his intended victims standing quietly in their places and

smiling scornfully at his weak attempts to destroy them.

THE TOP OF THE GREAT DOME CHAPTER 16

Cap'n Bill's heart was beating pretty vast, but he did not let Zog

know that. Trot was so sure of the protection of the fairy mermaids

that she would not allow herself to become frightened. Aquareine and

Clia were as calm as if nothing had happened.

"Please excuse this little interruption," said Zog. "I knew very

well the marble blocks would not hurt you. But the play is over for

a time. You may now retire to your rooms, and when I again invite

you to my presence, I shall have found some better ways to entertain

you."

Without reply to this threat, they turned and followed Sacho from

the hall, and the boy led them straight back to their own rooms.

"Zog is making a great mistake," said Sacho with a laugh. "He has no

time for vengeance, but the great magician does not know that."

"What is he trying to do, anyway?" asked Trot.

"He does not tell me all his secrets, but I've an idea he wants to

kill you," replied Sacho. "How absurd it is to be plotting such a

thing when he might spend his time in laughing and being jolly!

Isn't it, now?"

"Zog is a wicked, wicked creature!" exclaimed Trot.

"But he had his good points," replied Sacho cheerfully. "There is no

one about in the world so bad that there is nothing good about him."

"I'm not so sure of that," said Cap'n Bill. "What are Zog's good

points?"

"All his slaves were saved from drowning, and he is kind to them,"

said Sacho.

"That is merely the kindness of selfishness," said Aquareine. "Tell

me, my lad, is the opening in the great dome outside guarded?"

"Yes indeed," was the reply. "You cannot hope to escape in that way,

for the prince of the sea devils, who is the largest and fiercest of

his race, lies crouched over the opening night and day, and none can

pass his network of curling legs."

"Is there no avenue that is not guarded?" continued Aquareine.

"None at all, your Majesty. Zog is always careful to be well

guarded, for he fears the approach of an enemy. What this enemy can

be to terrify the great magician I do not know, but Zog is always

afraid and never leaves an entrance unguarded. Besides, it is an

enchanted castle, you know, and none in the ocean can see it unless

Zog wishes him to. So it will be very hard for his enemy to find

him."

"We wish to escape," said Clia. "Will you help us, Sacho?"

"In any way I can," replied the boy.

"If we succeed, we will take you with us," continued the Princess.

But Sacho shook his head and laughed. "I would indeed like to see

you escape Zog's vengeance," said he, "for vengeance is wrong, and

you are too pretty and too good to be destroyed. But I am happy here

and have no wish to go away, having no other home or friends other

than my fellow slaves."

Then he left them, and when they were again alone, Aquareine said,

"We were able to escape Zog's attacks today, but I am quite sure he

will plan more powerful ways to destroy us. He has shown that he

knows some clever magic, and perhaps I shall not be able to foil it.

So it will be well for us to escape tonight if possible."

"Can you fight and conquer the big sea devil up in the dome?" asked

Trot.

The queen was thoughtful, and did not reply to this question at

once. But Cap'n Bill said uneasily, "I can't abide them devil

critters, an' I hopes, for my part, we won't be called on to tackle

'em. You see, Trot, we're in consider'ble of a bad mess, an' if we

ever live to tell the tale--"

"Why not, Cap'n?" asked the child. "We're safe enough so far. Can't

you trust our good friend, the queen?"

"She don't seem plumb sure o' things herself," remarked the sailor.

"The mermaids is all right an' friendly, mate, but this 'ere magic

maker, ol' Zog, is a bad one, out 'n' out, an' means to kill us if

he can."

"But he can't!" cried Trot bravely.

"I hope you're right, dear. I wouldn't want to bet on Zog's chances

jes' yet, an' at the same time it would be riskin' money to bet on

our chances. Seems to me it's a case of luck which wins."

"Don't worry, friend," said the Queen. "I have a plan to save us.

Let us wait patiently until nightfall." They waited in the Rose

Chamber a long time, talking earnestly together, but the brilliant

light that flooded both the room and the great dome outside did not

fade in the least. After several hours had passed away, the gong

sounded and Tom Atto again appeared, followed by four slaves bearing

many golden dishes upon silver trays. The friendly cook had prepared

a fine dinner, and they were all glad to find that, whatever Zog

intended to do to them, he had no intention of starving them.

Perhaps the magician realized that Aquareine's fairy powers, if put

to the test, would be able to provide food for her companions, but

whatever his object may have been, their enemy had given them

splendid rooms and plenty to eat.

"Isn't it nearly nighttime?" asked the Queen as Tom Atto spread the

table with a cloth of woven seaweed and directed his men to place

the dishes upon it.

"Night!" he exclaimed as if surprised. "There is no night here."

"Doesn't it ever get dark?" inquired Trot.

"Never. We know nothing of the passage of time or of day or night.

The light always shines just as you see it now, and we sleep

whenever we are tired and rise again as soon as we are rested."

"What causes the light?" Princess Clia asked.

"It's magic, your Highness," said the cook solemnly. "It's one of

the curious things Zog is able to do. But you must remember all this

place is a big cave in which the castle stands, so the light is

never seen by anyone except those who live here."

"But why does Zog keep his light going all the time?" asked the

Queen.

"I suppose it is because he himself never sleeps," replied Tom Atto.

"They say the master hasn't slept for hundreds of years, not since

Anko, the sea serpent, defeated him and drove him into this place."

They asked no more questions and began to eat their dinner in

silence. Before long, Cap'n Joe came in to visit his brother and

took a seat at the table with the prisoners. He proved a jolly

fellow, and when he and Cap'n Bill talked about their boyhood days,

the stories were so funny that everybody laughed and for a time

forgot their worries.

When dinner was over, however, and Cap'n Joe had gone back to his

work of sewing on buttons and the servants had carried away the

dishes, the prisoners remembered their troubles and the fate that

awaited them. "I am much disappointed," said the Queen, "to find

there is no night here and that Zog never sleeps. It will make our

escape more difficult. Yet we must make the attempt, and as we are

tired and a great struggle is before us, it will be best for us to

sleep and refresh ourselves."

They agreed to this, for the day had been long and adventurous, so

Cap'n Bill kissed Trot and went in to the Peony Room, where he lay

down upon his spongy couch and fell fast asleep. The mermaids and

Trot followed this example, and I think none of them was much

worried, after all, because they quickly sank into peaceful slumber

and forgot all the dangers that threatened them.

THE QUEEN'S GOLDEN SWORD  CHAPTER 17

"Goodness me!" exclaimed Trot, raising herself by a flirt of her

pink-scaled tail and a wave of her fins, "isn't it dreadful hot

here?"

The mermaids had risen at the same time, and Cap'n Bill came

swimming in from the Peony Room in time to hear the little girl's

speech.

"Hot!" echoed the sailor. "Why, I feel like the inside of a steam

engine!"

The perspiration was rolling down his round, red face, and he took

out his handkerchief and carefully wiped it away, waving his fish

tail gently at the same time.

"What we need most in this room," said he, "is a fan."

"What's the trouble, do you s'pose?" inquired Trot.

"It is another trick of the monster Zog," answered the Queen calmly.

"He has made the water in our rooms boiling hot, and if it could

touch us, we would be well cooked by this time. Even as it is, we

are all made uncomfortable by breathing the heated air."

"What shall we do, ma'am?" the sailor man asked with a groan. "I

expected to get into hot water afore we've done with this

foolishness, but I don't like the feel o' bein' parboiled, jes' the

same."

The queen was waving her fairy wand and paid no attention to Cap'n

Bill's moans. Already the water felt cooler, and they began to

breathe more easily. In a few moments more, the heat had passed from

the surrounding water altogether, and all danger from this source

was over.

"This is better," said Trot gratefully.

"Do you care to sleep again?" asked the Queen.

"No, I'm wide awake now," answered the child.

"I'm afraid if I goes to sleep ag'in, I'll wake up a pot roast,"

said Cap'n Bill.

"Let us consider ways to escape," suggested Clia. "It seems useless

for us to remain here quietly until Zog discovers a way to destroy

us."

"But we must not blunder," added Aquareine cautiously. "To fail in

our attempt would be to acknowledge Zog's superior power, so we must

think well upon our plan before we begin to carry it out. What do

you advise, sir?" she asked, turning to Cap'n Bill.

"My opinion, ma'am, is that the only way for us to escape is to get

out o' here," was the sailor's vague answer. "How to do it is your

business, seein' as I ain't no fairy myself, either in looks or in

eddication."

The queen smiled and said to Trot, "What is your opinion, my dear?"

"I think we might swim out the same way we came in," answered the

child. "If we could get Sacho to lead us back through the maze, we

would follow that long tunnel to the open ocean, and--"

"And there would be the sea devils waitin' for us," added Cap'n Bill

with a shake of his bald head. "They'd drive us back inter the

tunnel like they did the first time, Trot. It won't do, mate, it

won't do."

"Have you a suggestion, Clia?" inquired the Queen.

"I have thought of an undertaking," replied the pretty princess,

"but it is a bold plan, your Majesty, and you may not care to risk

it."

"Let us hear it, anyway," said Aquareine encouragingly.

"It is to destroy Zog himself and put him out of the world forever.

Then we would be free to go home whenever we pleased."

"Can you suggest a way to destroy Zog?" asked Aquareine.

"No, your Majesty," Clia answered. "I must leave the way for you to

determine."

"In the old days," said the Queen thoughtfully, "the mighty King

Anko could not destroy this monster. He succeeded in defeating Zog

and drove him into this great cavern, but even Anko could not

destroy him."

"I have heard the sea serpent explain that it was because he could

not reach the magician," returned Clia. "If King Anko could have

seized Zog in his coils, he would have made an end of the wicked

monster quickly. Zog knows this, and that is why he does not venture

forth from his retreat. Anko is the enemy he constantly dreads. But

with you, my queen, the case is different. You may easily reach Zog,

and the only question is whether your power is sufficient to destroy

him."

For a while Aquareine remained silent. "I am not sure of my power

over him," she said at last, "and for that reason I hesitate to

attack him personally. His slaves and his allies, the sea devils, I

can easily conquer, so I prefer to find a way to overcome the guards

at the entrances rather than to encounter their terrible master. But

even the guards have been given strength and power by the magician,

as we have already discovered, so I must procure a weapon with which

to fight them."

"A weapon, ma'am?" said Cap'n Bill, and then he took a jackknife

from his coat pocket and opened the big blade, afterward handing it

to the queen. "That ain't a bad weapon," he announced.

"But it is useless in this case," she replied, smiling at the old

sailor's earnestness. "For my purpose I must have a golden sword."

"Well, there's plenty of gold around this castle," said Trot,

looking around her. "Even in this room there's enough to make a

hundred golden swords."

"But we can't melt or forge gold under water, mate," the Cap'n said.

"Why not? Don't you s'pose all these gold roses and things were made

under water?" asked the little girl.

"Like enough," remarked the sailor, "but I don't see how."

Just then the gong at the door sounded, and the boy Sacho came in

smiling and cheerful as ever. He said Zog had sent him to inquire

after their health and happiness. "You may tell him that his water

became a trifle too warm, so we cooled it," replied the Queen. Then

they told Sacho how the boiling water had made them uncomfortable

while they slept.

Sacho whistled a little tune and seemed thoughtful. "Zog is

foolish," said he. "How often have I told him that vengeance is a

waste of time. He is worried to know how to destroy you, and that is

wasting more time. You are worried for fear he will injure you, and

so you also are wasting time. My, my! What a waste of time is going

on in this castle!"

"Seems to me that we have so much time it doesn't matter," said

Trot. "What's time for, anyhow?"

"Time is given us to be happy, and for no other reason," replied the

boy soberly. "When we waste time, we waste happiness. But there is

no time for preaching, so I'll go."

"Please wait a moment, Sacho," said the Queen.

"Can I do anything to make you happy?" he asked, smiling again.

"Yes," answered Aquareine. "We are curious to know who does all this

beautiful gold work and ornamentation."

"Some of the slaves here are goldsmiths, having been taught by Zog

to forge and work metal under water," explained Sacho. "In parts of

the ocean lie many rocks filled with veins of pure gold and golden

nuggets, and we get large supplies from sunken ships as well. There

is no lack of gold here, but it is not as precious as it is upon the

earth because here we have no need of money."

"We would like to see the goldsmiths at work," announced the Queen.

The boy hesitated a moment. Then he said, "I will take you to their

room, where you may watch them for a time. I will not ask Zog's

permission to do this, for he might refuse. But my orders were to

allow you the liberty of the castle, and so I will let you see the

goldsmiths' shop."

"Thank you," replied Aquareine quietly, and then the four followed

Sacho along various corridors until they came to a large room where

a dozen men were busily at work. Lying here and there were heaps of

virgin gold, some in its natural state and some already fashioned

into ornaments and furniture of various sorts. Each man worked at a

bench where there was a curious iron furnace in which glowed a

vivid, white light. Although this workshop was all under water and

the workmen were all obliged to breathe as fishes do, the furnaces

glowed so hot that the water touching them was turned into steam.

Gold or other metal held over a furnace quickly softened or melted,

when it could be forged or molded into any shape desired.

"The furnaces are electric," explained Sacho, "and heat as well

under water as they would in the open air. Let me introduce you to

the foreman, who will tell you of his work better than I can."

The foreman was a slave named Agga-Groo, who was lean and lank and

had an expression more surly and unhappy than any slave they had yet

seen. Yet he seemed willing to leave his work and explain to the

visitors how he made so many beautiful things out of gold, for he

took much pride in this labor and knew its artistic worth. Moreover,

since he had been in Zog's castle these were the first strangers to

enter his workshop, so he welcomed them in his own gruff way.

The queen asked him if he was happy, and he shook his head and

replied, "It isn't like Calcutta, where I used to work in gold

before I was wrecked at sea and nearly drowned. Zog rescued me and

brought me here a slave. It is a stupid life we lead, doing the same

things over and over every day, but perhaps it is better than being

dead. I'm not sure. The only pleasure I get in life is in creating

pretty things out of gold."

"Could you forge me a golden sword?" asked the Queen, smiling

sweetly upon the goldsmith.

"I could, madam, but I won't unless Zog orders me to do it."

"Do you like Zog better than you do me?" inquired Aquareine.

"No," was the answer. "I hate Zog."

"Then won't you make the sword to please me and to show your skill?"

pleaded the pretty mermaid.

"I'm afraid of my master. He might not like it," the man replied.

"But he will never know," said Princess Clia.

"You cannot say what Zog knows or what he doesn't know," growled the

man. "I can't take chances of offending Zog, for I must live with

him always as a slave." With this he turned away and resumed his

work, hammering the leaf of a golden ship.

Cap'n Bill had listened carefully to this conversation, and being a

wise old sailor in his way, he thought he understood the nature of

old Agga-Groo better than the mermaids did. So he went close to the

goldsmith, and feeling in the pockets of his coat drew out a silver

compass shaped like a watch. "I'll give you this if you'll make the

queen the golden sword," he said.

Agga-Groo looked at the compass with interest and tested its power

of pointing north. Then he shook his head and handed it back to

Cap'n Bill. The sailor dived into his pocket again and pulled out a

pair of scissors, which he placed beside the compass on the palm of

his big hand. "You may have them both," he said.

Agga-Groo hesitated, for he wanted the scissors badly, but finally

he shook his head again. Cap'n Bill added a piece of cord, an iron

thimble, some fishhooks, four buttons and a safety pin, but still

the goldsmith would not be tempted. So with a sigh the sailor

brought out his fine, big jackknife, and at sight of this

Agga-Groo's eyes began to sparkle. Steel was not to be had at the

bottom of the sea, although gold was so plentiful. "All right,

friend," he said. "Give me that lot of trinkets and I'll make you a

pretty gold sword. But it won't be any good except to look at, for

our gold is so pure that it is very soft."

"Never mind that," replied Cap'n Bill. "All we want is the sword."

The goldsmith set to work at once, and so skillful was he that in a

few minutes he had forged a fine sword of yellow gold with an

ornamental handle. The shape was graceful and the blade keen and

slender. It was evident to them all that the golden sword would not

stand hard use, for the edge of the blade would nick and curl like

lead, but the queen was delighted with the prize and took it eagerly

in her hand.

Just then Sacho returned to say that they must go back to their

rooms, and after thanking the goldsmith, who was so busy examining

his newly acquired treasure that he made no response, they joyfully

followed the boy back to the Rose Chamber. Sacho told them that he

had just come from Zog, who was still wasting time in plotting

vengeance. "You must be careful," he advised them, "for my cruel

master intends to stop you from living, and he may succeed. Don't be

unhappy, but be careful. Zog is angry because you escaped his

Yell-Maker and the falling stones and the hot water. While he is

angry he is wasting time, but that will not help you. Take care not

to waste any time yourselves."

"Do you know what Zog intends to do to us next?" asked Princess

Clia.

"No," said Sacho, "but it is reasonable to guess that, being evil,

he intends evil. He never intends to do good, I assure you." Then

the boy went away.

"I am no longer afraid," declared the Mermaid Queen when they were

alone. "When I have bestowed certain fairy powers upon this golden

sword, it will fight its way against any who dare oppose us, and

even Zog himself will not care to face so powerful a weapon. I am

now able to promise you that we shall make our escape."

"Good!" cried Trot joyfully. "Shall we start now?"

"Not yet, my dear. It will take me a little while to charm this

golden blade so that it will obey my commands and do my work. There

is no need of undue haste, so I propose we all sleep for a time and

obtain what rest we can. We must be fresh and ready for our great

adventure."

As their former nap had been interrupted, they readily agreed to

Aquareine's proposal and at once went to their couches and composed

themselves to slumber. When they were asleep, the fairy mermaid

charmed her golden sword and then she also lay down to rest herself.

A DASH FOR LIBERTY       CHAPTER 18

Trot dreamed that she was at home in her own bed, but the night

seemed chilly and she wanted to draw the coverlet up to her chin.

She was not wide awake, but realized that she was cold and unable to

move her arms to cover herself up. She tried, but could not stir.

Then she roused herself a little more and tried again. Yes, it was

cold, very cold! Really, she MUST do something to get warm, she

thought. She opened her eyes and stared at a great wall of ice in

front of her.

She was awake now, and frightened, too. But she could not move

because the ice was all around her. She was frozen inside of it, and

the air space around her was not big enough to allow her to turn

over.

At once the little girl realized what had happened. Their wicked

enemy Zog had by his magic art frozen all the water in their room

while they slept, and now they were all imprisoned and helpless.

Trot and Cap'n Bill were sure to freeze to death in a short time,

for only a tiny air space remained between their bodies and the ice,

and this air was like that of a winter day when the thermometer is

below zero.

Across the room Trot could see the mermaid queen lying on her couch,

for the solid ice was clear as crystal. Aquareine was imprisoned

just as Trot was, and although she held her fairy wand in one hand

and the golden sword in the other, she seemed unable to move either

of them, and the girl remembered that the queen always waved her

magic wand to accomplish anything. Princess Clia's couch was behind

that of Trot, so the child could not see her, and Cap'n Bill was in

his own room, probably frozen fast in the ice as the others were.

The terrible Zog has surely been very clever in this last attempt to

destroy them. Trot thought it all over, and she decided that

inasmuch as the queen was unable to wave her fairy wand, she could

do nothing to release herself or her friends.

But in this the girl was mistaken. The fairy mermaid was even now at

work trying to save them, and in a few minutes Trot was astonished

and delighted to see the queen rise from her couch. She could not go

far from it at first, but the ice was melting rapidly all around her

so that gradually Aquareine approached the place where the child

lay. Trot could hear the mermaid's voice sounding through the ice as

if from afar off, but it grew more distinct until she could make out

that the queen was saying, "Courage, friends! Do not despair, for

soon you will be free."

Before very long the ice between Trot and the queen had melted away

entirely, and with a cry of joy the little girl flopped her pink

tail and swam to the side of her deliverer.

"Are you very cold?" asked Aquareine.

"N-not v-v-very!" replied Trot, but her teeth chattered and she was

still shivering.

"The water will be warm in a few minutes," said the Queen. "But now

I must melt the rest of the ice and liberate Clia."

This she did in an astonishingly brief time, and the pretty

princess, being herself a fairy, had not been at all affected by the

cold surrounding her.

They now swam to the door of Cap'n Bill's room and found the Peony

Chamber a solid block of ice. The queen worked her magic power as

hard as she could, and the ice flowed and melted quickly before her

fairy wand. Yet when they reached the old sailor, he was almost

frozen stiff, and Trot and Clia had to rub his hands and nose and

ears very briskly to warm him up and bring him back to life.

Cap'n Bill was pretty tough, and he came around, in time, and opened

his eyes and sneezed and asked if the blizzard was over. So the

queen waved her wand over his head a few times to restore him to his

natural condition of warmth, and soon the old sailor became quite

comfortable and was able to understand all about the strange

adventure from which he had so marvelously escaped.

"I've made up my mind to one thing, Trot," he said confidentially.

"If ever I get out o' this mess I'm in, I won't be an Arctic

explorer, whatever else happens. Shivers an' shakes ain't to my

likin', an' this ice business ain't what it's sometimes cracked up

to be. To be friz once is enough fer anybody, an' if I was a gal

like you, I wouldn't even wear frizzes on my hair."

"You haven't any hair, Cap'n Bill," answered Trot, "so you needn't

worry."

The queen and Clia had been talking together very earnestly. They

now approached their earth friends, and Aquareine said:

"We have decided not to remain in this castle any longer. Zog's

cruel designs upon our lives and happiness are becoming too

dangerous for us to endure. The golden sword now bears a fairy

charm, and by its aid I will cut a way through our enemies. Are you

ready and willing to follow me?"

"Of course we are!" cried Trot.

"It don't seem 'zactly right to ask a lady to do the fightin',"

remarked Cap'n Bill, "but magic ain't my strong p'int, and it seems

to be yours, ma'am. So swim ahead, and we'll wiggle the same way you

do, an' try to wiggle out of our troubles."

"If I chance to fail," said the Queen, "try not to blame me. I will

do all in my power to provide for our escape, and I am willing to

risk everything, because I well know that to remain here will mean

to perish in the end."

"That's all right," said Trot with fine courage. "Let's have it over

with."

"Then we will leave here at once," said Aquareine.

She approached the window of the room and with one blow of her

golden sword shattered the thick pane of glass. The opening thus

made was large enough for them to swim through if they were careful

not to scrape against the broken points of glass. The queen went

first, followed by Trot and Cap'n Bill, with Clia last of all.

And now they were in the vast dome in which the castle and gardens

of Zog had been built. Around them was a clear stretch of water, and

far above--full half a mile distant--was the opening in the roof

guarded by the prince of the sea devils. The mermaid queen had

determined to attack this monster. If she succeeded in destroying it

with her golden sword, the little band of fugitives might then swim

through the opening into the clear waters of the ocean. Although

this prince of the sea devils was said to be big and wise and

mighty, there was but one of him to fight; whereas, if they

attempted to escape through any of the passages, they must encounter

scores of such enemies.

"Swim straight for the opening in the dome!" cried Aquareine, and in

answer to the command, the four whisked their glittering tails,

waved their fins, and shot away through the water at full speed,

their course slanting upward toward the top of the dome.

KING ANKO TO THE RESCUE      CHAPTER 19

The great magician Zog never slept. He was always watchful and

alert. Some strange power warned him that his prisoners were about

to escape.

Scarcely had the four left the castle by the broken window when the

monster stepped from a doorway below and saw them. Instantly he blew

upon a golden whistle, and at the summons a band of wolf-fish

appeared and dashed after the prisoners. These creatures swam so

swiftly that soon they were between the fugitives and the dome, and

then they turned and with wicked eyes and sharp fangs began a fierce

attack upon the mermaids and the earth dwellers.

Trot was a little frightened at the evil looks of the sea wolves,

whose heads were enormous, and whose jaws contained rows of curved

and pointed teeth. But Aquareine advanced upon them with her golden

sword, and every touch of the charmed weapon instantly killed an

enemy, so that one by one the wolf-fish rolled over upon their backs

and sank helplessly downward through the water, leaving the

prisoners free to continue their way toward the opening in the dome.

Zog witnessed the destruction of his wolves and uttered a loud laugh

that was terrible to hear. Then the dread monster determined to

arrest the fugitives himself, and in order to do this he was forced

to discover himself in all the horror of his awful form, a form he

was so ashamed of and loathed so greatly that he always strove to

keep it concealed, even from his own view. But it was important that

his prisoners should not escape. Hastily casting off the folds of

the robe that enveloped him, Zog allowed his body to uncoil and

shoot upward through the water in swift pursuit of his victims. His

cloven hoofs, upon which he usually walked, being now useless, were

drawn up under him, while coil after coil of his eel-like body

wriggled away like a serpent. At his shoulders two broad, feathery

wings expanded, and these enabled the monster to cleave his way

through the water with terrific force.

Zog was part man, part beast, part fish, part fowl, and part

reptile. His undulating body was broad and thin and like the body of

an eel. It was as repulsive as one could well imagine, and no wonder

Zog hated it and kept it covered with his robe. Now, with his horned

head and its glowing eyes thrust forward, wings flapping from his

shoulders and his eely body--ending in a fish's tail--wriggling far

behind him, this strange and evil creature was a thing of terror

even to the sea dwellers, who were accustomed to remarkable sights.

The mermaids, the sailor and the child, one after another looking

back as they swam toward liberty and safety, saw the monster coming

and shuddered with uncontrollable fear. They were drawing nearer to

the dome by this time, yet it was still some distance away. The four

redoubled their speed, darting through the water with the swiftness

of skyrockets. But fast as they swam, Zog swam faster, and the good

queen's heart began to throb as she realized she would be forced to

fight her loathesome foe.

Presently Zog's long body was circling around them like a whirlwind,

lashing the water into foam and gradually drawing nearer and nearer

to his victims. His eyes were no longer glowing coals, they were

balls of flame, and as he circled around them, he laughed aloud that

horrible laugh which was far more terrifying than any cry of rage

could be. The queen struck out with her golden sword, but Zog

wrapped a coil of his thin body around it and, wrestling it from her

hand, crushed the weapon into a shapeless mass. Then Aquareine waved

her fairy wand, but in a flash the monster sent it flying away

through the water.

Cap'n Bill now decided that they were lost. He drew Trot closer to

his side and placed one arm around her. "I can't save you, dear

little mate," he said sadly, "but we've lived a long time together,

an' now we'll die together. I knew, Trot, when first we sawr them

mermaids, as we'd--we'd--"

"Never live to tell the tale," said the child. "But never mind,

Cap'n Bill, we've done the best we could, and we've had a fine

time."

"Forgive me! Oh, forgive me!" cried Aquareine despairingly. "I tried

to save you, my poor friends, but--"

"What's that?" exclaimed the Princess, pointing upward. They all

looked past Zog's whirling body, which was slowly enveloping them in

its folds, toward the round opening in the dome. A dark object had

appeared there, sliding downward like a huge rope and descending

toward them with lightning rapidly. They gave a great gasp as they

recognized the countenance of King Anko, the sea serpent, its gray

hair and whiskers bristling like those of an angry cat, and the

usually mild blue eyes glowing with a ferocity even more terrifying

than the orbs of Zog.

The magician gave a shrill scream at sight of his dreaded enemy, and

abandoning his intended victims, Zog made a quick dash to escape.

But nothing in the sea could equal the strength and quickness of

King Anko when he was roused. In a flash the sea serpent had caught

Zog fast in his coils, and his mighty body swept round the monster

and imprisoned him tightly. The four, so suddenly rescued, swam away

to a safer distance from the struggle, and then they turned to watch

the encounter between the two great opposing powers of the ocean's

depths. Yet there was no desperate fight to observe, for the

combatants were unequal. The end came before they were aware of it.

Zog had been taken by surprise, and his great fear of Anko destroyed

all of his magic power. When the sea serpent slowly released those

awful coils, a mass of jelly-like pulp floated downward through the

water with no remnant of life remaining in it, no form to show it

had once been Zog, the Magician.

Then Anko shook his body that the water might cleanse it, and

advanced his head toward the group of four whom he had so

opportunely rescued. "It is all over, friends," said he in his

gentle tones, while a mild expression once more reigned on his

comical features. "You may go home at any time you please, for the

way through the dome will be open as soon as I get my own body

through it."

Indeed, so amazing was the length of the great sea serpent that only

a part of him had descended through the hole into the dome. Without

waiting for the thanks of those he had rescued, he swiftly retreated

to the ocean above, and with grateful hearts they followed him, glad

to leave the cavern where they had endured so much anxiety and

danger.

THE HOME OF THE OCEAN MONARCH CHAPTER 20

Trot sobbed quietly with her head on Cap'n Bill's shoulder. She had

been a brave little girl during the trying times they had

experienced and never once had she given way to tears, however

desperate their fate had seemed to be. But now that the one enemy in

all the sea to be dreaded was utterly destroyed and all dangers were

past, the reaction was so great that she could not help having "just

one good cry," as she naively expressed it.

Cap'n Bill was a big sailor man hardened by age and many adventures,

but even he felt a "Lump in his throat" that he could not swallow,

try as hard as he might. Cap'n Bill was glad. He was mostly glad on

Trot's account, for he loved his sweet, childish companion very

dearly, and did not want any harm to befall her.

They were now in the wide, open sea, with liberty to go wherever

they wished, and if Cap'n Bill could have "had his way," he would

have gone straight home and carried Trot to her mother. But the

mermaids must be considered. Aquareine and Clia had been true and

faithful friends to their earth guests while dangers were

threatening, and it would not be very gracious to leave them at

once. Moreover, King Anko was now with them, his big head keeping

pace with the mermaids as they swam, and this mighty preserver had a

distinct claim upon Trot and Cap'n Bill. The sailor felt that it

would not be polite to ask to go home so soon.

"If you people had come to visit me as I invited you to do," said

the Sea Serpent, "all this bother and trouble would have been saved.

I had my palace put in order to receive the earth dwellers and sat

in my den waiting patiently to receive you. Yet you never came at

all."

"That reminds me," said Trot, drying her eyes, "you never told us

about that third pain you once had."

"Finally," continued Anko, "I sent to inquire as to what had become

of you, and Merla said you had been gone from the palace a long time

and she was getting anxious about you. Then I made inquiries.

Everyone in the sea loves to serve me--except those sea devils and

their cousins, the octopi--and it wasn't long before I heard you had

been captured by Zog."

"Was the third pain as bad as the other two?" asked Trot.

"Naturally this news disturbed me and made me unhappy," said Anko,

"for I well knew, my Aquareine, that the magician's evil powers were

greater than your own fairy accomplishments. But I had never been

able to find Zog's enchanted castle, and so I was at a loss to know

how to save you from your dreadful fate. After I had wasted a good

deal of time thinking it over, I decided that if the sea devils were

slaves of Zog, the prince of the sea devils must know where the

enchanted castle was located.

"I knew this prince and where to find him, for he always lay on a

hollow rock on the bottom of the sea and never moved from that

position. His people brought food to him and took his commands. So I

had no trouble in finding this evil prince, and I went to him and

asked the way to Zog's castle. Of course, he would not tell me. He

was even cross and disrespectful, just as I had expected him to be,

so I allowed myself to become angry and killed him, thinking he was

much better dead than alive. But after the sea devil was destroyed,

what was my surprise to find that all these years he had been lying

over a round hole in the rock and covering it with his scarlet body!

"A light shone through this hole, so I thrust my head in and found a

great domed cave underneath with a splendid silver castle built at

the bottom. You, my friends, were at that moment swimming toward me

as fast as you could come, and the monster Zog, my enemy for

centuries past, was close behind you. Well, the rest of the story

you know. I would be angry with all of you for so carelessly getting

captured, had the incident not led to the destruction of the one

evil genius in all my ocean. I shall rest easier and be much happier

now that Zog is dead. He has defied me for hundreds of years."

"But about that third pain," said Trot. "If you don't tell us now,

I'm afraid that I'll forget to ask you."

"If you should happen to forget, just remind me of it," said Anko,

"and I'll be sure to tell you."

While Trot was thinking this over, the swimmers drew near to a

great, circular palace made all of solid alabaster polished as

smooth as ivory. Its roof was a vast dome, for domes seemed to be

fashionable in the ocean houses. There were no doors or windows, but

instead of these, several round holes appeared in different parts of

the dome, some being high up and some low down and some in between.

Out of one of these holes, which it just fitted, stretched the long,

brown body of the sea serpent. Trot, being astonished at this sight,

asked, "Didn't you take all of you when you went to the cavern,

Anko?"

"Nearly all, my dear," was the reply, accompanied by a cheerful

smile, for Anko was proud of his great length. "But not quite all.

Some of me remained, as usual, to keep house while my head was away.

But I've been coiling up ever since we started back, and you will

soon be able to see every inch of me all together."

Even as he spoke, his head slid into the round hole, and at a signal

from Aquareine they all paused outside and waited. Presently there

came to them four beautiful winged fishes with faces like doll

babies. Their long hair and eyelashes were of a purple color, and

their cheeks had rosy spots that looked as if they had been painted

upon them. "His Majesty bids you welcome," said one of the doll

fishes in a sweet voice. "Be kind enough to enter the royal palace,

and our ocean monarch will graciously receive you."

"Seems to me," said Trot to the queen, "these things are putting on

airs. Perhaps they don't know we're friends of Anko."

"The king insists on certain formalities when anyone visits him,"

was Aquareine's reply. "It is right that his dignity should be

maintained."

They followed their winged conductors to one of the upper openings,

and as they entered it Aquareine said in a clear voice, "May the

glory and power of the ocean king continue forever!" Then she

touched the palm of her hand to her forehead in token of allegiance,

and Clia did the same, so Cap'n Bill and Trot followed suit. The

brief ceremony being ended, the child looked curiously around to see

what the palace of the mighty Anko was like.

An extensive hall lined with alabaster was before them. In the floor

were five of the round holes. Upon the walls were engraved many

interesting scenes of ocean life, all chiseled very artistically by

the tusks of walruses who, Trot was afterward informed, are greatly

skilled in such work. A few handsome rugs of woven sea grasses were

spread upon the floor, but otherwise the vast hall was bare of

furniture. The doll-faced fishes escorted them to an upper room

where a table was set, and here the revelers were invited to refresh

themselves. As all four were exceedingly hungry, they welcomed the

repast, which was served by an army of lobsters in royal purple

aprons and caps.

The meal being finished, they again descended to the hall, which

seemed to occupy all the middle of the building. And now their

conductors said, "His Majesty is ready to receive you in his den."

They swam downward through one of the round holes in the floor and

found themselves in a brilliantly lighted chamber which appeared

bigger than all the rest of the palace put together. In the center

was the quaint head of King Anko, and around it was spread a great

coverlet of purple and gold woven together. This concealed all of

his body and stretched from wall to wall of the circular room.

"Welcome, friends!" said Anko pleasantly. "How do you like my home?"

"It's very grand," replied Trot.

"Just the place for a sea serpent, seems to me," said Cap'n Bill.

"I'm glad you admire it," said the King. "Perhaps I ought to tell

you that from this day you four belong to me."

"How's that?" asked the girl, surprised.

"It is a law of the ocean," declared Anko, "that whoever saves any

living creature from violent death owns that creature forever

afterward, while life lasts. You will realize how just this law is

when you remember that had I not saved you from Zog, you would now

be dead. The law was suggested by Captain Kid Glove, when he once

visited me."

"Do you mean Captain Kidd?" asked Trot. "Because if you do--"

"Give him his full name," said Anko. "Captain Kid Glove was--"

"There's no glove to it," protested Trot. "I ought to know, 'cause

I've read about him."

"Didn't it say anything about a glove?" asked Anko.

"Nothing at all. It jus' called him Cap'n Kidd," replied Trot.

"She's right, ol' man," added Cap'n Bill.

"Books," said the Sea Serpent, "are good enough as far as they go,

but it seems to me your earth books don't go far enough. Captain Kid

Glove was a gentleman pirate, a kid-glove pirate. To leave off the

glove and call him just Kidd is very disrespectful."

"Oh! You told me to remind you of that third pain," said the little

girl.

"Which proves my friendship for you," returned the Sea Serpent,

blinking his blue eyes thoughtfully. "No one likes to be reminded of

a pain, and that third pain was--was--"

"What was it?" asked Trot.

"It was a stomach ache," replied the King with a sigh.

"What made it?" she inquired.

"Just my carelessness," said Anko. "I'd been away to foreign parts,

seeing how the earth people were getting along. I found the Germans

dancing the german and the Dutch making dutch cheese and the

Belgians combing their belgian hares and the Turks eating turkey and

the Sardinians sardonically pickling sardines. Then I called on the

Prince of Whales, and--"

"You mean the Prince of Wales," corrected Trot.

"I mean what I say, my dear. I saw the battlefield where the Bull

Run but the Americans didn't, and when I got to France I paid a

napoleon to see Napoleon with his boney apart. He was--"

"Of course you mean--" Trot was beginning, but the king would not

give her a chance to correct him this time.

"He was very hungry for Hungary," he continued, "and was Russian so

fast toward the Poles that I thought he'd discover them. So as I was

not accorded a royal welcome, I took French leave and came home

again."

"But the pain--"

"On the way home," continued Anko calmly, "I was a little

absent-minded and ate an anchor. There was a long chain attached to

it, and as I continued to swallow the anchor I continued to eat the

chain. I never realized what I had done until I found a ship on the

other end of the chain. Then I bit it off."

"The ship?" asked Trot.

"No, the chain. I didn't care for the ship, as I saw it contained

some skippers. On the way home the chain and anchor began to lie

heavily on my stomach. I didn't seem to digest them properly, and by

the time I got to my palace, where you will notice there is no

throne, I was thrown into throes of severe pain. So I at once sent

for Dr. Shark--"

"Are all your doctors sharks?" asked the child.

"Yes, aren't your doctors sharks?" he replied.

"Not all of them," said Trot.

"That is true," remarked Cap'n Bill. "But when you talk of

lawyers--"

"I'm not talking of lawyers," said Anko reprovingly. "I'm talking

about my pain. I don't imagine anyone could suffer more than I did

with that stomach ache."

"Did you suffer long?" inquired Trot.

"Why, about seven thousand four hundred and eighty-two feet and--"

"I mean a long time."

"It seemed like a long time," answered the King. "Dr. Shark said I

ought to put a mustard poultice on my stomach, so I uncoiled myself

and summoned my servants, and they began putting on the mustard

plaster. It had to be bound all around me so it wouldn't slip off,

and I began to look like an express package. In about four weeks

fully one-half of the pain had been covered by the mustard poultice,

which got so hot that it hurt me worse than the stomach ache did."

"I know," said Trot. "I had one, once."

"One what?" asked Anko.

"A mustard plaster. They smart pretty bad, but I guess they're a

good thing."

"I got myself unwrapped as soon as I could," continued the King,

"and then I hunted for the doctor, who hid himself until my anger

had subsided. He has never sent in a bill, so I think he must be

terribly ashamed of himself."

"You're lucky, sir, to have escaped so easy," said Cap'n Bill. "But

you seem pretty well now."

"Yes, I'm more careful of what I eat," replied the Sea Serpent. "But

I was saying when Trot interrupted me, that you all belong to me,

because I have saved your lives. By the law of the ocean, you must

obey me in everything."

The sailor scowled a little at hearing this, but Trot laughed and

said, "The law of the ocean isn't OUR law, 'cause we live on land."

"Just now you are living in the ocean," declared Anko, "and as long

as you live here, you must obey my commands."

"What are your commands?" inquired the child.

"Ah, that's the point I was coming to," returned the King with his

comical smile. "The ocean is a beautiful place, and we who belong

here love it dearly. In many ways it's a nicer place for a home than

the earth, for we have no sunstroke, mosquitoes, earthquakes or

candy ships to bother us. But I am convinced that the ocean is no

proper dwelling place for earth people, and I believe the mermaids

did an unwise thing when they invited you to visit them."

"I don't," protested the girl. "We've had a fine time, haven't we,

Cap'n Bill?"

"Well, it's been diff'rent from what I expected," admitted the

sailor.

"Our only thought was to give the earth people pleasure, your

Majesty," pleaded Aquareine.

"I know, I know, my dear Queen, and it was very good of you,"

replied Anko. "But still it was an unwise act, for earth people are

as constantly in danger under water as we would be upon the land. So

having won the right to command you all, I order you to take little

Mayre and Cap'n Bill straight home, and there restore them to their

natural forms. It's a dreadful condition, I know, and they must each

have two stumbling legs instead of a strong, beautiful fish tail,

but it is the fate of earth dwellers, and they cannot escape it."

"In my case, your Majesty, make it ONE leg," suggested Cap'n Bill.

"Ah yes, I remember. One leg and a wooden stick to keep it company.

I issue this order, dear friends, not because I am not fond of your

society, but to keep you from getting into more trouble in a country

where all is strange and unnatural to you. Am I right, or do you

think I am wrong?"

"You're quite correct, sir," said Cap'n Bill, nodding his head in

approval.

"Well, I'm ready to go home," said Trot. "But in spite of Zog, I've

enjoyed my visit, and I shall always love the mermaids for being so

good to me." That speech pleased Aquareine and Clia, who smiled upon

the child and kissed her affectionately.

"We shall escort you home at once," announced the Queen.

"But before you go," said King Anko, "I will give you a rare treat.

It is one you will remember as long as you live. You shall see every

inch of the mightiest sea serpent in the world, all at one time!"

As he spoke, the purple and gold cloth was lifted by unseen hands

and disappeared from view. And now Cap'n Bill and Trot looked down

upon thousands and thousands of coils of the sea serpent's body,

which filled all of the space at the bottom of the immense circular

room. It reminded them of a great coil of garden hose, only it was

so much bigger around and very much longer.

Except for the astonishing size of the Ocean King, the sight was not

an especially interesting one, but they told old Anko that they were

pleased to see him, because it was evident he was very fond of his

figure. Then the cloth descended again and covered all but the head,

after which they bade the king goodbye and thanked him for all his

kindness to them.

"I used to think sea serpents were horrid creatures," said Trot,

"but now I know they are good and--and--and--"

"And big," added Cap'n Bill, realizing his little friend could not

find another word that was complimentary.

KING JOE      CHAPTER 21

As they swam out of Anko's palace and the doll-faced fishes left

them, Aquareine asked:

"Would you rather go back to our mermaid home for a time and rest

yourselves or would you prefer to start for Giant's Cave at once?"

"I guess we'd better go back home," decided Trot. "To our own home,

I mean. We've been away quite a while, and King Anko seemed to think

it was best."

"Very well," replied the Queen. "Let us turn in this direction,

then."

"You can say goodbye to Merla for us," continued Trot. "She was very

nice to us, an' 'specially to Cap'n Bill."

"So she was, mate," agreed the sailor, "an' a prettier lady I never

knew, even if she is a mermaid, beggin' your pardon, ma'am."

"Are we going anywhere near Zog's castle?" asked the girl.

"Our way leads directly past the opening in the dome," said

Aquareine.

"Then let's stop and see what Sacho and the others are doing,"

suggested Trot. "They can't be slaves any longer, you know, 'cause

they haven't any master. I wonder if they're any happier than they

were before?"

"They seemed to be pretty happy as it was," remarked Cap'n Bill.

"It will do no harm to pay them a brief visit," said Princess Clia.

"All danger disappeared from the cavern with the destruction of

Zog."

"I really ought to say goodbye to Brother Joe," observed the sailor

man. "I won't see him again, you know, and I don't want to seem

unbrotherly."

"Very well," said the Queen, "we will reenter the cavern, for I,

too, am anxious to know what will be the fate of the poor slaves of

the magician."

When they came to the hole in the top of the dome, they dropped

through it and swam leisurely down toward the castle. The water was

clear and undisturbed and the silver castle looked very quiet and

peaceful under the radiant light that still filled the cavern. They

met no one at all, and passing around to the front of the building,

they reached the broad entrance and passed into the golden hall.

Here a strange scene met their eyes. All the slaves of Zog, hundreds

in number, were assembled in the room, while standing before the

throne formerly occupied by the wicked magician was the boy Sacho,

who was just beginning to make a speech to his fellow slaves. "At

one time or another," he said, "all of us were born upon the earth

and lived in the thin air, but now we are all living as the fishes

live, and our home is in the water of the ocean. One by one we have

come to this place, having been saved from drowning by Zog, the

Magician, and by him given power to exist in comfort under water.

The powerful master who made us his slaves has now passed away

forever, but we continue to live, and are unable to return to our

native land, where we would quickly perish. There is no one but us

to inherit Zog's possessions, and so it will be best for us to

remain in this fine castle and occupy ourselves as we have done

before, in providing for the comforts of the community. Only in

labor is happiness to be found, and we may as well labor for

ourselves as for others.

"But we must have a king. Not an evil, cruel master like Zog, but

one who will maintain order and issue laws for the benefit of all.

We will govern ourselves most happily by having a ruler, or head,

selected from among ourselves by popular vote. Therefore I ask you

to decide who shall be our king, for only one who is accepted by all

can sit in Zog's throne."

The slaves applauded this speech, but they seemed puzzled to make

the choice of a ruler. Finally the chief cook came forward and said,

"We all have our duties to perform and so cannot spend the time to

be king. But you, Sacho, who were Zog's own attendant, have now no

duties at all. So it will be best for you to rule us. What say you,

comrades? Shall we make Sacho king?"

"Yes, yes!" they all cried.

"But I do not wish to be king," replied Sacho. "A king is a useless

sort of person who merely issues orders for others to carry out. I

want to be busy and useful. Whoever is king will need a good

attendant as well as an officer who will see that his commands are

obeyed. I am used to such duties, having served Zog in this same

way."

"Who, then, has the time to rule over us?" asked Agga-Groo, the

goldsmith.

"It seems to me that Cap'n Joe is the proper person for king,"

replied Sacho. "His former duty was to sew buttons on Zog's

garments, so now he is out of a job and has plenty of time to be

king, for he can sew on his own buttons. What do you say, Cap'n

Joe?"

"Oh, I don't mind," agreed Cap'n Joe. "That is, if you all want me

to rule you."

"We do!" shouted the slaves, glad to find someone willing to take

the job.

"But I'll want a few pointers," continued Cap'n Bill's brother. "I

ain't used to this sort o' work, you know, an' if I ain't properly

posted I'm liable to make mistakes."

"Sacho will tell you," said Tom Atto encouragingly. "and now I must

go back to the kitchen and look after my dumplings, or you people

won't have any dinner today."

"Very well," announced Sacho. "I hereby proclaim Cap'n Joe elected

King of the Castle, which is the Enchanted Castle no longer. You may

all return to your work."

The slaves went away well contented, and the boy and Cap'n Joe now

came forward to greet their visitors. "We're on our way home,"

explained Cap'n Bill, "an' we don't expec' to travel this way again.

But it pleases me to know, Joe, that you're the king o' such a fine

castle, an' I'll rest easier now that you're well pervided for."

"Oh, I'm all right, Bill," returned Cap'n Joe. "It's an easy life

here, an' a peaceful one. I wish you were as well fixed."

"If ever you need friends, Sacho, or any assistance or counsel, come

to me," said the Mermaid Queen to the boy.

"Thank you, madam," he replied. "Now that Zog has gone, I am sure we

shall be very safe and contented. But I shall not forget to come to

you if we need you. We are not going to waste any time in anger or

revenge or evil deeds, so I believe we shall prosper from now on."

"I'm sure you will," declared Trot.

They now decided that they must continue their journey, and as

neither Sacho nor King Joe could ascend to the top of the dome

without swimming in the human way, which was slow and tedious work

for them, the goodbyes were said at the castle entrance, and the

four visitors started on their return. Trot took one last view of

the beautiful silver castle from the hole high up in the dome, which

was now open and unguarded, and the next moment she was in the broad

ocean again, swimming toward home beside her mermaid friends.

TROT LIVES TO TELL THE TALE CHAPTER 22

Aquareine was thoughtful for a time. Then she drew from her finger a

ring, a plain gold band set with a pearl of great value, and gave it

to the little girl.

"If at any period of your life the mermaids can be of service to

you, my dear," she said, "you have but to come to the edge of the

ocean and call 'Aquareine.' If you are wearing the ring at the time,

I shall instantly hear you and come to your assistance."

"Thank you!" cried the child, slipping the ring over her own chubby

finger, which it fitted perfectly. "I shall never forget that I have

good and loyal friends in the ocean, you may be sure."

Away and away they swam, swiftly and in a straight line, keeping in

the middle water where they were not liable to meet many sea people.

They passed a few schools of fishes, where the teachers were

explaining to the young ones how to swim properly, and to conduct

themselves in a dignified manner, but Trot did not care to stop and

watch the exercises.

Although the queen had lost her fairy wand in Zog's domed chamber,

she had still enough magic power to carry them all across the ocean

in wonderfully quick time, and before Trot and Cap'n Bill were aware

of the distance they had come, the mermaids paused while Princess

Clia said:

"Now we must go a little deeper, for here is the Giant's Cave and

the entrance to it is near the bottom of the sea."

"What, already?" cried the girl joyfully, and then through the dark

water they swam, passing through the rocky entrance, and began to

ascend slowly into the azure-blue water of the cave.

"You've been awfully good to us, and I don't know jus' how to thank

you," said Trot earnestly.

"We have enjoyed your visit to us," said beautiful Queen Aquareine,

smiling upon her little friend, "and you may easily repay any

pleasure we have given you by speaking well of the mermaids when you

hear ignorant earth people condemning us."

"I'll do that, of course," exclaimed the child.

"How about changin' us back to our reg'lar shapes?" inquired Cap'n

Bill anxiously.

"That will be very easy," replied Princess Clia with her merry

laugh. "See! Here we are at the surface of the water."

They pushed their heads above the blue water and looked around the

cave. It was silent and deserted. Floating gently near the spot

where they had left it was their own little boat. Cap'n Bill swam to

it, took hold of the side, and then turned an inquiring face toward

the mermaids. "Climb in," said the Queen. So he pulled himself up

and awkwardly tumbled forward into the boat. As he did so, he heard

his wooden leg clatter against the seat, and turned around to look

at it wonderingly.

"It's me, all right!" he muttered. "One meat one, an' one hick'ry

one. That's the same as belongs to me!"

"Will you lift Mayre aboard?" asked Princess Clia.

The old sailor aroused himself, and as Trot lifted up her arms, he

seized them and drew her safely into the boat. She was dressed just

as usual, and her chubby legs wore shoes and stockings. Strangely

enough, neither of them were at all wet or even damp in any part of

their clothing.

"I wonder where our legs have been while we've been gone?" mused

Cap'n Bill, gazing at his little friend in great delight.

"And I wonder what's become of our pretty pink and green scaled

tails!" returned the girl, laughing with glee, for it seemed good to

be herself again.

Queen Aquareine and Princess Clia were a little way off, lying with

their pretty faces just out of the water while their hair floated in

soft clouds around them.

"Goodbye, friends!" they called.

"Goodbye!" shouted both Trot and Cap'n Bill, and the little girl

blew two kisses from her fingers toward the mermaids.

Then the faces disappeared, leaving little ripples on the surface of

the water.

Cap'n Bill picked up the oars and slowly headed the boat toward the

mouth of the cave.

"I wonder, Trot, if your ma has missed us," he remarked uneasily.

"Of course not," replied the girl. "She's been sound asleep, you

know."

As the boat crept out into the bright sunlight, they were both

silent, but each sighed with pleasure at beholding their own

everyday world again.

Finally Trot said softly, "The land's the best, Cap'n."

"It is, mate, for livin' on," he answered.

"But I'm glad to have seen the mermaids," she added..

"Well, so'm I, Trot," he agreed. "But I wouldn't 'a' believed any

mortal could ever 'a' seen 'em an'--an'--"

Trot laughed merrily.

"An' lived to tell the tale!" she cried, her eyes dancing with

mischief. "Oh, Cap'n Bill, how little we mortals know!"

"True enough, mate," he replied, "but we're a-learnin' something

ev'ry day."

THE END