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CHAPTER 20 - THE HOME OF THE OCEAN MONARCH

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

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The Sea Fairies