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"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.

112

The Sea Fairies