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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."

The Sea Fairies