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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."
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