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CHAPTER 5 - THE SEA-SERPENT

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

The Sea Fairies