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were blue and gentle in expression. The white, stubby hairs that surrounded his

face were not thick like a beard, but scattered and scraggly. From the head, the

long, brown body of the sea serpent extended to the hole in the coral wall, which

was just big enough to admit it; and how much more of the body remained

outside the child could not tell. On the back of the body were several fins, which

made the creature look more like an eel than a serpent.

"The girl is young and the man is old," said King Anko in a soft voice. "But I'm

quite sure Cap'n Bill isn't as old as I am."

How old are you?" asked the sailor.

I can't say exactly. I can remember several thousands of years back, but beyond

that my memory fails me. How's your memory, Cap'n Bill?"

You've got me beat," was the reply. "I'll give in that you're older than I am."

This seemed to please the sea serpent. "Are you well?" he asked.

Pretty fair," said Cap'n Bill. "How's yourself?"

Oh, I'm very well, thank you," answered Anko. "I never remember to have had a

pain but three times in my life. The last time was when Julius Sneezer was on

earth."

"You mean Julius Caesar," said Trot, correcting him.

"No, I mean Julius Sneezer," insisted the Sea Serpent. "That was his real name--

Sneezer. They called him Caesar sometimes just because he took everything he

could lay hands on. I ought to know, because I saw him when he was alive. Did

you see him when he was alive, Cap'n Bill?"

"I reckon not," admitted the sailor.

That time I had a toothache," continued Anko, "but I got a lobster to pull the

tooth with his claw, so the pain was soon over."

"Did it hurt to pull it?" asked Trot.

Hurt!" exclaimed the Sea Serpent, groaning at the recollection. "My dear, those

creatures have been called lobsters ever since! The second pain I had way back in

the time of Nevercouldnever."

"Oh, I s'pose you mean Nebuchadnezzar," said Trot.

"Do you call him that now?" asked the Sea Serpent as if surprised. "He used to be

called Nevercouldnever when he was alive, but this new way of spelling seems to

The Sea Fairies