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Oh, very well, then, I hear the curfew, Please go away and come some other day;

Goliath tussels With Samson's muscles, Yet the muscles never fight in Oyster

Bay."

It's jus' nonsense!" said Trot scornfully. "Why don't they sing 'Annie Laurie' or

'Home, Sweet Home' or else keep quiet?"

Why, if they were quiet," replied Merla, "they wouldn't be singing barnacles."

They now came to one of the avenues which led from the sea garden out into the

broad ocean, and here two swordfishes were standing guard. "Is all quiet?" Merla

asked them.

Just as usual, your Highness," replied one of the guards. "Mummercubble was

sick this morning and grunted dreadfully, but he's better now and has gone to

sleep. King Anko has been stirring around some, but is now taking his after-

dinner nap. I think it will be perfectly safe for you to swim out for a while, if you

wish."

Who's Mummercubble?" asked Trot as they passed out into deep water.

"He's the sea pig," replied Merla. "I am glad he's asleep, for now we won't meet

him."

Don't you like him?" inquired Trot.

Oh, he complains so bitterly of everything that he bores us," Merla answered.

Mummercubble is never contented or happy for a single minute."

"I've seen people like that," said Cap'n Bill with a nod of his head. "An' they has a

way of upsettin' the happiest folks they meet."

"Look out!" suddenly cried the mermaid. "Look out for your fingers! Here are the

snapping eels."

Who? Where?" asked Trot anxiously.

And now they were in the midst of a cluster of wriggling, darting eels which

sported all around them in the water with marvelous activity. "Yes, look out for

your fingers and your noses!" said one of the eels, making a dash for Cap'n Bill.

At first the sailor was tempted to put out a hand and push the creature away, but

remembering that his fingers would thus be exposed, he remained quiet, and the

eel snapped harmlessly just before his face and then darted away.

"Stop it!" said Merla. "Stop it this minute, or I'll report your impudence to

Aquareine."

The Sea Fairies