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"Oh, who cares?" shouted the Eels. "We're not afraid of the mermaids."
"She'll stiffen you up again, as she did once before," said Merla, "if you try to hurt
the earth people."
"
Are these earth people?" asked one. And then they all stopped their play and
regarded Trot and Cap'n Bill with their little black eyes.
"
"
The old polliwog looks something like King Anko," said one of them.
I'm not a polliwog!" answered Cap'n Bill angrily. "I'm a respec'ble sailor man, an'
I'll have you treat me decent or I'll know why."
"Sailor!" said another. "That means to float on the water--not IN it. What are you
doing down here?"
"I'm jes' a-visitin'," answered Cap'n Bill.
"
He is the guest of our queen," said Merla, "and so is this little girl. If you do not
behave nicely to them, you will surely be sorry."
"
Oh, that's all right," replied one of the biggest eels, wriggling around in a circle
and then snapping at a companion, which as quickly snapped out of his way. "We
know how to be polite to company as well as the mermaids. We won't hurt them."
"
Come on, fellows, let's go scare old Mummercubble," cried another; and then in a
flash they all darted away and left our friends to themselves. Trot was greatly
relieved.
"I don't like eels," she said.
"
They are more mischievous than harmful," replied Merla, "but I do not care
much for them myself."
"No," added Cap'n Bill, "they ain't respec'ful."
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