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interested and amused her greatly. Cap'n Bill seemed a bit bashful among so

many beautiful mermaids, yet he was pleased when the queen offered him a place

beside her throne, where he could see and hear all the delightful entertainment

provided for the royal guests. He did not talk much, being a man of few words

except when alone with Trot, but his light-blue eyes were big and round with

wonder at the sights he saw.

Trot and the sailor man went to bed early and slept soundly upon their sponge-

covered couches. The little girl never wakened until long after the sun was

shining down through the glass roof of her room, and when she opened her eyes

she was startled to find a number of big, small and middle-sized fishes staring at

her through the glass. "That's one bad thing 'bout this mermaid palace," she said

to herself. "It's too public. Ever'thing in the sea can look at you through the glass

as much as it likes. I wouldn't mind fishes looking at me if they hadn't such big

eyes, an'--goodness me! There's a monster that's all head! And there goes a fish

with a sail on its back, an' here's old Mummercubble, I'm sure, for he's got a head

just like a pig."

She might have watched the fishes on the roof for hours, had she not

remembered it was late and breakfast must be ready. So she dressed and made

her toilet, and swam down into the palace to find Cap'n Bill and the mermaids

politely waiting for her to join them. The sea maidens were as fresh and lovely as

ever, while each and all proved sweet tempered and merry, even at the breakfast

table--and that is where people are cross, if they ever are. During the meal the

queen said, "I shall take you this morning to the most interesting part of the

ocean, where the largest and most remarkable sea creatures live. And we must

visit King Anko, too, for the sea serpent would feel hurt and slighted if I did not

bring my guests to call upon him."

That will be nice," said Trot eagerly.

But Cap'n Bill asked, "Is there any danger, ma'am?"

I think not," replied Queen Aquareine. "I cannot say that you will be exposed to

any danger at all, so long as I'm with you. But we are going into the neighborhood

of such fierce and even terrible beings which would attack you at once did they

suspect you to be earth people. So in order to guard your safety, I intend to draw

the Magic Circle around both of you before we start."

What is the Magic Circle?" asked Trot.

A fairy charm that prevents any enemy from touching you. No monster of the

sea, however powerful, will be able to reach your body while you are protected by

the Magic Circle," declared the Queen.

The Sea Fairies