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CHAPTER 9 - THE BASHFUL OCTOPUS

It was a lovely day, and the sea was like azure under the rays of the sun.

Over the flower beds and through the gardens they swam, emerging into the open

sea in a direction opposite that taken by the visitors the day before. The party

consisted of but four: Queen Aquareine, Princess Clia, Trot and Cap'n Bill.

"People who live upon the land know only those sea creatures which they are able

to catch in nets or upon hooks or those which become disabled and are washed

ashore," remarked the Queen as they swam swiftly through the clear water. "And

those who sail in ships see only the creatures who chance to come to the surface.

But in the deep ocean caverns are queer beings that no mortal has ever heard of

or beheld, and some of these we are to visit. We shall also see some sea shrubs

and flowering weeds which are sure to delight you with their beauty."

The sights really began before they had gone very far from the palace, and a

school of butterfly fish, having gorgeous colors spattered over their broad wings,

was first to delight the strangers. They swam just as butterflies fly, with a

darting, jerky motion, and called a merry "Good morning!" to the mermaids as

they passed.

"These butterfly fish are remarkably active," said the Princess, "and their quick

motions protect them from their enemies. We like to meet them; they are always

so gay and good-natured."

Why, so am I!" cried a sharp voice just beside them, and they all paused to

discover what creature had spoken to them.

Take care," said Clia in a low voice. "It's an octopus."

Trot looked eagerly around. A long, brown arm stretched across their way in front

and another just behind them, but that did not worry her. The octopus himself

came slowly sliding up to them and proved to be well worth looking at. He wore a

red coat with brass buttons, and a silk hat was tipped over one ear. His eyes were

somewhat dull and watery, and he had a moustache of long, hair-like "feelers"

that curled stiffly at the ends. When he tried to smile at them, he showed two

rows of sharp, white teeth. In spite of his red coat and yellow-embroidered vest,

his standing collar and carefully tied cravat, the legs of the octopus were bare,

and Trot noticed he used some of his legs for arms, as in one of them was held a

slender cane and in another a handkerchief.

The Sea Fairies