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CHAPTER 11 - ZOG THE TERRIBLE AND HIS SEA DEVILS

The sun must be going under a cloud," said Trot, looking ahead.

They had descended far into the ocean depths again--further, the girl thought,

than they had ever been before.

"No," the Queen answered after a glance ahead of them, "that is a cuttlefish, and

he is dyeing the sea around him with ink so that he can hide from us. Let us turn

a little to the left, for we could see nothing at all in that inky water."

Following her advice, they made a broad curve to the left, and at once the water

began to darken in that direction.

"Why, there's another of 'em," said Cap'n Bill as the little party came to a sudden

halt.

"So there is," returned the Queen, and Trot thought there was a little quiver of

anxiety in her voice. "We must go far to the right to escape the ink."

So they again started, this time almost at a right angle to their former course, the

little girl inquired:

How can the cuttlefish color the water so very black?"

They carry big sacks in front of them where they conceal the ink," Princess Clia

answered. "Whenever they choose, the cuttlefish are able to press out this ink,

and it colors the water for a great space around them."

The direction in which they were now swimming was taking them far out of their

way. Aquareine did not wish to travel very far to the right, so when she thought

they had gone far enough to escape the inky water, she turned to lead her party

toward the left--the direction in which she DID wish to go. At once another cloud

of ink stained the water and drove them to the right again.

"Is anything wrong, ma'am?" asked Cap'n Bill, seeing a frown gather upon the

queen's lovely face.

I hope not," she said. "But I must warn you that these cuttlefish are the servants

of the terrible sea devils, and from the way they are acting they seem determined

to drive us toward the Devil Caves, which I wished to avoid."

This admission on the part of their powerful protector, the fairy mermaid, sent a

chill to the hearts of the earth people. Neither spoke for a time, but finally Cap'n

Bill asked in a timid voice:

The Sea Fairies