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The best features of which Zog could boast were his arms and hands, the latter

being as well formed, as delicate and white as those of a well-bred woman. When

he spoke, his voice sounded sweet and clear, and its tones were very gentle. He

had given them a few moments to stare at him, for he was examining them in

turn with considerable curiosity. "Well," said he, "do you not find me the most

hateful creature you have ever beheld?"

The queen refrained from answering, but Trot said promptly, "We do. Nothing

could be more horrider or more disgustin' than you are, it seems to me."

"Very good, very good indeed," declared the monster, lifting his lashes to flash his

glowing eyes upon them. Then he turned toward Cap'n Bill. "Man-fish," he

continued, "what do YOU think of me?"

"Mighty little," the sailor replied. "You orter be 'shamed to ask sech a question,

knowin' you look worse ner the devil himself."

"Very true," answered Zog, frowning. He felt that he had received a high

compliment, and the frown showed he was pleased with Cap'n Bill.

But now Queen Aquareine advanced to a position in front of their captor and

said, "Tell me, Zog, why have you trapped us and brought us here?"

To destroy you," was the quick answer, and the magician turned for an instant

to flash his eyes upon the beautiful mermaid. "For two hundred years I have been

awaiting a chance to get within my power some friend of Anko the Sea Serpent--of

Anko, whom I hate!" he added, smiling sweetly. "When you left your palace today,

my swift spies warned me, and so I sent the sea devils to capture you. Often have

they tried to do this before, but always failed. Today, acting by my command, they

tricked you, and by surrounding you forced you to the entrance of my enchanted

castle. The result is a fine capture of important personages. I have now in my

power the queen and princess of the fairy mermaids, as well as two wandering

earth people, and I assure you I shall take great pleasure in destroying you

utterly."

"You are a coward," declared the Queen proudly. "You dared not meet us in the

open sea."

"No, I dare not leave this castle," Zog admitted, still smiling. "But here in my own

domain my power is supreme. Nothing can interfere with my vengeance."

"That remains to be seen," said Aquareine, firmly meeting the gaze of the terrible

eyes.

The Sea Fairies