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"Of course," he answered, nodding his head with a graceful movement. "You will

try to thwart me and escape. You will pit your fairy power against my powers of

magic. That will give me great pleasure, for the more you struggle, the greater will

be my revenge."

But why should you seek revenge upon us?" asked Clia. "We have never harmed

you."

That is true," replied Zog. "I bear you no personal ill will. But you are friends of

my great enemy, King Anko, and it will annoy him very much when he finds that

you have been destroyed by me. I cannot hurt the rascally old sea serpent

himself, but through you I can make him feel my vengeance."

"The mermaids have existed thousands of years," said the Queen in a tone of

pride. "Do you imagine the despised and conquered Zog has power to destroy

them?"

"I do not know," was the quiet answer. "It will be interesting to discover which is

the more powerful."

I challenge you to begin the test at once, vile magician!" exclaimed Aquareine.

There is no hurry, fair Queen," answered Zog in his softest tones. "I have been so

many years in accomplishing your capture that it is foolish to act hastily now.

Besides, I am lonely. Here in my forced retirement I see only those uninteresting

earth mortals whom I have made my slaves, for all sea dwellers are forbidden to

serve me save the sea devils, and they dare not enter my castle. I have saved

many mortals from drowning and brought them here to people my castle, but I do

not love mortals. Two lovely mermaids are much more interesting, and before I

allow you to perish, I shall have much amusement in witnessing your despair and

your struggles to escape. You are now my prisoners. By slow degrees I shall wear

out your fairy powers and break your hearts, as well as the hearts of these earth

dwellers who have no magic powers, and I think it will be a long time before I

finally permit you to die."

That's all right," said Trot cheerfully. "The longer you take, the better I'll be

satisfied."

That's how I feel about it," added Cap'n Bill. "Don't get in a hurry to kill us Zog.

It'll be such a wear an' tear on your nerves. Jes' take it easy an' let us live as long

as we can."

Don't you care to die?" asked the magician.

The Sea Fairies