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"Then you may allow the prisoners to roam at will throughout the castle. Now,

go!"

The prisoners followed Sacho from the room, glad to get away. The presence of

this evil being had grown oppressive to them, and Zog had himself seemed ill at

ease during the last few minutes. The robe so closely wound around his body

moved jerkily, as if something beneath disturbed it, and at such times Zog shifted

nervously in his seat.

Sacho's thin little legs trotted through the water and led the way into a different

passage from the one by which they had entered. They swam slowly after him and

breathed easier when they had left the golden domed chamber where their wicked

enemy sat enthroned. "Well, how do you like him?" asked Sacho with a laugh.

"We hate him!" declared Trot emphatically.

"Of course you do," replied Sacho. "But you're wasting time hating anything. It

doesn't do you any good, or him any harm. Can you sing?"

"A little," said Trot, "but I don't feel like singing now."

"You're wrong about that," the boy asserted. "Anything that keeps you from

singing is foolishness, unless it's laughter. Laughter, joy and song are the only

good things in the world."

Trot did not answer this queer speech, for just then they came to a flight of stairs,

and Sacho climbed up them while the others swam. And now they were in a lofty,

broad corridor having many doors hung with seaweed draperies. At one of these

doorways Sacho stopped and said, "Here is the Rose Chamber where the master

commands you to live until you die. You may wander anywhere in the castle as

you please; to leave it is impossible. Whenever you return to the Rose Chamber,

you will know it by this design of roses sewn in pearls upon the hangings. The

Peony Room where the man-fish is to live is the next one farther on."

Thank you," replied Queen Aquareine. "Are we to be fed?"

"Meals will be served in your rooms. If you desire anything, ring the bell and some

of the slaves will be sure to answer it. I am mostly in attendance upon my master,

but whenever I am at liberty I will look after your comfort myself."

Again they thanked the strange boy, and he turned and left them. They could

hear him whistle and sing as he returned along the passage. Then Princess Clia

parted the curtains that her queen and companions might enter the Rose

Chamber.

The Sea Fairies