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CHAPTER 15 - THE MAGIC OF THE MERMAIDS

When Trot and Cap'n Bill entered the Rose Chamber they found the two

mermaids reclining before an air fountain that was sending thousands of tiny

bubbles up through the water.

These fountains of air are excellent things," remarked Queen Aquareine, "for they

keep the water fresh and sweet, and that is the more necessary when it is

confined by walls, as it is in this castle. But now, let us counsel together and

decide what to do in the emergency that confronts us."

How can we tell what to do without knowing what's going to happen?" asked

Trot.

"Somethin's sure to happen," said Cap'n Bill.

As if to prove his words, a gong suddenly sounded at their door and in walked a

fat little man clothed all in white, including a white apron and white cap. His face

was round and jolly, and he had a big mustache that curled up at the ends.

"Well, well!" said the little man, spreading out his legs and putting his hands on

his hips as he stood looking at them. "Of all the queer things in the sea, you're

the queerest! Mermaids, eh?"

Don't bunch us that way!" protested Cap'n Bill.

You are quite wrong," said Trot. "I'm a--a girl."

With a fish's tail?" he asked, laughing at her.

That's only just for a while," she said, "while I'm in the water, you know. When

I'm at home on the land I walk just as you do, an' so does Cap'n Bill."

"But we haven't any gills," remarked the Cap'n, looking closely at the little man's

throat, "so I take it we're not as fishy as some others."

"If you mean me, I must admit you are right," said the little man, twisting his

mustache. "I'm as near a fish as a man can be. But you see, Cap'n, without the

gills that make me a fish, I could not live under water."

When it comes to that, you've no business to live under water," asserted the

sailor. "But I s'pose you're a slave and can't help it."

The Sea Fairies