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CHAPTER 2 - THE MERMAIDS

The next morning, as soon as Trot had helped wipe the breakfast dishes and put

them away in the cupboard, the little girl and Cap'n Bill started out toward the

bluff. The air was soft and warm and the sun turned the edges of the waves into

sparkling diamonds. Across the bay the last of the fisherboats was speeding away

out to sea, for well the fishermen knew this was an ideal day to catch rockbass,

barracuda and yellowtail.

The old man and the young girl stood on the bluff and watched all this with

interest. Here was their world. "It isn't a bit rough this morning. Let's have a boat

ride, Cap'n Bill," said the child.

"Suits me to a T," declared the sailor. So they found the winding path that led

down the face of the cliff to the narrow beach below and cautiously began the

descent. Trot never minded the steep path or the loose rocks at all, but Cap'n

Bill's wooden leg was not so useful on a downgrade as on a level, and he had to

be careful not to slip and take a tumble.

But by and by they reached the sands and walked to a spot just beneath the big

acacia tree that grew on the bluff. Halfway to the top of the cliff hung suspended

a little shed-like structure that sheltered Trot's rowboat, for it was necessary to

pull the boat out of reach of the waves which beat in fury against the rocks at

high tide. About as high up as Cap'n Bill could reach was an iron ring securely

fastened to the cliff, and to this ring was tied a rope. The old sailor unfastened the

knot and began paying out the rope, and the rowboat came out of its shed and

glided slowly downward to the beach. It hung on a pair of davits and was lowered

just as a boat is lowered from a ship's side. When it reached the sands, the sailor

unhooked the ropes and pushed the boat to the water's edge. It was a pretty little

craft, light and strong, and Cap'n Bill knew how to sail it or row it, as Trot might

desire.

Today they decided to row, so the girl climbed into the bow and her companion

stuck his wooden leg into the water's edge "so he wouldn't get his foot wet" and

pushed off the little boat as he climbed aboard. Then he seized the oars and

began gently paddling.

Whither away, Commodore Trot?" he asked gaily.

I don't care, Cap'n. It's just fun enough to be on the water," she answered,

trailing one hand overboard. So he rowed around by the North Promontory, where

The Sea Fairies