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kept her safe. Now Cap'n Bill was attacked, and Princess Clia as well. The half-

dozen slender legs darted in every direction like sword thrusts to reach their

victims, and the cruel claws snapped so rapidly that the sound was like the

rattling of castanets. But the four prisoners regarded their enemy with smiling

composure, and no yell greeted the Yell-Maker's efforts.

Enough!" said Zog, softly and sweetly. "You may retire, my poor Yell-Maker, for

with these people you are powerless."

The creature paused and rolled its yellow eyes. "May I nip just one of the slaves,

oh Zog?" it asked pleadingly. "I hate to leave without pleasing your ears with a

single yell."

Let my slaves alone," was Zog's answer. "They are here to serve me and must not

be injured. Go, feeble one."

"Not so!" cried the Queen. "It is a shame, Zog, that such an evil thing should exist

in our fair sea." With this, she drew her fairy wand from a fold of her gown and

waved it toward the creature. At once the Yell-Maker sank down unconscious

upon the floor; its legs fell apart in many pieces, the claws tumbling in a heap

beside the body. Then all grew withered and lost shape, becoming a pulpy mass,

like gelatin. A few moments later the creature had melted away to nothing at all,

forever disappearing from the ocean where it had caused so much horror and

pain.

Zog watched this destruction with surprising patience. When it was all over, he

nodded his head and smiled, and Trot noticed that whenever Zog smiled, his

slaves lost their jolly looks and began to tremble. "That is very pretty magic,

Aquareine," said the monster. "I myself learned the trick several thousand years

ago, so it does not astonish me. Have you fairies nothing that is new to show

me?"

We desire only to protect ourselves," replied the Queen with dignity.

Then I will give you a chance to do so," said Zog. As he spoke, the great marble

blocks in the ceiling of the room directly over the heads of the captives gave way

and came crashing down upon them. Many tons of weight were in these marble

blocks, and the magician had planned to crush his victims where they stood. But

the four were still unharmed. The marble, being unable to touch them, was

diverted from its course, and when the roar of the great crash had died away, Zog

saw his intended victims standing quietly in their places and smiling scornfully at

his weak attempts to destroy them.

The Sea Fairies