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plan before we begin to carry it out. What do you advise, sir?" she asked, turning

to Cap'n Bill.

My opinion, ma'am, is that the only way for us to escape is to get out o' here,"

was the sailor's vague answer. "How to do it is your business, seein' as I ain't no

fairy myself, either in looks or in eddication."

The queen smiled and said to Trot, "What is your opinion, my dear?"

I think we might swim out the same way we came in," answered the child. "If we

could get Sacho to lead us back through the maze, we would follow that long

tunnel to the open ocean, and--"

"And there would be the sea devils waitin' for us," added Cap'n Bill with a shake

of his bald head. "They'd drive us back inter the tunnel like they did the first

time, Trot. It won't do, mate, it won't do."

"Have you a suggestion, Clia?" inquired the Queen.

I have thought of an undertaking," replied the pretty princess, "but it is a bold

plan, your Majesty, and you may not care to risk it."

"Let us hear it, anyway," said Aquareine encouragingly.

"It is to destroy Zog himself and put him out of the world forever. Then we would

be free to go home whenever we pleased."

Can you suggest a way to destroy Zog?" asked Aquareine.

No, your Majesty," Clia answered. "I must leave the way for you to determine."

In the old days," said the Queen thoughtfully, "the mighty King Anko could not

destroy this monster. He succeeded in defeating Zog and drove him into this great

cavern, but even Anko could not destroy him."

I have heard the sea serpent explain that it was because he could not reach the

magician," returned Clia. "If King Anko could have seized Zog in his coils, he

would have made an end of the wicked monster quickly. Zog knows this, and that

is why he does not venture forth from his retreat. Anko is the enemy he

constantly dreads. But with you, my queen, the case is different. You may easily

reach Zog, and the only question is whether your power is sufficient to destroy

him."

For a while Aquareine remained silent. "I am not sure of my power over him," she

said at last, "and for that reason I hesitate to attack him personally. His slaves

and his allies, the sea devils, I can easily conquer, so I prefer to find a way to

The Sea Fairies