g head with a face surrounded by stubby gray whiskers was poised just over them, and

child's gaze. "Open a door and let him in, Clia, for I s

sked the little girl

who is king of this ocean, although he does not rule the mermaids

talk?" a

ind

understand w

you power, while you remain here, to understan

," said Trot

the coral. The sea serpent at once observed this opening and the head left the roof of glass only to reappear presently at t

r Majesty. I hope

; and then he turned to the strangers. "I suppo

. "The girl is named Mayr

is nose was flat, and his mouth very wide indeed, but his eyes were blue and gentle in expression. The white, stubby hairs that surrounded his face were not thick like a beard, but scattered and scraggly. From the head, the long, brown body of the sea serpe

aid King Anko in a soft voice. "But I'm q

you?" asked

thousands of years back, but beyond that my m

the reply. "I'll give in t

the sea serpent. "Ar

aid Cap'n Bill.

r remember to have had a pain but three times in my li

Caesar," said Tro

called him Caesar sometimes just because he took everything he could lay hands on. I ought

t," admitted

nko, "but I got a lobster to pull the toot

to pull it?

"My dear, those creatures have been called lobsters ever since!

u mean Nebuchadn

called Nevercouldnever when he was alive, but this new way of spelling seems to ge

ate grass," s

ood to eat, and he became very fond of it. The people may have called it grass, but they were

said

about three hundred feet from the end. There was an old octopus who d

u do?" asked

jellyfish, and then I waited for the tide to t

d that," said Trot,

who are always understood are very common. You are sure to respect those

you happen to be?"

feet, five inches and a quarter. I'm not sure about the quarter, but

est of you, th

out, I usually take along only what is needed. It saves a lot of bother and I can alway

a sea serpent?" i

I am. I have two brothers who live in other oceans, but one is seven inches shorter than I am, and

" acknowle

ed Anko in a dreamy tone. "My great age, my

to live so long," remark

ed and eighty-two feet, five inches a

many years," re

e because we have no carbolic acid or firearms or gas to turn on. So it isn't a matter of choice, and I'd about as soon be alive as dead. It does

'll take you over to his majesty's palace w

ut of the hole, which immediately closed behind

Anko forgot to tell us wha

at when we see him. But I guess the ol' boy's mem'ry is