The Sea Fairies

more at their ease. So the girl and the sailor allowed themselves to float downward until they rested their bodies on t

e earth, for although the queen had said she kept track of what was going on on the land,

. Trot and Cap'n Bill each took some, and the little girl found the fruits delicious to eat, as they had a richer flavor than any that grew upon land. Queen Aquareine was much pleased when the old sailor asked for more

, you can't build a fire

our kitchen is so curved that it concentrates the heat of the

day is cloudy, and the sun doesn'

ueen and their guests, swam into another spacious room where a great, long table was laid. The dishes were of polished gold and dainty-cut glass, and the cloth and napkins of fine gossamer. Around the table were ranged rows of couches for

lobsters came sliding into the room backward, bearing in their claws trays loaded with food. E

d excitable that at times they ran against one another and upset the platters of food, after which they began to scold and ar

ngus bread that tasted much like field mushrooms. Oysters, clams, soft-shell crabs and various preparations of seafoods followed. The salad was a delicate leaf from some seaweed that Trot thought was much nicer

im, so Trot decided to follow his example. Certain it is they found the meal very satisfying, and evidently there was no danger of their being hungry while they remained the gue

d, "to be eating ice cream

urprise you?" in

u get the ice to free

ergs that float in the northern pa

rter thought o' that. I

feel she had eaten every morsel she could. Her only excuse for being so

r sea. You need not go far this afternoon, and when you return, we will have another interesting talk together." So the b

ke," remarked the old sailor to the child, "but

ed Merla, who

ted, an' a match would

"I do not mind your smoking at al

ipe, rejoicing in the fact that the tobacco was not at all wet, he took out his matchbox and struck a light. The match burned brightly, and soon the sailor was puffing the smoke from his pipe in great cont

ight," remarked Cap'n Bill, "but

of our neighbors." They passed over the carpet of sea flowers, the gorgeous blossoms swaying on their stems as the motion of the people in the water above them disturbed their r

such lovely hues that no artist's brush has ever been able to imitate them. Some were deep sapphire blue; others rose pink; still others a delicate topaz color. They seemed to have neither heads, eyes nor ears, yet it was

aimed Trot, enrapt

tures are not so delicate as they appear, and live for a long time-u

swam on. Presently a big rock rose suddenly before them from the bottom of the sea, rearing its steep side far up into the water overhead, and this rock was thickly covered with tiny shells that clung fast to its surf

listened, and this is w

y-turvy land to

ttached to it, bec

or-ite within th

nah's whale he ran

t was

s unl

d the flag in s

uldn't

ad to

and cod they da

t all mean?"

eplied Merla, "but usually the songs mean nothing at all. The little bar

me comic operas?"

," answered

he songs themselves,

o them whether their songs mean anything or not. Let us

and Trot heard the last chorus as she slowly fol

y and come some other day; Goliath tussels With Samson

ly. "Why don't they sing 'Annie Laurie'

replied Merla, "they woul

a garden out into the broad ocean, and here two swordfish

dreadfully, but he's better now and has gone to sleep. King Anko has been stirring around some, but is now

asked Trot as they pas

Merla. "I am glad he's aslee

ike him?" in

t he bores us," Merla answered. "Mummercubble i

l with a nod of his head. "An' they has a wa

ermaid. "Look out for your finge

?" asked Tr

or your fingers and your noses!" said one of the eels, making a dash for Cap'n Bill. At first the sailor was tempted to put out a hand and push the creatur

it this minute, or I'll repor

d the Eels. "We're not

e did once before," said Merla, "if

they all stopped their play and regarded Tro

s something like King

grily. "I'm a respec'ble sailor man, an' I'l

ns to float on the water-not IN i

sitin'," answe

and so is this little girl. If you do not beh

rcle and then snapping at a companion, which as quickly snapped out of his way. "

d another; and then in a flash they all darted away and l

ike eels,"

harmful," replied Merla, "but I

n Bill, "they ai