s at the least. Yet if the poor maid whom I
have chosen could be allowed to go with me, I think they would believe
us both."

The merman said nothing in reply; but his people, who had heard Civil's
speech, talked it over among themselves till they grew sure that the
whole west country would come down, if they only had news of the riches,
and asked their lord to send up Civil and the poor maid in order to let
them know.

As it seemed for the public good, the great merman agreed. But, having
made up his mind to have them back, he gathered out of his rich rooms
some of the largest pearls and diamonds, and said:

"Take these as a present from me, to let the west-country people see
what I can do for my visitors."

Civil and the lady took the presents, saying: "Oh, my lord, you are too
kind. We want nothing but the pleasure of telling of your wonderful
riches up yonder."

"Tell everybody to come down, and they will get the like," said the
merman; "and follow my eldest daughter, for she carries the key of the
land gate."

Civil and the lady followed the mermaid through a winding gallery, which
led from the chief hall far into the marble hill. All was dark, and they
had neither lamp nor torch, but at the end of the gallery they came to a
great stone gate, which creaked like thunder on its hinges. Beyond that
there was a narrow cave, sloping up and up like a steep hillside.

Civil and the lady thought they would never reach the top. But at last
they saw a gleam of daylight, then a strip of blue sky, and the mermaid
bade them stoop and creep through what seemed a narrow crack in the
ground, and both stood on the broad seabeach as the day was breaking and
the tide ebbing fast away.

"Good times to you among your west-country people," said the mermaid.
"Tell any of them that would like to come down to visit us, that they
must come here midway between the high and low watermark, when the tide
is going out at morning or evening. Call thrice on the sea-people, and
we will show them the way."

Before they could make answer, she had sunk down from their sight, and
there was no track or passage there, but all was covered by the loose
sand and seashells.

"Now," said the lady to Civil, "we have seen the heavens once more, and
we will not go back. Cast in the merman's present quickly before the sun
rises."

Taking the bag of pearls and diamonds, she flung it as far as she could
into the sea.

Civil never was so unwilling t