e him terrible to all beholders.
They seemed like coals of glowing fire and sparkled so fiercely that
no one ever cared to meet their gaze for more than an instant.
Perhaps the monster realized this, for he usually drooped his long
lashes over his fiery eyes to shut out their glare. Zog had two
well-shaped legs which ended in the hoofs of beasts instead of feet,
and these hoofs were shod with gold. His body was a shapeless mass
covered with richly embroidered raiment, over which a great robe of
cloth of gold fell in many folds. This robe was intended to hide the
magician's body from view, but Trot noticed that the cloth moved
constantly in little ripples, as if what lay underneath would not
keep still.

The best features of which Zog could boast were his arms and hands,
the latter being as well formed, as delicate and white as those of a
well-bred woman. When he spoke, his voice sounded sweet and clear,
and its tones were very gentle. He had given them a few moments to
stare at him, for he was examining them in turn with considerable
curiosity. "Well," said he, "do you not find me the most hateful
creature you have ever beheld?"

The queen refrained from answering, but Trot said promptly, "We do.
Nothing could be more horrider or more disgustin' than you are, it
seems to me."

"Very good, very good indeed," declared the monster, lifting his
lashes to flash his glowing eyes upon them. Then he turned toward
Cap'n Bill. "Man-fish," he continued, "what do YOU think of me?"

"Mighty little," the sailor replied. "You orter be 'shamed to ask
sech a question, knowin' you look worse ner the devil himself."

"Very true," answered Zog, frowning. He felt that he had received a
high compliment, and the frown showed he was pleased with Cap'n
Bill.

But now Queen Aquareine advanced to a position in front of their
captor and said, "Tell me, Zog, why have you trapped us and brought
us here?"

"To destroy you," was the quick answer, and the magician turned for
an instant to flash his eyes upon the beautiful mermaid. "For two
hundred years I have been awaiting a chance to get within my power
some friend of Anko the Sea Serpent--of Anko, whom I hate!" he
added, smiling sweetly. "When you left your palace today, my swift
spies warned me, and so I sent the sea devils to capture you. Often
have they tried to do this before, but always failed. Today, acting
by my command, they tricked you, and by surrounding you forced you
to the en