uareine, although he tried again and again, roaring with anger
like a mad bull.

Trot began to enjoy this performance, and as her merry, childish
laughter rang out, the Yell-Maker turned furiously upon the little
girl, two of the dreadful claws trying to nip her at the same time.
She had no chance to cry out or jump backward, yet she remained
unharmed. For the Fairy Circle of Queen Aquareine kept her safe. Now
Cap'n Bill was attacked, and Princess Clia as well. The half-dozen
slender legs darted in every direction like sword thrusts to reach
their victims, and the cruel claws snapped so rapidly that the sound
was like the rattling of castanets. But the four prisoners regarded
their enemy with smiling composure, and no yell greeted the
Yell-Maker's efforts.

"Enough!" said Zog, softly and sweetly. "You may retire, my poor
Yell-Maker, for with these people you are powerless."

The creature paused and rolled its yellow eyes. "May I nip just one
of the slaves, oh Zog?" it asked pleadingly. "I hate to leave
without pleasing your ears with a single yell."

"Let my slaves alone," was Zog's answer. "They are here to serve me
and must not be injured. Go, feeble one."

"Not so!" cried the Queen. "It is a shame, Zog, that such an evil
thing should exist in our fair sea." With this, she drew her fairy
wand from a fold of her gown and waved it toward the creature. At
once the Yell-Maker sank down unconscious upon the floor; its legs
fell apart in many pieces, the claws tumbling in a heap beside the
body. Then all grew withered and lost shape, becoming a pulpy mass,
like gelatin. A few moments later the creature had melted away to
nothing at all, forever disappearing from the ocean where it had
caused so much horror and pain.

Zog watched this destruction with surprising patience. When it was
all over, he nodded his head and smiled, and Trot noticed that
whenever Zog smiled, his slaves lost their jolly looks and began to
tremble. "That is very pretty magic, Aquareine," said the monster.
"I myself learned the trick several thousand years ago, so it does
not astonish me. Have you fairies nothing that is new to show me?"

"We desire only to protect ourselves," replied the Queen with
dignity.

"Then I will give you a chance to do so," said Zog. As he spoke, the
great marble blocks in the ceiling of the room directly over the
heads of the captives gave way and came crashing down upon them.
Many tons of weight were in these marb