deed," said the first one who had spoken. "If we were wicked
enough to wish to harm you, our magic could reach you as easily upon
the land as in this cave. But we love little girls dearly and wish
only to please them and make their lives more happy."

"I believe that!" cried Trot earnestly.

Cap'n Bill groaned.

"Guess why we have appeared to you," said another mermaid, coming to
the side of the boat.

"Why?" asked the child.

"We heard you say yesterday you would like to see a mermaid, and so
we decided to grant your wish."

"That was real nice of you," said Trot gratefully.

"Also, we heard all the foolish things Cap'n Bill said about us,"
remarked the brown-haired one smilingly, "and we wanted to prove to
him that they were wrong."

"I on'y said what I've heard," protested Cap'n Bill. "Never havin'
seen a mermaid afore, I couldn't be ackerate, an' I never expected
to see one an' live to tell the tale."

Again the cave rang with merry laughter, and as it died away, Trot
said, "May I see your scales, please? And are they green and purple
and pink like Cap'n Bill said?" They seemed undecided what to say to
this and swam a little way off, where the beautiful heads formed a
group that was delightful to see. Perhaps they talked together, for
the brown-haired mermaid soon came back to the side of the boat and
asked, "Would you like to visit our kingdom and see all the wonders
that exist below the sea?"

"I'd like to," replied Trot promptly, "but I couldn't. I'd get
drowned."

"That you would, mate!" cried Cap'n Bill.

"Oh no," said the mermaid. "We would make you both like one of
ourselves, and then you could live within the water as easily as we
do."

"I don't know as I'd like that," said the child, "at least for
always."

"You need not stay with us a moment longer than you please,"
returned the mermaid, smiling as if amused at the remark. "Whenever
you are ready to return home, we promise to bring you to this place
again and restore to you the same forms you are now wearing."

"Would I have a fish's tail?" asked Trot earnestly.

"You would have a mermaid's tail," was the reply.

"What color would my scales be--pink, or purple?"

"You may choose the color yourself."

"Look ahere, Trot!" said Cap'n Bill in excitement. "You ain't
thinkin' o' doin' such a fool thing, are you?"

"'Course I am," declared the little girl. "We don't get such
inv'tations every day, Cap'n, and if I don't go now I may nev