this same
way."

"Who, then, has the time to rule over us?" asked Agga-Groo, the
goldsmith.

"It seems to me that Cap'n Joe is the proper person for king,"
replied Sacho. "His former duty was to sew buttons on Zog's
garments, so now he is out of a job and has plenty of time to be
king, for he can sew on his own buttons. What do you say, Cap'n
Joe?"

"Oh, I don't mind," agreed Cap'n Joe. "That is, if you all want me
to rule you."

"We do!" shouted the slaves, glad to find someone willing to take
the job.

"But I'll want a few pointers," continued Cap'n Bill's brother. "I
ain't used to this sort o' work, you know, an' if I ain't properly
posted I'm liable to make mistakes."

"Sacho will tell you," said Tom Atto encouragingly. "And now I must
go back to the kitchen and look after my dumplings, or you people
won't have any dinner today."

"Very well," announced Sacho. "I hereby proclaim Cap'n Joe elected
King of the Castle, which is the Enchanted Castle no longer. You may
all return to your work."

The slaves went away well contented, and the boy and Cap'n Joe now
came forward to greet their visitors. "We're on our way home,"
explained Cap'n Bill, "an' we don't expec' to travel this way again.
But it pleases me to know, Joe, that you're the king o' such a fine
castle, an' I'll rest easier now that you're well pervided for."

"Oh, I'm all right, Bill," returned Cap'n Joe. "It's an easy life
here, an' a peaceful one. I wish you were as well fixed."

"If ever you need friends, Sacho, or any assistance or counsel, come
to me," said the Mermaid Queen to the boy.

"Thank you, madam," he replied. "Now that Zog has gone, I am sure we
shall be very safe and contented. But I shall not forget to come to
you if we need you. We are not going to waste any time in anger or
revenge or evil deeds, so I believe we shall prosper from now on."

"I'm sure you will," declared Trot.

They now decided that they must continue their journey, and as
neither Sacho nor King Joe could ascend to the top of the dome
without swimming in the human way, which was slow and tedious work
for them, the goodbyes were said at the castle entrance, and the
four visitors started on their return. Trot took one last view of
the beautiful silver castle from the hole high up in the dome, which
was now open and unguarded, and the next moment she was in the broad
ocean again, swimming toward home beside her mermaid friends.

CHAPTER 22

TROT L