glass. The water was very
clear except for this green shading, and the little girl had never
before felt so light and buoyant as she did now. It was no effort at
all to dart through the water, which seemed to support her on all
sides.

"I don't believe I weigh anything at all," she said to Cap'n Bill.

"No more do I, Trot," said he. "But that's nat'ral, seein' as we're
under water so far. What bothers me most is how we manage to
breathe, havin' no gills like fishes have."

"Are you sure we haven't any gills?" she asked, lifting her free
hand to feel her throat.

"Sure. Ner the mermaids haven't any, either," declared Cap'n Bill.

"Then," said Trot, "we're breathing by magic."

The mermaids laughed at this shrewd remark, and the Princess said,
"You have guessed correctly, my dear. Go a little slower, now, for
the palaces are in sight."

"Where?" asked Trot eagerly.

"Just before you."

"In that grove of trees?" inquired the girl. And really, it seemed
to her that they were approaching a beautiful grove. The bottom of
the sea was covered with white sand, in which grew many varieties of
sea shrubs with branches like those of trees. Not all of them were
green, however, for the branches and leaves were of a variety of
gorgeous colors. Some were purple, shading down to a light lavender;
and there were reds all the way from a delicate rose-pink to vivid
shades of scarlet. Orange, yellow and blue shades were there, too,
mingling with the sea-greens in a most charming manner. Altogether,
Trot found the brilliant coloring somewhat bewildering.

These sea shrubs, which in size were quite as big and tall as the
trees on earth, were set so close together that their branches
entwined; but there were several avenues leading into the groves,
and at the entrance to each avenue the girl noticed several large
fishes with long spikes growing upon their noses.

"Those are swordfishes," remarked the Princess as she led the band
past one of these avenues.

"Are they dang'rous?" asked Trot.

"Not to us," was the reply. "The swordfishes are among our most
valued and faithful servants, guarding the entrances to the gardens
which surround our palaces. If any creatures try to enter uninvited,
these guards fight them and drive them away. Their swords are sharp
and strong, and they are fierce fighters, I assure you."

"I've known 'em to attack ships, an' stick their swords right
through the wood," said Cap'n Bill.

"Those belonge