d to the wandering tribes of swordfishes," explained
the Princess. "These, who are our servants, are too sensible and
intelligent to attack ships."

The band now headed into a broad passage through the "gardens," as
the mermaids called these gorgeous groves, and the great swordfishes
guarding the entrance made way for them to pass, afterward resuming
their posts with watchful eyes. As they slowly swam along the
avenue, Trot noticed that some of the bushes seemed to have fruits
growing upon them, but what these fruits might be neither she nor
Cap'n Bill could guess.

The way wound here and there for some distance, till finally they
came to a more open space all carpeted with sea flowers of exquisite
colorings. Although Trot did not know it, these flowers resembled
the rare orchids of earth in their fanciful shapes and marvelous
hues. The child did not examine them very closely, for across the
carpet of flowers loomed the magnificent and extensive palaces of
the mermaids.

These palaces were built of coral; white, pink and yellow being
used, and the colors arranged in graceful designs. The front of the
main palace, which now faced them, had circular ends connecting the
straight wall, not unlike the architecture we are all familiar with;
yet there seemed to be no windows to the building, although a series
of archways served as doors.

Arriving at one of the central archways, the band of sea maidens
separated. Princess Clia and Merla leading Trot and Cap'n Bill into
the palace, while the other mermaids swam swiftly away to their own
quarters.

"Welcome!" said Clia in her sweet voice. "Here you are surrounded
only by friends and are in perfect safety. Please accept our
hospitality as freely as you desire, for we consider you honored
guests. I hope you will like our home," she added a little shyly.

"We are sure to, dear Princess," Trot hastened to say.

Then Clia escorted them through the archway and into a lofty hall.
It was not a mere grotto, but had smoothly built walls of pink coral
inlaid with white. Trot at first thought there was no roof, for
looking upward she could see the water all above them. But the
princess, reading her thought, said with a smile, "Yes, there is a
roof, or we would be unable to keep all the sea people out of our
palace. But the roof is made of glass to admit the light."

"Glass!" cried the astonished child. "Then it must be an awful big
pane of glass."

"It is," agreed Clia. "Our ro