hen the queen asked with
another smile, "Are you satisfied?"

"Oh yes!" cried Trot. "But how could you do it?"

"It is a form of mirage," was the reply. "We are able to bring any
earth scene before us whenever we wish. Sometimes these scenes are
reflected above the water so that mortals also observe them."

"I've seen 'em," said Cap'n Bill, nodding. "I've seen mirages, but I
never knowed what caused 'em afore now."

"Whenever you see anything you do not understand and wish to ask
questions, I will be very glad to answer them," said the Queen.

"One thing that bothers me," said Trot, "is why we don't get wet,
being in the ocean with water all around us."

"That is because no water really touches you," explained the Queen.
"Your bodies have been made just like those of the mermaids in order
that you may fully enjoy your visit to us. One of our peculiar
qualities is that water is never permitted to quite touch our
bodies, or our gowns. Always there remains a very small space,
hardly a hair's breadth, between us and the water, which is the
reason we are always warm and dry."

"I see," said Trot. "That's why you don't get soggy or withered."

"Exactly," laughed the Queen, and the other mermaids joined in her
merriment.

"I s'pose that's how we can breathe without gills," remarked Cap'n
Bill thoughtfully.

"Yes. The air space is constantly replenished from the water, which
contains air, and this enables us to breathe as freely as you do
upon the earth."

"But we have fins," said Trot, looking at the fin that stood upright
on Cap'n Bill's back.

"Yes. They allow us to guide ourselves as we swim, and so are very
useful," replied the Queen.

"They make us more finished," said Cap'n Bill with a chuckle. Then,
suddenly becoming grave, he added, "How about my rheumatics, ma'am?
Ain't I likely to get stiffened up with all this dampness?"

"No indeed," Aquareine answered. "There is no such thing as
rheumatism in all our dominions. I promise no evil result shall
follow this visit to us, so please be as happy and contented as
possible."

CHAPTER 5

THE SEA-SERPENT

Just then Trot happened to look up at the glass roof and saw a
startling sight. A big head with a face surrounded by stubby gray
whiskers was poised just over them, and the head was connected with
a long, curved body that looked much like a sewer pipe.

"Oh, there is King Anko," said the Queen, following the child's
gaze. "Open a door and le