e cover themselves with the
queerest things--they even wear feathers and flowers on their heads,
and--"

"Oh, we know all about that," said Trot. "We live on the earth
ourselves."

"Well, you're lucky to get off from it and into the good water,"
said the Crab. "I nearly died on the earth; it was so stupid, dry
and airy. But the circus was great. They held the performance right
in front of the aquarium where we lived, and Tommy and I learned all
the tricks of the tumblers. Hi! Come on, fellows, and show the earth
people what you can do!"

At this the crabs began performing their antics again, but they did
the same things over and over, so Cap'n Bill and Trot soon tired, as
Merla said they would, and decided they had seen enough of the crab
circus. So they proceeded to swim farther up the rocky canyon, and
near its upper end they came to a lot of conch shells lying upon the
sandy bottom. A funny-looking crab was sticking his head out from
each of these shells.

"These are the hermit crabs," said one of the mermaids. "They steal
these shells and live in them so no enemies can attack them."

"Don't they get lonesome?" asked Trot.

"Perhaps so, my dear. But they do not seem to mind being lonesome.
They are great cowards, and think if they can but protect their
lives there is nothing else to care for. Unlike the jolly crabs we
have just left, the hermits are cross and unsociable."

"Oh, keep quiet and go away!" said one of the hermit crabs in a
grumpy voice. "No one wants mermaids around here." Then every crab
withdrew its head into its shell, and our friends saw them no more.

"They're not very polite," observed Trot, following the mermaid as
Merla swam upward into the middle water.

"I know now why cross people are called 'crabbed,'" said Cap'n Bill.
"They've got dispositions jes' like these 'ere hermit crabs."

Presently they came upon a small flock of mackerel, and noticed that
the fishes seemed much excited. When they saw the mermaid, they
cried out, "Oh, Merla! What do you think? Our Flippity has just gone
to glory!"

"When?" asked the mermaid.

"Just now," one replied. "We were lying in the water, talking
quietly together when a spinning, shining thing came along and our
dear Flippity ate it. Then he went shooting up to the top of the
water and gave a flop and--went to glory! Isn't it splendid, Merla?"

"Poor Flippity!" sighed the mermaid. "I'm sorry, for he was the
prettiest and nicest mackerel in yo