and children. All had broad gold bands clasped around their ankles, as
a badge of servitude, and at each throat were the fish's gills that
enabled them to breathe, and live under water. Yet every face was
smiling and serene, even in the presence of their dread master. In
parts of the big hall were groups of other slaves.
Sacho ranged the prisoners in a circle before Zog's throne, and slowly
the magician turned his eyes, glowing like live coals, upon the four.
[Illustration]
"Captives," said he, speaking in his clear, sweet voice, "in our first
interview you defied me, and both the mermaid queen and the princess
declared they could not die. But if that is a true statement, as I
have yet to discover, there are various ways to make you miserable and
unhappy, and this I propose to do in order to amuse myself at your
expense. You have been brought here to undergo the first trial of
strength between us."
[Illustration: ZOG'S SLAVES WERE AS JOLLY AS COULD BE]
None of the prisoners replied to this speech, so Zog turned to one of
his slaves and said:
"Rivivi, bring in the Yell-Maker."
[Illustration]
Rivivi was a big fellow, brown of skin, and with flashing black eyes.
He bowed to his master and left the room by an archway covered with
heavy draperies. The next moment these curtains were violently pushed
aside and a dreadful sea creature swam into the hall. It had a body
much like that of a crab, only more round and of a jet-black color. Its
eyes were bright yellow balls set on the ends of two horns that stuck
out of its head. They were cruel looking eyes, too, and seemed able to
see every person in the room at the same time.
The legs of the Yell-Maker, however, were the most curious part of
the creature. There were six of them, slender and black as coal, and
each extended twelve to fifteen feet from its body, when stretched out
in a straight line. They were hinged in several places, so they could
be folded up, or extended at will. At the ends of these thin legs
were immense claws shaped like those of a lobster, and they were real
"nippers," of a most dangerous sort.
The prisoners knew, as soon as they saw the awful claws, why the thing
was called the "Yell-Maker," and Trot gave a little shiver and crept
closer to Cap'n Bill.
Zog looked with approval upon the creature he had summoned, and said to
it:
"I give you four victims--the four people with fish's tails. Let me
hear how loud they can yell."
The Yell-Maker uttered a grunt of pleasure and in a flash stretched
out one of its long legs toward the queen's nose, where its powerful
claws came together with a loud snap. Aquareine did not stir; she only
smiled. Both Zog and the creature that had attacked her seemed much
surprised to find she was unhurt.
"Again!" cried Zog; and again the Yell-Maker's claw shot out and tried
to pinch the queen's pretty ear. But the magic of the fairy mermaid was
proof against this sea-rascal's strength and swiftness, nor could he
touch any part of Aquareine, although he tried again and again, roaring
with anger like a mad bull.
[Illustration]
Trot began to enjoy this performance, and as her merry, childish
laughter rang out the Yell-Maker turned furiously upon the little girl,
two of the dreadful claws trying to nip her at the same time. She had
no chance to cry out, or jump backward; yet she remained unharmed. For
the Fairy Circle of Queen Aquareine kept her safe.
Now Cap'n Bill was attacked, and Princess Clia as well. The half-dozen
slender legs darted in every direction, like sword thrusts, to reach
their victims, and the cruel claws snapped so rapidly that the
sound was like the rattling of castanets. But the four prisoners
regarded their enemy with smiling composure, and no yell greeted the
Yell-Maker's efforts.
"Enough!" said Zog, softly and sweetly. "You may retire, my poor
Yell-Maker, for with these people you are powerless."
The creature paused, and rolled its yellow eyes.
"May I nip just one of the slaves, oh, Zog?" it asked, pleadingly. "I
hate to leave without pleasing your ears with a single yell."
"Let my slaves alone," was Zog's answer. "They are here to serve me,
and must not be injured. Go, feeble one!"
"Not so!" cried the Queen. "It is a shame, Zog, that such an evil thing
should exist in our fair sea." With this, she drew her fairy wand from
a fold of her gown and waved it toward the creature. At once, the
Yell-Maker sank down unconscious upon the floor; its legs fell apart
in many pieces, the claws tumbling in a heap beside the body. Then all
grew withered and lost shape, becoming a pulpy mass, like gelatine.
A few moments later the creature had melted away to nothing at all,
forever disappearing from the ocean where it had caused so much horror
and pain.
[Illustration]
Zog watched this destruction with surprising patience. When it was all
over he nodded his head and smiled, and Trot noticed that whenever Zog
smiled his slaves lost their jolly looks and began to tremble.
"That is very pretty magic, Aquareine," said the monster. "I, myself,
learned the trick several thousand years ago, so it does not astonish
me. Have you fairies nothing that is new to show me?"
"We desire only to protect ourselves," replied the Queen, with dignity.
"Then I will give you a chance to do so," said Zog.
As he spoke the great marble blocks in the ceiling of the room,
directly over the heads of the captives, gave way and came crashing
down upon them. Many tons of weight were in these marble blocks, and
the magician had planned to crush his victims where they stood.
But the four were still unharmed. The marble, being unable to touch
them, was diverted from its course, and when the roar of the great
crash had died away Zog saw his intended victims standing quietly in
their places, and smiling scornfully at his weak attempts to destroy
them.
[Illustration: _Chap. 16._
_The_ TOP OF THE GREAT DOME]
Cap'n Bill's heart was beating pretty fast, but he did not let Zog know
that. Trot was so sure of the protection of the fairy mermaids that she
would not allow herself to become frightened. Aquareine and Clia were
as calm as if nothing had happened.
"Please excuse this little interruption," said Zog. "I knew very well
the marble blocks could not hurt you. But the play is over for a time.
You may now retire to your rooms, and when I again invite you to my
presence I shall have found some better way to entertain you."
Without reply to this threat they turned and followed Sacho from the
hall, and the boy led them straight back to their own rooms.
"Zog is making a great mistake," said Sacho, with a laugh. "He has no
time for vengeance, but the great magician does not know that."
"What is he trying to do, anyway?" asked Trot.
"He does not tell me his secrets, but I've an idea he wants to kill
you," replied Sacho. "How absurd it is to be plotting such a thing,
when he might spend his time in laughing and being jolly! Isn't it,
now?"
"Zog is a wicked, wicked, creature!" exclaimed Trot.
"But he has his good points," replied Sacho, cheerfully. "There is no
one in all the world so bad that there is nothing good about him."
"I'm not so sure of that," said Cap'n Bill. "What are Zog's good
points?"
"All his slaves were saved from drowning, and he is kind to them," said
Sacho.
"That is merely the kindness of selfishness," said Aquareine. "Tell me,
my lad, is the opening in the great dome outside guarded?"
"Yes, indeed," was the reply. "You cannot hope to escape in that way,
for the prince of the sea devils, who is the largest and fiercest of
his race, lies crouched over the opening, night and day, and none can
pass his network of curling legs."
"Is there no avenue that is not guarded?" continued Aquareine.
"None at all, your Majesty. Zog is always careful to be well guarded,
for he fears the approach of an enemy. What this enemy can be, to
terrify the powerful magician, I do not know; but Zog is always afraid
and never leaves an entrance unguarded. Besides, it is an enchanted
castle, you know, and none in the ocean can see it unless Zog wishes
him to. So it will be very hard for his enemy to find him."
"We wish to escape," said Clia. "Will you help us, Sacho?"
"In any way I can," replied the boy.
"If we succeed, we will take you with us," continued the Princess. But
Sacho shook his head, and laughed.
"I would indeed like to see you escape Zog's vengeance," said he,
"for vengeance is wrong and you are too pretty, and too good to be
destroyed. But I am happy here, and have no wish to go away, having no
other home or friends, other than my fellow slaves."
Then he left them, and when they were again alone, Aquareine said:
"We were able to escape Zog's attacks to-day, but I am quite sure he
will plan more powerful ways to destroy us. He has shown that he knows
some clever magic and perhaps I shall not be able to foil it. So it
will be well for us to escape to-night, if possible."
"Can you fight and conquer the big sea devil up in the dome?" asked
Trot.
The queen was thoughtful, and did not reply to this question at once.
But Cap'n Bill said, uneasily:
"I can't abide them devil critters, an' I hopes, for my part, we won't
be called on to tackle 'em. You see, Trot, we're in consider'ble of a
bad mess, an' if we ever live to tell the tale--"
"Why not, Cap'n?" asked the child. "We're safe enough, so far. Can't
you trust to our good friend the queen?"
"She don't seem plumb sure o' things herself," remarked the sailor.
"The mermaids is all right an' friendly, mate, but this 'ere magic
maker--ol' Zog--is a bad one, out 'n' out, an' means to kill us, if he
can."
"But he can't!" cried Trot, bravely.
"I hope you're right, dear. I wouldn't want to bet on Zog's chances,
jes' yet, an' at the same time it would be riskin' money to bet on our
chances. Seems to me it's a case of luck which wins."
"Don't worry, friend," said the Queen. "I have a plan to save us. Let
us wait patiently until nightfall."
They waited in the Rose Chamber a long time, talking earnestly
together; but the brilliant light that flooded both the room and the
great dome outside did not fade in the least.
[Illustration]
After several hours had passed away the gong sounded and Tom Atto
again appeared, followed by four slaves bearing many golden dishes upon
silver trays. The friendly cook had prepared a fine dinner and they
were all glad to find that, whatever Zog intended to do to them, he
had no intention of starving them. Perhaps the magician realized that
Aquareine's fairy powers, if put to the test, would be able to provide
food for her companions; but whatever his object may have been, their
enemy had given them splendid rooms and plenty to eat.
"Isn't it nearly night time?" asked the Queen, as Tom Atto spread the
table with a cloth of woven seaweed and directed his men to place the
dishes upon it.
"Night!" he exclaimed, as if surprised. "There is no night here."
"Doesn't it ever get dark?" inquired Trot.
"Never. We know nothing of the passage of time, or of day and night.
The light always shines just as you see it now, and we sleep whenever
we are tired and rise again as soon as we are rested."
"What causes the light?" Princess Clia asked.
"It's magic, your Highness," said the cook, solemnly. "It's one of the
curious things Zog is able to do. But you must remember all this place
is a big cave, in which the castle stands, so the light is never seen
by anyone, except those who live here."
"But why does Zog keep his light going all the time?" asked the Queen.
"I suppose it is because he himself never sleeps," replied Tom Atto.
"They say the master hasn't slept for hundreds of years; not since
Anko, the sea serpent, defeated him and drove him into this place."
[Illustration]
They asked no more questions, and began to eat their dinner in silence.
Before long Cap'n Joe came in to visit his brother, and took a seat at
the table with the prisoners. He proved a jolly fellow, and when he and
Cap'n Bill talked about their boyhood days the stories were so funny
that everybody laughed, and for a time forgot their worries.
When dinner was over, however, and Cap'n Joe had gone back to his work
of sewing on buttons and the servants had carried away the dishes, the
prisoners remembered their troubles and the fate that awaited them.
"I am much disappointed," said the Queen, "to find there is no
night here, and that Zog never sleeps. It will make our escape more
difficult. Yet we must make the attempt, and as we are tired and a
great struggle is before us, it will be best for us to sleep and
refresh ourselves."
They agreed to this, for the day had been long and adventurous, so
Cap'n Bill kissed Trot and went into the Peony Room, where he lay down
upon his spongy couch and soon fell fast asleep.
The mermaids and Trot followed this example, and I think none of them
was much worried, after all, because they quickly sank into peaceful
slumber and forgot all the dangers that threatened them.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: _Chap. 17._
_The_ QUEEN'S GOLDEN SWORD]
"Goodness me!" exclaimed Trot, raising herself by a flirt of her
pink-scaled tail and a wave of her fins; "isn't it dreadful hot here?"
The mermaids had risen at the same time, and Cap'n Bill came swimming
in from the Peony Room in time to hear the little girl's speech.
"Hot!" echoed the sailor, "why, I feel like the inside of a steam
engine!"
The perspiration was rolling down his round, red face, and he took
out his handkerchief and carefully wiped it away, waving his fishtail
gently at the same time.
"What we need most in this room," said he, "is a fan."
"What's the trouble, do you s'pose?" inquired Trot.
"It is another trick of the monster Zog," answered the Queen, calmly.
"He has made the water in our rooms boiling hot, and if it could touch
us we would be well cooked by this time. Even as it is, we are all made
uncomfortable by breathing the heated air."
"What shall we do, ma'am?" the sailorman asked, with a groan. "I
expected to get into hot water afore we've done with this foolishness,
but I don't like the feel o' bein' par-boiled, jes' the same."
The queen was waving her fairy wand, and paid no attention to Cap'n
Bill's moans. Already, the water felt cooler and they began to breathe
more easily. In a few moments more the heat had passed from the
surrounding water altogether, and all danger from this source was over.
"This is better," said Trot, gratefully.
"Do you care to sleep again?" asked the Queen.
"No; I'm wide awake, now," answered the child.
"I'm afraid if I goes to sleep ag'in I'll wake up a pot roast," said
Cap'n Bill.
"Let us consider ways to escape," suggested Clia. "It seems useless for
us to remain here, quietly, until Zog discovers a way to destroy us."
"But we must not blunder," added Aquareine, cautiously. "To fail in our
attempt would be to acknowledge Zog's superior power, so we must think
well upon our plan before we begin to carry it out. What do you advise,
sir?" she asked, turning to Cap'n Bill.
"My opinion, ma'am, is that the only way for us to escape is to get
out o' here," was the sailor's vague answer. "How to do it is your
business, seein' as I ain't no fairy myself, either in looks or in
eddication."
The queen smiled, and said to Trot:
"What is your opinion, my dear?"
"I think we might swim out the same way we came in," answered the
child. "If we could get Sacho to lead us back through the maze, we
would follow that long tunnel to the open ocean, and--"
"And there would be the sea devils waitin' for us," added Cap'n Bill,
with a shake of his bald head. "They'd drive us back inter the tunnel,
like they did the first time, Trot. It won't do, mate; it won't do."
"Have you a suggestion, Clia?" inquired the Queen.
"I have thought of an undertaking," replied the pretty princess; "but
it is a bold plan, your Majesty, and you may not care to risk it."
"Let us hear it, anyway," said Aquareine, encouragingly.
"It is to destroy Zog himself, and put him out of the world forever.
Then we would be free to go home, whenever we pleased."
"Can you suggest a way to destroy Zog?" asked Aquareine.
"No, your Majesty," Clia answered. "I must leave the way for you to
determine."
"In the old days," said the Queen, thoughtfully, "the mighty King Anko
could not destroy this monster. He succeeded in defeating Zog, and
drove him into this great cavern; but even Anko could not destroy him."
"I have heard the sea serpent explain that it was because he could not
reach the magician," returned Clia. "If King Anko could have seized Zog
in his coils he would have made an end of the wicked monster quickly.
Zog knows this, and that is why he does not dare to venture forth from
his retreat. Anko is the enemy he constantly dreads. But with you, my
queen, the case is different. You may easily reach Zog, and the only
question is whether your power is sufficient to destroy him."
For a while, Aquareine remained silent.
"I am not sure of my power over Zog," she said at last, "and for that
reason I hesitate to attack him personally. His slaves, and his allies
the sea devils, I can easily conquer; so I prefer to find a way to
overcome the guards at the entrances, rather than to encounter their
terrible master. But even the guards have been given strength and power
by the magician, as we have already discovered; so I must procure a
weapon with which to fight them."
[Illustration]
"A weapon, ma'am?" said Cap'n Bill; and then he took a jackknife from
his coat pocket and opened the big blade, afterward handing it to the
queen. "That ain't a bad weapon," he announced.
"But it is useless in this case," she replied, smiling at the old
sailor's earnestness. "For my purpose I must have a golden sword."
"Well, there's plenty of gold around this castle," said Trot, looking
around her. "Even in this room there's enough to make a hundred golden
swords."
"But we can't melt or forge gold under water, mate," the Cap'n said.
"Why not? Don't you s'pose all these gold roses and things were made
under water?" asked the little girl.
"Like enough," admitted the sailor; "but I don't see how."
Just then, the gong at their door sounded and the boy Sacho came in,
smiling and cheerful as ever. He said Zog had sent him to inquire after
their health and happiness.
"You may tell him that his water became a trifle too warm, so we cooled
it," replied the Queen. Then they told Sacho how the boiling water had
made them uncomfortable while they slept.
Sacho whistled a little tune, and seemed thoughtful.
"Zog is foolish," said he. "How often have I told him that vengeance
is but a waste of time. He is worried to know how to destroy you, and
that is wasting more time. You are worried for fear he will injure you,
and so you also are wasting time. My, my! what a waste of time is going
on in this castle!"
"Seems to me that we have so much time it doesn't matter," said Trot.
"What's time for, anyhow?"
"Time is given us to be happy, and for no other reason," replied the
boy, soberly. "When we waste time, we waste happiness. But there is no
time for preaching, so I'll go."
"Please wait a moment, Sacho," said the Queen.
"Can I do anything to make you happy?" he asked, smiling again.
"Yes," answered Aquareine. "We are curious to know who does all this
beautiful gold work and ornamentation."
"Some of the slaves here are goldsmiths, having been taught by Zog to
forge and work metal under water," explained Sacho. "In parts of the
ocean lie many rocks filled with veins of pure gold and golden nuggets,
and we get large supplies from sunken ships, as well. There is no
lack of gold here, but it is not as precious as it is upon the earth,
because here we have no need of money."
"We would like to see the goldsmiths at work," announced the Queen.
The boy hesitated a moment. Then he said:
"I will take you to their room, where you may watch them for a time. I
will not ask Zog's permission to do this, for he might refuse. But my
orders were to allow you the liberty of the castle, and so I will let
you see the goldsmiths' shop."
"Thank you," replied Aquareine, quietly; and then the four followed
Sacho along various corridors until they came to a large room, where a
dozen men were busily at work. The shop was flooded with the brilliant,
unknown light. Lying here and there were heaps of virgin gold, some
in its natural state and some already fashioned into ornaments and
furniture of various sorts. Each man worked at a bench where there was
a curious iron furnace in which glowed a vivid, white light. Although
this workshop was all under water, and the workmen were obliged to
breathe as fishes do, the furnaces glowed so hot that the water
touching them was turned into steam. Gold, or other metal, held over a
furnace quickly softened or melted, when it could be forged or molded
into any shape desired.
"The furnaces are electric," explained Sacho, "and heat as well under
water as they would in the open air. Let me introduce you to the
foreman, who will tell you of his work better than I can."
[Illustration]
The foreman was a slave named Agga-Groo, who was lean and lank, and had
an expression more surly and unhappy than any slave they had yet seen.
Yet he seemed willing to leave his work and explain to the visitors how
he made so many beautiful things out of gold, for he took much pride
in this labor and knew its artistic worth. Moreover, since he had been
in Zog's castle, these were the first strangers to enter his workshop,
so he welcomed them in his own gruff way.
The queen asked him if he was happy, and he shook his head and replied:
"It isn't like Calcutta, where I used to work in gold before I was
wrecked at sea, and nearly drowned. Zog rescued me and brought me here
a slave. It is a stupid life we lead, doing the same things over and
over every day; but perhaps it is better than being dead. I'm not sure.
The only pleasure I get in life is in creating pretty things out of
gold."
"Could you forge me a golden sword?" asked the Queen, smiling sweetly
upon the goldsmith.
"I could, madam; but I won't unless Zog orders me to do it."
"Do you like Zog better than you do me?" inquired Aquareine.
"No," was the answer. "I hate Zog."
"Then won't you make the sword to please me--and to show your skill?"
pleaded the pretty mermaid.
"I'm afraid of my master. He might not like it," the man replied.
"But he will never know," said Princess Clia.
"You cannot say what Zog knows; or what he doesn't know," growled the
man. "I can't take chances of offending Zog, for I must live with him
always as a slave."
With this he turned away and resumed his work, hammering the leaf of a
golden tulip.
Cap'n Bill had listened carefully to this conversation, and being a
wise old sailor, in his way, he thought he understood the nature of
old Agga-Groo better than the mermaids did. So he went close to the
goldsmith, and feeling in the pockets of his coat drew out a silver
compass, shaped like a watch.
"I'll give you this, if you'll make the queen the golden sword," he
said.
Agga-Groo looked at the compass with interest, and tested its power of
pointing north. Then he shook his head, and handed it back to Cap'n
Bill.
The sailor dived into his pocket again and pulled out a pair of
scissors, which he placed beside the compass on the palm of his big
hand.
"You may have them both," he said.
Agga-Groo hesitated, for he wanted the scissors badly; but finally
he shook his head again. Cap'n Bill added a piece of cord, an iron
thimble, some fishhooks, four buttons, and a safety pin; but, still the
goldsmith would not be tempted. So, with a sigh, the sailor brought out
his fine, big jackknife, and at sight of this Agga-Groo's eyes began
to sparkle. Steel was not to be had at the bottom of the sea, although
gold was so plentiful.
"All right, friend," he said; "give me that lot of trinkets and I'll
make you a pretty gold sword. But it won't be any good except to look
at, for our gold is so pure that it is very soft."
"Never mind that," replied Cap'n Bill. "All we want is the sword."
The goldsmith set to work at once, and so skillful was he that in a few
minutes he had forged a fine sword of yellow gold, with an ornamental
handle. The shape was graceful, and the blade keen and slender.
It was evident to them all that the golden sword would not stand hard
use, for the edge of the blade would nick and curl like lead; but the
queen was delighted with the prize, and took it eagerly in her hand.
Just then Sacho returned to say that they must go back to their
rooms, and after thanking the goldsmith, who was so busy examining
his newly-acquired treasures that he made no response, they joyfully
followed the boy back to the Rose Chamber.
Sacho told them that he had just come from Zog, who was still wasting
time in plotting vengeance.