forehead. His eyes were large and dark, with a pleasant, merry
sparkle in them. Around his neck he wore a high ruff, but in spite
of this Trot could see that below his plump cheeks were several
scarlet-edged slits that looked like the gills of fishes, for they
gently opened and closed as the boy breathed in the water by which
he was surrounded. These gills did not greatly mar the lad's
delicate beauty, and he spread out his arms and bowed low and
gracefully in greeting.

"Hello," said Trot.

"Why, I'd like to," replied the boy with a laugh, "but being a mere
slave, it isn't proper for me to hello. But it's good to see earth
people again, and I'm glad you're here."

"We're not glad," observed the girl. "We're afraid."

"You'll get over that," declared the boy smilingly. "People lose a
lot of time being afraid. Once I was myself afraid, but I found it
was no fun, so I gave it up."

"Why were we brought here?" inquired Queen Aquareine gently.

"I can't say, madam, being a mere slave," replied the boy. "But you
have reminded me of my errand. I am sent to inform you all that Zog
the Forsaken, who hates all the world and is hated by all the world,
commands your presence in his den."

"Do you hate Zog, too?" asked Trot.