the sea devils, and they dare not enter my castle. I have saved many
mortals from drowning and brought them here to people my castle, but
I do not love mortals. Two lovely mermaids are much more
interesting, and before I allow you to perish, I shall have much
amusement in witnessing your despair and your struggles to escape.
You are now my prisoners. By slow degrees I shall wear out your
fairy powers and break your hearts, as well as the hearts of these
earth dwellers who have no magic powers, and I think it will be a
long time before I finally permit you to die."

"That's all right," said Trot cheerfully. "The longer you take, the
better I'll be satisfied."

"That's how I feel about it," added Cap'n Bill. "Don't get in a
hurry to kill us Zog. It'll be such a wear an' tear on your nerves.
Jes' take it easy an' let us live as long as we can."

"Don't you care to die?" asked the magician.

"It's a thing I never longed for," the sailor replied. "You see, we
had no business to go on a trip with the mermaids to begin with.
I've allus heard tell that mermaids is dangerous, an' no one as met
'em ever lived to tell the tale. Eh, Trot?"

"That's what you said, Cap'n Bill."

"So I guess we're done for, one way 'r 'nother, an' it don't matter
much which. But Trot's a good child, an' mighty young an' tender. It
don't seem like her time has come to die. I'd like to have her sent
safe home to her mother. So I've got this 'ere proposition to make,