asserted the sailor. "But I s'pose you're a slave and can't help
it."

"I'm chief cook for that old horror Zog. And that reminds me, good
mermaids, or good people, or good girls and sailors, or whatever you
are, that I'm sent here to ask what you'd like to eat."

"Good to see you, sir," said Cap'n Bill. "I'm nearly starved,
myself."

"I had it in mind," said the little man, "to prepare a regular
mermaid dinner, but since you're not mermaids--"

"Oh, two of us are," said the Queen, smiling. "I, my good cook, am
Aquareine, the ruler of the mermaids, and this is the Princess
Clia."

"I've often heard of you, your Majesty," returned the chief cook,
bowing respectfully, "and I must say I've heard only good of you.
Now that you have unfortunately become my master's prisoners, it
will give me pleasure to serve you as well as I am able."

"We thank you, good sir," said Aquareine.

"What have you got to eat?" inquired Trot. "Seems to me I'm hollow
way down to my toes--my tail, I mean--and it'll take a lot to fill
me up. We haven't eaten a morsel since breakfast, you know."

"I think I shall be able to give you almost anything you would
like," said the cook. "Zog is a wonderful magician and can procure