"No, we are all mermaid," replied the one with the brown hair. "The
fishes are partly like us, because they live in the sea and must
move about. And you are partly like us, Mayre dear, but have awkward
stiff legs so you may walk on the land. But the mermaids lived
before fishes and before mankind, so both have borrowed something
from us."

"Then you must be fairies if you've lived always," remarked Trot,
nodding wisely.

"We are, dear. We are the water fairies," answered the one with the
blonde hair, coming nearer and rising till her slender white throat
showed plainly.

"We--we're goners, Trot!" sighed Cap'n Bill with a white, woebegone
face.

"I guess not, Cap'n," she answered calmly. "These pretty mermaids
aren't going to hurt us, I'm sure."

"No indeed," said the first one who had spoken. "If we were wicked
enough to wish to harm you, our magic could reach you as easily upon
the land as in this cave. But we love little girls dearly and wish
only to please them and make their lives more happy."

"I believe that!" cried Trot earnestly.

Cap'n Bill groaned.

"Guess why we have appeared to you," said another mermaid, coming to