"There's no danger," insisted Trot.

"I do' know 'bout that. That's what all the other folks said when
they dove after the mermaids an' got drownded."

"Who?" asked the girl.

"I don't know who, but I've heard tell--"

"You've heard that no one ever saw a mermaid and lived," said Trot.

"To tell the tale," he added, nodding. "An' if we dives down like
they says, we won't live ourselves."

All the mermaids laughed at this, and the brown-haired one said,
"Well, if you are afraid, don't come. You may row your boat out of
this cave and never see us again, if you like. We merely thought it
would please little Mayre, and were willing to show her the sights
of our beautiful home."

"I'd like to see 'em, all right," said Trot, her eyes glistening
with pleasure.

"So would I," admitted Cap'n Bill, "if we would live to tell the
tale."

"Don't you believe us?" asked the mermaid, fixing her lovely eyes on
those of the old sailor and smiling prettily. "Are you afraid to
trust us to bring you safely back?"