with a smile. "We don't care to tell."

"Older than Cap'n Bill?"

"Yes, dear," said Clia.

"But we haven't any gray whiskers," added Merla merrily, "and our
hearts are ever young."

Trot was thoughtful. It made her feel solemn to be in the company of
such old people. The band of mermaids seemed to all appearances
young and fresh and not a bit as if they'd been soaked in water for
hundreds of years. The girl began to take more notice of the sea
maidens following after her. More than a dozen were in the group;
all were lovely in appearance and clothed in the same gauzy robes as
Merla and the Princess. These attendants did not join in the
conversation but darted here and there in sportive play, and often
Trot heard the tinkling chorus of their laughter. Whatever doubts
might have arisen in the child's mind through the ignorant tales of
her sailor friend, she now found the mermaids to be light-hearted,
joyous and gay, and from the first she had not been in the least
afraid of her new companions.

"How much farther do we have to go?" asked Cap'n Bill presently.

"Are you getting tired?" Merla inquired.

"No," said he, "but I'm sorter anxious to see what your palaces look
like. Inside the water ain't as interestin' as the top of it. It's
fine swimmin', I'll agree, an' I like it, but there ain't nuthin'