valued and faithful servants, guarding the entrances to the gardens
which surround our palaces. If any creatures try to enter uninvited,
these guards fight them and drive them away. Their swords are sharp
and strong, and they are fierce fighters, I assure you."

"I've known 'em to attack ships, an' stick their swords right
through the wood," said Cap'n Bill.

"Those belonged to the wandering tribes of swordfishes," explained
the Princess. "These, who are our servants, are too sensible and
intelligent to attack ships."

The band now headed into a broad passage through the "gardens," as
the mermaids called these gorgeous groves, and the great swordfishes
guarding the entrance made way for them to pass, afterward resuming
their posts with watchful eyes. As they slowly swam along the
avenue, Trot noticed that some of the bushes seemed to have fruits
growing upon them, but what these fruits might be neither she nor
Cap'n Bill could guess.

The way wound here and there for some distance, till finally they
came to a more open space all carpeted with sea flowers of exquisite
colorings. Although Trot did not know it, these flowers resembled
the rare orchids of earth in their fanciful shapes and marvelous
hues. The child did not examine them very closely, for across the
carpet of flowers loomed the magnificent and extensive palaces of
the mermaids.

These palaces were built of coral; white, pink and yellow being
used, and the colors arranged in graceful designs. The front of the