"About how long do you happen to be?" inquired Cap'n Bill.

"When last measured, I was seven thousand four hundred and
eighty-two feet, five inches and a quarter. I'm not sure about the
quarter, but the rest is probably correct. Adam measured me when
Cain was a baby."

"Where's the rest of you, then?" asked Trot.

"Safe at home, I hope, and coiled up in my parlor," answered the Sea
Serpent. "When I go out, I usually take along only what is needed.
It saves a lot of bother and I can always find my way back in the
darkest night by just coiling up the part that has been away."

"Do you like to be a sea serpent?" inquired the child.

"Yes, for I'm King of my Ocean, and there is no other sea serpent to
imagine he is just as good as I am. I have two brothers who live in
other oceans, but one is seven inches shorter than I am, and the
other several feet shorter. It's curious to talk about feet when we
haven't any feet, isn't it?"

"Seems so," acknowledged Trot.

"I feel I have much to be proud of," continued Anko in a dreamy
tone. "My great age, my undisputed sway, and my exceptional length."

"I don't b'lieve I'd care to live so long," remarked Cap'n Bill
thoughtfully.