"They have foiled our enemies many a time," declared the Princess
with much dignity.

"Ha ha!" laughed one. "That's why we're here now."

"Ho ho!" laughed the other. "We've learned a trick or two, and we've
got you fast this time."

Then all the sea devils--those above and the one behind, and the two
on the sides--laughed all together, and their laughter was so
horrible that it made even Trot shudder.

But now the queen stopped short, and the others stopped with her.

"I will go no farther," she said firmly, not caring if the monsters
overheard her. "It is evident that these monsters are trying to
drive us into some secret place, and it is well known that they are
in league with Zog the Terrible, whom they serve because they are as
wicked as he is. We must be somewhere near the hidden castle of Zog,
so I prefer to stay here rather than be driven into some place far
more dangerous. As for the sea devils, they are powerless to injure
us in any way. Not one of those thousand arms about us can possibly
touch our bodies."

The only reply to this defiant speech was another burst of horrible
laughter; and now there suddenly appeared before them still another
of the monsters, which thus completely hemmed them in. Then the
creatures began interlacing their long arms--or "feelers"--until
they formed a perfect cage around the prisoners, not an opening