“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 being left that was large enough for one of them to escape through.

The mermaids and the girl and sailor man kept huddled close together, for although they might be walled in by the sea devils, their captors could not touch them because of the protecting magic circles.

All at once Trot exclaimed, “Why, we must be moving!”

This was startling news, but by watching the flow of water past them they saw that the little girl was right.  The sea devils were swimming, all together, and as the cage they were in moved forward, our friends were carried with it.

Queen Aquareine had a stern look upon her beautiful face.  Cap’n Bill guessed from this look that the mermaid was angry, for it seemed much like the look Trot’s mother wore when they came home late to dinner.  But however angry the queen might be, she was unable to help herself or her guests just now or to escape from the guidance of the dreaded sea devils.  The rest of the party had become sober and thoughtful, and in dignified silence they awaited the outcome of this strange adventure.

THE ENCHANTED ISLAND

CHAPTER 12

All at once it grew dark around them.  Neither Cap’n Bill nor Trot liked this gloom, for it made them nervous not to be able to see their enemies.

“We must be near a sea cavern, if not within one,” whispered Princess Clia, and even as she spoke the network of scarlet arms parted before them, leaving an avenue for them to swim out of the cage.  There was brighter water ahead, too, so the queen said without hesitation: