“Ah, it is different with the mermaids,” said Princess Clia.

“Yes, all your things are kept dry because they are surrounded by air.  I’ve heard how the mermaids live.  But here it is different.”

“Take this ring,” said the Queen, handing the chief cook a circlet which she drew from her finger.  “While it is in your possession, the food you prepare will not get wet, or even moist.”

“I thank your Majesty,” returned the cook, taking the ring.  “My name is Tom Atto, and I’ll do my best to please you.  How would you like for luncheon some oysters on the half-shell, clam broth, shrimp salad, broiled turtle steak and watermelon?”

“That will do very nicely,” answered the Queen.

“Do watermelons grow in the sea?” asked Trot.

“Of course, that is why they are called watermelons,” replied Tom Atto.  “I think I shall serve you a water ice, in addition to the rest.  Water ice is an appropriate sea food.”

“Have some watercress with the salad,” said Cap’n Bill.

“I’d thought of that,” declared the cook.  “Doesn’t my bill of fare make your mouths water?”

“Hurry up and get it ready,” suggested Trot.

Tom Atto at once bowed and retired, and when they were done, Cap’n Bill said to the queen, “Do you think, ma’am, we can manage to escape from Zog and his castle?”

“I hope we shall find a way,” replied Aquareine.  “The evil powers of magic which Zog controls may not prove to be as strong as the fairy powers I possess, but of course I cannot be positive until I discover what this wicked magician is able to do.”

Princess Clia was looking out of one of the windows.  “I think I can see an opening far up in the top of the dome,” she said.  They all hastened to the windows to look, and although Trot and Cap’n Bill could see nothing but a solid dome above the castle—­perhaps because it was so far away from them—­the sharp eyes of Aquareine were not to be deceived.

“Yes,” she announced, “there is surely an opening in the center of the great dome.  A little thought must convince us that such an opening is bound to exist, for otherwise the water confined within the dome would not be fresh or clear.”

“Then if we could escape from this castle, we could swim up to the hole in the dome and get free!” exclaimed Trot.

“Why, Zog has probably ordered the opening well guarded, as he has all the other outlets,” responded the Queen.  “Yet it may be worth while for us to make the attempt to get back into the broad ocean this way.  The night would be the best time, when all are asleep, and surely it will be quicker to reach the ocean through this hole in the roof than by means of the long, winding passages by which we entered.”

“But we will have to break out of the castle in some way,” observed Cap’n Bill.

“That will not be difficult,” answered Aquareine.  “It will be no trouble for me to shatter one of these panes of glass, allowing us to pass out and swim straight up to the top of the dome.”