“Let my slaves alone,” was Zog’s answer.  “They are here to serve me and must not be injured.  Go, feeble one.”

“Not so!” cried the Queen.  “It is a shame, Zog, that such an evil thing should exist in our fair sea.”  With this, she drew her fairy wand from a fold of her gown and waved it toward the creature.  At once the Yell-Maker sank down unconscious upon the floor; its legs fell apart in many pieces, the claws tumbling in a heap beside the body.  Then all grew withered and lost shape, becoming a pulpy mass, like gelatin.  A few moments later the creature had melted away to nothing at all, forever disappearing from the ocean where it had caused so much horror and pain.

Zog watched this destruction with surprising patience.  When it was all over, he nodded his head and smiled, and Trot noticed that whenever Zog smiled, his slaves lost their jolly looks and began to tremble.  “That is very pretty magic, Aquareine,” said the monster.  “I myself learned the trick several thousand years ago, so it does not astonish me.  Have you fairies nothing that is new to show me?”

“We desire only to protect ourselves,” replied the Queen with dignity.

“Then I will give you a chance to do so,” said Zog.  As he spoke, the great marble blocks in the ceiling of the room directly over the heads of the captives gave way and came crashing down upon them.  Many tons of weight were in these marble blocks, and the magician had planned to crush his victims where they stood.  But the four were still unharmed.  The marble, being unable to touch them, was diverted from its course, and when the roar of the great crash had died away, Zog saw his intended victims standing quietly in their places and smiling scornfully at his weak attempts to destroy them.

THE TOP OF THE GREAT DOME

CHAPTER 16

Cap’n Bill’s heart was beating pretty vast, but he did not let Zog know that.  Trot was so sure of the protection of the fairy mermaids that she would not allow herself to become frightened.  Aquareine and Clia were as calm as if nothing had happened.

“Please excuse this little interruption,” said Zog.  “I knew very well the marble blocks would not hurt you.  But the play is over for a time.  You may now retire to your rooms, and when I again invite you to my presence, I shall have found some better ways to entertain you.”

Without reply to this threat, they turned and followed Sacho from the hall, and the boy led them straight back to their own rooms.

“Zog is making a great mistake,” said Sacho with a laugh.  “He has no time for vengeance, but the great magician does not know that.”

“What is he trying to do, anyway?” asked Trot.

“He does not tell me all his secrets, but I’ve an idea he wants to kill you,” replied Sacho.  “How absurd it is to be plotting such a thing when he might spend his time in laughing and being jolly!  Isn’t it, now?”