"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.