"You orter be 'shamed to ask sech a question, knowin' you look worse ner the devil himself." "Very true," answered Zog, frowning.

He felt that he had received a high compliment, and the frown showed he was pleased with Cap'n Bill.
But now Queen Aquareine advanced to a position in front of their captor and said, "Tell me, Zog, why have you trapped us and brought us here ?" "To destroy you," was the quick answer, and the magician turned for an instant to flash his eyes upon the beautiful mermaid.

"For two hundred years I have been awaiting a chance to get within my power some friend of Anko the Sea Serpent--of Anko, whom I hate!" he added, smiling sweetly.

"When you left your palace today, my swift spies warned me, and so I sent the sea devils to capture you.

Often have they tried to do this before, but always failed.