P'raps the sea serpent ain't got gray whiskers." "Oh yes he has," responded Merla with a laugh.

"And so have his two brothers, Unko and Inko.

They each have an ocean of their own, you know; and once every hundred years they come here to visit their brother Anko.

So we've seen all three many times." "Why, how old are mermaids, then ?" asked Trot, looking around at the beautiful creatures wonderingly.
"We are like all ladies of uncertain age," rejoined the Princess with a smile.

"We don't care to tell." "Older than Cap'n Bill ?" "Yes, dear," said Clia.
"But we haven't any gray whiskers," added Merla merrily, "and our hearts are ever young." Trot was thoughtful.