A funny-looking crab was sticking his head out from each of these shells.
"These are the hermit crabs," said one of the mermaids.

"They steal these shells and live in them so no enemies can attack them." "Don't they get lonesome ?" asked Trot.
"Perhaps so, my dear.

But they do not seem to mind being lonesome.
They are great cowards, and think if they can but protect their lives there is nothing else to care for.

Unlike the jolly crabs we have just left, the hermits are cross and unsociable." "Oh, keep quiet and go away!" said one of the hermit crabs in a grumpy voice.

"No one wants mermaids around here." Then every crab withdrew its head into its shell, and our friends saw them no more.
"They're not very polite," observed Trot, following the mermaid as Merla swam upward into the middle water.
"I know now why cross people are called 'crabbed,'" said Cap'n Bill.
"They've got dispositions jes' like these 'ere hermit crabs." Presently they came upon a small flock of mackerel, and noticed that the fishes seemed much excited.