An' here we be, miles from the top o' the water, I s'pect, an' we don't feel crowded a bit." "I know why," answered the child wisely.

"The water don't touch us, you see.

If it did, it might crush us, but it don't.

It's always held a little way off from our bodies by the magic of the fairy mermaids." "True enough, Trot," declared the sailor man.

"What an idjut I was not to think o' that myself!" In the royal banquet hall were assembled many of the mermaids, headed by the lovely queen, and as soon as their earth guests arrived, Aquareine ordered the meal to be served.