CHAPTER Sixteen.
The Enchanted Fishes I must now tell you what happened to Ervic and the three other Skeezers who were left floating in the iron boat after Queen Coo-ee-oh had been transformed into a Diamond Swan by the magic of the Flathead Su-dic.
The four Skeezers were all young men and their leader was Ervic.
Coo-ee-oh had taken them with her in the boat to assist her if she captured the Flathead chief, as she hoped to do by means of her silver rope.

They knew nothing about the witchcraft that moved the submarine and so, when left floating upon the lake, were at a loss what to do.
The submarine could not be submerged by them or made to return to the sunken island.

There were neither oars nor sails in the boat, which was not anchored but drifted quietly upon the surface of the lake.
The Diamond Swan had no further thought or care for her people.

She had sailed over to the other side of the lake and all the calls and pleadings of Ervic and his companions were unheeded by the vain bird.
As there was nothing else for them to do, they sat quietly in their boat and waited as patiently as they could for someone to come to their aid.
The Flatheads had refused to help them and had gone back to their mountain.

All the Skeezers were imprisoned in the Great Dome and could not help even themselves.