them were strange
people, Mermaids and Water Nymphs, Water Sprites and Mermen, fishes and
dolphins, and even a whale, although he wasn't very large. If he had
been, he wouldn't have been there, for the entrance to the cave was
just wide enough for him to squeeze through.

Well, no sooner did they see the big Sea Horse, than they all said at
once,

"Hail to our King!" and crowded around looking curiously at Mary
Louise, and one little mermaid pinched her toe.

"This is Mary Louise," explained the great white Sea Horse. "I have
brought her to our cave to see the wonders of our Water Country."

At once the whale blew a stream of water into the air, the dolphins
turned somersaults and the little mermaid who had just pinched Mary
Louise's toe, stood up on a big pearly shell and sang:

"In this river that leads to the sea,
We all live happy as happy can be,
The crocodile comes and opens his jaws,
And the giant crab stretches out his claws,
And the sword fish chases the sharp toothed shark,
But here we are safe when the day grows dark,
And the pale white moon looks down from the sky,
And the little star winks her golden eye."

And when she had finished, she swam up close to the big Sea Horse and
picking up Mary Louise placed her in a great shell that sailed over the
water just like a boat to the end of the cave where a little path ran
along close to the water's edge till it came to a door.

"Tap gently three times," said the little mermaid.

And then, all of a sudden, it opened and there stood a great Sea
Serpent.

"What do you want?" he asked with a dreadful hiss and his breath was
like steam and his long red tongue like a thin flame.

"O wise Serpent," said the mermaid, "do not frighten little Mary
Louise. She is traveling through our country and means no harm."

"Then she may come into my kingdom," replied the great Serpent, and he
glided swiftly away.

"Do not fear him," said the little mermaid. "I cannot go with you, but
you will be perfectly safe," and she closed the door and swam away,
leaving little Mary Louise all alone.

It was a strange country in which Mary Louise found herself as she
followed the great Serpent who was now some distance ahead. Great
trees and moss-covered rocks were on every side, and only by keeping to
the narrow path was it possible to find a way through them.

By and by the Serpent stopped at a gate in a high stone wall, which
swung open slowly as he tapp