ttle girl, and whatever Cap'n Bill knew Trot was sure to know in
time.

"How do the mermaids live?" she asked. "Are they in caves, or just
in the water like fishes, or how?"

"Can't say, Trot," he replied. "I've asked divers about that, but
none of 'em ever run acrost a mermaid's nest yet, as I've heard of."

"If they're fairies," she said, "their homes must be very pretty."

"Mebbe so, Trot, but damp. They are sure to be damp, you know."

"I'd like to see a mermaid, Cap'n Bill," said the child earnestly.

"What, an' git drownded?" he exclaimed.

"No, and live to tell the tale. If they're beautiful, and laughing,
and sweet, there can't be much harm in them, I'm sure."

"Mermaids is mermaids," remarked Cap'n Bill in his most solemn
voice. "It wouldn't do us any good to mix up with 'em, Trot."

"May-re! May-re!" called a voice from the house.

"Yes, Mamma!"

"You an' Cap'n Bill come in to supper."

CHAPTER 2

THE MERMAIDS

The next morning, as soon as Trot had helped wipe the breakfast
dishes and put them away in the cupboard, the little girl and Cap'n
Bill started out toward the bluff. The air was soft and warm and the
sun turned the edges of the waves into sparkling diamonds. Across
the bay the last of the fisherboats was speeding away out to sea,
for well the fishermen knew this was an ideal day to catch rockbass,
barracuda and yellowtail.

The old man and the young girl stood on the bluff and watched all
this with interest. Here was their world. "It isn't a bit rough this
morning. Let's have a boat ride, Cap'n Bill," said the child.

"Suits me to a T," declared the sailor. So they found the winding
path that led down the face of the cliff to the narrow beach below
and cautiously began the descent. Trot never minded the steep path
or the loose rocks at all, but Cap'n Bill's wooden leg was not so
useful on a downgrade as on a level, and he had to be careful not to
slip and take a tumble.

But by and by they reached the sands and walked to a spot just
beneath the big acacia tree that grew on the bluff. Halfway to the
top of the cliff hung suspended a little shed-like structure that
sheltered Trot's rowboat, for it was necessary to pull the boat out
of reach of the waves which beat in fury against the rocks at high
tide. About as high up as Cap'n Bill could reach was an iron ring
securely fastened to the cliff, and to this ring was tied a rope.
The old sailor unfastened the knot and began pay