trance of my enchanted castle. The result is a fine capture
of important personages. I have now in my power the queen and
princess of the fairy mermaids, as well as two wandering earth
people, and I assure you I shall take great pleasure in destroying
you utterly."

"You are a coward," declared the Queen proudly. "You dared not meet
us in the open sea."

"No, I dare not leave this castle," Zog admitted, still smiling.
"But here in my own domain my power is supreme. Nothing can
interfere with my vengeance."

"That remains to be seen," said Aquareine, firmly meeting the gaze
of the terrible eyes.

"Of course," he answered, nodding his head with a graceful movement.
"You will try to thwart me and escape. You will pit your fairy power
against my powers of magic. That will give me great pleasure, for
the more you struggle, the greater will be my revenge."

"But why should you seek revenge upon us?" asked Clia. "We have
never harmed you."

"That is true," replied Zog. "I bear you no personal ill will. But
you are friends of my great enemy, King Anko, and it will annoy him
very much when he finds that you have been destroyed by me. I cannot
hurt the rascally old sea serpent himself, but through you I can
make him feel my vengeance."

"The mermaids have existed thousands of years," said the Queen in a
tone of pride. "Do you imagine the despised and conquered Zog has
power to destroy them?"

"I do not know," was the quiet answer. "It will be interesting to
discover which is the more powerful."

"I challenge you to begin the test at once, vile magician!"
exclaimed Aquareine.

"There is no hurry, fair Queen," answered Zog in his softest tones.
"I have been so many years in accomplishing your capture that it is
foolish to act hastily now. Besides, I am lonely. Here in my forced
retirement I see only those uninteresting earth mortals whom I have
made my slaves, for all sea dwellers are forbidden to serve me save
the sea devils, and they dare not enter my castle. I have saved many
mortals from drowning and brought them here to people my castle, but
I do not love mortals. Two lovely mermaids are much more
interesting, and before I allow you to perish, I shall have much
amusement in witnessing your despair and your struggles to escape.
You are now my prisoners. By slow degrees I shall wear out your
fairy powers and break your hearts, as well as the hearts of these
earth dwellers who have no magic powers, and I think it w