The Sea Fairies | Page 7

I reckon they must have called it Giant's Cave
'cause it's so big, an' not 'cause any giant man lived there."
"Let's go in," said the girl again. "I'd like to 'splore it."

"All right," replied the sailor. "It'll be cooler in there than out here in
the sun. We won't go very far, for when the tide turns we mightn't get
out again." He picked up the oars and rowed slowly toward the cave.
The black archway that marked its entrance seemed hardly big enough
to admit the boat at first, but as they drew nearer, the opening became
bigger. The sea was very calm here, for the headland shielded it from
the breeze.
"Look out fer your head, Trot!" cautioned Cap'n Bill as the boat glided
slowly into the rocky arch. But it was the sailor who had to duck,
instead of the little girl. Only for a moment, though. Just beyond the
opening the cave was higher, and as the boat floated into the dim
interior they found themselves on quite an extensive branch of the sea.
For a time neither of them spoke and only the soft lapping of the water
against the sides of the boat was heard. A beautiful sight met the eyes
of the two adventurers and held them dumb with wonder and delight.
It was not dark in this vast cave, yet the light seemed to come from
underneath the water, which all around them glowed with an exquisite
sapphire color. Where the little waves crept up the sides of the rocks
they shone like brilliant jewels, and every drop of spray seemed a gem
fit to deck a queen. Trot leaned her chin on her hands and her elbows
on her lap and gazed at this charming sight with real enjoyment. Cap'n
Bill drew in the oars and let the boat drift where it would while he also
sat silently admiring the scene.
Slowly the little craft crept farther and farther into the dim interior of
the vast cavern, while its two passengers feasted their eyes on the
beauties constantly revealed. Both the old seaman and the little girl
loved the ocean in all its various moods. To them it was a constant
companion and a genial comrade. If it stormed and raved, they laughed
with glee; if it rolled great breakers against the shore, they clapped their
hands joyfully; if it lay slumbering at their feet, they petted and
caressed it, but always they loved it.
Here was the ocean yet. It had crept under the dome of overhanging
rock to reveal itself crowned with sapphires and dressed in azure gown,
revealing in this guise new and unexpected charms. "Good morning,

Mayre," said a sweet voice.
Trot gave a start and looked around her in wonder. Just beside her in
the water were little eddies--circles within circles--such as are caused
when anything sinks below the surface. "Did--did you hear that, Cap'n
Bill?" she whispered solemnly.
Cap'n Bill did not answer. He was staring with eyes that fairly bulged
out at a place behind Trot's back, and he shook a little, as if trembling
from cold. Trot turned half around, and then she stared, too. Rising
from the blue water was a fair face around which floated a mass of long,
blonde hair. It was a sweet, girlish face with eyes of the same deep blue
as the water and red lips whose dainty smile disposed two rows of
pearly teeth. The cheeks were plump and rosy, the brows gracefully
penciled, while the chin was rounded and had a pretty dimple in it.
"The most beauti-ful-est in all the world," murmured Cap'n Bill in a
voice of horror, "an' no one has ever lived to--to tell the tale!"
There was a peal of merry laughter at this, laughter that rippled and
echoed throughout the cavern. Just at Trot's side appeared a new face
even fairer than the other, with a wealth of brown hair wreathing the
lovely features. And the eyes smiled kindly into those of the child. "Are
you a--a mermaid?" asked Trot curiously. She was not a bit afraid.
They seemed both gentle and friendly.
"Yes, dear," was the soft answer.
"We are all mermaids!" chimed a laughing chorus, and here and there,
all about the boat, appeared pretty faces lying just upon the surface of
the water.
"Are you part fishes?" asked Trot, greatly pleased by this wonderful
sight.
"No, we are all mermaid," replied the one with the brown hair. "The
fishes are partly like us, because they live in the sea and must move
about. And you are partly like us, Mayre dear, but have awkward stiff

legs so you may walk on the land. But the mermaids lived before fishes
and before mankind, so both have borrowed something