_Chap. 19._
KING ANKO TO THE RESCUE]
The great magician Zog never slept. He was always watchful and alert.Some strange power warned him that his prisoners were about to escape.
Scarcely had the four left the castle by the broken window when themonster stepped from a doorway below and saw them. Instantly he blewupon a golden whistle, and at the summons a band of wolf-fish appearedand dashed after the prisoners. These creatures swam so swiftly thatsoon they were between the fugitives and the dome, and then they turnedand with wicked eyes and sharp fangs began a fierce attack upon themermaids and the earth dwellers.
Trot was a little frightened at the evil looks of the sea wolves,whose heads were enormous, and whose jaws contained rows of curved andpointed teeth. But, Aquareine advanced upon them with her golden swordand every touch of the charmed weapon instantly killed an enemy; so,that one by one the wolf-fish rolled over upon their backs and sankhelplessly downward through the water, leaving the prisoners free tocontinue their way toward the opening in the dome.
Zog witnessed the destruction of his wolves and uttered a loud laughthat was terrible to hear. Then the dread monster determined to arrestthe fugitives himself, and in order to do this he was forced todiscover himself in all the horror of his awful form--a form he wasso ashamed of and loathed so greatly that he always strove to keepit concealed, even from his own eyes. But it was important that hisprisoners should not escape.
Hastily casting off the folds of the robe that enveloped him Zogallowed his body to uncoil and shoot upward through the water, in swiftpursuit of his victims. His cloven hoofs, upon which he usually walked,being now useless, were drawn up under him, while coil after coil ofhis eel-like body wriggled away like a serpent. At his shoulders twobroad feathery wings expanded, and these enabled the monster to cleavehis way through the water with terrific force.
Zog was part man, part beast, part fish, part fowl, and part reptile.His undulating body was broad and thin, and like the body of an eel. Itwas as repulsive as one could well imagine, and no wonder Zog hatedit and kept it covered with his robe.
Now, with his horned head and its glowing eyes thrust forward, wingsflapping from his shoulders and his eely body--ending in a fish'stail--wriggling far behind him, this strange and evil creature wasa thing of terror, even to the sea dwellers, who were accustomed toremarkable sights.
The mermaids, the sailor and the child, one after another looking backas they swam onward toward liberty and safety, saw the monster comingand shuddered with uncontrollable fear. They were drawing nearer tothe dome by this time, yet it was still some distance away. The fourredoubled their speed, darting through the water with the swiftnessof sky-rockets. But fast as they swam, Zog swam faster, and the goodqueen's heart began to throb as she realized she would be forced tofight her loathesome foe.
Presently Zog's long body was circling round them like a whirlwind,lashing the water into foam and gradually drawing nearer and nearer tohis victims. His eyes were no longer glowing coals--they were balls offlame--and as he circled around them, he laughed aloud that horriblelaugh which was far more terrifying than any cry of rage could be.
The queen struck out with her golden sword, but Zog wrapped a coil ofhis thin body around it and, wresting it from her hand, crushed theweapon into a shapeless mass. Then, Aquareine waved her fairy wand;but, in a flash the monster sent it flying away through the water.
Cap'n Bill now decided that they were lost. He drew Trot closer to hisside and placed one arm around her.
"I can't save you, dear little mate," he said, sadly, "but we've liveda long time together, an' now we'll die together. I knew, Trot, whenfirst we sawr them mermaids, as we'd--we'd--"
"Never live to tell the tale," said the child. "But never mind, Cap'nBill; we've done the best we could, and we've had a fine time."
"Forgive me! oh, forgive me!" cried Aquareine, despairingly. "I triedto save you, my poor friends, but--"
"What's that?" exclaimed the Princess, pointing upward.
They all looked past Zog's whirling body, which was slowly envelopingthem in its folds, toward the round opening in the dome. A dark objecthad appeared there, sliding downward like a huge rope and descendingtoward them with lightning rapidly. They gave a great gasp as theyrecognized the countenance of King Anko, the sea serpent, its gray hairand whiskers bristling like those of an angry cat and the usually mildblue eyes glowing with a ferocity even more terrifying than the orbs ofZog.
The magician gave a shrill scream at sight of his dreaded enemy, andabandoning his intended victims Zog made a quick dash to escape. Butnothing in the sea could equal the strength and quickness of King Ankowhen he was roused. In a flash the sea serpent had caught Zog fast inhis coils, and his mighty body swept round the monster and imprisonedhim tightly.
The four, so suddenly rescued, swam away to a safer distance from thestruggle, and then they turned to watch the encounter between the twogreat opposing powers of the ocean's depths. Yet there was no desperatefight to observe, for the combatants were unequal. The end came beforethey were aware of it. Zog had been taken by surprise and his greatfear of Anko destroyed all of his magic power. When the sea serpentslowly released those awful coils, a mass of jelly-like pulp floateddownward through the water, with no remnant of life remaining in it--noform to show it had once been Zog, the Magician.
Then Anko shook his body, that the water might cleanse it, and advancedhis head toward the group of four whom he had so opportunely rescued.
"It is all over, friends," said he in his gentle tones, while a mildexpression once more reigned on his comical features; "you may go homeat any time you please, for the way through the dome will be open assoon as I get my own body through it."
Indeed, so amazing was the length of the great sea serpent, that onlya part of him had descended through the hole into the dome. Withoutwaiting for the thanks of those he had rescued he swiftly retreated tothe ocean above, and with grateful hearts they followed him, glad toleave the cavern where they had endured so much anxiety and danger.