n6 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
you, pet ? ” she said, caressing Kathleen, who, 
to the horror of the others, answered : 44 Yes, 
awfully, dear Queen,” and kissed the caressing 
hand. 
44 As for the rest of you,” said the Queen, 
u it is evident from your manner that the 
draught of oblivion has not yet taken effect 
on you. So it is impossible for me to make 
presents of you to those prominent members 
of the nobility who are wanting pets, as I 
had intended/ We will try another draught 
to-morrow. In the meantime — the fetters, 
jailer ! ” 
A tall, sour-looking Underman stepped 
forward. Hanging over his arm were scaly 
tails, at first sight of which the children’s 
hearts leaped, for they hoped they were their 
own. But no sooner were the tails fitted 
on than they knew the bitter truth. 
“ Yes,” said the Queen, 44 they are false tails. 
You will not be able to take them off, and you 
can neither swim nor walk with them. You 
can, however, move about quite comfortably 
on the floor of the ocean. What's the 
matter ? ” she asked the jailer. 
44 None of the tails won't fit this prisoner, 
your Majesty,” said the jailer. 
“1 am a Princess of the reigning Mer- 
House,” said Freia, 44 and your false, degrading 
tails cannot cling to me.” 
44 Oh, put them all in the lock-up,” said the 
King. “ As sullen a lot of prisoners as ever 
1 saw — what ? ” 
The lock-up was a great building, broader 
at the top than at the bottom, which seemed 
to be balanced on the sea floor, but really it 
was propped up at both ends with great 
chunks of rock. The prisoners were taken 
there in the net, and being dragged about in 
nets is so confusing that it was not till the 
jailer had left them that they discovered 
that the prison was really a ship, an enormous 
ship, which lav there, perfect in every detail 
as on the day when it first left dock. The 
water did not seem to have spoiled it at all. 
They were imprisoned in the saloon, and, 
worn out with the varied emotions of the day, 
they lay down on the comfortable red velvet 
cushions and went to sleep. Kven Mavis felt 
that Kathleen had found a friend in the 
Queen and was in no danger. 
^ The Princess was the last to close her eyes. 
She looked long at the sleeping children. 
“ Oh, why don’t they think of it ? ” she 
said. 44 And why mustn’t 1 tell them ? ” 
There was no answer to either question, 
and presently she, too, slept. 
1 wish T had time to tell you about all that 
happened to Kathleen, because the daily life 
of a pampered lap-child to a reigning Queen | 
is one that you would find most interesting | 
to read about. As interesting as your ' 
Rover or Binkie would find to read — if he 
could — about the life of one of Queen Alex- 
andra’s Japanese spaniels. But time is 
getting on, and I must make a long story 
short. And, anyhow, you can never tell all | 
about everything, can you ? 
The next day the jailer brought food to 
the prison, as well as another draught of 
oblivion, which, of course, had no effect, and 
they spent the day wondering how they 
could escape. In the evening the jailer’s 
son brought more food and more oblivion- 
cup, and he lingered while they ate.. The 
food was odd but not nasty. He did not 
look at all unkind, and Francis ventured to 
speak to him. 
44 I say,” he said. 
44 What do you say ? ” the Underlad asked. 
44 Are you forbidden to talk to us ? ” 
44 No.” . j 
44 Then do tell us what they will do with 
us.” 
“ I do not know. But we shall have to 
know before long. The prisons are filling up 
so quickly they will soon be quite full. Then 
we shall have "to let some of you out on what 
is called ticket-of-leave ; that means with ' 
your artificial tails on, which prevent you 
getting away, even if the oblivion-cup doesn’t 
take effect.” 
44 I say.” Bernard’s turn to ask. 
44 What do you say ? ” 
44 Why don’t the King and Queen go and 
fight, like the Mer Royal Family ? ” 
44 Against the law,” said the Underlad. 
44 We took a King prisoner once, and our people 
were afraid our King and Queen might be 
took, so they made that rule..” 
44 What did you do with him — the prisoner 
King ? ” the Princess asked. 
44 Put him in an iswater ,” said the lad ; k ‘ a 
piece of water entirely surrounded by land.” 
44 I should like to see him ” said the Princess. 
44 Nothing easier ” said the Underlad, ”as 
soon as you get your tickets-of-leave. It’s a 
good long passage to the lake — all water, of 
course ; but lots of our young people go there- 
three times a week. Of course, he can’t be a. 
King any more now r , but they made him 
Professor of Conchology.” 
44 And has he forgotten he was a King t 
asked the Princess. 
44 Of course ; but he was so learned the 
oblivion-cup wasn’t deep enough to make 
him forget everything. That $ why he s a 
professor.” 
