Deep-sea Violets

: The Old-fashioned Fairy Book

In a modest hut upon the sea-shore, half-hidden from sight by an

enormous bank of drifted sand, lived a fisherman and his wife, with

their twin-children, John and Emma. Theirs was a hard life, and full of

privations; but the husband and wife loved each other tenderly and did

everything they could to provide for the little ones, who grew up, spite

of their poverty, tall and beautiful, and happy as the day was long.

Emma and John had a thousand pleasures that town-bred children covet.

They chased each other continually up and down the sandy beach, hard as

marble and glittering like silver in the beautiful patterns traced on it

by the tide. They ran barefoot into the surf, defying the mad onslaught

of the merry breakers, and dived fearlessly beneath the crested arch of

green waters to seize a bit of floating seaweed. They discovered

endless treasures in the rock-pools along the beach, and built with them

pretty grottoes, and mysterious caves, that none but themselves knew

where to find. Often their father would take them out in the

fishing-boat; for John had learned to manage the sail and the nets

almost as well as the fisherman himself. The two children thought it was

grand to feel the little boat answer to the wind, as a horse answers to

voice or whip. They liked to bound forward across the great green

billows, and to see the spray dash over them like a shower of jewels.

They would help their father to set his nets or lines, and wait

patiently till it was time to haul in the big shining fish that

sometimes lined the bottom of the boat, whiling away the hours by

munching bits of brown bread that served for lunch, and by telling each

other fanciful stories of the sea.



The ocean did not always smile upon them, for there were days of heavy

fog, of raw east wind, when the beautiful water ceased to sparkle, while

the surf boomed as if in warning of danger or sorrow to come. Then the

children would run inside the cottage, and pile on drift-wood till the

fire burnt cheerily. This was their time for taking down from the

mantel-shelf their stores of shells, corals, and other sea-wonders.

John and Emma had polished these shells until they shone beautifully,

and some tiny disks of orange and gold were strung in long garlands, to

loop around the brown walls and above the little looking-glass. Their

mother kept the inside of the cottage as neat as a ship's cabin, which,

in truth, it much resembled, the children's beds being nothing more than

broad shelves in a cupboard, with doors to close by day; while every

corner of the tidy place was made to do duty for some household

implement, tucked away in the oddest fashion, until it should be needed.



So the days passed on until the twins were about sixteen years old, John

a fine manly fellow, looking much older, and Emma a slender slip of a

girl, with floating locks of purest gold, and a voice in singing like a

carol of birds in a Maybush. Oftentimes when her father was steering his

boat homeward, after a day of toil, he would hear the piercing strain of

Emma's song come floating over the water from the rock where she stood

against the western sky, awaiting him. And he rightly thought this the

sweetest sound he was likely to hear before the angels should sing for

him in Paradise!



One day the fisherman did not come home. A storm arose, and all that

evening the wind howled madly above the beating of the angry surf. The

sky was pitch-black, and the wife and children walked the shore in

silent fear. When darkness fell, they lighted a huge bonfire upon the

rocks, and John, begging his mother and Emma to go home to rest, stayed

feeding the flames with drift-wood, till morning broke over the sullen

waste of waters. Still no sign of his father, and at midday the familiar

boat drifted ashore, bottom upward. Then great sorrow darkened this

happy little home; and nevermore the sea gave up her dead.






The fisherman's wife did not long survive him--dying, she told her

children, because she could not live without her beloved husband. John

followed his father's calling, and Emma kept the house, as her mother

had done. She was very sad and solitary in the changed life, but people

who work hard have not much time to give way to grief. The busy maiden

toiled all day over her duties in-doors, and when evening came, would go

out on the rocks to await John's return. The greatest pleasure she now

had was in singing. Her voice grew strong and firm, and every day at

sunset it might be heard, in waves of melody, mingling with the sound of

the breakers on the shore.



One day, when John was later than usual in returning to his supper,

Emma wandered along the sands. It was a beautiful summer evening, the

sky painted with radiant colors, the sea reflecting them. Here and there

a sail dotted the horizon, but the shore was completely deserted. The

girl saw before her a rock-pool filled with sea-anemones and star-fish;

and, sitting down on the edge of it to study the lovely creatures, she

began, as usual, to sing, without knowing that she did so.



Suddenly, over the water came rolling toward her a wonderful chariot

formed of a single conch-shell all rainbow-hued within. It was drawn by

two dolphins, and the driver was a handsome young man, whose long

floating locks were of a changeable green color, tipped with curling

white. Before Emma could recover from her astonishment, the youth spoke

to her gently, thanking her for the song that had wooed him from his

home beneath the sea.



"I am the king of a wonderful country down there," he said, "and if you

will but sing for me once more, I shall give you gems and flowers from

my own garden, such as never an earth-born maiden owned."



Dipping one hand carelessly over the chariot's edge, the king brought up

a string of rare carved coral with a jewelled clasp, and, smiling at

Emma's wonder, dipped his hand a second time, when out came a garland of

exquisite flowers. Sea-lilies, sea-roses, sea-narcissus, sea-violets

there were, larger and more beautiful than any upon land, and all

glittering with the ocean brine. Emma stretched out both hands for the

pretty things, while a song of joy burst from her lips.



"May I crown your brow with my garland?" said the king. "For truly, I

have heard no voice to equal yours."



"Thanks--thanks," cried the innocent girl, her eyes sparkling with

delight. She leant forward to receive the chain which the king threw

around her neck, at the same time laying the garland on her hair. At

once, Emma fell into a deep sleep, and the crafty sea-king, with a look

of triumph, lifted her into the seat at his side and urged forward his

chafing steeds; the chariot flew like a stormy petrel across the sea,

disappearing beneath the arch of a gigantic wave!



John sought in vain for his cherished sister. The only trace of her, he

and the neighbors who helped him in the search, could find, was a little

gold cross, once her mother's, that Emma always wore. This lay in a

crevice of the rock, whence the sea-king had carried her away. The

neighbors believed her dead, but something within John convinced him

that he should see her yet again. Long and dreary were the winter months

without her. John forever wondered about Emma's disappearance; and, when

summer came once more, it was to find the youth still possessed of a

longing desire to go somewhere in search of her.



Sad and solitary, John was sailing his little fishing-smack along the

coast one day, intending to go out to the usual fishing-ground, when,

tempted by a creek he noticed now, as if for the first time, a fancy

took him to follow up the windings of this silver inlet from the sea,

running between banks as green as emerald. Looking into the water, as a

light breeze carried him along, John saw a bed of weed and kelp starred

with shells, where crabs of an unusual size passed in and out of a

circular opening. Determined to fill a basket with these desirable

dainties, which would fetch a high price in market, John fished for them

so skilfully as to haul up a hand-net brimful, at the first attempt.

These were no common crabs he discovered, one of them in particular,

having its flippers set with rings of beaten gold, and a gold chain

around its body bearing a golden key.



"My good sir," said the crab, speaking in a plaintive voice, "you

probably don't know that I am the keeper of the sea-king's summer

grotto, and these are my attendants. Only to-day, his majesty sent us

word to have all in readiness for a visit from him and his

bride-betrothed. We are in the greatest possible hurry, and if it is

quite the same to you, would take it as a friendly favor, if you will

let us go without delay."



"My good Mr. Crab," said John, laughing, "I should like to oblige such

an important person, but really my circumstances are almost as

particular as yours. I am in the greatest possible need of funds, and

the price you and your friends would fetch at the present market rates

is most desirable to me."



"Oh! if it is only gold and silver," said the crab, disdainfully, "you

should see his majesty's dominions. Our streets are paved with it."



John became interested at this, and entered into a long conversation

with the crab, who was a gossipy old soul and told him of so many

wonders of the sea-king's kingdom that the lad could scarcely contain

his astonishment.



What startled him more than all, was to hear of a sweet singing maiden,

from the upper world, his majesty had kept for a year past imprisoned

in a crystal cavern! His heart beat fast with excitement, as the crab

described Emma so exactly that it was impossible to mistake her.



"Until the present time," the crab went on, with importance, "his

majesty has not told the earth-maiden of his intention to make her his

bride. By the laws of our kingdom, no one of us can marry a mortal,

until she has lived for a year contentedly below, without uttering the

name of any friend she knew in her former estate. But the year is up

to-day, and they are to make a grand tour of his majesty's possessions.

I should not wonder if the wedding were to take place in our grotto, for

that is the king's favorite palace, although only one of the many he

calls his own."



"One thing is false! Emma will never marry him, if she is to do it by

forgetting those who loved her so tenderly," broke in John, furiously.



"You are very rough, my dear friend," said the crab, fanning himself

with his flipper. "I think you forget you are addressing a courtier.

What I tell you about the Lady Emma is undoubtedly true, since I have it

from my cousin the clam. He is a close-mouthed creature, little likely

to spread a false report. Lady Emma is happy as a queen in swansdown.

Once a day she sings, and then his majesty always presents her with a

bunch of fresh sea-violets, her favorite flowers. Under the

circumstances, it is hardly possible she would keep up any of the

foolish fancies for earth-born folk she may have brought there."



John pondered awhile, and finally promised the crab, who was growing

very impatient, to release that functionary and his companions, if they

would permit him to visit the wonders of the sea-king's grotto. The

crab, since he could not well help himself, said yes, and instructed

John how to dive into the round green hole, so like the nest of some

strange fish, he saw at the bottom of the stream.



John made fast his boat, and sprang overboard, having first emptied the

net full of captives, who went scuttling to the bottom in very

undignified haste. So sure was his aim, that he reached without

difficulty the passage-way indicated, which widened from its mouth into

a funnel-shaped cavern, lined with seaweed and ferns of the rarest

varieties. Following the crab procession, John swam along a crystal

streamlet, reaching at length a second opening, larger than the first.

Within this was a door formed of a single sapphire. The crab put his

golden key into the key-hole, and admitted John into a large and

brilliant grotto, the sides lined with the iridescent scales of fish.

The roof was encrusted with jewels, through which streamed many colored

lights, and clusters of phosphorescent flame gleamed at intervals

between pillars of glittering spar. Beneath an arch of blooming

sea-flowers, stood a throne made of snowy coral branches, and cushioned

with velvet moss. At its foot was a pillow of blue violets, another one

hanging at the back. A tiny stream of clear water ran down the cavern's

side, and shot up in a fountain in the centre. John's eyes blinked with

pleasure when he came into the pretty place, but the sound of

approaching music made the crab hurry him into hiding, with the order on

no account to risk showing himself in the presence of the king, who

would instantly have him hugged to death by a giant devil-fish. John

kept quiet, you may be sure. The crabs formed into double rows, bowing

and scraping, in token of their deep reverence for the king (they had

been selected to be courtiers in consequence of their facility in

walking backward), and the sight almost made John laugh aloud; but he

was soon reduced to silence, not only by the imposing entry of the

monarch of the seas, but because, in the bride-betrothed, he saw indeed

his own dear Emma.



Emma was greatly changed in appearance. She now wore a splendid robe of

some clinging white stuff, worked with little coral branches and sprays

of silver seaweed around the hem, and her neck, arms, and hair were

wreathed with row upon row of priceless pearls. She was pale, but more

beautiful than ever, and on her breast John saw a knot of big blue

violets. Emma was seated at the king's right hand, and lovely sea-nymphs

danced before her, to the music of unseen orchestras. Then his majesty

asked Emma to sing, pledging her health in a shell full of wine, that

shone and sparkled beautifully. Emma made no resistance, doing all that

she was bid, like a person walking in her sleep. Her eyes had a far-away

look and her voice, in singing, so unearthly a thrill, that John's

affectionate heart ached to seize her in his arms and tear her from the

spot. When Emma had finished singing, she appeared to be fatigued, and

two sea-nymphs bore her to a couch of pearl, laid her on purple

cushions, and combed her long hair with a golden comb, while other

sea-maidens interlaced their white arms above the girl's head, soothing

her to sleep.



"Let her sleep here till this day week," said his majesty. "Then I will

summon my subjects and relations to the wedding. All of you present

withdraw, now, and on no account disturb her slumber."



When the coast was clear, John seized his opportunity, and stealing

forth, knelt beside his sleeping sister, and whispered in her ear. Emma

moved, her eyes opened slowly, and uttering a deep sigh, she looked her

brother full in the face. But alas! she did not recognize him. In

despair, John seized her hand, and tried to urge her to fly with him. He

reminded her of her home, of their happy childhood, of their dead

parents, of everything that could touch the heart. All in vain! Emma

smiled sweetly, and stroked his head as, shedding bitter tears of

disappointment, he bent it upon her knees; but she knew him not.



"Leave me in peace," she said, "I am the sea-king's bride-betrothed, and

you are but a poor fisher's lad. What you say to me of earth and home I

do not understand. This is my home, and if the king should find you

here, he would take your head off. If you love me as you say, please

go."



Emma lifted to her face the cluster of purple violets, and at once her

lids drooped; and, sinking back upon her purple cushions, she slept

again.



In bitter disappointment, John retraced his way along the vestibule of

the king's grotto and emerged into the inlet where his boat was moored.

Carefully marking the spot, he returned to it the next night, but no

trace could he find of the submarine opening. The old crab had taken

good care to prevent another visit from a marauder, who might cost him

his life. John felt ready to abandon all hopes, when, leaning over the

edge of the boat, and dragging the water through habit, he felt a

violent struggling and fluttering within the net. Hauling it quickly in,

a swarm of silver-bright little fishes, each one wearing a pretty

maiden's head, escaped from the meshes, leaving behind but a single

token, and that John found to be a tiny golden harp. He drew his fingers

across the strings, and the sweet sound it gave out was echoed by a sob

from beneath a rock ledge close at hand.



"Who is there?" cried John.



"It is I--chief of the sea-king's minstrels," said a voice. "This

evening, I and my band were amusing ourselves by the light of the moon,

when your cruel net almost frightened us to death. Oh! what shall I do?

It's nearly time for the king's visit to his bride-betrothed in the

grotto; and if you will not restore to me my harp, I shall be

behind-hand, and in disgrace. Oh! if you only knew how strict the leader

of the court orchestra is!"



"Will you take me into the grotto, if I give the harp to you?" said

John, firmly.



"Oh! I dare not," cried the little mermaid, shivering. "Only yesterday,

his majesty found out that some rude outsider had found his way into the

grotto, and he has placed on either side of the entrance a double-headed

shark. For you to attempt to pass them would be certain death! Pray,

pray ask something easier; for every moment is precious to me, now."



"Then tell me what has caused Emma to forget all her life on earth?"



"That I can do, right easily," said the mermaid, coquettishly; "for I

have a sister in the band of especial hand-maidens set apart by the king

to wait on the bride-betrothed. The fresh violets sent every day to Lady

Emma by his majesty, have the power to make her forgetful, and

indifferent to all save her present surroundings."



"I knew she had not really grown cold," cried John, in a burst of

gratitude. "Here is your harp, pretty one, but answer me one question

more. How can I find the entrance to the grotto?"



The little mermaid stood on tip-tail to receive her harp, and, as she

once more clasped it in her arms, whispered, in a frightened tone:

"When the moon is at the full, its rays strike a white cliff over

against yonder dark coast-line. Steer your boat evenly along the path

traced by those rays upon the water, and you may see the wedding

procession go in at the state entrance. But, of all things, take care

not to let yourself be perceived, for on this occasion all the monsters

of the deep will be on guard, and your life would not be worth a broken

clam-shell."



John bade the mermaid good-by, and from that moment all his thoughts

turned upon how he might obtain admission to the wedding festival. He

cast his nets diligently, but with no success. All the fishes seemed to

have deserted their usual haunts; and no wonder, for the entire

population of the sea was in a state of preparation for the great event.



At last the night of the full moon came, and you may be sure John was

abroad and watchful, as he cast his nets in feverish anxiety. A sudden

pull made him haul in rapidly, and this time he was rewarded by a catch

that cost him the most tremendous struggle. What was his surprise to

drag into the boat a huge fish, six feet long, with a tall fin nearly

the length of its body. The most curious part of it was that the tips

of this fin, and also a patch on the creature's head, shone with

imprisoned fire. Along the sides of the body were a double row of

luminous spots. The fish made no further fight, and John gazed at him in

admiration.



"In the name of wonder, what have we here?" he said.



"My good sir," answered the fiery fish, "if you had the least idea of

the nature of my business, I am sure you would not interrupt me for a

moment. I am one of his majesty's torch-bearers, and the procession is

already forming to go to the grotto of the bride-betrothed."



"Hurrah!" said John. "If you will manage to take me with you, I will let

you go, but not else."



In vain the torch-bearer protested and begged. John was inexorable. In

the end, the torch-bearer demanded time for reflection, and at last

spoke as follows:



"I and four of my brothers lead the way, and by going with me you would

certainly be seen and punished. But at the very tail-end of the

procession, my old father and mother will jog along, accompanied by a

swarm of their younger grandchildren. These pretty little creatures, as

you may not know, are called Bombay ducks, and their whole bodies glow

with light. They are very good-natured, and if we can but win over the

other family who help to light the court festivals, the Chiasmodos, I

believe we might smuggle you in unobserved between the old people."



"Who are the Chiasmodos?" asked John.



"They are a tribe of deep-sea light-givers," said the torch-bearer, "who

consist entirely of a mouth and a stomach. The latter organ swells to an

enormous size, and floats beneath like a transparent balloon, while

above their great, wide-grinning mouth is worn a crown of light. They

are rather snappishly inclined, these Chiasmodos, and may give us

trouble; but we must run the risk, if you insist. So, come along, young

man, there's no time to waste in talking."



John did not hesitate, but overboard he went, swimming after the

released torch-bearer, who proved a friendly fellow after all. It was a

beautiful summer's night, and the moon shed a path of radiant light upon

the ocean, lying calm and serene beneath her spell. John and the

torch-bearer swam along a track of liquid silver, and opposite the white

cliff they saw a marvellous array.



The procession was formed, and about to take up its line of march. The

drum-fishes were already beating a roll-call; the fiddler crabs fiddled

wildly; while the sea-lions roared and rumbled, the whales blew their

trumpets, the porpoise puffed, and the electric eel, who was the court

jester, wriggled along the line, playing foolish tricks and giving

unexpected shocks to those who did not pay attention. Such a multitude!

To describe them all would fill many pages of this book; and besides,

you would never be able to remember the hard names. The pilot-fish

cruised around in front, the torch-bearers came next, then the mermaid

musicians, and a host of sea politicians with banners, preceding the

whales who sailed majestically ahead of the king's chariot of pearl,

drawn by twelve milk-white dolphins with jewelled harness.



After them, every conceivable kind of fish, in regular order, according

to their dignity. The octopus party was a sight to make one shudder, but

they were in a good humor for once, and comparatively beaming. The

sea-serpent swam alone, considering himself too much of a rarity to

associate with every-day folk. The sword-fish saluted, and the skates

tried to smile, but only succeeded in looking more hideous than before,

very much as if they had pains under their waistcoats. The brilliant

angel-fishes and the fairy nautilus made the most lovely show it is

possible to imagine; though it is hardly fair to single out one or two

for praise, when all did so well. Even the herrings from the public

schools, and the vulgar little porgies, had clean faces and were allowed

to tag after the procession. And, last of all, came the cross

Chiasmodos, fortunately swimming before the old father and mother

torch-bearers, who, between them, carried John along, and were followed

by a gleaming myriad of little Bombay ducks, true glow-worms of the sea.



Led by the moon rays to the white cliff on the coast, the procession

came to a halt; and immediately a pair of hidden doors flew back and

revealed a long tunnel glittering with lights, which opened directly

into John's well-remembered grotto.



There, within, stood Emma, decked in bridal lace, worked by ancient

mermaids thousands of years before, to be worn by the queen at her

bridal; and on her head was a fragrant crown of violets. She smiled as

the king approached, and gave him her hand; the wedding at once began.

John, hidden behind a projecting crag, saw, with despair in his heart,

the ceremony go on.



The entire walls were lined with ranks of octopi and sharks on guard. To

defy them would be death to Emma and himself. He leaned further forward

than he intended, and was seen by one of the Chiasmodos, who, flashing

her lantern in his face, at once informed on him to her neighbor.

Immediately a new monster swam toward John. This was another of the

deep-sea torch-bearers, the Chanliodus, appointed to act as chief sentry

to the cave. A more ferocious countenance cannot be imagined than was

his. The wide mouth bristled with sharp fangs, and his fins were tipped

with flame, while all along his sides extended a row of spots like

little windows in a ship, through which light was shining.



John saw that in another moment he would be lost. So long as the bridal

procession was going on, no one dared to speak; and, beckoning the

fierce creature to come behind the rock, John met it with an open knife,

aiming so skilfully as to cut the fish open its entire length. The idea

now occurred to him to place himself within the body of his dead enemy,

which he promptly did, and to his joy, could swim out unobserved, and

take his place at the bride's right hand. Just as Emma was about to say

"I will," the sentry-fish managed to place in her hand the little gold

cross that was once her mother's. The queen-elect looked at the cross in

surprise, and as all had passed so quickly, not even the king understood

why her head drooped forward, and she seemed about to faint. The

sentry-fish whispered in her ear:



"It is I--John--your brother; be brave, and find some excuse for putting

off the wedding, and we may yet be saved."



So long as Emma wore the crown of violets, she was unable entirely to

break the charm they cast over her. But the little cross was a powerful

reminder of her life on earth; and while she held it, she appeared to be

awakening from a trance. Excusing herself to the king on the ground of

illness, she was supported to her coral couch, and was surrounded by her

mermaidens. The king ordered the crowd to withdraw, and soon the

disappointed revellers went away, feeling blue and cross, while his

majesty himself was in a terrible way, tramping up and down, tearing his

green locks, and casting himself on his knees beside Emma, imploring her

to speak to him once more.



In vain! Emma's eyes were now obstinately closed, and her cheeks were

like marble. The faithful sentry-fish, whose duty it was to patrol the

grotto, swam up and down before the couch, and every time he passed near

Emma he whispered, "Be brave. I am here. Soon I will rescue you. Give no

sign of life."



At last the king took the advice of an old dowager mermaid, and left

Emma to herself, consenting to go outside the grotto and smoke a seaweed

cigarette, until his bride should be ready to go on with the interrupted

wedding.



John spied in the train of mermaidens the little creature whose harp he

had restored, and very cautiously, for fear of alarming her, he made

himself known. The pretty mermaid laughed and cried hysterically, when

she heard his story, and consented to aid him still further by removing

the crown of violets from Emma's head. Soon there was heard a great

whispering among the mermaid band, and one of the boldest of them

ventured to suggest to the dowager lady-in-waiting, that one reason for

her majesty's continued swoon might be that her hair was plaited too

tight. The dowager, for a wonder, took the suggestion in good part. She

ordered the attendants to unpin her majesty's long golden braids, and in

so doing the fatal crown fell to the ground unnoticed.



The blood rushed into Emma's face; she sighed, and opening her eyes,

looked about her. There was the band of anxious mermaids, and a solitary

sentry-fish swimming up and down. In next passing her, he whispered,

"Order your attendants to withdraw." This was soon done, only the

friendly little mermaid remaining at Emma's side. John, throwing off his

disguise, clasped his sister in his arms, and warm tears of human

happiness rushed from Emma's eyes. Trampling under foot the crown of

violets, and keeping firm hold of her mother's cross, she begged John to

bear her back to their own world without delay. Cautiously putting on

his fish garb, John swam to the door to reconnoitre the situation. He

found there, on guard, only one of the shark sentries, who had taken so

much sea-beer, in honor of the king's wedding-day, that John's knife

made quick work in despatching him.



And now the way seemed open for their flight. The brother and sister

bade farewell to the friendly mermaid, who pledged herself never to

reveal the secret of Emma's escape, and started to leave the grotto.

Suddenly, lashing the sea in his wrath and fury, both of his fierce

mouths spiked with rows of terrible teeth, came the other double-headed

shark! John still wore his Chanliodus disguise, and, without a moment's

hesitation, dashed bravely to meet the foe. Wielding his trusty knife,

he stabbed the shark again and again through the body, darting aside

before the monster could get the advantage of him. The shark, wounded

mortally and mad with rage, darted forward in a final effort, but John

planted his knife in its open jaws. Uttering a horrid death-shriek, the

creature lay without motion upon the threshold of the cave.



John lost no time, for the noise of the conflict had already attracted

to the scene a number of curious loungers; and, as he feared, the king

himself, attended by his body-guard of monsters, now came in sight.

Darting swiftly through the waves, with Emma clinging bravely to his

shoulders, the assumed Chanliodus drove his sharp fin abruptly into the

middle of a party of squids. These poor fellows were the disappointed

reporters of a submarine newspaper, going home without an account of

the wedding for their journals! The suddenness of the attack caused the

squids promptly to spill the contents of the ink-pots they always carry

with them, forming a dense black cloud, under cover of which the

fugitives safely reached the surface of the sea.



The sun was rising, its rosy light lying upon the bright ocean like a

veil. Now, they knew they were secure, for so long as the sun rules in

heaven, the sea-king dares not show himself above the waves. John and

Emma gazed upon the shore, finding themselves but a little distance from

their boat at anchor, and wept tears of joy and thanksgiving for their

deliverance from the horrors of the deep. When they had clambered into

the boat, John begged his sister to cast away the embroideries and the

ropes of pearl she had brought from the sea-king's dominion. Even as he

spoke, they saw Emma's finery vanishing like a wisp of burnt paper,

while her lovely pearls had turned into strings of common pebbles. Of

all her ornaments only the little golden cross remained, and that shone

with new lustre. With the full force of his stalwart arm, John cast the

sea-king's tokens far into the water; and as they sank, both brother and

sister fancied they saw a huge hand arise to seize them with an angry

grasp, and heard a growl of baffled rage beneath the waves. Wrapping his

sister in his fisherman's cloak, John hastened to sail back to the

humble hut beneath the sand-drift, which had never looked so lovely in

their eyes.



There they dwelt, loving and serene, until in due time a good husband

came for Emma, and John took to himself a fair young wife. From that day

forth, prosperity attended them, and John sailed his own ships across

the ocean, while Emma lived in a beautiful home near the shore.

Strangely enough, never again did John succeed in entrapping one of the

talking creatures of which, as we have clearly seen, there are plenty in

the sea, if one has luck to find them! And another curious thing is,

that never again was Emma able to lift her voice in song. The beautiful

gift which had brought about her strange adventure, and had well-nigh

proved so fatal to them both, had been lost forever!