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But the people。 Oh dear me！ They were the strangest folk！ Some
had very long noses and ugly looking teeth in their wide mouths； and
others were so thin they looked like small sticks； and others so round that
they could almost trundle themselves along like a coach…wheel。 Some
were dressed in the shabbiest clothes； others in splendid suits； and some
covered with knobs and spikes and strange looking armor。
〃Come；〃 said the little fish man； and he led Mary Louise into his
house。
Presently he brought out from a closet a quaintly shaped box。 〃It is
the legend of Wonderland that a little girl shall break the spell that hangs
over us。 For it is deemed well…nigh impossible that a mortal child would
venture beneath the water to visit us。 Therefore； little Mary Louise； if I
call all my people together； will you open this box and deliver us from the
spell of the Great Enchanter？〃
〃I will；〃 she answered bravely； and at once the little old fish man
called together all his subjects。
As little Mary Louise looked at the box she saw printed on the cover
these words：
〃If a little girl mortal Shall uncover this prize； The sea will sink
And the land will rise。〃
And； would you believe it； the first thing she knew after carefully
opening the box； she was back in the boat with the old sailor； who was
shading his eyes and looking towards a beautiful green island that had
suddenly come out of the water。
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The Enchanted Prince
〃Would you like to land on the island？〃 asked the old sailor who
seemed in no wise surprised that an island should suddenly come up out of
the sea。
〃Yes；〃 gasped little Mary Louise； 〃it may be a wonderful place。 I
certainly saw strange things beneath the water。〃
〃To be sure you did；〃 replied the old sailor； taking it as a matter of
course that a little girl should make a trip to Wonder Land under the Sea；
and return safe and sound。
But then； you know； Mary Louise may have still retained some of the
charm of the little mermaid's magic comb。
Well； anyway； the old sailor steered his boat over to the green island；
where Mary Louise jumped out and after saying good…by to her sailor
friend； set off to look for new adventures。
After a while； she came to a great wood； where the trees were as big
around as smoke stacks on an ocean liner。
All of a sudden； she heard the sound of a woodman's ax； and the
crackling of the branches as they fell to the ground。
〃It must be some giant cutting down a tree；〃 she thought； and she
started off in the direction of the sound； and by and by； she saw a giant
beaver。 He was a most wonderful sort of an animal； for he could swing
an ax as well as a man。 Near at hand flowed a great river； where a white
water horse snorted as he dashed the spray high in the air with his forefeet。
〃Are you one of Neptune's horses？〃 asked little Mary Louise。 〃I once
read a story of a little boy named Hero who rode with King Neptune in his
wonderful chariot。〃
〃No； little girl；〃 answered the beautiful sea horse kindly。 〃But I can
show you some wonderful things。 Jump on my back and I will take you
to a strange place。〃
Then away went the great Water Horse over the water and through the
spray and Mary Louise wasn't the least bit afraid although she had no
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water wings and might have slipped of into the water。
〃Where are we going？〃 she asked； after a while； for by this time they
were far away from the shore and going up a dark river。
〃I'm going to show you the beautiful Green Waterfall Cave；〃 answered
the big Sea Horse； shaking his mane until it seemed almost as if it were
raining。
Well； pretty soon he stopped； telling Mary Louise to bend over his
back； before he swam into a big opening in a gray rock。
〃Now lift up your head；〃 he said； and when Mary Louise looked
around she saw they were in a beautiful cave。 All about them were
strange people； Mermaids and Water Nymphs； Water Sprites and Mermen；
fishes and dolphins； and even a whale； although he wasn't very large。 If
he had been； he wouldn't have been there； for the entrance to the cave was
just wide enough for him to squeeze through。
Well； no sooner did they see the big Sea Horse； than they all said at
once；
〃Hail to our King！〃 and crowded around looking curiously at Mary
Louise； and one little mermaid pinched her toe。
〃This is Mary Louise；〃 explained the great white Sea Horse。 〃I have
brought her to our cave to see the wonders of our Water Country。〃
At once the whale blew a stream of water into the air； the dolphins
turned somersaults and the little mermaid who had just pinched Mary
Louise's toe； stood up on a big pearly shell and sang：
〃In this river that leads to the sea； We all live happy as happy can be；
The crocodile comes and opens his jaws； And the giant crab stretches out
his claws； And the sword fish chases the sharp toothed shark； But here
we are safe when the day grows dark； And the pale white moon looks
down from the sky； And the little star winks her golden eye。〃
And when she had finished； she swam up close to the big Sea Horse
and picking up Mary Louise placed her in a great shell that sailed over the
water just like a boat to the end of the cave where a little path ran along
close to the water's edge till it came to a door。
〃Tap gently three times；〃 said the little mermaid。
And then； all of a sudden； it opened and there stood a great Sea
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Serpent。
〃What do you want？〃 he asked with a dreadful hiss and his breath was
like steam and his long red tongue like a thin flame。
〃O wise Serpent；〃 said the mermaid； 〃do not frighten little Mary
Louise。 She is traveling through our country and means no harm。〃
〃Then she may come into my kingdom；〃 replied the great Serpent； and
he glided swiftly away。
〃Do not fear him；〃 said the little mermaid。 〃I cannot go with you； but
you will be perfectly safe；〃 and she closed the door and swam away；
leaving little Mary Louise all alone。
It was a strange country in which Mary Louise found herself as she
followed the great Serpent who was now some distance ahead。 Great
trees and moss…covered rocks were on every side； and only by keeping to
the narrow path was it possible to find a way through them。
By and by the Serpent stopped at a gate in a high stone wall； which
swung open slowly as he tapped upon it。
〃Now； let me tell you something；〃 he said； leading Mary Louise to a
seat beneath a beautiful tree in a large garden close by a stately castle。
While she rested on the marble bench the great Serpent coiled himself
in a ring； his head raised about two feet above the ground。 He had
wonderful black eyes and as he looked at her she almost fancied there
were tears in them。
〃Once upon a time； not so very long ago；〃 he began； 〃a young prince
lived in this castle。 But one day a wicked magician disguised as a poor
beggar came to the kitchen door and asked for bread。 Now it happened
to be baking day； and the Royal Baker had just placed a thousand loaves of
dough in the oven。 He was tired and hot and said to the beggar in a cross
voice： 'You must wait until evening。' This made the beggar man
dreadfully angry； and the next minute he waved a crooked stick above his
head and cried； 'Let the master of this castle and his household become
snakes！' Instantly； a great change came over all who lived in the castle。
The prince turned into a serpent and all the retainers became snakes。〃
As he finished speaking； the poor Snake gave a low cry and hid his
head in the grass。
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〃Cheer up；〃 said Mary Louise； for she knew at once that the serpent
was the poor prince in disguise。 〃I have a magic ring！〃
Dear me； I forgot to mention that the Princess Mermaid had given it to
little Mary Louise for a charm against evil。
〃But what can that do for me？〃 asked the poor serpent prince。
〃Leave that to me；〃 replied little Mary Louise； and she turned the
magic ring around three times； and； all of a sudden； a little Black Man
appeared。
〃What can I do for you； litt