And now their conductors said, "His Majesty is ready to receive you in his den." They swam downward through one of the round holes in the floor and found themselves in a brilliantly lighted chamber which appeared bigger than all the rest of the palace put together.

In the center was the quaint head of King Anko, and around it was spread a great coverlet of purple and gold woven together.

This concealed all of his body and stretched from wall to wall of the circular room.
"Welcome, friends!" said Anko pleasantly.

"How do you like my home ?" "It's very grand," replied Trot.
"Just the place for a sea serpent, seems to me," said Cap'n Bill.
"I'm glad you admire it," said the King.

"Perhaps I ought to tell you that from this day you four belong to me." "How's that ?" asked the girl, surprised.
"It is a law of the ocean," declared Anko, "that whoever saves any living creature from violent death owns that creature forever afterward, while life lasts.