human
Well, well! said the Octopus.
gpt
Are you all dumb? Or don't you know enough to be civil when you meet a neighbor?
human
We know how to be civil to our friends,
gpt
Well, aren't we friends, then?
human
I think not, said the little girl.
gpt
Octopuses are horrid creatures.
human
Octo_pi_, if you please; octo_pi_
gpt
I don't see any pie that pleases me,
human
Octo_pus_ means one of us; two, or more are called octo_pi_,
gpt
I suppose a lot of you would be a whole bakery!
human
Our name is latin. It was given us by learned scientists years ago,
gpt
That's true enough, agreed Cap'n Bill.
human
The learned scientists named ev'ry blamed thing they come acrost, an' gener'ly they picked out names as nobody could understand, or pernounce.
gpt
That isn't our fault, sir, said the Octopus.
human
Indeed, it's pretty hard for us to go through life with such terrible names. Think of the poor little sea horse. He used to be a merry and cheerful fellow, but since they named him 'hippocampus' he hasn't smiled once.
gpt
Let's go, said Trot;
human
I don't like to 'sociate with octopuses.
gpt
Octo_pi_,
human
You're jus' as horrid, whether you're puses or pies,
gpt
Horrid!
human
Not only horrid, but horrible!
gpt
May I ask in what way?
human
Why, ev'rybody knows that octopuses are jus' wicked an' deceitful, she said.
gpt
Up on the earth, where I live, they call the Stannerd Oil Company an octopus, an' the Coal Trust an octopus, an'----
human
Stop, stop! cried the monster, in a pleading voice.
gpt
Do you mean to tell me that the earth people, whom I have always respected, compare me to the Stannerd Oil Company?
human
Yes,
gpt
That's what they do,
human
Oh, what a disgrace! What a deep, direful, dreadful disgrace!
gpt
This comes of having a bad name,
human
It is unjust! It is cruel and unjust! sobbed the creature, mournfully.
gpt
Just because we have several long arms, and take whatever we can reach, they accuse us of being like--like--oh, I cannot say it! It is too shameful--too humiliating!
human
Come; let's go,
gpt
I'm not a bit sorry for him, remarked the child;
human
So they do me,
gpt
But the octopi are not very bad, said the Princess,
human
Oh. Are the sea devils their cousins?
gpt
Yes; and they are the only creatures of the ocean which we greatly fear, replied Aquareine.
human
I hope we shall meet none to-day, for we are going near to the dismal caverns where they live.
gpt
What are the sea devils like, ma'am?
human
Something like the octopus you just saw, only much larger and of a bright scarlet color, striped with black, answered the Queen.
gpt
They are very fierce and terrible creatures, and nearly as much dreaded by the inhabitants of the ocean as is Zog, and nearly as powerful as King Anko himself.
human
Zog! Who is Zog? questioned the girl.
gpt
I haven't heard of him, before now.
human
We do not like to mention Zog's name, responded the Queen, in a low voice.
gpt
He is the wicked genius of the sea, and a magician of great power.
human
What's he like?
gpt
He is a dreadful creature, part fish, part man, part beast and part serpent. Centuries ago they cast him off the earth into the sea, where he has caused much trouble. Once he waged a terrible war against King Anko, but the sea serpent finally conquered Zog, and drove the magician into his castle, where he now stays shut up. For if ever Anko catches the monster outside of his enchanted castle he will kill him, and Zog knows that very well.
human
Seems like you have your troubles down here, just as we do on top the ground,
gpt
But, I'm glad old Zog is shut up in his castle, added Trot.
human
Is it a sea castle, like your own palaces?
gpt
I cannot say, my dear, for the enchantment makes it invisible to all eyes but those of its inhabitants, replied Aquareine.
human
No one sees Zog now, and we scarcely ever hear of him; but all the sea people know he is here, some place, and fear his power. Even in the old days, before Anko conquered him, Zog was the enemy of the mermaids, as he was of all the good and respectable seafolk. But do not worry about the magician, I beg of you, for he has not dared to do an evil deed in many, many years.
gpt
Oh, I'm not afraid,
human
I'm glad of that, said the Queen.
gpt
Keep together, friends, and be careful not to separate, for here comes an army of sawfishes.