Wet Magic
the company and walked away through his garden.
It was a thoughtful party that rode home on the borrowed chargers of the Deep Sea Cavalry. No one spoke. The minds of all were busy with the strange words of Ulfin, and even the least imaginative of them, which in this case was Bernard, could not but think that Ulfin had in that strange oddly shaped head of his, some plan for helping the prisoners, to one of whom at least he was so obviously attached. He also was silent, and the others could not help encouraging the hope that he was maturing plans.
They reached the many-windowed prison, gave up their tickets-of-leaves and reentered it. It was not till they were in the saloon and the evening was all but over that Bernard spoke of what was in every head.
"Look here," he said, "I think Ulfin means to help us to escape."
"Do you," said Mavis. "I think he means to help us to something, but I don't somehow think it's as simple as that."
"Nothing near," said Francis simply.
"But that's all we want, isn't it?" said Bernard.
"It's not all I want," said Mavis, finishing the last of a fine bunch of sea-grapes, "what I want is to get the Mer King restored to his sorrowing relations."
The Mer Princess pressed her hand affectionately.
"So do I," said Francis, "but I want something more than that even. I want to stop this war. For always. So that there'll never be any more of it."
"But how can you," said the Mer Princess, leaning her elbows on the table, "there's always been war; there always will be."
"Why?" asked Francis.
"I don't know; it's Merman nature, I suppose."
"I don't believe it," said Francis earnestly, "not for a minute I
156
