304 THE LAND OF PLUCK

considering his wet legs and the trembling that suddenly
came over him.

“Good day to you,” croaked a strange voice. “I have
brought you a bag of gold from my wife.”

“Many thanks to her, I’m sure, sir,” faltered Limpetty
Jack, bowing again, and stepping slowly forward inch by
inch.

“ But,” roared the mermaid’s husband, “ you cannot have
it for-nothing. There must be a sacrifice. Get your fine
dog Shag, and stand him on the great rock near by, in the
sea, and when the waves wash him off and take him to my
wife, the gold is yours.”

Poor Jack’s teeth chattered. Stupid though he was, he
dearly loved Shag, and Shag loved him ; but he could not
bear to give up the gold.

“Your Mightiness,” said he plaintively, “could n't ye
think of some other sakeryfice ?”

“Not another,’ bellowed the mermaid’s husband, and a
low rumbling sound seemed to spring up in the cave; but
it was only those wicked jokers trying not to laugh. One
of them had whispered to another :

“Now for it! Limpetty ’s so scared he “Il never remem-
ber that Shag ’s a swimmer !”

But with that ugly monster before him, the poor dull-
witted fellow was ready to believe that any impossible
thing might happen. Some other dreadful creature might
appear from the depths and drag his beloved Shag down
under the sea.

“Well, sir,” said Limpetty Jack, after a little bewildered
hesitation, “I have n’t any too much sense. That I know