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has used them as the three Adepts never would have
done。〃
By this time the top of the dome was quite under
water and suddenly the island stopped sinking and
became stationary。
〃See！〃 cried Lady Aurex； pointing to the shore。 〃The
Flatheads have come。〃
On the bank； which was now far above their heads； a
crowd of dark figures could be seen。
〃Now let us see what Coo…ee…oh will do to oppose
them；〃 continued Lady Aurex； in a voice that betrayed
her excitement。
* * * * * * * *
The Flatheads； pushing their way through the line of
palm trees； had reached the shore of the lake just as
the top of the island's dome disappeared beneath the
surface。 The water now flowed from shore to shore； but
through the clear water the dome was still visible and
the houses of the Skeezers could be dimly seen through
the panes of glass。
〃Good！〃 exclaimed the Su…dic； who had armed all his
followers and had brought with him two copper vessels；
which he carefully set down upon the ground beside him。
〃If Coo…ee…oh wants to hide instead of fighting our job
will be easy； for in one of these copper vessels I have
enough poison to kill every fish in the lake。〃
〃Kill them； then； while we have time； and then we can
go home again；〃 advised one of the chief officers。
〃Not yet；〃 objected the Su…dic。 〃The Queen of the
Skeezers has defied me； and I want to get her into my
power； as well as to destroy her magic。 She transformed
my poor wife into a Golden Pig； and I must have revenge
for that； whatever else we do。〃
〃Look out！〃 suddenly exclaimed the officers； pointing
into the lake； 〃something's going to happen。〃
From the submerged dome a door opened and something
black shot swiftly out into the water。 The door
instantly closed behind it and the dark object cleaved
its way through the water； without rising to the
surface； directly toward the place where the Flatheads
were standing。
〃What is that？〃 Dorothy asked the Lady Aurex。
〃That is one of the Queen's submarines；〃 was the
reply。 〃It is all enclosed； and can move under water。
Coo…ee…oh has several of these boats which are kept in
little rooms in the basement under our village。 When
the island is submerged； the Queen uses these boats to
reach the shore； and I believe she now intends to fight
the Flatheads with them。〃
The Su…dic and his people knew nothing of Coo…ee…oh's
submarines； so they watched with surprise as the under…
water boat approached them。 When it was quite near the
shore it rose to the surface and the top parted and
fell back； disclosing a boat full of armed Skeezers。 At
the head was the Queen； standing up in the bow and
holding in one hand a coil of magic rope that gleamed
like silver。
The boat halted and Coo…ee…oh drew back her arm to
throw the silver rope toward the Su…dic； who was now
but a few feet from her。 But the wily Flathead leader
quickly realized his danger and before the Queen could
throw the rope he caught up one of the copper vessels
and dashed its contents full in her face！
Chapter Eleven
The Conquest of the Skeezers
Queen Coo…ee…oh dropped the rope； tottered and fell
headlong into the water； sinking beneath the surface；
while the Skeezers in the submarine assist her and only
stared at the ripples in the water where she had
disappeared。 A moment later there arose to the surface
a beautiful White Swan。 This Swan was of large size；
very gracefully formed； and scattered all over its
white feathers were tiny diamonds； so thickly placed
that as the rays of the morning sun fell upon them the
entire body of the Swan glistened like one brilliant
diamond。 The head of the Diamond Swan had a bill of
polished gold and its eyes were two sparkling
amethysts。
〃Hooray！〃 cried the Su…dic； dancing up and down with
wicked glee。 〃My poor wife； Rora； is avenged at last。
You made her a Golden Pig； Coo…ee…oh； and now I have
made you a Diamond Swan。 Float on your lake forever； if
you like； for your web feet can do no more magic and
you are as powerless as the Pig you made of my wife！
〃Villain！ Scoundrel！〃 croaked the Diamond Swan。 〃You
will be punished for this。 Oh； what a fool I was to let
you enchant me！
〃A fool you were； and a fool you are！〃 laughed the
Su…dic； dancing madly in his delight。 And then he
carelessly tipped over the other copper vessel with his
heel and its contents spilled on the sands and were
lost to the last drop。
The Su…dic stopped short and looked at the overturned
vessel with a rueful countenance。
〃That's too bad too bad！〃 he exclaimed
sorrowfully。 〃I've lost all the poison I had to kill
the fishes with； and I can't make any more because only
my wife knew the secret of it； and she is now a foolish
Pig and has forgotten all her magic。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the Diamond Swan scornfully； as she
floated upon the water and swam gracefully here and
there。 I'm glad to see you are foiled。 Your punishment
is just beginning； for although you have enchanted me
and taken away my powers of sorcery you have still the
three magic fishes to deal with； and they'll destroy
you in time； mark my words。〃
The Su…dic stared at the Swan a moment。 Then he
yelled to his men：
〃Shoot her！ Shoot the saucy bird！〃
They let fly some arrows at the Diamond Swan； but she
dove under the water and the missiles fell harmless。
When Coo…ce…oh rose to the surface she was far from the
shore and she swiftly swam across the lake to where no
arrows or spears could reach her。
The Su…dic rubbed his chin and thought what to do
next。 Near by floated the submarine in which the Queen
had come； but the Skeezers who were in it were puzzled
what to do with themselves。 Perhaps they were not sorry
their cruel mistress had been transformed into a
Diamond Swan； but the transformation had left them
quite helpless。 The under…water boat was not operated
by machinery； but by certain mystic words uttered by
Coo…ee…oh。 They didn't know how to submerge it； or how
to make the water…tight shield cover them again； or how
to make the boat go back to the castle； or make it
enter the little basement room where it was usually
kept。 As a matter of fact； they were now shut out of
their village under the Great Dome and could not get
back again。 So one of the men called to the Supreme
Dictator of the Flatheads； saying：
〃Please make us prisoners and take us to your
mountain； and feed and keep us； for we have nowhere to
go。〃
Then the Su…dic laughed and answered：
〃Not so。 I can't be bothered by caring for a lot of
stupid Skeezers。 Stay where you are； or go wherever you
please； so long as you keep away from our mountain。〃 He
turned to his men and added： 〃We have conquered Queen
Coo…ee…oh and made her a helpless swan。 The Skeezers
are under water and may stay there。 So； having won the
war； let us go home again and make merry and feast；
having after many years proved the Flatheads to be
greater and more powerful than the Skeezers。〃
So the Flatheads marched away and passed through the
row of palms and went back to their mountain； where the
Su…dic and a few of his officers feasted and all the
others were forced to wait on them。
〃I'm sorry we couldn't have roast pig；〃 said the Su…
dic； 〃but as the only pig we have is made of gold； we
can't eat her。 Also the Golden Pig happens to be my
wife； and even were she not gold I am sure she would be
too tough to eat。〃
Chapter Twelve
The Diamond Swan
When the Flatheads had gone away the Diamond Swan
swam back to the boat and one of the young Skeezers
named Ervic said to her eagerly：
〃How can we get back to the island； your Majesty？〃
〃Am I not beautiful？〃 asked Coo…ee…oh； arching her
neck gracefully and spreading her diamond…sprinkled
wings。 〃I can see my r