Scarlett's New Friend by Gillian Shields Page A

shadow of a boat passed over the mermaids’ heads. A fishing line suddenly whipped down through the water, like a snake. At the end of it was a large hook, which lodged itself into Scarlett’s thick hair. Then the unseen human on the other end of the fishing line began to tug. He thought he had made a fine catch and was trying to reel it in.
    â€œOw!” Scarlett gasped. She tried frantically to get the hook out of her hair, and the others desperately tried to grab her as she slithered past them. But it was too late! Scarlett was being pulled swiftly up to the surface, and soon she would land like a mackerel in the human boat. Where was Scarlett—and her precious crystal—being taken? And how would the other mermaids get her back?

Chapter Two
    â€œEveryone grab hold of Scarlett,” shouted Sophie, as Scarlett hovered above them for a moment. Holly and Misty caught the end of Scarlett’s tail, but she let out an agonized squeal.
    â€œOw, that hurts,” she yelped. “I’m being pulled the other way too. Let go!”
    There was nothing the mermaids could do but watch in horror as Scarlettdisappeared over their heads on the end of the fishing line.
    â€œWe’ve got to go after her,” said Sophie. “I don’t care if the humans do see us. Come on!
Mermaid S.O.S.!
”
    The friends all zoomed up through the waves to the overwater world. They were just in time to see Scarlett being pulled into a small green boat. It was being handled by a single fisherman wearing a rough sweater. He had an honest, weather-beaten face, and he was clutching the end of his fishing rod with his mouth hanging wide open. He looked as surprised as if he had caught a pot of gold.
    The fisherman stared at Scarlett in amazement, as she sat on her tail opposite him in the little boat. She angrily unhooked the fishing line from her tangled hair and began to scold him.

    â€œDon’t you know that it hurts to be yanked out of the water by a fishing hook?” asked Scarlett fiercely. “How would you like it if I did that to you?”
    The magic crystal she was carrying gaveher the power to be understood in any language, even human.
    â€œBut … but I never meant to catch a … a … whatever it is you are …,” he stuttered.
    â€œOh, you know perfectly well what I am,” said Scarlett. “And all my friends here.”
    Sophie, Holly, Lucy, Ellie, and Misty were floating in the waves around the boat, watching carefully. Scarlett sounded angry, but they could tell she was a little bit scared too. They were all anxious about being face-to-face with a human like this.
    â€œWell,” he said doubtfully, “I guess you’re all Merfolk, or my name’s not John Roberts. That is, unless I’m dreaming.” He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself. “You’re still there, are you? Wait till I tell my boy Jack about this!”

    â€œYou will not tell anybody about me and my friends, John Roberts,” said Scarlett severely. “Do you really think we want you big clumsy humans coming and staring at us? In fact, I might tip your boat over and send you to the bottom ofthe sea! That will teach you to go around catching mermaids.”
    â€œOh no, Scarlett,” protested Ellie, as she bobbed up and down in the water. “We couldn’t do that, not to anyone.”
    â€œRemember that the Mermaid Pledge says ‘Never hurt,’” said Holly wisely. “That applies to humans too.”
    â€œAnd I don’t think this John Roberts creature wants to hurt us, either,” added Misty. “Do you?”
    â€œOf course not,” John replied quickly. “I’ve been a fisherman all my life in these waters. So were my father and grandfather, and maybe Jack will be one too. We’ve never been greedy, only taking from the sea what we needed to live. And we’ve heard many tales of the Merfolkaround here, how they