 The narrator reports that Skipper Kipper has closed the port-hole in time. Baron Barracuda expresses frustration, but tells Trigger Fish that they will wait for another chance to get into the ship. Georgie Porgy and Finley Haddock proceed, each with a coin, towards the home of Miss Minerva. On their way, the encounter Diver Dan, who again hails them, and tries to talk to them. When Finley, because of the coin, makes only incoherent sounds, Dan concludes that the pressures of the deep have somewhat deranged him. Finley drops his coin and then talks to Dan. Finley expresses some distress at having dropped the coin; Dan retrieves to return to him. Finley expresses surprise that a monster should be so nice. Georgie begins speaking as if he has no coin (and none is visible now in his mouth). Finley marvels that Dan can talk. Finley asks that they be excused to take their gold to the Mermaid; Dan thus learns that there is a Mermaid. He also hears that her name is Minerva. Finley declares that they have to hurry now, and he and Georgie begin to leave, with Dan still holding the coin that Finley dropped. Dan asks them to wait, and asks them if the coin coins mean something to them; Finley and Georgie say that the coins are very valuable. Dan therefore declares that he will not take them, but the fish declare that the coins are in no way scarce, that they need only two or three, and that Skipper will surely let Dan have as many as he wants. They insist that they must leave, that the life of Goldie the Goldfish hangs in the balance. They direct him to Skipper s ship and head away. (As they leave, both Georgie and Finley are speaking freely.) The Baron has apparently discerned enough of the conversation to infer that Dan wants the gold. The Baron explains to Trigger that this implies some further value to the gold. The Baron declares to Trigger that Skipper will soon leave to exercise, at which point the Baron and Trigger will slink into the ship and take as much gold as they can. Skipper decides that the imagined squall will soon blow over, and heads out to exercise. He almost immediately encounters Dan, takes him for a monster, and asks him if he is friend or foe. Dan assures Skipper that Dan is not a monster, and may be regarded as a friend. Skipper accepts Dan s assurances, asks how Skipper might help Dan, and marvels that Dan can talk. Dan explains that he is part of a scientific expedition, studying the ocean floor, that has nearly run out of money, with its task only half completed. He proposes that the gold on Skipper s ship could be used to fund the rest of the work. Skipper is glad that the yellow metal, which he regards as clutter, could be removed and put to good use. Dan asks to first take two or three coins to his ship s scientists, for study. Dan opens the door to the cabin from which Skipper had emerged, and begins to enter it.