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piece of ice in the chest。〃
〃In the ice…chest or in the ice…box？〃 inquired the King； his humor
getting the better of his anger； for he could never let go by an opportunity
to make a pun。
〃Your Royal Highness；〃 interrupted the Star Fish； 〃I wish to state that I
took this little trip for my health。 My doctor told me I must go South。
So I boarded the Iceberg Express at Cape Cod； intending to spend the
summer in the mountains。〃
〃In the mountains！〃 roared King Seaphus。 〃You don't go to the
seashore for the mountains！ You should have gone inland to the White
Mountains or the Catskillsthose are well…known summer resorts。〃
〃May it please your Royal Highness；〃 said the Star Fish； stroking his
beautiful purple coat with on eof his five little finger； 〃I was bound for the
Caribbean Sea； which is as full of mountains as New Hampshire and
Vermont are。 Of course； none of them have caps of snow like Mount
Washington； for it's nice and warm in the Caribbean Sea； that's the reason I
want to go there。 But； if the Iceberg Express is wrecked； how am I to
continue my journey？〃
〃Sufferin' mackerel！〃 exclaimed King Seaphus； this time he uttered the
words aloud and not under his breath； 〃Sufferin' mackerel！ I'll see that
you get there； if I have to charter a special train！〃
〃But what about my finger？〃 asked the Star Fish。
〃Oh； I'll reimburse you for your ticket；〃 exclaimed the King。 〃And
now； what can I do for you？〃 he asked； turning to the Polar Bear。
〃Train Porters have very low wages；〃 replied the Polar Bear。
〃Very well；〃 answered King Seaphus； 〃 I will see that yours are
doubled；〃 and he waved the two visitors away with a haughty gesture。 The
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The Iceberg Express
court page then escorted them to the door。
〃You heard what I said；〃 cried the King； turning to the Prime Minister。
〃Now go to the General Manager of the Sea Bottom Subway and inform
him of my wishes。 Also that he must have an express ready to start for
the Caribbean Sea tomorrow morning without fail。〃
The Prime Minister bowed respectfully and departed。
〃Whew！〃 exclaimed the King； smiling at Mary Louise and his
daughter as soon as the three were again alone； 〃if that Star Fish wasn't a
walking encyclopedia！ He had everything at his five finger…ends！〃
〃I think I'll take the same train as the little Star Fish；〃 said Mary
Louise； 〃for I've never been to the Caribbean Sea and I think it must be a
lovely place。〃
〃May I go with Mary Louise？〃 asked the Mermaid Princess。
〃Well； I don't see why not；〃 answered her father； after a pause； 〃only
you must get back inside of a fortnight； for your mother will be home by
that time。〃
〃I must see that my mother…of…pearl trunk is packed；〃 said the Princess。
〃Come with me； Mary Louise。〃 Then curtseying to the King； they swam
up the water stairway to the room of the little mermaid。
The next morning found Mary Louise and the Mermaid Princess
waiting anxiously at the station for the Iceberg Express。 On the platform
they recognized among the passengers their little friend； the Star Fish。 In
a few minutes the express thundered into the station。 〃Watch your step！〃
yelled the Polar Bear Porter as he helped Mary Louise and the Princess on
board。 Then with a rush and a roar the Iceberg Express started on its
journey for the Mountains of the Sea！
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The Iceberg Express
The Wreck
Mary Louise and the Mermaid Princess settled themselves back
comfortably in their seats and looked about them。 The Iceberg Express
certainly had every convenience。 Of course almost everything was made
of ice。 But； then； so is most everything in a Pullman car made of steel。
There was really very little difference except that the ice was much prettier；
it was so clear and white； and the moss cushions that covered the seats
were soft and springy。 The crystal chandeliers that hung from the ceiling
were resplendent with little twinkling lights； and the curtains at the ice…
paned windows were made of the thinnest spun ice threads。 Even the
little drinking cups that were packed in a column； one within the other； at
the ice water tank； were made of thin ice。
〃I don't feel the least bit cold；〃 said Mary Louise； turning with a laugh
to her mermaid friend。 〃Do you？〃
〃Not the least bit；〃 she replied。
〃It's so different； though； from the first train we were on；〃 continued
Mary Louise。 〃It isn't anything like it really。 Why； the first train was
only an ordinary iceberg； don't you remember？〃
〃That's because we never went inside；〃 replied the mermaid。 〃We
didn't have the opportunity； the explosion came so soon。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed Mary Louise。 〃The only think I distinctly
remember is the Polar Bear porter calling out to be careful； and then the
awful explosion。 After that we were in the water and there was nothing
around us but cracked ice。〃
〃Dining car in the rear；〃 announced the Polar Bear porter； walking
down the isle with a menu card held gracefully in his paw。 〃Last call for
the dining car！〃
〃Goodness！〃 exclaimed Mary Louise。 〃Let's hurry； or we won't be
able to get anything to eat； and I always love to eat in a dining car。〃
Jumping up from the seat； she and the Princess swam down the aisle；
across the vestibuled platform； through the next car； and then into the
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The Iceberg Express
diner。
There were quite a number of passengers still seated at the different
little tables。 A soldierly looking Penguin sat at one and a few tables
beyond a motherly looking Seal with a baby boy Seal at her side was just
finishing some delicious looking pink water ice。
Mary Louise and the Mermaid sat down at the nearest table and looked
over the menu。 It was great fun selecting what they wanted； and when
they had finished their water ices they felt that they had dined most
sumptuously。
They then returned to their seats and looked out of the window for a
time。 Strange sights met their eyes as the train rushed on。 There were
no telegraph poles to count； nor cows to see grazing in green meadows。
Instead； however； were numerous fish swimming here and there； some of
gorgeous coloring； others of white or silver hue。 Hills and valleys of
sand； as well as long meadows of seaweed； stretched away for miles and
miles。 Strange…looking sea animals crawled close to the rushing train。
If they came too close the suction of the water drew them along until they
disappeared beneath the car。
As darkness settled down over the quiet deep； Mary Louise turned
from the window with a sigh。 〃I feel sleepy already；〃 she said； 〃and it's
only supper time！〃
〃We'll tell the porter to make up our berths；〃 said the Mermaid
Princess。 He can do it while we are having our supper in the dining car。〃
On their return they found their berth in readiness。 Soft green
seaweed curtains hung gracefully to the floor； one of them being drawn
aside； showing a little white bed。 It looked as comfortable as her own
little bed at home； Mary Louise thought。
It took the two little mermaids but a few minutes to undress； and as
soon as their tired heads touched the pillow they were sound asleep。
Softly the seabells are ringing away； Dipping and dripping and white
with the spray； Ding…dong； and ding…dong； and ding…dong； so deep； The
seabells are singing me softly to sleep。
Over and over again in her dreams little Mary Louise repeated this
song。 Then suddenly