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luscious oysters； and； finally； coral…candy； made up the different courses of
the dinner。 When it was over and the coffee was served in a beautiful
room adjoining； King Seaphus smoked a big cigar； which； to Mary
Louise's amazement； glowed and burned like any ordinary Havana her
father smoked at home。
After King Seaphus had smoked away in perfect silence for some time；
he turned to Mary Louise and asked：
〃Where were you going； my dear； when you met my daughter？〃
〃Oh； nowhere in particular；〃 replied little Mary Louise quickly。 〃You
see； I was playing on the beach when I saw the Princess； andandand…〃
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〃Then I combed her hair with my magic comb；〃 said the Princess；
coming to the relief of little Mary Louise； who was very much
embarrassed by the question。 You see； she was not at all accustomed to
hold conversation with royalty； and to be talking to a Merman King was；
perhaps； even more disconcerting。
〃We took the subway；〃 continued his daughter； 〃we caught the Iceberg
Express； and； well； here we are。〃
〃So I see；〃 said the King。
Mary Louise gave a giggle and； forgetting her embarrassment；
exclaimed； 〃And just as we were safe on board； after the Polar Bear porter
had told us to 'watch our step；' there was an awful explosion； and we found
ourselves floating about in the midst of a lot of cracked ice。〃
〃Indeed；〃 exclaimed King Seaphus； 〃this is the second time in the last
month we've had an accident on the Sea Bottom Subway。 I must call in
my Prime Minister and have an investigation begun at once。〃
Pulling vigorously on a beautifully braided sea…grass rope； he awaited
the coming of a page。 Little Mary Louise heard the far…off tinkle of the
bell； and presently the Mer…bell…boy appeared。
〃Summon his most excellent self； the Prime Minister；〃 commanded
King Seaphus。
The Mer…boy page glided away and presently appeared； deferentially
escorting the Prime Minister。 The latter was a very distinguished looking
person。 His long； white beard was parted gracefully in the center； no
doubt by the action of the water as he swam up to where the King sat。 As
befitted so important an official； he was clad in a long； red robe； which
reached nearly to the end of his fin…tail。 His head was adorned with a
crimson cap and tassel made of the softest velvet sea…grass。
〃What is your majesty's command？〃 he asked； bending low before
King Seaphus。 The King did not reply for a moment。 He was a wise
King； and thought for several minutes before he spoke。 This made the
Prime Minister fidget about on his tail。 If he had been a Prime Minister
of any land； and not of the sea； he probably would have stood first on one
leg and then on the other； but； as he had no feet； he shifted about uneasily
on his fin…tail until the King spoke。
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〃I hear there has been another wreck on the Sea Bottom Subway。〃
The Prime Minister coughed； and little bubbles rose from the end of
his nose； the sight of which almost caused Mary Louise to giggle aloud。
But she remembered her manners in time and saved herself the
mortification of such a breach of etiquette。
〃Yes； Your Royal Highness；〃 admitted the Prime Minister； 〃but I
understand it was not at all serious。 One of the Iceberg cars was
demolished； and one of the Polar Bear porters； I believe； although I am not
certain at the moment； was slightly injured。 None of the passengers was
hurt； with the possible exception of a Star Fish； who complained of a
slight pain in one of his five fingersI forget； for the moment； which
finger。〃
〃Is the road again in operation？〃 inquired King Seaphus。
〃Not yet； your Royal Highness；〃 replied the Prime Minister； 〃but I
have every assurance from the management that trains will be running； at
the very latest； by tomorrow morning。〃
〃You will have to spend the night with us； then；〃 said the Princess；
turning to Mary Louise； with a smile。 〃You know；〃 she added in a
whisper； 〃I'm glad there was an accident； otherwise you would not have
come to our castle； and we might not have grown to be such friends。〃
〃Don't whisper； my daughter；〃 said King Seaphus。 〃Your mother will
think； should she hear that you had been so rude during her absence； that
she cannot leave home to even visit her mother for a week without your
becoming demoralized。〃
The Prime Minister coughed behind his hand； while the little bubbles
rose again through the pale green of the sea…water。 Mary Louise felt
quite embarrassed； and the little Princess blushed。 King Seaphus looked
sternly at all three。
Just then a loud knocking was heard on the castle door。 〃Billows and
breakers！〃 exclaimed the King； 〃what is that？〃
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Damages
King Seaphus waited anxiously as the knocking on the castle door
continued。 〃Billows and breakers；〃 he exclaimed again； expectantly
waiting for the visitor or visitors to be announced。
Just as his impatience was nearly exhausted； a court page appeared
escorting a Polar Bear and a Star Fish。 Mary Louise at once recognized
the former as the porter on the Iceberg Express。 The visitors bowed
respectfully to the King； and the little Star Fish winked one of his five
small eyes at the Princess。 The Polar Bear smiled at Mary Louise； but
said nothing。
〃Well；〃 exclaimed King Seaphus； after a brief silence； 〃you honor us
by your presence； but； what do you want？〃
〃I want redress；〃 cried the Star Fish in a queer little gurgle。
〃You want what？〃 thundered the King； realizing now that his visitors
were looking for damages on account of the accident。 This naturally
worried him； as he was a heavy stockholder in the Sea Bottom Subway。
〃One of my five fingers has been badly bruised；〃 continued the Star
Fish； 〃for which reason I shall sue for damages。〃
〃I have suffered internal injuries；〃 said the Polar Bear； speaking up
quickly； encouraged by the independent manner of the Star Fish。
〃Internal injuries！〃 laughed the King； 〃infernal fiddlesticks； I have
heard that tune before！〃
〃Your Highness；〃 interposed the Star Fish； 〃my condition is quite
serious。 As I have but five fingers； to have one of them injured is far
worse than to have one of my feet； for of the latter I have hundreds。〃
The King looked at him inquiringly。 Although he was Monarch of
the Sea； perhaps he did not know that a Star Fish； while he has hundreds
of little feet； has no legs at all。 Even his feet do not move as ordinary
feet do； one before the other； they can only cling like little suckers pulling
him slowly along from place to place。
〃Neither am I like the everyday common fish。 My mouth is in the
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center of my body； and I have a little scarlet…colored sieve through which I
strain the sea…water。 I couldn't think of swallowing sea…water with
everything that might be floating in it。〃
〃Holy mackerel！〃 exclaimed the King； under his breath； 〃I'd better
settle with this individual as quickly as possible。 He'll drive me crazy if I
don't； and maybe； cause me no end of trouble。〃
〃Your Royal Highness；〃 began the Polar Bear； 〃I was hit by a large
piece of ice in the chest。〃
〃In the ice…chest or in the ice…box？〃 inquired the King； his humor