按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Whew！〃 shivered Mary Louise。 〃I think we ar near one now； for I
feel quite cold。〃
Sure enough； she was right； for there close at hand was a great white
object。
〃All aboard！〃 shouted a big polar bear。 〃Watch your step！〃
The mermaid helped Mary Louise to slide on a projecting ledge； and
4
… Page 5…
The Iceberg Express
off they went。
〃Now we can enjoy the scenery；〃 laughed the mermaid； as she
arranged her tail in an artistic curve and brushed back her hair； which had
been swept over her eyes by the swift action of the water。
〃The train never stops； you know； until it reaches its destination； but
that need not interfere with our getting off any time we please should you
wish to visit any pretty spot we pass on our journey。〃
Just at that moment there was a tremendous crash and Mary Louise
found herself thrown off into the water； while a muffled roar rolled
through the depths of the ocean。
5
… Page 6…
The Iceberg Express
The Coral Palace
〃Why； the ocean is full of cracked ice！〃 exclaimed Mary Louise； as
she and the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them。 〃I
wonder what it was that caused such a tremendous crash？〃
〃Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply；〃 replied the
mermaid with a laugh。 〃The ocean depths are no longer a quiet place
since this dreadful hot weather set in。 Just the other day I heard the King
of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of protest to
Neptune for violating the laws of Merland！〃
〃I don't know much about it；〃 said Mary Louise； 〃except that it's very
inconvenient to have one's voyage disturbed in such a way。 What are we
going to do now？〃
〃How would you like to visit the Court of the Mer King？〃 asked the
mermaid。
〃Oh； lovely！〃 cried Mary Louise。 〃I've never met any kinds； although
I've read about them in fairy stories。〃
〃Come along then；〃 said the mermaid。 〃Follow me straight down； for
I think we are not very far from the Coral Palace； where King Seaphus
holds court。〃
Placing the palms of her hands together diving fashion； she gave her
pretty tail a kick…off； and away she went； head downward； through the
water。
Mary Louise followed her example； somewhat surprised at the ease
with which she executed this difficult maneuver。
In a short time they found themselves on the bottom of the ocean。 In
the distance could be seen the dim outline of a magnificent castle of pink
and white coral。 Leading up to it was a wide highway； flanked on either
side with beautiful sea…grass； and dotted here and there； like milestones；
stood columns of beautiful coral。 Banks of exquisite mother…of…pearl
rose at intervals along the way； water plants of various hues grew in wild
6
… Page 7…
The Iceberg Express
profusion。
〃Why； it's very much like the earth；〃 exclaimed Mary Louise； 〃only
one doesn't walk； and its not dusty； andand it's not hot and sunny！〃
〃No； indeed！〃 said the mermaid。 〃But sometimes we have a pest of
water gnats that are worse than mosquitoes； and we have to put up netting
on our bedroom windows to keep them out。〃
As she finished speaking they approached the door of the castle； on
which she knocked with a flap of her finny tail。 It was immediately
opened by a merman dressed in the uniform of a court page。 〃What can I
do for you； Your Highness？〃 he asked； bowing low。
〃Why； are you a princess？〃 asked Mary Louise in surprise； turning
quickly to the mermaid and forgetting for the moment that they were on
the steps of a real merman's castle。
The little mermaid only laughed in reply； and taking Mary Louise by
the hand led her through the coral doors to King Seaphus。
His Majesty was seated on a throne of pearl； studded with many
precious stones。 A long emerald robe fell from his shoulders and on his
head rested a magnificent crown set with glittering jewels； which gleamed
and sparkled in the dim light of the royal chamber。
〃Ah； my daughter； whom have you here？〃 he asked； leaning from the
throne and gazing intently at little Mary Louise。 〃Methinks she is a
mermaidized mortal！〃 At which the King laughed loudly； for he was
very fond of coining words and was busily engaged； when his state duties
did not interfere； in compiling a new dictionary。
〃You are right； Father Seaphus；〃 replied his beautiful daughter。 〃Let
me introduce little Mary Louise。〃
The King rose graciously and extended his royal right hand。 Mary
Louise made a low curtsey； finding it much easier now that she was a
mermaid to perform this little act of graciousness on account of the
flexibility of her tail。
Legs； of course； are indispensable for walking； but； then； in these days
of new inventions； when the air is invaded by wing； and the earth
traversed by wheels； and the depths of the waters by mechanical fins；
walking may soon become a lost art！ Something like this may have
7
… Page 8…
The Iceberg Express
flitted through her mind； but she only answered in a trembling voice；
〃How do you do； Your Majesty！〃
〃You are welcome； 'Mermaid Mary；' to our Kingdom of the Sea；〃 he
replied。 〃I hope you will enjoy your stay with us。〃 So saying； he
gallantly lifted his gold crown as little Mary Louise made another curtsey。
〃Let us dress for dinner；〃 said the mermaid。
They swam quickly upstairs between two balustrades of lovely coral to
her bedroom。
It was just like fairy…land； at least； it seemed so to little Mary Louise；
as she looked about the pretty room。 In one corner stood a beautiful bed
of mother…of…pearl； hung with varied colored sea grass for curtains。 Sea
moss made it as soft as down。 In fact； it seemed almost