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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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The Iceberg Express
〃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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The Iceberg Express
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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The Iceberg Express
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
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