The Iceberg Express
Page 3
King Seaphus
The great dining hall of King Seaphus was considered by all theinhabitants of Merland--that is, all those who had been lucky enough tohave seen its splendor--to be the most magnificent of its kind anywhere.
The dining table, or banquet board, as it was called, was made ofmother-of-pearl. The pale, shimmery cloth was woven from the mostdelicate of sea-grasses. The gold and silver plates shone with astrange luster, and the goblets, fashioned of the thinnest and mostexquisite pearl, gave the impression that they were strange sea lilies.
King Seaphus seated himself majestically at the head of the banquetboard, and little Mary Louise was shown the place on his right. At theother end sat the Mermaid Princess. Mermen in dark green liveriesserved the meal. But what delighted and interested Mary Louise themost was the way in which the food was served. Instead of ordinary,everyday dishes, it appeared in little airtight boats, which theservants guided dexterously to the table, and when opened, the steamescaped in hundreds of little bubbles that took on all the hues of therainbow. These slowly ascended through the pale green water until theyreached the surface, where they probably floated off in the air, untilthey burst, like fairy soap-bubbles.
All kinds of delicious fish, little pink and white crabs, goldfish,luscious oysters, and, finally, coral-candy, made up the differentcourses of the dinner. When it was over and the coffee was served in abeautiful room adjoining, King Seaphus smoked a big cigar, which, toMary Louise's amazement, glowed and burned like any ordinary Havana herfather smoked at home.
After King Seaphus had smoked away in perfect silence for some time, heturned 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. "Yousee, I was playing on the beach when I saw the Princess,and--and--and---"
"Then I combed her hair with my magic comb," said the Princess, comingto the relief of little Mary Louise, who was very much embarrassed bythe question. You see, she was not at all accustomed to holdconversation 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 IcebergExpress, 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 hadtold us to 'watch our step,' there was an awful explosion, and we foundourselves floating about in the midst of a lot of cracked ice."
"Indeed," exclaimed King Seaphus, "this is the second time in the lastmonth we've had an accident on the Sea Bottom Subway. I must call inmy Prime Minister and have an investigation begun at once."
Pulling vigorously on a beautifully braided sea-grass rope, he awaitedthe coming of a page. Little Mary Louise heard the far-off tinkle ofthe bell, and presently the Mer-bell-boy appeared.
"Summon his most excellent self, the Prime Minister," commanded KingSeaphus.
The Mer-boy page glided away and presently appeared, deferentiallyescorting the Prime Minister. The latter was a very distinguishedlooking person. His long, white beard was parted gracefully in thecenter, no doubt by the action of the water as he swam up to where theKing 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 wasadorned with a crimson cap and tassel made of the softest velvetsea-grass.
"What is your majesty's command?" he asked, bending low before KingSeaphus. The King did not reply for a moment. He was a wise King, andthought for several minutes before he spoke. This made the PrimeMinister fidget about on his tail. If he had been a Prime Minister ofany land, and not of the sea, he probably would have stood first on oneleg and then on the other, but, as he had no feet, he shifted aboutuneasily on his fin-tail until the King spoke.
"I hear there has been another wreck on the Sea Bottom Subway."
The Prime Minister coughed, and little bubbles rose from the end of hisnose, the sight of which almost caused Mary Louise to giggle aloud.But she remembered her manners in time and saved herself themortification of such a breach of etiquette.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness," admitted the Prime Minister, "but Iunderstand it was not at all serious. One of the Iceberg cars wasdemolished, and one of the Polar Bear porters, I believe, although I amnot certain at the moment, was slightly injured. None of thepassengers was hurt, with the possible exception of a Star Fish, whocomplained of a slight pain in one of his five fingers--I forget, forthe moment, which finger."
"Is the road again in operation?" inquired King Seaphus.
"Not yet, your Royal Highness," replied the Prime Minister, "but I haveevery assurance from the management that trains will be running, at thevery 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 awhisper, "I'm glad there was an accident; otherwise you would not havecome to our castle, and we might not have grown to be such friends."
"Don't whisper, my daughter," said King Seaphus. "Your mother willthink, 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 withoutyour becoming demoralized."
The Prime Minister coughed behind his hand, while the little bubblesrose again through the pale green of the sea-water. Mary Louise feltquite embarrassed, and the little Princess blushed. King Seaphuslooked sternly at all three.
Just then a loud knocking was heard on the castle door. "Billows andbreakers!" exclaimed the King, "what is that?"