The Iceberg Express | Page 9

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
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 the bells seemed to change their tune. They clanged out
wildly until a sudden loud crash awoke her with a start. The engine
whistle was sending forth loud, warning cries. The Mermaid Princess
began to tremble with fright.
"What do you suppose is the matter?" she whispered.
"I'm sure I don't know," replied little Mary Louise. "Perhaps there's
something on the track."
By this time all the passengers were thrusting their heads out through
the curtains of their berths.

"Porter, Porter!" called the Penguin, who had been vainly pressing the
electric call-button.
But as usual, when a porter was wanted he is nowhere to be found.
Then the Baby Seal began to cry. Suddenly all the lights went out.
Mary Louise hastily caught up her clothes and commenced dressing.
"Thank goodness," she said in a trembling voice, "I don't have to bother
with stockings!"
"I never was anything but a Mermaid," said the Princess in a frightened
whisper, "so I don't know anything about them!"
"Where's my waist?" asked Mary Louise, hardly able to keep from
crying. "I can't find it anywhere, and it's so dreadfully dark, too."
"Oh, dear me!" suddenly cried the Mermaid Princess. "I believe I'm
trying to get yours on over mine. I'm so excited I forgot that I already
had on my own."
"Well, I'm dressed at last," exclaimed Mary Louise after wriggling and
squirming about for a few minutes longer. "Isn't it awful hard work
dressing in a berth?"
Suddenly the engine bell clanged out more furiously than ever. The
whistle shrieked again and again. Mary Louise looked with frightened
eyes at the princess who gave a cry of terror and threw her arms about
her neck as the lights again went out. Then there was a sudden crash,
and the Iceberg Express shivered and toppled over.
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