pectantly
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 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," interrupte