d 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 Catskills--those are well-known summer resorts."

"May it please your Royal Highness," said the Star Fish, stroking his
beautiful purple coat with one of his five little fingers, "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 of snow like Mount
Washington, for it's nice and warm in the Caribbean Sea; that's the
reason I want to go there. But, if the Iceberg Express is wrecked, how
am I to continue my journey?"

"Sufferin' mackerel!" exclaimed King Seaphus; this time he uttered the
words aloud and not under his breath, "Sufferin' mackerel! I'll see
that you get there, if I have to charter a special train!"

"But what about my finger?" asked the Star Fish.

"Oh, I'll reimburse you for your ticket," exclaimed the King. "And
now, what can I do for you?" he asked, turning to the Polar Bear.

"Train Porters have very low wages," replied the Polar Bear.

"Very well," answered King Seaphus, "I will see that yours are
doubled," and he waved the two visitors away with a haughty gesture.
The court page then escorted them to the door.

"You heard what I said," cried the King, turning to the Prime Minister.
"Now go to the General Manager of the Sea Bottom Subway and inform him
of my wishes. Also that he must have an express ready to start for the
Caribbean Sea tomorrow morning without fail."

The Prime Minister bowed respectfully and departed.

"Whew!" exclaimed the King, smiling at Mary Louise and his daughter as
soon as the three were again alone, "if that Star Fish wasn't a walking
encyclopedia! He had everything at his five finger-ends!"

"I think I'll take the same train as the little Star Fish," said Mary
Louise, "for I've never been to the Caribbean Sea and I think it must
be a lovely place."

"May I go with Mary Louise?" asked the Mermaid Princess.

"Well, I don't see why not," answered her father, after a pause, "only
you must get back inside of a fortnight, for your mother will be home
by that time."

"I must see that my mother-of-pearl trunk is packed," said th