but that need not interfere with our getting off any time we please
should you wish to visit any pretty spot we pass on our journey."

Just at that moment there was a tremendous crash and Mary Louise
found herself thrown off into the water, while a muffled roar rolled
through the depths of the ocean.





The Coral Palace




"Why, the ocean is full of cracked ice!" exclaimed Mary Louise, as
she and the mermaid rose to the surface and looked about them. "I
wonder what it was that caused such a tremendous crash?"

"Perhaps the Whale Ice Trust is after a big ice supply," replied the
mermaid with a laugh. "The ocean depths are no longer a quiet place
since this dreadful hot weather set in. Just the other day I heard
the King of the Mermen say that they were about to send a note of
protest to Neptune for violating the laws of Merland!"

"I don't know much about it," said Mary Louise, "except that it's very
inconvenient to have one's voyage disturbed in such a way. What are
we going to do now?"