The Bears then discharged their duties in other parts of the ship, and, before departing over the side, visited every officers' mess, handing to the President of each a sheaf of summonses for the novices in it, and to other messes a summons addressed to the senior members, ordering the presence of the uninitiated. Each summons ran:

The Equator.

Neptune, by the grace of Mythology

Lord of the Waters, Sovereign of all Oceans, Governor and Lord High Admiral of the Bath, etc.

Whereas it has pleased Us to convene a Court to be holden on board His Majesty's Ship " New Zealand, " on the upper deck thereof, at the hour of 9.30 a.m.

By these presents We summon you

to appear at the said Court to tender Us the usual homage, and to be initiated into the mystic rites according to the ancient usages of Our Kingdom.

Hereof nor you, nor any of you may fail, as you will answer at your peril, and to the delight of Our trusty Bodyguard.

Given at Our Court on the Equator this Eighth day of May, in the year One thousand nine hundred and nineteen of Our Watery Reign.

KING NEPTUNE AND QUEEN AMPHITRITE SURROUNDED BY THEIR COURT

On their return the Bears reported to the Secretary of State that full-preparations for the Court were being made. At the foremost end of the Amidship Deck a stage had been rigged, with a large canvas bath along its port side stretching aft. On the stage were thrones for Their Majesties and chairs for Court Officials, and, overhanging the bath, was a stool on rockers, upon which novices were to be seated and tilted into the bath, where the Bears would be ready to receive and duck them. Abaft " P " Turret, at the fore end of the bath, a raised platform had been erected for the Admiral, Lady Jellicoe, Mrs. Share, and the officers.

Next morning it was reported to His Majesty that many novices were looking very green. These, on being interrogated by their friends, indignantly denied any feeling of nervousness, and asserted on the contrary that they had both slept well and had partaken of a hearty breakfast. In the case of wardroom officers the breakfast might have accounted for the loss of their former bloom, as their cook had undoubtedly scored a miss with their buttered eggs. In the meantime, the old hands were going round with horrible, hair-raising tales of their own initiation. It appeared from their accounts that only the mercy of Providence and a solid constitution could possibly pull one through. In spite of this, much big talk was heard on the subject of ducking the Bears. The Bears, however, proved in action that they were quite capable of looking after themselves.

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