From time to time His Majesty's Intelligence Department brought tidings of a shirker or a " couchy. " The King's Trumpeter having sounded the " Still, " His Majesty would proclaim, " It has been brought to Our notice that ________ has not yet appeared before Us. Police, arrest him! " The defaulter was then rounded up, and was forthwith initiated in a most thorough manner, His Majesty frequently directing the efforts of the Bears in person. The Police took no chances with truculent subjects. Several were brought up in bags, and only let lose on the platform.

When the wardroom cook had been captured and brought up, the " Still " was again sounded, and His Majesty addressed the Court thus:

" We have before Us the Wardroom Cook. It has been brought to Our Royal Notice that he spoiled this morning's breakfast. Let him be ducked thrice three times! " On the cook, however, presenting an injured hand, this sentence was graciously commuted, and he was treated with remarkable forbearance, as also were several other sportsmen who appeared from the Sick Bay in various stages of disrepair. Their insistence on going through was loudly cheered by their shipmates.

Presently the Trumpeter once more sounded the " Still, " and there stood before the Throne ten small Lascar Signalmen. His Majesty took occasion to rise and say:___

NEPTUNE'S SPEECH TO THE INDIAN BOYS.

You gallant boys of India,
Appearing before My Queen and I to-day,
Will give Us the greatest of pleasure
To admit you with the remainder of Our children of the sea,
Into the mysteries of Our realm.

Your dark smiling faces
Will always remain in Our minds for many years to come.
Because We did not expect to meet you
In this mighty battle-cruiser of
His Britannic Majesty's Navy.

We shall watch your progress
With interest, and feel certain that you will prize
The certificate which will be given you
After the ceremony.
Not so much as a memory
Of the occasion itself, but as a memory
(Which as time passes will grow more fragrant rather than faded)
Of this splendid ship,
And the gallant Admiral of the Fleet
Whom you have the honour to serve with.

Their Majesties then shook hands in turn with each boy, and wished them the best of luck.

They went through laughing and choking, and then the proceedings ran along smoothly and without incident until seven bells, when the Court and the assembled multitude were called to attention by another blast from the trumpet. Amid a great silence, the King rose and said " My very old friend, the Admiral of the Fleet, has expressed a wish to be again initiated. I consider it a great honour which he pays Us, and an example to other old friends of Ours."

NEPTUNE CONFERRING ON THE ADMIRAL THE DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF THE "OLD SEA DOG"