[Ill.u.s.tration: "The chair was floating just in front of them."]

They had very nearly reached the bottom of the sea, when they noticed a singular-looking object floating some distance in front of them.

"It looks like a chair!" declared Marjorie. "Why, I believe," she continued, as they drew nearer, "that it's the very one the Dodo was floating upon when we saw him last."

"So it is!" cried d.i.c.k; "and look, there's a note on it--perhaps it's for us."

They swam towards it as quickly as they could, and had just reached the chair, as a curious-looking fish--with a very long nose, and wearing shoes on the end of his long tail, and a tall hat--swam past.

He looked at them inquisitively, and then stood a little way at the back of them, waiting till they should be disengaged.

"To all to whom it may concern," read d.i.c.k, after he had picked up the note from off the chair. "I suppose that means us as much as any one."

"Of course it does," agreed Marjorie. "It concerns us very much to find out where the Dodo is."

d.i.c.k hesitated no longer, but opened the note eagerly. His face fell, however, when he beheld the contents.

"_Mind your own business!_" he read, slowly. "What a sell! I believe the Dodo did write it, though, and intended it as a hint that we were not to try find and him. I'm half inclined to give it up."

"But d.i.c.k, dear, remember," said Marjorie, "we shall be--er--you know--what the Amba.s.sador said--if we don't find him."

"Oh, ah," said d.i.c.k, "I'd forgotten that. Come on, then; let's see what can be done."

"Can I be of any a.s.sistance?" said the thin fish, coming forward with a polite bow. "Have you lost anything?"

"Oh, thanks," said d.i.c.k. "We're looking for a Dodo. Do you happen to have seen one about here?"

"A Dodo," said the fish, reflectively. "I don't think I have the pleasure of the gentleman's acquaintance. What kind of a fish is he?"

"Oh, he isn't a fish at all," explained d.i.c.k; "he is a kind of bird, you know."

"Ah! birds we don't encourage below the surface, as a rule," said the fish, smiling indulgently. "You are scarcely likely to meet with him here. Perhaps His Majesty the King of the Fishes would advise you."

"Oh, I have a letter of introduction to His Majesty," said d.i.c.k. "I'm afraid it's rather wet," he said, apologetically, drawing it from his pocket.

"It would be unacceptable to His Majesty were it not so," said the fish.

"Well, now, I _was_ going to a football match, it being a half-holiday; but under the circ.u.mstances, I will put it off, and escort you to the Palace. This way, please."

Sinking down to the sand at the bottom of the sea, the fish led the way through a beautiful forest of waving seaweed, of all the colors of the rainbow. Exquisite sh.e.l.ls were strewn about, and brightly-colored anemones clung to the rocks on every side, while all kinds of oddly-shaped fishes swam about, peering at the children curiously as they pa.s.sed.

Presently they came in sight of a kind of Palace, formed of quaintly-shaped pieces of coral, which, the fish explained, was where the King lived.

"Just stay here a moment, please," said he; and the children waited outside while he went into the Palace.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "'Bring them forward,' said the king of the fishes."]

Fidge pulled aside a piece of seaweed, and they all peeped through a hole in the coral, and saw a large fish wearing a crown, and with a curious chain about his neck, to which was attached an enormous fish-hook, seated on a throne.

Officers of State stood round about, and the little thin fish that had been so polite to them was bowing and sc.r.a.ping in quite a courtly fashion.

He was evidently telling His Majesty all about them, for, after hearing what he had to say, the King of the Fishes nodded; and the thin fish came out, and informed them that they were to be admitted into the Presence.

CHAPTER VI.

IN THE KING'S PRESENCE.

"Do you understand fish-language?" whispered the little thin fish, hurriedly, as he was conducting them into the Presence Chamber.

"I'm afraid not," replied d.i.c.k.

"Then you must remain silent, for in the King's presence nothing but the fish-language is allowed to be spoken. I will interpret for you afterwards."

Pushing aside some curtains of brightly-colored seaweed he led them into the Presence Chamber.

The King received them very graciously, and held out one fin as they approached.

"I expect we ought to kneel on one knee, and kiss it, like they do at presentations," whispered Marjorie.

But d.i.c.k wasn't going to do anything of that sort, and just touched it lightly with one hand, while the others followed suit. The thin fish then motioned them to sit down on a kind of divan, upon which large sponges took the place of cushions, and which the children found to be most comfortable; and the audience began.

The most extraordinary part about it was that not the slightest sound could be heard. The little thin fish opened and shut his mouth in little, short, jerky gasps, to which the King replied by slowly opening and shutting his, rolling his eyes about meanwhile, just as you may have seen fishes do in an aquarium.

Then the little fish solemnly handed His Majesty the Sage's letter, which the King put on his gold-rimmed gla.s.ses to read.

Having done so, he turned to the children and smiled, at least that's what they afterwards found out he was doing; but, really and truly, he made such a curious grimace that poor little Fidge was frightened, and wanted to run away.

His Majesty then opened and shut his mouth very slowly three or four times, to which all the other fishes replied by swimming backwards three strokes, and then forward three strokes. Then the audience was at an end.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Some fishes were playing football."]

The little thin fish came and whispered to the children, "It is usual for mortals, when leaving the presence of the King, to turn three somersaults backwards. Do you think you can do that?"

"I'm afraid not," replied d.i.c.k, anxiously. "At least, I might be able to manage, but I don't know about Marjorie and Fidge."

"Oh, never mind, then; I'll ask His Majesty to be good enough to excuse you," said the fish, and, making a low bow to the King, he explained the situation in a few short gasps.

His Majesty thereupon left the audience chamber, having first graciously inclined his head towards the children.

As he swam away, two little fishes attached themselves to the tip of His Majesty's tail, while another held the crown down on his royal head, to prevent it from slipping off, the rest of the audience swimming behind at a respectful distance, forming a sort of procession.

"Well," began the thin fish, after the others had all gone, "I congratulate you. His Majesty had been good enough to place the Royal Dolphins at your disposal, and if the Dodo you are searching for is anywhere on, or in, the sea you ought to have no difficulty in finding him, for the Dolphins swim very quickly indeed, and can take you anywhere you like in a jiffy. Please follow me to the royal stables, and we will harness them."

The children pa.s.sed out after their kind little friend, and followed him into the gardens of the Palace, which they had to cross in order to reach the stables.