The Triton was made of barley-sugar and almond paste. [Illustration: THE WHITE DOLPHIN WITH PINK EYES] The other personages who had arrived with the fleet were the White Dolphin with pink eyes, and a young but very despondent Syren, a black Sea-Dog, and a large Sea-Horse, which seemed almost mad; also an extremely curious fish, which brought its own food in a glass jar. All these creatures had asked nothing better than to leave the sea, which had become unbearable for them during the past few years because of the submarines. All of them were very happy at the chance of obtaining employment in a country as solid and sweet as that of the Wigs. Their business here would be to look after the fleet. Already they knew all the ships quite well by sight, and that was all that was needed. * * * * * The Chief Contractor placed over his face the "Master-Mask," and held out his hand, which held one of the long bamboo spoons. He announced in a solemn voice: "We, the Chief Contractor and the Wigs, declare the fleet of our country to consist of forty ships, here drawn up in line, and the Triton is declared by us to be Admiral, Painter, Rope-maker, and Sugar-repairer. So be it." "So be it, and long live the marzipan fleet," cried all the citizens, who had never seen the sea. "Is there really no water anywhere?" asked Smaly a little indiscreetly. The Chief Contractor leant towards Smaly, who was still sitting in his cauldron, and whispered low in his ear: "Tell the truth, do you really think that that fleet needs any water?" [Illustration: AN EXTREMELY CURIOUS FISH] "I am certain of it," replied Smaly imperturbably, leaning over the edge of the cauldron towards the Chief Contractor, whereupon the Stork gently pushed him back again. The Chief Contractor was in a great state of consternation and stood gazing from one to the other of the important officials of the Wig Republic as though for assistance, while even the crowd began uneasily to feel the effect of his dismay. Suddenly the Chief Contractor noticed that the eye slung round the neck of the Crow was winking at him to approach. He accordingly went towards the Mother of the Crow, who spoke into his ear. Beneath his mask the Chief Contractor's mouth began to smile. Quickly putting on the mask of "Good-Humour," he announced: "A band of our Rats will each morning copiously water our fleet, for, believe me, no fleet is quite complete without water." Here the Crow took two steps towards the Chief Contractor, and putting on his ebony spectacles, whispered a few words to him. The Chief Contractor thereupon added in a loud voice: "They will not use the water of Soy." Suddenly he perceived it was necessary to change the mask of "Good-Humour" for that of "Anger," for several audacious Wigs were busy writing their names upon the hulls of the white ships; but he had no time to give vent to his just indignation, for upon all sides the well-known cry arose: