Then she saw Raphael. ‘Why, Mr. Raphael! How nice to see you up here! Junior’s such a bad boy,’ she apologized proudly. ‘He’s getting his strainers. Don’t you think he looks like the President? Stop it, Junior! Do you want me to slap you? There, shake a fluke with Mr. Raphael. Mr. Raphael comes from the Land, where they say we once lived. What is the world coming to!’ Junior said nothing, but bumped his mother again as if by accident. ‘Now, Junior, do stop!’ she exclaimed almost tearfully. ‘Where are your manners? Children are so difficult! I always try to reason with my little ones, but sometimes it seems as though Junior just won’t listen. My husband always laughs at me, but he spoils Junior just as badly as I do. What do you think, Mr. Raphael?’ Raphael did not have time to say what he thought, for just then a small voice fluted, ‘Mr. President, the Navy has formed in review.’ It was the sea horse. ‘I have enjoyed my blow,’ said the President more calmly. ‘And now I must leave you two to chat.’ ‘Your Excellency,’ begged Raphael, ‘I want to know what happens. May I go down with you?’ ‘Why, certainly, Mr. Raphael. I should be delighted. Good-bye, dear,’ called the President to his wife; ‘don’t go too far away.’ Then he turned to Raphael. ‘If you will catch hold of my fluke, we’ll be down in a moment.’ Raphael did as he was told. The whale rounded his back, lifted his tail out of water, and sounded with a splash. Down they shot into the twilight world of the ocean. Raphael did not dare to breathe, and for a long time did not even open his eyes. At last they came to rest by the gateway of the amphitheater fifty yards or so off bottom. Immediately a host of small fish swam up beside them, pushing and struggling for the best view of the parade. Gray police sharks drifted slowly up and down the line. At a signal from the President, a huge sawfish approached and saluted with a sweep of his tail. He had small up-staring eyes and moved his saw sideways like a scythe. ‘All present, Mr. President,’ he intoned. The right whale returned the salute and ordered, ‘Carry on.’ The sawfish saluted again and withdrew. The light was growing dimmer. Shadows clung to the rock floor, and Raphael had difficulty in seeing the black cliffs across the arena. The review began in silence. Two Admirals, a swordfish and a sawfish, followed by four Rear Admirals, passed slowly before the President. Behind them swam, rank on rank, the Navy of the Atlantic led by a brilliant band of drum and trumpet fish. Eight deep they drifted past the reviewing stand in massed companies of a hundred--swordfish, sawfish, spearfish, porpoises, leopard sharks, devilfish, sting rays, and even a company of octopi which sculled along in the rear. Behind them followed a second division composed of smaller fish led by a sergeant major and queen trigger fish with a host of flying-fish for scouts.