“Only a scratch,” said Reuben; “harpoon just missed me.” “Oh, Reuben, you are a hero,” said Cathay. “Get along, you silly,” he answered gracefully. CHAPTER NINE _The Book People_ EVEN IN THE MIDST OF WAR there are intervals for refreshments. Our own soldiers, no matter how fierce, must eat to live, and the same is the case with the submarine regiments. The Crustacean Brigade took advantage of the lull in hostilities which followed the defeat of the Sea Horses to march back to the Palace and have a meal. A very plain meal it was, too, and very different from the “Banquet of Ovations,” as Cathay pointed out afterward. There were no prettily spread tables decorated with bunches of seaweed, no plates or knives or forks. The food was passed around by hand, and there was one drinking horn (a sea cow’s horn) to every six soldiers. They all sat on the ground as you do at a picnic, and the Queen came and spoke a few hurried words to them when on her way to strengthen the defenses of the golden gate. And, as I said, the food was plain. However, everyone had enough to eat, which was the main thing. Baskets of provisions were sent down to the Lobsters’ guardroom. “It is important,” said Princess Freia, “that our men should be on the spot in case they are needed, and the same with the dinner. I shall go down with the provisions and keep their hearts up.” “Yes, dear, do,” said the Princess Maia; “but don’t do anything rash. No sorties now. You Lobsters are so terribly brave. But you know Mother said you weren’t to. Ah me! War is a terrible thing! What a state the rivers will get into with all this water going on, and the winds all loose and doing as they like. It’s horrible to think about. It will take ages to get things straight again.” (Her fears were only too well founded. All this happened last year—and you know what a wet summer that was.) “I know, dear,” said Freia; “but I know now who broke the sky, and it is very, very sorry—so we won’t rub it in, will we?” “I didn’t mean to,” said Maia, smiling kindly at the children, and went off to encourage her Lobsters. “And now,” said Francis, when the meal was over, “what are we going to do next?” “We can’t do anything but wait for news,” said the Princess. “Our Scouts will let us know soon enough. I only hope the Book People won’t attack us at the same time as the Under Folk. That’s always the danger.” “How could they get in?” Mavis asked. “Through the golden door,” said the Princess. “Of course they couldn’t do anything if we hadn’t read the books they’re in. That’s the worst of Education. We’ve all read such an awful lot, and that unlocks the books and they can come out if anyone calls them. Even our fish are intolerably well read—except the Porpoises, dear things, who never could read anything. That’s why the golden door is guarded by them, of course.” “If not having read things is useful,” said Mavis, “we’ve read almost nothing. Couldn’t we help guard the door?”