Chapter IX: Visit to Fish Town

Tommy had gone to the fishmonger's shop with a message from his mother. Some fine-looking Lobsters were on the marble slab at the door, with a large assortment of Oysters, Whiting and Cod, but there was no one at all in the shop.

Tommy waited several minutes, making grimaces at the fishy smell, when all at once he heard a sound remarkably like sobbing. He looked round and saw a large Cod, sitting up, crying bitterly, and trying to wipe his eyes with his fins.

"Goodness gracious! Whatever _is_ the matter?"

Tommy stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the sorrowful fish, who raised a watery eye to his face.

"I can't go to the fair," said the Cod. "Oh, dear! I've been caught at last, and now I shan't be able to go to the fair. I've never missed it before, not since I was able to swim alone."

"Hard lines," said Tommy sympathetically. "It isn't fair."

"Oh, but I assure you it is," contradicted the Codfish eagerly. "And a very special fair indeed, this time. Father Neptune has consented to visit Fish Town, and my b-brother is going to sing at the b-banquet. Oh-oh-oh! and the Mayor and Corporation--"

At this point the Cod sobbed dismally, and for a long time could not be persuaded to say any more.

"Cheer up, old chap!" said Tommy; he could not think of anything else to say. "Perhaps some nice person will eat you--er-er-I mean----"

"Yes, yes, I understand," said the Cod, shaking a salt tear on to the shelf beside him. "Of course they might--you never know. And there might--it's just possible--be an account of my decease in _The Golliwog News_, especially as my brother is to sing at the banquet--you never know."

"Oh, I say," Tommy interrupted him, "do you know about _The Golliwog News_?"

"It's the only newspaper circulating in Fish Town," replied the Cod, "and my second cousin, who was caught in a net by a----"

"I shall go to Fish Town," said Tommy decidedly. "I shall go to the fair."

"Then if you see my brother----" began the Cod, tearfully.

"Go on," said Tommy; but there was no answer. The Codfish lay apparently lifeless among his comrades, and the fishmonger stood before Tommy, asking what his pleasure might be that fine morning.

"Lobster!" said Tommy hurriedly. "Send it up. And jolly well stir your stumps." Then he rushed out of the shop, and was hurrying down the road, when just at the corner he met Gladys and Freda and John James.

"Where's _The Golliwog News_?" he cried.

John James took it out of his pocket.

"Fish Town!" gasped Tommy, quite out of breath with excitement. "I'm going--I mean we're all going to Fish Town. Let me look at the time table."

He seized the newspaper.

"Here we are! Golliwog and Teddy Bear Railway. Frogland--Kitten Town--Birdland City--_Fish Town_. H'm. There's a royal visit going on, and a fair, and all sorts of fun. We musn't miss it. Are you going, John James?"

"Yes," replied the Golliwog. "They have this fair every year, but Father Neptune has never been to Fish Town before. It is an important event and I hear the royal procession will be a sight to behold. If we take the next train, we ought to get a good view, and I _might_ be able to smuggle you in to the banquet."

Off they started, and their train arrived about half an hour late, but that was hardly to be wondered at in such circumstances, for the number of travellers bound for Fish Town was enormous!

When they reached the main streets, the police--Mackerels dressed in blue and silver uniforms--were just stopping the vehicular traffic. A fat, perspiring Turbot, in charge of a Sea Horse drawing a cart full of broken coral, was protesting noisily, and had to be led away to the Fish Town gaol.

The three children and John James took their stand near a large Octopus and some Lemon Soles. As the latter could squeeze together very closely, quite a number were accommodated in a small space. But the Octopus took up a great deal more than his share of room, because, every now and then, he persisted in stretching all his arms and legs at once, so naturally, there was a continual commotion among the Soles. Every few minutes a policeman came rushing up to see what could be the matter. On one of these occasions the said policeman nodded to John James.

"How do?" he said pleasantly; "fine doings here to-day."

"Very," rejoined the Golliwog; "whole population turned out, hasn't it?"

"Pretty near," said the gentleman in blue. "Them Oysters ain't come yet, I don't believe. Gave me half a Nep, they did, to wake them and get 'em out of bed in time to see the procession."

"Ask him where the fair is," whispered Freda.

The policeman stared at her curiously, thinking no doubt that she was a strange kind of fish with which he was not acquainted?

"It's over yonder," he said, waving his fin; "and it starts when Father Neptune has gone by, and lasts till it's time for the banquet."

"Fish Town is quite _en fête_," remarked Gladys with her most grown-up manner.

"On what?" asked the policeman. "It's on the job. That's what it is. Now come, sir"--addressing the Octopus sternly--"we can't have you stretching them arms of yours again, not till the show is over."

"Excuse me," he said to John James, "I see Miss Shrimp has just fainted. I must go and see about the ambulance."

"I hope I shan't faint," whispered a stout Lady-Lobster to a very nicely dressed Crab. "I think I must put up my parasol, I am so afraid for my complexion. My dear, whenever I am exposed to heat, I go so red, you'd never believe."

She produced a green parasol, and held it jauntily aloft, while all the fish in her vicinity were obliged to dodge and duck their heads, for fear of having their eyes poked out.

Presently there were loud cries: "He's coming!"

Young Prawns kept darting out into the line of route, shouting, and pretending to see the procession.

Every time they shouted, the crowd adjusted hats and bonnets, and hoisted small fry on to their shoulders, but only to let them slide down again the next minute. At last, however, just as everyone's patience was nearly exhausted, there was the sound of music in the distance. It came nearer--nearer, and then a detachment of Mounted Plaice appeared in sight.

Oh, how excited the crowd became! They leapt and danced, and some of them dived into the drinking fountains, and out again. They shouted and sang, and when the Mounted Plaice--looking very solemn and fully aware of their important position--actually passed by, the fish on either side waved fins and tails, and gave them such an ovation that royalty itself could ask no more.

Close upon the heels of the Mounted Plaice marched the band of the First Battalion, Lobster Fusiliers, splendidly drilled, wearing busbies and playing "King Neptune Rules the Waves."

"Rule! King Neptune!" shouted the Octopus, and a strange medley of voices took up the refrain:

_King Neptune rules the waves;
Good fish never--never--never
shall be slaves._

Tommy threw his cap in the air and sang at the top of his voice, as madly as any fish in that excited crowd, but under his breath he whispered:

"Father Neptune is a silly old Goat. Everybody knows it's Britannia who rules the waves, and Britons who never will be slaves."

By this time the members of the band had passed our three friends, but immediately after them followed a detachment of the same regiment headed by "Fighting Lobbs," the fierce and military looking major.

The Lady Lobster with the parasol became greatly excited as these splendid looking soldiers marched past, and then she suddenly startled everyone by screaming shrilly:

"Shelliback--Shelliback! Can't you see _me_.

"It's my son," she explained to anyone who would listen.

"Shelliback! Shelliback!"

Here she made a desperate lunge with the parasol and knocked off the busby of a pompous little corporal who marched by the side of the last squad. By the time he had rescued it, and brushed off the dust with his fin, Shelliback had passed on, and the little corporal was obliged to take to his heels and run to catch up with his brilliant regiment.

There was loud laughter from the crowd, but this was speedily suppressed as a squadron of Sword Fish, with drawn swords went by.

Then, very slowly and impressively, came Father Neptune's chariot drawn by sixteen magnificent Sturgeons, with bells of pearl upon their harness, and Sea Anemones behind their ears.

On either side of Father Neptune sat three beautiful Mermaids, dressed in robes of sea-green and silver, and each of them carried a brush and comb in a neat little bag in case her hair needed attention on the way.

Father Neptune appeared to be a very benevolent old fellow. He smiled and bowed right and left in acknowledgment of the cheers of the populace. In fact he responded so heartily that several times his crown slipped over one ear, and had to be adjusted by the Mermaids.

The royal chariot was followed by the Walrus Dragoons (King Neptune's Own) who looked amazingly fierce, as became their sovereign's favourite regiment.

The Mayor of Fish Town, Mr. Solomon Seal, accompanied by the Mayoress, occupied the carriage which came first after the Dragoons.

"There's that _dear_ Mr. Seal!" cried the Lady Lobster very loudly. "He will surely be knighted, if only because of Solomon Seal's Sanatorium, which he so recently endowed--and all with his own money."

"Did you know," she continued, turning to the Crab, "that my precious Shelliback spent six months there and came out quite a new being?"

"Be quiet," replied the Crab testily. "You keep stepping on my sore claw, and your parasol is a perfect nuisance."

The Aldermen and Town Councillors came next, with many other members of various offices, such as the Fish Town Bank, Post Office, and the Manager of the Water Company, a very important personage indeed.

The Fish Town Fire Brigade now came in sight, their well polished helmets gleaming splendidly as they passed, followed by the Fish Societies, the first of which, the three children were much amused to find, from the banner which they bore aloft, was the Independent Order of Codfellows.

Now the Drum and Fife Band of the First Crab Guards marched past, followed by a second detachment of Mounted Plaice, who brought up the rear of this amazing procession.

Immediately upon their heels came a nondescript crew of students from the Fish Town University. They had joined hands across the street and were singing and shouting "Long live old Father Nep!"

This, as may well be imagined, created a tremendous uproar, and all the forces of law and order were taxed to their utmost.

When they had all passed, the Octopus gave a tremendous stretch, which sent about a dozen Lemon Soles, the Lady Lobster with her parasol, and the nicely dressed Crab, flying in all directions.

John James and the three children narrowly escaped being pushed through a shop window, and when they had recovered their footing, they found themselves being carried along by a steady stream of fish which was drifting towards the Fish Town Mansion House.

CHAPTER X.

Tells about the Fish Town fair,
And the knighting of the Mayor.
Tells about the banqueting,
Where the Fish recite and sing.