d_, but after all, it didn't matter.

Then Sandow, bearing the flag, stepped gravely forward, and the boys all
helped to plant it firmly in the middle of Sand Court, while the Queen
and her lady-in-waiting nodded approval.

"Ha, Courtiers! I prithee sit!" the Queen commanded, when the flag was
gaily waving in the breeze.

Her four courtiers promptly sat on the ground at her feet, and the Queen
addressed them thus:

"Gentlemen-in-waiting of Sandringham Palace, there are much affairs of
state now before us. First must we form our club, our Sand Club."

"Most noble Queen," and Tom rose to his feet, "have I your permission to
speak?"

"Speak!" said the Queen, graciously, waving her sceptre at him.

"Then I rise to inquire if this is a secret organization."

"You bet it is!" cried King, jumping up. "The very secretest ever! If
any one lets out the secrets of these secret meetings, he shall be
excommunicated in both feet!"

"A just penalty!" said Tom, gravely.

"Is all well, O fair Queen? Do you agree?"

"Yes, I agree," said the Queen, smiling. "But I want to know what these
secrets are to be about."

"That's future business," declared King. "Just now we have to elect
officers, and all that."

"All right," said Marjorie, "but you must be more courtly about it. Say
it more,--you know how I mean."

"As thus," spoke up the lady-in-waiting, dropping on one knee before the
Queen.

"What is the gracious will of your Royal Highness in the matter of
secretary and treasurer, O Queen!"

"Yes, that's better. Well, my court, to tell you the truth, I don't
think that we need a secretary and such things, because it isn't a
regular club. Let us content ourselves with our present noble offices.
Grand Sandjandrum, what are the duties of thy high office?"

"No duties, but all pleasures, when serving thee, O noble and gracious
Queen!"

"That's fine," said Midget, clapping her hands. "Hither, Sir Sand Piper!
What are thy duties at, court?"

"Your Majesty," said King, bowing low, "it is my humble part to play the
pipes, or to lay the pipes, as the case may be. I do not smoke pipes,
but, if it be thy gracious wish, I can blow fair soap bubbles from
them."

"Sand Piper, I see you know your business," said the Queen. "Ha! Sand
Crab, what dost thou do each day?"

"Just scramble around in the sand," replied Harry, and suiting the
action to the word, he gave such a funny scrambling performance that
they all applauded.

"R