The Twentieth Century 207 



Captain: "The way is ofiE my ship." 



(Lower water curtain, bring up spothghts on Herald and attend- 

 ants) 



Herald: "Whence come you, and whither boimd?" 



Captain: "We come from . . . and we are bound for . . . We crave 

 permission to clear the Line and proceed southward." 



( It is sometimes the custom for the Captain to descend to the fore- 

 castle at this point. ) 



Herald: "My Royal Master, being advised of your approach, bids 

 me welcome you and those who sail with you. That aU things 

 may be done properly and in due order, he makes known his 

 wishes by Proclamation, duly signed, and to which attend ye aU." 



(UnroUs Proclamation. Fanfare of trumpets. Bears growl and as- 

 sume beUigerent attitudes. ) 



"Whereas it has pleased us to convene a Court to be held 

 onboard Her Britannic Majesty's Ship ... on the upper deck 

 thereof at . . . on . . . the said Ship being then on tlie Equator in 

 Longitude . . . 



"By these presents we summon all those who have not heretofore 

 entered our Domains to tender the usual homage, and to be ini- 

 tiated into the mystic rites according to the ancient usages of 

 our Kingdom. Whereof nor you nor any of you may fail, as you' 

 wiü. answer at your peril, and to the delight of our trusty Body- 

 guard." 

 (Short fanfare on triunpets — Bears relax ) 



Captain: "It shall be done. And now, ere you depart, will you take 

 some refreshment?" 



(Captain's Steward serves beer to aU. Some apprehension dis- 

 played by Bears, who are served last, as to their inclusion in the 

 invitation. They should drink from bottles, the Herald and the 

 Trumpeters from glasses. ) 



Herald: "I now return whence I came. Pray cause these documents, 

 to be served upon those of your Company who come newly to the 

 domains of my Royal Master. Farewell until the morning." 



Captain: "Farewell vintil the morning." 



( Herald hands heavily sealed package to Captain — Fanfare on 

 trumpets, during which cut spothghts and bring up water curtain 

 slowly. As curtain reaches fuU height and ship gathers way, re- 

 peat throaty laughter. ) 



Notes 



(i) It is held by some authorities that Neptune and his full Court should attend the prelim- 

 inaries set out above, but this procedure is considered to be not only illogical but profoundly 

 bad theatre. 



