This position greatly pleased Hester, and she took her place at the side of the enthroned Queen, while Tom stood at her other side.  King played a grand tune, and they all sang.

The song was in honor of the flag-raising, and was hastily composed by Marjorie for the occasion: 

    “Our Flag, our Flag, our Sand Club Flag! 
    Long may she wave, long may she wag! 
    And may our Sand Club ever stand
    A glory to our Native Land.”

Tom persisted in singing “a glory to our native sand,” and King said strand, 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?”