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 slipped from beneath his feet. His fork tore a deep furrow in the floor. The monarch escaped injury.

Nevertheless, King Cheng Chang was highly indignant. Surely that was his kingly right. He said to the Queen, "I shall have your brother be " The Queen intertupted, "If you do, I shall beat you." She rather had him there. The King crawled under his throne. The subject was closed, and the headsman's sword was unstained.

Supper had barely begun when the Queen's youngest brother, a huge brawny yokel, remarked that he had already purchased his uniform and would take over the army tomorrow. The King was taken back. "You command the army? Huh. I shall make you Minister to Yin Yung." (A place twenty thousand li distant at the ships sail.) "Indeed?" roared the Queen's brawny youngest brother. Clutching his soup spoon he leaned across the table and struck at King Cheng Chang, "Swish," with all his might.

Thanks to him who made the table, he made it of generous width. The Queen's