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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:05:43 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:05:43 -0700 |
| commit | 39acdaee4b135b46b30828c70aa1e808bc5cf0a8 (patch) | |
| tree | 55f5c31137e300d2bca5ddf35ea5ba80eb998eaf /23541-h | |
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diff --git a/23541-h/23541-h.htm b/23541-h/23541-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8526369 --- /dev/null +++ b/23541-h/23541-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6832 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dick, Marjorie and Fidge, by G. E. Farrow</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + h1 {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em; clear: both;} + h2 {text-align: center; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 2em; clear: both;} + h3 {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; font-weight: normal; clear: both;} + h3.pg {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; font-weight: bold; clear: both;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + table p {text-align: center; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;} + h2.toc {margin-top: 1em;} + td.tdright {vertical-align: top; text-align: right;} + td.tdleft {vertical-align: top; text-align: left;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align:center;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; + position: absolute; right: 2%; border:1px solid white; + padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; + color: #444; background-color: #EEE;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + hr.dashed {width: 100%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px dashed;} + a.pagenum:after {border: 1px solid silver; padding: 1px 3px; content: attr(title);} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dick, Marjorie and Fidge, by G. E. Farrow, +Illustrated by Allan Wright</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Dick, Marjorie and Fidge</p> +<p> A Search for the Wonderful Dodo</p> +<p>Author: G. E. Farrow</p> +<p>Release Date: November 18, 2007 [eBook #23541]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:356px"> +<a name="illus-000" id="illus-000"></a> +<img src="images/img-00001.jpg" alt="The skipper found the poor bird looking the picture of misery. "Hope you're feeling better, sir," he said,—Page 132. Dick, Marjorie and Fidge" title="" width="356" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The skipper found the poor bird looking the picture of misery.<br />“Hope you're feeling better, sir,”; he said.—Page 132. <i>Dick, Marjorie and Fidge</i></span> +</div> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<table style="margin: auto; border: black 1px solid; width:25em" summary=""><tr><td> +<p style=" font-size:2.2em; margin-top:1em;">Dick, Marjorie</p> +<p style=" font-size:2.2em; margin-bottom:1em;">and Fidge</p> +<p style=" font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:2em;">A Search for the Wonderful Dodo</p> +<p style=" font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:2em;">By G. E. FARROW</p> +<p style=" font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:2em;">Author of Adventures in Wallypug Land</p> +<p style=" font-size:0.9em;">WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS</p> +<p style=" font-size:0.9em; margin-bottom:2em;">BY ALLAN WRIGHT</p> +<p style=" font-size:1.0em;">A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER,</p> +<p style=" font-size:1.0em; margin-bottom:2em;">52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p style="font-size:x-small; margin: auto; margin-top:1em; text-align: center;"> +<a href="images/img-00002.png">LINK TO TITLE PAGE IMAGE</a> +</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">To my Dear Little Friends</span>.</p> + +<p>Here is another book! I hope it will be as fortunate in pleasing you, as +the others seem to have been, if I may judge from the many kind and +gratifying letters which have reached me from boys and girls, of all +ages and sizes, and from all parts of the world.</p> + +<p>And in connection with these letters, which I always try (though the +pleasurable task grows heavier year by year) to answer myself, I have +had the misfortune to lose a large packet of unanswered ones; so if any +of my little correspondents have written to me during the past year, and +have not received a reply, will he or she write to me again, and give me +an opportunity of repairing the omission?</p> + +<p>I am getting quite proud of my gallery of photographs, which my little +friends have sent me, and which, I think, please me almost more than +anything else, if I may except a beautiful Persian kitten which has +come as a present from a little girl at Hereford, and which is a prime +favorite with every one here, including Dick, my little terrier, +who—although he ought to know better at his age, being over +eight—“galumphs” about in an absurdly clumsy manner, under the mistaken +impression that he is playing with it. He only succeeds, however, in +making himself ridiculous in the eyes of the kitten, who, despite his +years, treats him with little or no respect, and does not hesitate to +box his ears, and bite his tail whenever it feels so disposed.</p> + +<p>But I see my space is nearly exhausted, so must conclude, with very best +wishes, and hoping to hear again from all of my old friends, and as many +new ones as care to write.</p> + +<p style="text-align:right; margin: 1em 16em 0 0">Believe me,</p> +<p style="text-align:right; margin: 0 8em 0 0">Your affectionate friend,</p> +<p style="text-align:right; margin: 0 2em 2em 0">THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<h2 class="toc"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto"> +<col style="width:15%;" /> +<col style="width:5%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">I.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Beginning of a Marvelous Journey.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_MARVELOUS_JOURNEY_163">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">II.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Ambassador Extraordinary.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_AMBASSADOR_EXTRAORDINARY_377">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">III.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Sage in the Onion Field.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_SAGE_IN_THE_ONION_FIELD_640">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">IV.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">Stories and Tails By the Sage.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#STORIES_AND_TAILS_BY_THE_SAGE_883">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">V.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The King of the Fishes.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_KING_OF_THE_FISHES_1153">47</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">VI.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">In the King’s Presence.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#IN_THE_KINGS_PRESENCE_1399">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">VII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Human Race.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_HUMAN_RACE_1568">68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">VIII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Dodo At Last.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_DODO_AT_LAST_1803">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">IX.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">At the North Pole.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#AT_THE_NORTH_POLE_2042">92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">X.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">Some New Acquaintances.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES_2263">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XI.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Skipper of the Argonaut.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_SKIPPER_OF_THE_ARGONAUT_2479">113</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Archæopteryx.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_ARCHAEligOPTERYX_2717">125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XIII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Little Panjandrum’s Balloon.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUMS_BALLOON_2947">135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XIV.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Duff and Dem Executioner.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_DUFF_AND_DEM_EXECUTIONER_3159">145</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XV.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Execution of the Dodo.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_EXECUTION_OF_THE_DODO_3381">155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XVI.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Prehistoric Doctor.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_PREHISTORIC_DOCTOR_3589">165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XVII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">Waiting For the Train.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#WAITING_FOR_THE_TRAIN_3779">175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XVIII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">A Night in the Train.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#A_NIGHT_IN_THE_TRAIN_3984">185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XIX.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">At the Crystal Palace.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#AT_THE_CRYSTAL_PALACE_4204">195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XX.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">A Difficulty with the Roundabout.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#A_DIFFICULTY_WITH_THE_ROUNDABOUT_4402">206</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXI.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Little Panjandrum At Last.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUM_AT_LAST_4622">217</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">Turned to Stone.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#TURNED_TO_STONE_4843">228</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXIII.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Dodo’s Little Ruse.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_DODOS_LITTLE_RUSE_4987">236</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXIV.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">First Class to London.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#FIRST_CLASS_TO_LONDON_5160">245</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXV.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Dodo Obliges with a Song.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_DODO_OBLIGES_WITH_A_SONG_5346">255</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tdright">XXVI.</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdleft">The Dodo Departs.</td> + <td class="tdright"><a href="#THE_DODO_DEPARTS_5531">263</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:371px; margin-top:50px;"> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src="images/img-00008.jpg" alt="" title="" width="371" /><br /> +</div> + +<h1>DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE.</h1> + +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_1" id="pg_1">1</a></span> +<a name="THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_MARVELOUS_JOURNEY_163" id="THE_BEGINNING_OF_A_MARVELOUS_JOURNEY_163"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3>THE BEGINNING OF A MARVELOUS JOURNEY.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Dick! Dick! Wake up, I want to tell you something.” Marjorie stood +outside the boy’s bedroom door, and called in as loud a whisper as she +dared, fearing lest she should awaken the rest of the household. There +was a scuffle and a patter of bare feet inside, and Dick appeared at the +door rubbing his eyes, evidently only half awake.</p> + +<p>“What’s up?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“Hush! don’t make a noise. There’s such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_2" id="pg_2">2</a></span> funny sound down-stairs—I +believe it’s burglars. Listen!”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! this time in the morning. What nonsense.”</p> + +<p>“Well it’s been going on for ever so long, anyhow, and hark, there’s +something keeps banging about like anything in the breakfast-room.”</p> + +<p>Dick ran to the top of the stairs and listened. Sure enough, there was a +most mysterious noise going on below,—a dull banging at regular +intervals, and a curious lapping sound, as though there was water in the +lower part of the house.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go and see what’s up!” said Dick promptly.</p> + +<p>“Me too,” said a shrill treble voice, and a little curly-headed +apparition came running out of the bedroom, flourishing a wooden spade.</p> + +<p>“No! you cut along into bed again, Fidge,” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“Want to go and see the bur-ge-lers!” declared Fidge, pushing past them, +and racing down the stairs.</p> + +<p>“Come back, you scamp,” cried Dick, running<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_3" id="pg_3">3</a></span> after him; but with a saucy +and defiant laugh Fidge sped down to the first landing.</p> + +<p>“Ooh!” he cried, looking over the banisters, “It’s all drownded; look, +Dick! quick!”</p> + +<p>Dick and Marjorie hurried down and leaned over the banisters too.</p> + +<p>“Hullo! what a lark!” exclaimed Dick. “There’s been a high tide, and the +house is flooded. Come on, this is ripping!” and the boy dashed +down-stairs, followed by the others.</p> + +<p>The breakfast-room door stood open, and, wading ankle deep in water, the +children soon reached it. An extraordinary sight met their eyes.</p> + +<p>The French windows were open, and the curtains were blowing about in the +breeze, while the sea had risen so high that the white-capped waves were +flowing quite into the room, in which the utmost confusion prevailed. +Chairs and various light articles were strewn about in all directions, +and the table, by some mysterious process, had been turned completely +over, and was floating about with its legs sticking up in the air. It +was evidently the noise which<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_4" id="pg_4">4</a></span> that had made, dashing against the door, +which had awakened Marjorie.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:331px"> +<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a> +<img src="images/img-00011.jpg" alt=""The waves were flowing into the room."" title="" width="331" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The waves were flowing into the room."</span> +</div> + +<p>The children stood silently regarding it for a moment, and then Fidge, +with a delighted exclamation cried, “I want a ride in the boat,” and +began to scramble into the overturned table.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_5" id="pg_5">5</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh! yes, jolly!” cried Dick, following his example; and in a moment all +three children were comfortably ensconced in the novel craft.</p> + +<p>Dick found a stick floating about, which he used as a punting pole, and +soon had the table through the window and out into the garden.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be captain,” he cried, “and you and Fidge shall be passengers, +Sis.” The drawer of the table turned upside down made a capital upper +deck, and Marjorie settled herself very comfortably upon it, after Dick +had rigged up what he was pleased to call an awning with a little +table-cloth, and a piece of string which he had in the pocket of his +pyjamas.</p> + +<p>Fidge, however, had no idea of remaining inactive, and insisted upon +taking a part in the management of the craft, and so Dick made him the +“Bosun,” and set him to work rowing with his little wooden spade.</p> + +<p>Out in the garden the water became deeper, and Captain Dick’s pole would +not reach the bottom; still, owing to some mysterious influence, their +curious boat drifted merrily on, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_6" id="pg_6">6</a></span> the children did not puzzle +themselves in the least as to the cause of their progress. It was quite +enough for them to notice how strange and unnatural the gardens and all +the familiar surroundings appeared in their present inundated state. The +rosebushes and hedges looked so funny, growing out of the water, and +there were such a lot of curious things floating about—a hen-coop, a +wash-tub, and an old hamper had hurried past; and their boat had drifted +as far as the gate leading out into the roadway, when Marjorie jumped up +and pointed excitedly to something floating rapidly towards them.</p> + +<p>“Look! Dick, look! there’s an old turkey on a chair coming along.”</p> + +<p>As the object drew nearer, however, they could see that it was not a +turkey, or, indeed, any bird with which they were familiar, but a most +curious-looking creature. It had an oddly-shaped beak, webbed feet, and +a funny great tuft of feathers for a tail.</p> + +<p>“Why, the thing has gloves on!” cried Captain Dick.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_7" id="pg_7">7</a></span></p> + +<p>“And a blue bow around its neck,” chimed in Fidge, his eyes dancing with +excitement.</p> + +<p>“Ship ahoy!” shouted the bird, as it came close up to the table.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious! Why it can talk,” said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Talk! Of course I can,” answered the bird. “Why not, pray?”</p> + +<p>“Well, birds don’t generally talk, except parrots,” added Marjorie, as +an afterthought.</p> + +<p>“Parrots!” exclaimed the bird, stamping furiously on the seat of the +chair; “I hate ’em—nasty, showy, pretentious, ill-bred creatures; +regular shrieking hypocrites, that’s what I call ’em.”</p> + +<p>“What sort of a bird are you, then?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“I’m a Dodo,” said the creature, with a consequential air.</p> + +<p>“Oh! then you are extinct,” said Dick. “I read it in a natural history +book.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am,” admitted the Dodo. “It’s lovely being extinct,” he added, +complacently. “Have you ever tried it?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_8" id="pg_8">8</a></span></p> + +<p>“Good gracious, no,” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“What does it mean, Dick, dear?” whispered Marjorie, who didn’t like to +appear ignorant.</p> + +<p>“Gone out, I think,” explained Dick. “Anyhow, they say a volcano is +extinct when it has gone out.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s quite right,” explained the Dodo, with a wink. “Haven’t you +ever heard the vulgar expression, ‘Does your mother know you’re out?’ +Well, where I come from, we just say, ‘Is your maternal relative aware +of your extinction?’ instead. It’s the same thing, you know, and sounds +ever so much better. Then, again, it’s most convenient, if any one calls +whom you don’t wish to see, just to tell the servants to say that you +are extinct, and there is an end of the matter. But I mustn’t stop all +day, I must be off to sea.”</p> + +<p>“Are you going to sea on that chair?” cried Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Well, it’s as good as a table anyhow, as far as I can see,” laughed the +Dodo. “Yes, I’ve an appointment with an Ichthyosaurus at the Equator at +noon, so I must be off. Good-by. Oh! while<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_9" id="pg_9">9</a></span> I think of it, though, if +you <i>do</i> come across him, you might give him my love, and tell him that +I’m extinct, will you please? Ha—ha—he will be amused!”</p> + +<p>“Who do you mean?” called out Dick, as the Dodo floated away on his +chair.</p> + +<p>“The little Panjandrum,” was the reply; “you are pretty sure to meet him +sooner or later.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’re going to see the Pan—jan—de—lum,” announced Fidge, +capering about in glee. “Hooray!”</p> + +<p>In the meantime the table had drifted on till the house was quite out of +sight, and had reached the base of the cliffs, where the smugglers’ cave +was. The children had been there ever so many times before, and knew of +a little gap in the rocks where, if only their boat would drift near +enough, they could land, and clamber up to the roadway again. The boat, +however, passed the gap, and drifted straight underneath the cave, from +whence came a confused babel of sounds.</p> + +<p>The children looked up, and a moment afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_10" id="pg_10">10</a></span> a crowd of the funniest +little people imaginable came to the edge and peered over.</p> + +<p>“What rum little beggars!” cried Dick. “Just look at their eyes!”</p> + +<p>“I do believe they are Brownies, or else Gnomes!” declared Marjorie, who +had read a great many fairy stories.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense!” said Dick, with a superior air; “there are no such things +now-a-days.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:224px"> +<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a> +<img src="images/img-00017.jpg" alt=""A rope ladder was let down."" title="" width="224" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"A rope ladder was let down."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Who says so?” shrieked the little people<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_11" id="pg_11">11</a></span> from the cave. “Come up here, +and we’ll soon show you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, do!” cried Marjorie, clapping her hands; “I should love to see +them.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how we are going to get up there,” said Dick, dubiously; +“we haven’t got a ladder.”</p> + +<p>“We have one,” shouted the little people. “Shall we let it down?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, please,” clamored Marjorie, and immediately afterwards a rope +ladder was let down, and one or two of the little men hung over the +ledge to steady it.</p> + +<p>“Come along,” cried Marjorie, leading the way, while Fidge followed +next, repeating over and over, with a delighted chuckle, “We are going +to see the Pan—jan—de—lum! We are going to see the +Pan—jan—de—lum!”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_12" id="pg_12">12</a></span> +<a name="THE_AMBASSADOR_EXTRAORDINARY_377" id="THE_AMBASSADOR_EXTRAORDINARY_377"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY.</h3> +</div> + +<p>At the top of the ladder the children found themselves in the midst of a +crowd of curious little pigmies, dressed in all sorts of quaint and +fantastic costumes.</p> + +<p>They were the oddest little creatures that you can possibly imagine, +with eyes and ears that seemed to be too big for their heads, and tiny +little spindle legs that looked quite incapable of supporting their big +bodies.</p> + +<p>They spoke in a shrill, clear, bell-like voice, which, although they +were such tiny creatures, could be heard distinctly.</p> + +<p>“So you don’t believe in fairies, eh!” they cried, clustering about the +children.</p> + +<p>“I do,” declared Marjorie, stoutly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and me do, too,” said Fidge, looking about him delightedly.</p> + +<p>“But,” objected Dick, “I’ve always been told that fairies, and elves, +and gnomes, and things<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_13" id="pg_13">13</a></span> of that sort were merely myths, and existed only +in the imagination of story-tellers.”</p> + +<p>“He—he—he,” giggled the little people. “The same old story. They told +you that to hide their ignorance, my child.”</p> + +<p>“I’m thirteen years old,” declared Dick, haughtily, for he did not at +all approve of being called a child.</p> + +<p>“Oh, are you indeed!” was the reply, amid shouts of laughter. “I suppose +you think yourself quite a man, and are consequently too old to believe +in the fairies, who are more than thirteen thousand years old.”</p> + +<p>“You know you used to believe in them, Dick,” interposed Marjorie. +“Don’t you remember how we used to enjoy that lovely fairy book Aunt May +gave us, and dear old ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and——”</p> + +<p>“That was years ago,” interrupted Dick, turning very red. “I’ve had it +all explained to me since that, and I don’t read those kind of books +now.”</p> + +<p>“Do you read Shakespeare?” demanded one of the little folks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_14" id="pg_14">14</a></span></p> + +<p>“Some of it,” replied Dick, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Have you ever read ιMidsummer Night’s Dream?᾿”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! Jolly! Titania, and Oberon, and Puck, and all that lot, you +know; and the jolly little chaps that——”</p> + +<p>“Hullo! I thought you didn’t believe in fairies,” interrupted some one.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, that’s different, you know; that’s Shakespeare, and—and——”</p> + +<p>“And what? I suppose you’ll admit that he believed in them?”</p> + +<p>“Well, I suppose so,” said Dick, grudgingly; “but I——”</p> + +<p>“But you imagine yourself to be cleverer than Shakespeare.”</p> + +<p>“Ha—ha—ha!” laughed a chorus of little people, derisively.</p> + +<p>“Look here! I’ll tell you what it is,” said the first speaker, “you have +evidently been taught by some of those wise old know-nothings, who have +succeeded in making you as clever as themselves, and it is our intention +to show you how ignorant you all are. I think you will believe<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_15" id="pg_15">15</a></span> in +fairies before we have done with you. Now, we are gnomes, and have just +completed a subterranean passage between here and the land of the little +Panjandrum.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:264px"> +<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a> +<img src="images/img-00022.jpg" alt=""Four extraordinary figures came in sight."" title="" width="264" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Four extraordinary figures came in sight."</span> +</div> + +<p>The word <i>little</i> was spoken so softly as to be quite indistinct. “The +what!” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“Sh! the <i>little</i> Panjandrum,” said the gnome, speaking the word almost +inaudibly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_16" id="pg_16">16</a></span></p> + +<p>“What do you say it like that for?” asked the children.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, his Magnificence and Serene Importance is somewhat +sensitive on the subject; there is the <span class="smcap">Grand</span> Panjandrum, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I see,” said Dick, “and the other chap doesn’t like to take a back +seat, that’s it, is it? Well, who is the Little Panjandrum, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>“Sh! sh!” cried the gnomes, looking about them nervously. “You really +mustn’t say <i>little</i> as loudly as that. Supposing any one heard you?”</p> + +<p>“Well, what if they did?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“O! His Serene Importance would be terribly angry, and perhaps +would——”</p> + +<p>What the conclusion of the sentence was to have been the children never +knew, for at that moment there was a loud clattering noise in the +passage leading from the cave, and a moment afterwards four +extraordinary figures came in sight.</p> + +<p>They were mounted upon ostriches, and one of them, more richly +caparisoned than the others, had a kind of canopy attached to his +trappings,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_17" id="pg_17">17</a></span> beneath which sat a stern-faced little man with an elaborate +turban and head-dress. He wore also a very curious collar, from which +depended a large gold ornament of curious design. He carried in one hand +a long pipe, and with the other guided his strange steed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:308px"> +<a name="illus-005" id="illus-005"></a> +<img src="images/img-00024.jpg" alt=""What do you know about the Dodo?"" title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"What do you know about the Dodo?"</span> +</div> + +<p>The others of the party, who were evidently his attendants, each carried +a banner emblazoned with mysterious signs and characters.</p> + +<p>The silver bells attached to the head of the ostrich, and on the top of +the canopy over<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_18" id="pg_18">18</a></span> the grandee, tinkled merrily as he came forward.</p> + +<p>“In the name of the little Panjandrum,” he shouted, in a loud voice, and +immediately all the gnomes bowed respectfully almost down to the ground.</p> + +<p>“His Serene Importance and Most Magnificent Greatness is grievously +distressed.”</p> + +<p>The gnomes all brought forth little pocket-handkerchiefs, and began to +cry.</p> + +<p>“The Dodo presented to His Worshipful Gorgeousness by the <span class="smcap">Grand +Panjandrum</span> himself has escaped!”</p> + +<p>The gnomes all threw up their hands in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Why, we saw it,” cried Marjorie, excitedly. “Didn’t we, Dick?”</p> + +<p>The little man on the ostrich turned around sharply, and after staring +at the children for a moment, shouted—</p> + +<p>“Who are you?”</p> + +<p>“I am Dick Verrinder, sir, and this is my sister Marjorie, and our +little brother Fidge,” said Dick politely. “We are spending our summer<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_19" id="pg_19">19</a></span> +holiday at Mrs. Lawrence’s cottage on the other side of the cliff. The +tide rose very high this morning, and we——”</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell me all that nonsense. What do you know about the Dodo?” said +the little man, impatiently.</p> + +<p>“Why, we met it floating about on a chair, and it told us that it was +going to the Equator to meet a—a—er—a——”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“It was something with a very long name,” stammered Dick; “I can’t quite +remember what.”</p> + +<p>“Look here,” said the little man, bending forward excitedly, “that story +won’t do for me. I am the Ambassador Extraordinary of his Magnificence +the little Panjandrum, and you tell me that you have seen the Dodo; that +is enough. Now then! Where is it? It’s no use telling me that it has +gone off to keep an appointment with something with a long name. I say, +where is the bird? If you don’t instantly produce that Dodo I shall take +you before the Court of Inquisitives, and let them deal with you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_20" id="pg_20">20</a></span></p> + +<p>“But I tell you,” began Dick, while Marjorie clung to his arm in +affright, and Fidge scowled angrily at hearing his idolized big brother +spoken to in this peremptory manner, “I tell you that we only saw it for +a——”</p> + +<p>“That’s quite enough. Don’t argue the point. I shall give you one week +from now, and if at the end of that time you do not appear at the Palace +of the little Panjandrum with the Dodo, I shall apply to the <span class="smcap">Grand +Panjandrum</span> himself to have you subtransexdistricated, so there!”</p> + +<p>“But——”</p> + +<p>“Not another word. Ink! Paper! Pens!” he commanded, getting off his +ostrich and squatting down before a flat stone, while the little gnomes +ran hither and thither, getting in each other’s way, and tripping and +stumbling about in all directions in their eagerness to do the +Ambassador’s bidding.</p> + +<p>“Sit down!” he ordered, and the children sat down on the ground in front +of him. There was a slight difficulty about the ink at this point, for +the gnomes, not being quite strong enough to carry the inkstand, turned +it over on<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_21" id="pg_21">21</a></span> its side to roll it forward, and of course spilled all the +ink. They managed, however, to gather up some of it in their caps, and +so kept the Ambassador supplied.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:183px"> +<a name="illus-006" id="illus-006"></a> +<img src="images/img-00028.jpg" alt=""Dick suddenly shot up to the height of over six feet."" title="" width="183" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Dick suddenly shot up to the height of over six feet."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Now then! Know all men by these presents,” he began, writing the words +down as he spake them.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to give us some presents,” whispered Fidge, giving Dick a +nudge. Dick shook his head reprovingly, and the little man continued—</p> + +<p>“That whereas three children, named respectively—what did you say your +name was?”</p> + +<p>“Richard Greville Verrinder, Sir.”</p> + +<p>“Richard Greville Verrinder, and—what’s your sister’s name?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_22" id="pg_22">22</a></span>“Marjorie Evelyn Verrinder.”</p> + +<p>“Marjorie Evelyn Verrinder, and——”</p> + +<p>“Harold Ellis Verrinder,” prompted Dick.</p> + +<p>“Who’s that?” inquired the Ambassador, sharply.</p> + +<p>“My little brother,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“You said his name was Fidge.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, but that’s his nickname, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know anything of the sort. Now then, just keep quiet while I +finish this document. There,” he continued, when he had finished writing +some mysterious-looking words on the paper, and had attached two +enormous red seals to it—“that’s your warrant for arresting the Dodo, +when you have found him; and it is also an authority from the little +Panjandrum for you at any time to become any size that you wish; to +float through the air at will; and to live under water if necessary. So +you have everything in your favor, and I shall expect the Dodo back in +less than a week. Do you hear? Now I’m off.”</p> + +<p>The little man mounted his ostrich, and without<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_23" id="pg_23">23</a></span> saying a word more to +any one, he and his followers rode off in the direction from whence they +had come.</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!” said Dick, picking up the scrawl which had fallen at +his feet. “Here’s a go! We’ve got to find that beastly old Dodo in less +than a week, or be—what was it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said Marjorie, dolefully, “it was something very long, +and sounded dreadful.”</p> + +<p>“But what’s that he said about our being able to be any size that we +wished? I’m sure I wish I was as tall as father.”</p> + +<p>“Me, too,” said Fidge, emphatically.</p> + +<p>“And I should love to float about in the air, I’m sure!” declared +Marjorie.</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely out of her mouth when she felt herself wafted +gently off her feet, while at the same moment Dick, to Fidge’s intense +surprise, suddenly shot up to the height of over six feet, and looked so +very ridiculous, that all three of them burst out into an uncontrollable +fit of laughter.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_24" id="pg_24">24</a></span> +<a name="THE_SAGE_IN_THE_ONION_FIELD_640" id="THE_SAGE_IN_THE_ONION_FIELD_640"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>THE SAGE IN THE ONION FIELD.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“How absurd,” laughed Dick, as he looked down from the—to him—enormous +height of six feet. “What a thin, lanky-looking creature, I am, to be +sure—and Fidge, too; he looks perfectly ridiculous”—for Fidge, also, +was growing amazingly.</p> + +<p>“How did it happen, Dick, dear?” asked Marjorie, in an awe-stricken +voice. “It seems so funny to be up here in the air, and yet I don’t feel +in the least frightened, do you?”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” said Dick, contemptuously. “Why, we just said we wished +to be as tall as the Pater, you know, and it happened.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; and I said I should like to float in the air. I suppose we can +always do what we want to now—how lovely! Like the ”Arabian Nights,” +isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to be thin, like a walking-stick,” said Fidge, in a +dissatisfied voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_25" id="pg_25">25</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, it’s rather horrid,” said Dick. “Let’s see; we said as tall as the +Pater, didn’t we?—not as <i>big</i>. I wonder if that makes any difference.”</p> + +<p>“I want to be as fat as old Mrs. Mofflet,” said Fidge, mischievously.</p> + +<p>The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he dwindled down to his +usual height, and spread out in girth till he exactly resembled, in +appearance, what one looks like in a concave mirror—that is, he was +about twice as wide as he was high.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear! Oh, dear! That’s worse than ever!” laughed the children, +while little Fidge waddled about in an absurd way.</p> + +<p>The gnomes were highly amused, and cut the most extraordinary antics in +their glee.</p> + +<p>“I think perhaps the best thing to do for the present would be to wish +ourselves as we were,” said Dick. “I have no doubt it will be very +useful by and by to be any size we like, but just now it’s rather +awkward.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, let’s be little, like the gnomes,” cried Marjorie. “It will be such +fun.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_26" id="pg_26">26</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right,” acquiesced Dick; “here goes—I wish I were as little as the +gnomes.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” cried Marjorie.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:365px"> +<a name="illus-007" id="illus-007"></a> +<img src="images/img-00033.jpg" alt=""He was about twice as wide as he was high."" title="" width="365" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"He was about twice as wide as he was high."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Me, too!” cried Fidge.</p> + +<p>To their great surprise, nothing happened. They waited a moment or two, +staring at each<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_27" id="pg_27">27</a></span> other expectantly, and then Marjorie cried in a +troubled voice—</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear! I don’t believe it’s going to work, and we shall have to stay +like this forever.”</p> + +<p>“What nonsense!” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“I say! I want to be as small as the gnomes,” he shouted.</p> + +<p>There was no result, however, and the children remained as they were.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I know,” he cried; “I ought to have the paper that the Ambassador +gave me in my hand. Where is it?”</p> + +<p>There was a great whispering amongst the gnomes, and at last one of them +shouted out—</p> + +<p>“We’ve taken it away.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” demanded Dick. “It was given to us; you had better give it +up at once. What do you mean by it?”</p> + +<p>There was another whispered consultation, and then one of the gnomes +said, “Let them have it for now,” and the paper was put down upon the +ground at Dick’s feet.</p> + +<p>Dick stooped down and picked it up, and immediately the children began +to dwindle down<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_28" id="pg_28">28</a></span> till they became as small as the little people +themselves.</p> + +<p>They had no sooner done so than the paper which the Ambassador had given +them was suddenly snatched from Dick’s hand and a number of the gnomes +surrounded them, dancing about, turning somersaults, playing leap-frog, +and capering about in the maddest way.</p> + +<p>“Well, you’ve done it now,” said one of them, tauntingly.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>“Why, we’ve got the paper, and you can’t grow any bigger until we allow +you to.”</p> + +<p>“What a mean trick!” cried Dick, in disgust.</p> + +<p>“Well, we don’t think it at all fair,” said the gnomes, “that you should +be able to grow any size that you want to, while we have to keep little, +so we are going to keep you here for a little while, and teach you to +believe in fairies, do you see?”</p> + +<p>“But we’ve got to find the Dodo in a week,” expostulated Dick, “and if +you keep us here, however are we to do that?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_29" id="pg_29">29</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, please give us the paper back,” begged Marjorie. “I’m sure the +Pater will be so vexed if we never grow any bigger than this any more.” +And she began to cry a little.</p> + +<p>You see, such a lot of very unusual things had happened that she was a +little excited and nervous.</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll think about it,” said the gnomes, running away and hiding +among the rocks.</p> + +<p>“Don’t cry, Marjorie,” said Dick, bravely, though he too felt a little +anxious himself; for, you see, eleven inches is not very tall for any +one to be, and he didn’t care to admit what would happen if he went back +to school in his present state.</p> + +<p>“Chappel Minor has always been cheeky,” he thought, “and so have Martin +and Foster, and if I keep this size they will think they can do just as +they like with me, and probably will turn me out of the cricket eleven, +while that little wretch of a Castleton is sure to sneak all my +pencils—he does now when he gets a chance.” However, he kept these +doleful thoughts to himself, and devoted himself to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_30" id="pg_30">30</a></span> task of +consoling his sister and Fidge, and had soon talked them into such a +cheerful frame of mind, that they really began to think that it was +rather an advantage than otherwise to have lost the paper.</p> + +<p>“For one thing, we shall not have to hunt for that old Dodo,” +argued Dick, “because even the Grand Panjandrum himself, whoever +he may be, could not expect us to go far away while we remain as +little as this, and so we are not in such great danger of +being—er—er—thingummybobbed—you know—what the Ambassador said we +should be, if we didn’t find the wretched thing.”</p> + +<p>“Supposing we try and find the Ambassador,” suggested Marjorie. “I don’t +think he was really very cross, only a little abrupt, you know; and we +could explain everything to him, and perhaps he would give us a new +paper.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said Dick, leading the way. “At any rate, he will be able +to make us grow bigger—that is, if we wish to,” he added, with a fine +affectation of unconcern.</p> + +<p>The children walked on for some time in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_31" id="pg_31">31</a></span> direction in which the +Ambassador and his followers had disappeared, and they soon found +themselves out of the cave and in a kind of forest.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:361px"> +<a name="illus-008" id="illus-008"></a> +<img src="images/img-00038.jpg" alt=""A curious little old man with a flowing beard came toward them."" title="" width="361" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"A curious little old man with a flowing beard came toward them."</span> +</div> + +<p>“What funny trees,” said Fidge, looking up over his head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_32" id="pg_32">32</a></span></p> + +<p>The others followed his example, and found that he had good cause for +his surprise; the long, smooth trunks, without any leaves, ended in a +kind of ball, while at the roots a kind of enormous bulb appeared.</p> + +<p>“Whatever can they be?” cried Marjorie, in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Onions!” was the reply, spoken by a strange voice.</p> + +<p>The children turned around, and beheld a curious little old man with a +long flowing beard coming toward them.</p> + +<p>“Have you any other questions to ask?” he inquired, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>“It’s very kind of you, Sir,” said Dick, who was the first to recover +from the surprise which they had all experienced at this sudden +apparition. “Will you, please, tell us where we are?”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the little man, with a smile, “this is the Field of Onions. +And I am the Sage with the snowy beard who dwells in the Field of +Onions. And that is the Hut of curious build which belongs to the Sage +with the snowy beard who dwells in the Field of Onions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_33" id="pg_33">33</a></span></p> + +<p>“Is there anything else I can tell you? If so, pray ask me. I like it.”</p> + +<p>“What a funny man,” whispered Marjorie. “Do you think he is quite right +in his head?”</p> + +<p>“Hush!” said Dick. “Perhaps he can direct us to the Little Panjandrum’s, +and then we can find the Ambassador easily.”</p> + +<p>“Little Panjandrum’s, certainly,” said the Sage, answering exactly as +though he had been spoken to himself—</p> + +<p style="margin-left:2em"> +“”Take the first to the right on Tuesday week,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The second to the left on Monday;</span><br /> +On Friday you’ll not have far to seek,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And be sure not to travel on Sunday!”</span></p> + +<p>“But it’s no use going at all till you’ve found the Dodo,” he added.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious! how did you know that we were looking for it,” cried +Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I know everything,” said the Sage, complacently. “Did you ever know +a Sage who didn’t?”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I’ve never known one at all before,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_34" id="pg_34">34</a></span> Sir,” said Dick; “but I +should think it must be very useful to know such a lot, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it isn’t bad,” admitted the Sage; “would you like to know how I +became so clever?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, please,” cried all the children at once.</p> + +<p>Motioning them to a seat on an onion bulb, the little man struck an +attitude, and began—</p> + +<p style="margin-left:2em"> +“I was brought up on Verbs of irregular kind,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With a Pronoun or two as a treat,</span><br /> +While a strict course of Logic, to strengthen my mind,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My pastors and masters thought meet.</span><br /> +<br /> +I had Lessons for breakfast, and Sums for my tea,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Learnt to play the Arithmetic nicely,</span><br /> +And gained all the prizes at School—don’t you see,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For construing Doggerel concisely.</span><br /> +<br /> +They were Isms, and Ologies, Science, and Cram,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Quadratic Equations, and Butter,</span><br /> +The <i>Pons asinorum</i>, and Strawberry Jam,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the Cane, did I mumble or mutter.”</span></p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_35" id="pg_35">35</a></span> +<a name="STORIES_AND_TAILS_BY_THE_SAGE_883" id="STORIES_AND_TAILS_BY_THE_SAGE_883"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>STORIES AND TAILS BY THE SAGE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Do you mean to say,” inquired Dick, when the Sage had finished, “that +all those last things were prizes; because, if so, there isn’t a single +one of them that I should have cared for much, except the Strawberry +Jam?”</p> + +<p>“That only shows a great want of taste on your part,” said the old Sage, +severely. “Isms and Ologies, and things of that sort, are very tasty, +when you become used to them.”</p> + +<p>“What are Isms and Ologies, if you please, Sir?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there are various kinds,” was the reply. “There’s Ge-Ology, for +instance, which is lovely spread on bread-and-butter; and Zo-Ology, with +Aphor-Ism sauce, is simply delicious.”</p> + +<p>“They don’t sound very nice,” said Marjorie, dubiously, making a wry +face.</p> + +<p>“You don’t know anything at all about it, I’m afraid, my dear,” said the +little old man,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_36" id="pg_36">36</a></span> decidedly. “You would probably prefer dolls and +foolishness of that sort!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think I should,” admitted Marjorie, candidly.</p> + +<p>“Do you know <i>everything</i>, please, Mr. Sage?” inquired Fidge, who had +been very silent during this conversation, which he had not in the least +been able to understand.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my dear,” said the Sage, smiling affably.</p> + +<p>“Stories?” inquired Fidge, his eyes wide open with excitement and +interest.</p> + +<p>The old man nodded.</p> + +<p>“Oh! do tell us one, please,” begged the little boy. “The Three Bears, +or Little Red Riding Hood, or something of that sort.”</p> + +<p>“Fidge, Fidge,” cried Dick, rebukingly, “you mustn’t bother the +gentleman.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t mind in the least,” said the Sage, pleasantly. “I’ll tell +him some stories, if he likes.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! thanks, that’s jolly!” cried Fidge, clapping his hands, and they +all sat down again, while the old man began as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_37" id="pg_37">37</a></span>—</p> + +<p>“It was on a dark winter’s night, and the hot sun was pouring down upon +the——”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” interrupted Marjorie, “I beg your pardon, but haven’t you made a +mistake? It couldn’t have been dark, you know, if the sun was shining.”</p> + +<p>The Sage frowned severely.</p> + +<p>“Are you telling this story, or am I?” he asked, coldly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Marjorie, “please go on.”</p> + +<p>“Was pouring down upon the ship,” continued the Sage, “and almost +freezing the poor soldiers, who had great difficulty as it was, in +dragging the heavy cannon up the steep side of the mountain, upon which +he was standing; still leaning over the side of the balloon, she peered +down eagerly into the sky. There was not a soul in sight.</p> + +<p>“Suddenly a cry of ‘Fire!’ rang through the town, and two or three of +them hastily putting on their best clothes, joined the picnic party +under the gnarled oak tree in the meadow, and their joyous laughter rang +merrily down the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_38" id="pg_38">38</a></span> old staircase, where the grandfather’s clock stood, +tick-tick-ticking, like the great volcano which yawned at their very +feet, and into which the two boys plunged merrily, and were soon +splashing about in the shallow water like a mahogany chest of drawers +upon the sands of time.”</p> + +<p>The Sage paused.</p> + +<p>“Do you like it?” he inquired, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Not much, I’m afraid,” said Dick. “You see, we can’t quite understand +what it’s all about.”</p> + +<p>“Well, neither do I,” said the Sage, “because, you know, I’m making it +up as I go along.”</p> + +<p>“Then it isn’t true?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“True? Nonsense! You wanted a story, didn’t you? This is a real story; +there isn’t a particle of truth in it anywhere.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we didn’t mean that kind of story,” explained Marjorie, “we meant a +tale.”</p> + +<p>“What kind of a tale would you like—a Fishes’ tale, a Birds’ tale, or +an Animals’ tale?”</p> + +<p>“A birds’ tale, please,” said Marjorie, after consulting the others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_39" id="pg_39">39</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right,” said the Sage, “this is a lot of birds’ tales all tied up +together, and is called a fable——”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> +<a name="illus-009" id="illus-009"></a> +<img src="images/img-00046.jpg" alt=""The gossiping goose."" title="" width="358" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The gossiping goose."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Is it one of Æsop’s?” asked Dick, who thought that it would look grand +for him to have heard of Æsop’s fables.</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t,” said the Sage, rather crossly; “it’s one of my own! Now +then, are you ready? I call it—”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_40" id="pg_40">40</a></span></p> + +<p style="margin-left:4em;">“THE GOSSIPING GOOSE.”</p> + +<p style="margin-left:2em"> +“A Crested Grebe, a Spoonbill, and a Goose,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I beg to say,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Met one fine day,</span><br /> +And compliments were passed the most profuse.<br /> +<br /> +”How very well you look, my dear,” said one,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">”That shade of red</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Upon your head,</span><br /> +So sweet; and how <i>delightfully</i> your hair is done.”<br /> +<br /> +And each had gratifying things to say,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">With gushing smile,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Upon the style</span><br /> +Of all the others’ holiday array.<br /> +<br /> +Then Mrs. Goose, with most superior sneer,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Said, ”Have you seen</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">That dress of green</span><br /> +That Mrs. Peacock’s wearing now, my dear?<br /> +<br /> +”She looks a perfect guy, and then—her feet<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And legs! Oh, lor!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I never saw</span><br /> +A bird so clumsy, or so indiscreet.<br /> +<br /> +”I met her at the Concert Hall last week,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">A poor affair,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I do declare,</span><br /> +I wonder that the Songsters have such cheek.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_41" id="pg_41">41</a></span><br /> +<br /> +”Miss Nightingale was singing far too loud;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I never heard</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">So harsh a bird,</span><br /> +I wonder how she dared to face the crowd.<br /> +<br /> +”Miss Thrush had quite a decent voice, I hear,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Some years ago</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">(A score or so),</span><br /> +But now her voice is giving way, I fear.<br /> +<br /> +”She sang as badly as did Mrs. Lark,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Who all agreed,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Had every need</span><br /> +Of lessons, to bring <i>her</i> up to the mark.<br /> +<br /> +”Miss Linnet had a really dreadful cough.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">As for the rest,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">They quite distressed</span><br /> +The company. Well, good-by, dears. I’m off.”<br /> +<br /> +And, while the Spoonbill and the other bird<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Went on their way,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">I heard one say,</span><br /> +”That Mrs. Goose is really most absurd.<br /> +<br /> +”She talks about the Peacock’s gaudy dress:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">If she prefers</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">That gray of hers,</span><br /> +I don’t admire her taste, I must confess.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_42" id="pg_42">42</a></span><br /> +<br /> +”And as for legs and feet—well, I declare,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The pair she’s got</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Are really not</span><br /> +The kind that I’d be seen with anywhere.<br /> +<br /> +”While as for singing, that <i>she</i> should complain<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of other folk</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Is past a joke,</span><br /> +I vow I’ll not be friends with her again.”<br /> +<br /> +”My dear,” the other said, ”remember this:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">A critic she</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of high degree,</span><br /> +For though she can’t sing well, the goose can <i>hiss</i>.””</p> + +<p>The Sage had scarcely finished when a sound of weeping and wailing was +heard, and presently a whole troop of gnomes appeared in the onion +field. They were crying bitterly, and to the children’s great surprise +several of them had grown enormously tall and others equally stout.</p> + +<p>They came straight up to the Sage’s hut, and with tears streaming down +their faces beseeched him to help them. They had foolishly been making +use of the authority which the Little<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_43" id="pg_43">43</a></span> Panjandrum’s Ambassador had given +to the children; and although it acted one way, and made them the size +that they wished to be, it would not turn them back again.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:362px"> +<a name="illus-010" id="illus-010"></a> +<img src="images/img-00050.jpg" alt=""They were crying bitterly."" title="" width="362" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"They were crying bitterly."</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_44" id="pg_44">44</a></span>“And my wife and family refuse to have anything to do with me,” said one +ridiculously tall individual.</p> + +<p>“And I can’t squeeze into my own house, anyhow,” wept the stout one.</p> + +<p>“The only way,” said the Sage, after a moment’s thought, with his +forehead wrinkled into deep furrows, “is to send the Ki-Wi to the Court +of the Little Panjandrum for a fresh authority. It’s no use your having +this one back if it won’t act properly, is it?” he inquired, turning to +the children.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not,” said Dick; “but who is the Ki-Wi, please?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’s the Court Messenger,” explained the Sage, “and is the only one +here allowed to enter the Court of the Little Panjandrum without +permission.”</p> + +<p>“Go and fetch him,” he continued.</p> + +<p>And the gnomes disappeared, returning presently with the Ki-Wi (who +turned out to be a curious kind of bird), and the written authority, +which had been taken from the children.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_45" id="pg_45">45</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let me look at it,” said the Sage, holding out his hand for the paper.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> +<a name="illus-011" id="illus-011"></a> +<img src="images/img-00052.jpg" alt=""Produced a large document and began to read."" title="" width="357" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Produced a large document and began to read."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Why, no wonder it won’t act for the gnomes,” he exclaimed, when he had +read it.</p> + +<p>“It mentions you all by name—just try it yourselves, will you?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_46" id="pg_46">46</a></span></p> + +<p>Dick took the paper from him, and said loudly, “We wish to be our own +size again.”</p> + +<p>To their great delight the children at once found themselves their usual +height, and the onions, which had looked before like huge trees, now +only reached a little above their heads, while the Sage and the other +gnomes looked the tiniest little creatures again.</p> + +<p>“This is better,” said Dick, shaking himself as though he had come out +of the water.</p> + +<p>“Yes, isn’t it good to be ourselves once more,” said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>While Fidge jumped about delightedly, breaking down several of the onion +plants, and almost treading on the Sage’s hut.</p> + +<p>“Don’t caper about like a lot of lunatics,” shouted the little man, +angrily. “Come and sit down and talk business. The Ki-Wi has something +to tell you.”</p> + +<p>All excitement to know what it could be, the children sat down again, +and the Ki-Wi after fumbling about in his coat tail for some time, +produced a large document and began to read.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_47" id="pg_47">47</a></span> +<a name="THE_KING_OF_THE_FISHES_1153" id="THE_KING_OF_THE_FISHES_1153"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>THE KING OF THE FISHES.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“ Um—ah—that is to say—er—notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise +also, and as is herein aforesaid,” began the Ki-Wi, in an important +voice.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” cried Dick. “We can’t understand all that, you know. Why +don’t you say what you have to say in English?”</p> + +<p>“It is English,” declared the Ki-Wi, in an aggrieved voice, “and very +good English too.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it is,” chimed in the Sage.</p> + +<p>“Well we don’t understand it, anyhow,” maintained Dick. “It doesn’t seem +to mean anything at all.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps, Dick, dear,” said Marjorie, “Mr. Sage will explain it to us. +Let’s see—it began——”</p> + +<p>“”Notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise, and as is herein aforesaid,”” +repeated the Ki-Wi.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_48" id="pg_48">48</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll explain it, if you wish with pleasure,” said the Sage, +“though I can’t see in the least why it should be necessary. It seems to +me to perfectly simple. To begin with—‘Notwithstanding’ describes our +position just now—Not-with-standing, or <i>not standing with</i> the Ki-Wi. +He is standing, while we are sitting down, you see; then ‘nevertheless’ +means of course the same as <i>always-the-greater</i>, which exactly +describes me. You see, my great learning and cleverness always makes me +greater than the people I am speaking to, and consequently +<i>never-the-less</i>. The next word is also descriptive of myself. +‘Likewise,’ or <i>like a wise man</i>, which, I am sure, you will all agree +that I am; and ”herein’ means that my brains are all <i>in here</i>,” said +the Sage, tapping his head. “While ‘aforesaid’—the last word—means +that I have a strong head, or a <i>force-head</i>, do you see?”</p> + +<p>“Is the rest of the paper all about yourself, too, Sir?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” was the complacent reply. “Go on, Ki-Wi.”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid we can’t stop,” interrupted Dick.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_49" id="pg_49">49</a></span></p> + +<p>“You see, we have got to hunt up that wretched Dodo, and perhaps we had +better be going now.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we must be going now,” chimed in Fidge, jumping up eagerly, for +all this rigmarole had been very uninteresting to him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry you can’t stay,” said the Sage, in a disappointed voice. +“I could have told you such a lot more about myself. You do think I’m +clever though, don’t you?” he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, immensely!” said the children, politely.</p> + +<p>“Thanks!” said the Sage. “Will you take a few onions with you as a +memento of your visit?”</p> + +<p>“No thank you,” said Marjorie, hurriedly.</p> + +<p>“They would remind you of me,” suggested the Sage, wistfully; “Sage and +onions you know.”</p> + +<p>“No, thanks,” said Dick, “I’m sure we shall remember you without.”</p> + +<p>“Now that’s <i>very</i> kind of you,” said the Sage, “and I’ll do the best I +can to help you in your search for the Dodo. Let’s see, where did he say +he was going to?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_50" id="pg_50">50</a></span></p> + +<p>“The Equator,” said Dick; “but I’m sure we can’t go all that way after +him, and get back in a week.”</p> + +<p>“You could if you went by sea,” said the Sage.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“Why, I could give you an introduction to the King of the Fishes, you +know, and he <i>might</i> lend you his dolphins; they travel at a rare pace, +and would get you there in no time.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” cried Marjorie, “of course we <i>can</i> go under the sea, don’t +you know, the paper says so. Wouldn’t it be jolly, even if we didn’t +find the Dodo?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t want to be drownded, and get all deaded,” objected Fidge.</p> + +<p>“You wouldn’t be, dear,” said Marjorie. “Brother Dick wouldn’t take us +anywhere where we should come to any harm.”</p> + +<p>“How should we get there, I wonder?” asked Dick, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“I’ll show you—come along,” said the Sage, getting up and leading the +way.</p> + +<p>The children followed, and the little gnomes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_51" id="pg_51">51</a></span> now all reduced to their +proper size, came trooping along after them.</p> + +<p>Presently they reached the edge of the cliff, and the sea, sparkling in +the sunlight, lay at their feet some distance below.</p> + +<p>The Sage, hastily scribbling a note with a piece of pencil, thrust it +into Dick’s hand, and crying, “This is the quickest way!” deliberately +pushed the children, one after the other, over the cliff.</p> + +<p>Before they had time to realize what had happened, or to become in the +least alarmed, they found themselves slowly and comfortably sinking +through the air; while a shriek of laughter from the gnomes caused them +to look up to the edge of the cliffs, where they beheld all the little +fellows leaning over and waving their pocket-handkerchiefs, while the +Sage and the Ki-Wi stood in their midst.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Marjorie, as they descended, “isn’t it fortunate we have the +power to float in the air; it would have been an awful plunge otherwise, +wouldn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” agreed Dick, reaching out his hand to<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_52" id="pg_52">52</a></span> Fidge, who looked just a +little wee bit frightened. “I wonder what it will be like on the sea.”</p> + +<p>He had not to speculate long, however, for almost at that moment their +feet touched the water, and they sank down, down, down through the clear +green depths.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look!” cried Fidge, excitedly. “Fishes! Fishes!” and he started off +swimming after them quite naturally.</p> + +<p>“One’s got a hat on,” he called out. “Look! look! there’s another; oh, +let’s catch them!”</p> + +<p>“If you don’t behave yourself you’ll be locked up,” said a severe voice, +and, turning around, the children beheld a very stern-looking fish, +wearing a helmet, and carrying a truncheon.</p> + +<p>“Now then, move on; don’t obstruct the traffic!” he cried, angrily; and +the children swimming off as hastily as they could, mentally put him +down as a kind of sea policeman.</p> + +<p>“You certainly mustn’t try and catch any of the fishes, Fidge, or you +will be getting us all into trouble,” said Dick. And Fidge, overawed by +the policeman fish, became quiet subdued,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_53" id="pg_53">53</a></span> and contented himself with a +quiet “Look! look!” when they passed anything particularly strange or +interesting.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:370px"> +<a name="illus-012" id="illus-012"></a> +<img src="images/img-00060.jpg" alt=""The chair was floating just in front of them."" title="" width="370" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The chair was floating just in front of them."</span> +</div> + +<p>They had very nearly reached the bottom of the sea, when they noticed a +singular-looking object floating some distance in front of them.</p> + +<p>“It looks like a chair!” declared Marjorie. “Why, I believe,” she +continued, as they drew<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_54" id="pg_54">54</a></span> nearer, “that it’s the very one the Dodo was +floating upon when we saw him last.”</p> + +<p>“So it is!” cried Dick; “and look, there’s a note on it—perhaps it’s +for us.”</p> + +<p>They swam towards it as quickly as they could, and had just reached the +chair, as a curious-looking fish—with a very long nose, and wearing +shoes on the end of his long tail, and a tall hat—swam past.</p> + +<p>He looked at them inquisitively, and then stood a little way at the back +of them, waiting till they should be disengaged.</p> + +<p>“To all to whom it may concern,” read Dick, after he had picked up the +note from off the chair. “I suppose that means us as much as any one.”</p> + +<p>“Of course it does,” agreed Marjorie. “It concerns us very much to find +out where the Dodo is.”</p> + +<p>Dick hesitated no longer, but opened the note eagerly. His face fell, +however, when he beheld the contents.</p> + +<p>“<i>Mind your own business!</i>” he read, slowly. “What a sell! I believe the +Dodo did write<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_55" id="pg_55">55</a></span> it, though, and intended it as a hint that we were not +to try find and him. I’m half inclined to give it up.”</p> + +<p>“But Dick, dear, remember,” said Marjorie, “we shall be—er—you +know—what the Ambassador said—if we don’t find him.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, ah,” said Dick, “I’d forgotten that. Come on, then; let’s see what +can be done.”</p> + +<p>“Can I be of any assistance?” said the thin fish, coming forward with a +polite bow. “Have you lost anything?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, thanks,” said Dick. “We’re looking for a Dodo. Do you happen to +have seen one about here?”</p> + +<p>“A Dodo,” said the fish, reflectively. “I don’t think I have the +pleasure of the gentleman’s acquaintance. What kind of a fish is he?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he isn’t a fish at all,” explained Dick; “he is a kind of bird, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! birds we don’t encourage below the surface, as a rule,” said the +fish, smiling indulgently. “You are scarcely likely to meet with him +here. Perhaps His Majesty the King of the Fishes would advise you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_56" id="pg_56">56</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, I have a letter of introduction to His Majesty,” said Dick. “I’m +afraid it’s rather wet,” he said, apologetically, drawing it from his +pocket.</p> + +<p>“It would be unacceptable to His Majesty were it not so,” said the fish. +“Well, now, I <i>was</i> going to a football match, it being a half-holiday; +but under the circumstances, I will put it off, and escort you to the +Palace. This way, please.”</p> + +<p>Sinking down to the sand at the bottom of the sea, the fish led the way +through a beautiful forest of waving seaweed, of all the colors of the +rainbow. Exquisite shells were strewn about, and brightly-colored +anemones clung to the rocks on every side, while all kinds of +oddly-shaped fishes swam about, peering at the children curiously as +they passed.</p> + +<p>Presently they came in sight of a kind of Palace, formed of +quaintly-shaped pieces of coral, which, the fish explained, was where +the King lived.</p> + +<p>“Just stay here a moment, please,” said he; and the children waited +outside while he went into the Palace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_57" id="pg_57">57</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:362px"> +<a name="illus-013" id="illus-013"></a> +<img src="images/img-00064.jpg" alt=""'Bring them forward,' said the king of the fishes."" title="" width="362" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Bring them forward,' said the king of the fishes."</span> +</div> + +<p>Fidge pulled aside a piece of seaweed, and they all peeped through a +hole in the coral, and saw a large fish wearing a crown, and with a +curious chain about his neck, to which was attached an enormous +fish-hook, seated on a throne.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_58" id="pg_58">58</a></span></p> + +<p>Officers of State stood round about, and the little thin fish that had +been so polite to them was bowing and scraping in quite a courtly +fashion.</p> + +<p>He was evidently telling His Majesty all about them, for, after hearing +what he had to say, the King of the Fishes nodded; and the thin fish +came out, and informed them that they were to be admitted into the +Presence.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_59" id="pg_59">59</a></span> +<a name="IN_THE_KINGS_PRESENCE_1399" id="IN_THE_KINGS_PRESENCE_1399"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>IN THE KING”S PRESENCE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Do you understand fish-language?” whispered the little thin fish, +hurriedly, as he was conducting them into the Presence Chamber.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not,” replied Dick.</p> + +<p>“Then you must remain silent, for in the King’s presence nothing but the +fish-language is allowed to be spoken. I will interpret for you +afterwards.”</p> + +<p>Pushing aside some curtains of brightly-colored seaweed he led them into +the Presence Chamber.</p> + +<p>The King received them very graciously, and held out one fin as they +approached.</p> + +<p>“I expect we ought to kneel on one knee, and kiss it, like they do at +presentations,” whispered Marjorie.</p> + +<p>But Dick wasn’t going to do anything of that sort, and just touched it +lightly with one hand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_60" id="pg_60">60</a></span> while the others followed suit. The thin fish +then motioned them to sit down on a kind of divan, upon which large +sponges took the place of cushions, and which the children found to be +most comfortable; and the audience began.</p> + +<p>The most extraordinary part about it was that not the slightest sound +could be heard. The little thin fish opened and shut his mouth in +little, short, jerky gasps, to which the King replied by slowly opening +and shutting his, rolling his eyes about meanwhile, just as you may have +seen fishes do in an aquarium.</p> + +<p>Then the little fish solemnly handed His Majesty the Sage’s letter, +which the King put on his gold-rimmed glasses to read.</p> + +<p>Having done so, he turned to the children and smiled, at least that’s +what they afterwards found out he was doing; but, really and truly, he +made such a curious grimace that poor little Fidge was frightened, and +wanted to run away.</p> + +<p>His Majesty then opened and shut his mouth very slowly three or four +times, to which all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_61" id="pg_61">61</a></span> other fishes replied by swimming backwards +three strokes, and then forward three strokes. Then the audience was at +an end.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:370px"> +<a name="illus-014" id="illus-014"></a> +<img src="images/img-00068.jpg" alt=""Some fishes were playing football."" title="" width="370" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Some fishes were playing football."</span> +</div> + +<p>The little thin fish came and whispered to the children, “It is usual +for mortals, when leaving the presence of the King, to turn three +somersaults backwards. Do you think you can do that?”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid not,” replied Dick, anxiously. “At least, I might be able to +manage, but I don’t know about Marjorie and Fidge.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_62" id="pg_62">62</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, never mind, then; I’ll ask His Majesty to be good enough to excuse +you,” said the fish, and, making a low bow to the King, he explained the +situation in a few short gasps.</p> + +<p>His Majesty thereupon left the audience chamber, having first graciously +inclined his head towards the children.</p> + +<p>As he swam away, two little fishes attached themselves to the tip of His +Majesty’s tail, while another held the crown down on his royal head, to +prevent it from slipping off, the rest of the audience swimming behind +at a respectful distance, forming a sort of procession.</p> + +<p>“Well,” began the thin fish, after the others had all gone, “I +congratulate you. His Majesty had been good enough to place the Royal +Dolphins at your disposal, and if the Dodo you are searching for is +anywhere on, or in, the sea you ought to have no difficulty in finding +him, for the Dolphins swim very quickly indeed, and can take you +anywhere you like in a jiffy. Please follow me to the royal stables, and +we will harness them.”</p> + +<p>The children passed out after their kind little<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_63" id="pg_63">63</a></span> friend, and followed +him into the gardens of the Palace, which they had to cross in order to +reach the stables.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was enraptured at the sight of the beautifully-arranged +gardens, in which brightly-colored anemones took the place of flowers.</p> + +<p>On a lawn of the finest short green seaweed, a number of globe-shaped +fishes, with striped bodies, were playing football, and the children +stopped a few minutes to watch the game.</p> + +<p>They were very much surprised to find that the football itself was a +fish—a little round chap, just the shape of a football—who, on the +players giving him a smart kick with their tail, shot up through the +water and over the goal in no time.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t he object?” said Dick, after they had watched this performance +for some time; “I know I should.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, no!” exclaimed their guide, “he enjoys it quite as much as +the others do. You see, it’s such a delightful sensation to be shot +through the water without the effort of swimming;<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_64" id="pg_64">64</a></span> but, come along, we +must be off if you are going to start to-day.”</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width:257px"> +<a name="illus-015" id="illus-015"></a> +<img src="images/img-00071.jpg" alt=""And now he's quite well, thanks."" title="" width="257" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"And now he's quite well, thanks."</span> +</div> + +<p>“There’s one little piece of advice I should like to give you in your +search for the Dodo,” he continued, kindly, as they swam along. “If you +don’t succeed in catching him one way, try another. Remember the bear +with a cold.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked the children.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know the story of the bear with a cold?” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“No; do tell us!” they cried.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_65" id="pg_65">65</a></span></p> + +<p>“Why, you see,” said the fish, “there was once an old bear, who had a +dreadful cold, and his friends all advised him to try different things +to cure it. One said one thing, and one another, and although he tried +them all, one after the other, he didn’t get any better; but still he +persevered, and kept trying all the remedies they suggested, and at last +he <i>was</i> cured, and what do you think did it?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:329px"> +<a name="illus-016" id="illus-016"></a> +<img src="images/img-00072.jpg" alt=""Come on, Marjorie, let's have a race."" title="" width="329" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Come on, Marjorie, let's have a race."</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_66" id="pg_66">66</a></span>“What?” inquired the children.</p> + +<p>“Why, some one suggested putting his feet into hot mustard and water and +drinking gruel—and he tried it several times with no effect; and at +last he fortunately thought of reversing the process, so he put his feet +into some thick gruel, and drank a lot of mustard and water, and now +he’s quite well, thanks. So don’t you get discouraged if you don’t find +the Dodo at once; but, as I said before, if one way doesn’t succeed, try +another.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks!” said the children, “we’ll remember.”</p> + +<p>Just then they found themselves before a kind of shed, built of coral, +which the fish entered, returning shortly afterwards leading three +curious-looking fishes by a simple sort of bridle.</p> + +<p>“Here they are!” he announced; “you will<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_67" id="pg_67">67</a></span> find them quite docile. Just +mount them and see how you like their pace.”</p> + +<p>The children needed no second invitation, and were soon astride their +strange steeds.</p> + +<p>With a whisk of their tails they were soon off, dashing through the +water at such a rate that the little thin fish had the greatest +difficulty in keeping up with them, even for a short distance.</p> + +<p>“Oh! this is jolly!” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Marjorie, let’s have a race.”</p> + +<p>The Dolphins answered to the slightest pull at the reins, and the +children hadn’t the least fear; so, getting into a line, they waited for +their friend the thin fish to come up and give them the signal to +start.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_68" id="pg_68">68</a></span> +<a name="THE_HUMAN_RACE_1568" id="THE_HUMAN_RACE_1568"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>THE HUMAN RACE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The little thin fish seemed to be a long while catching them up, and, +while they were waiting, Marjorie espied a curious figure poking about +among the seaweed a short distance away from them.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what it is!” she cried, and the children dismounted from the +Dolphins, and, tying them by the reins to some coral stumps, so that +they could not swim away, they half walked and half swam over to where +Marjorie had first noticed the creature, whatever it was.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s a man!” cried Dick, as they drew nearer, and could +distinguish him more clearly.</p> + +<p>He was a wretched-looking old fellow, with a heavy sack upon his back, +and was clothed only in a ragged old garment, which scarcely reached to +his knees.</p> + +<p>“Poor man,” said Marjorie, in a whisper,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_69" id="pg_69">69</a></span> “how unhappy he looks; perhaps +he has lost something.”</p> + +<p>The man glanced up nervously as the children approached, and, clutching +at his bag jealously, he demanded—</p> + +<p>“Who are you? What do you want?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing, thank you, poor old man,” began Marjorie; “we were only——”</p> + +<p>The old man burst into a peal of hoarse laughter.</p> + +<p>“<i>Poor</i> old man!” he exclaimed. “Do you know that I am the richest man +in the world. Look!” he exclaimed, opening his bag before the children’s +astonished eyes. “Gold! jewels! riches! wealth! they are all +mine—ha—ha—ha—ha!” and he laughed discordantly, and hugged the bag +closely to himself again.</p> + +<p>“Oh, come away!” cried Marjorie, catching at Dick’s arm. “I’m so +frightened.”</p> + +<p>“I’m the Old Man of the Sea,” continued the man, “and all the treasures +of the deep are mine. I have stacks of golden crowns and jewels without +number, and each day I gather more—they are all mine—mine—mine!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_70" id="pg_70">70</a></span></p> + +<p>“But where do they all come from?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“The bottom of the sea is strewn with riches,” continued the old man, +“and there is no one to reap the harvest but myself.”</p> + +<p>“You must be very happy if you are so rich,” said Dick. “It must be +lovely to have all those things.”</p> + +<p>“No, I am not happy,” said the Old Man of the Sea. “I am very old, and +very lonely, and there is no one here to admire my treasures but myself. +The fishes will have nothing to do with me—they do not care for gold; +it is valueless to them—and I may not go on land, so I am here alone +with my riches, and every day I gather more and more. I have piled them +high about my cave in a great circle, and some day, when it becomes +top-heavy, it will fall over and crush me beneath it, and I shall be +buried in a tomb of gold. No king, no emperor, had ever so grand a +sepulchre as I shall have, but I am not happy—no—no—not happy, not +happy.”</p> + +<p>And the old man shouldered his bag and moved away, muttering +sorrowfully.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_71" id="pg_71">71</a></span></p> + +<p>“Poor man, poor man,” said Marjorie; “for he is poor, although he has so +much wealth isn’t he, Dick?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:365px"> +<a name="illus-017" id="illus-017"></a> +<img src="images/img-00078.jpg" alt=""Filling his bag with all kinds of treasure."" title="" width="365" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Filling his bag with all kinds of treasure."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Yes, jolly poor, and miserable too. I wouldn’t be him for something,” +said Dick. “Come on, it makes me wretched to think about him—let’s get +back to the Dolphins.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_72" id="pg_72">72</a></span></p> + +<p>When they reached them, they found that little friend, the thin fish, +had arrived at last.</p> + +<p>“Hullo!” cried Dick. “What a jolly long while you have been catching us +up. Wherever have you been to all this time?”</p> + +<p>“Why,” explained the fish, “I thought I heard you saying something about +a race, and suddenly I remembered what a splendid opportunity your visit +down here would afford us of witnessing a real human race—you are +human, aren’t you?” he asked, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I suppose so,” replied Dick.</p> + +<p>“That’s right,” said the fish. “Come on, the King is most anxious for +the race to begin at once, and I promised to bring you back with me +immediately.”</p> + +<p>“But what <i>is</i> a human race?” inquired Marjorie, as they mounted their +Dolphins.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’ll see when we get back,” was the reply, and, the little fish +hanging on to one of the Dolphins’ tails they were soon flying through +the water at a rare rate.</p> + +<p>When they got back to the lawn by the King’s Palace, the children were +greatly astonished to<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_73" id="pg_73">73</a></span> see a big crowd of fishes drawn up in two lines, +with a wide path between them. The King, on a shell throne, surrounded +by his courtiers, was at one end, and several important-looking fishes +were fussing about at the other, making a straight line with some little +lumps of white chalk.</p> + +<p>There was a cheer when the children arrived on their Dolphins, and a +rush was made to assist them to alight.</p> + +<p>“But what are we to do?” they inquired, rather dismayed at these +elaborate preparations.</p> + +<p>“Show us a human race,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Well, a human race is just like any other kind of race, I suppose,” +said Dick, “the one who reaches the goal first wins. If we are going to +race, though, we shall have to be handicapped.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” cried the fishes.</p> + +<p>“Why, you see,” explained Dick, “it wouldn’t be fair for us all to start +from the same line, for Fidge, of course, cannot run as quickly as +Marjorie or me; and Marjorie, too, being only a girl, will have to have +a start allowed her, and this is called handicapping.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_74" id="pg_74">74</a></span></p> + +<p>“Very well, manage it your own way,” was the reply. “When are you going +to start?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, as soon as you like,” said Dick. “Where’s the winning-post?”</p> + +<p>“That white line up by the King’s throne,” said one of the fishes. And +Dick, having given Fidge a very long start, and Marjorie a slight +advantage, declared himself ready to begin.</p> + +<p style="margin-left:2em"> +“One, to make ready,<br /> +Two, to be steady,<br /> +Three, and—away!”</p> + +<p>shouted one of the principal fishes, and off they scrambled. I say +scrambled, because if you have ever tried to run under water you will +know that it is a very difficult thing to do—the weight of the water +prevents you from getting along at all quickly. The fishes watching the +race became very excited, and, in their eagerness to urge them on, kept +getting in the children’s way, swimming about in front of them, and +getting mixed up with their arms and legs in a most confusing manner. At +length, however, this extraordinary race came to an end, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_75" id="pg_75">75</a></span> +children arrived at the winning-post in the same order in which they had +started.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve won—I’ve won!” shouted Fidge, delightedly. “Haven’t I, Dick?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:359px"> +<a name="illus-018" id="illus-018"></a> +<img src="images/img-00082.jpg" alt=""They were called before the king to receive their prize."" title="" width="359" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"They were called before the king to receive their prize."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Of course you have,” said Dick, who had purposely been holding back to +give the other two a chance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_76" id="pg_76">76</a></span></p> + +<p>“Shall I get a prize?” whispered the little boy, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” answered Dick; “wait and see.”</p> + +<p>Their little friend, the thin fish, had gone up to the King, and was +talking very earnestly to him, and presently returning said that His +Majesty had decided to give them all a prize.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wonder what it will be!” said Marjorie, excitedly. “Fancy, having +a prize from a real King!”</p> + +<p>“He’s only a fish,” said Dick.</p> + +<p>“Hush, dear, you’ll hurt his feelings,” whispered Marjorie, warningly.</p> + +<p>Just then the thin fish put on his top hat—he was the only one allowed +to wear one in the King’s presence—and began a long speech. He spoke so +very softly, though, that no one could hear a word that he said; but, at +regular intervals, all the other fishes clapped their fins, and called +out, “Hear, hear!” most enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>“Whatever do you do that for?” inquired Dick, of one of them; “I’m sure +you cannot hear a word of what he is saying.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, we can’t,” admitted the fish, quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_77" id="pg_77">77</a></span> candidly; “but it’s the +proper thing to do, you know, it encourages him so.”</p> + +<p>After the speech the children were called before the King to receive +their prize.</p> + +<p>His Majesty did not speak to them, but motioned majestically to a large +branch of pink coral near the throne, and they were thus given to +understand that it was intended for them as a prize.</p> + +<p>Of course, they pretended to be highly gratified, though, in reality, +they were greatly disappointed.</p> + +<p>“Stupid old thing! it’s not a bit of use, even if we could carry it,” +muttered Dick; and Fidge, too, was so cross that he nearly quarreled +outright with a perky little fish who had been standing, hat in hand, +near him, and who now came and sat down so close to him that his sharp +scales scratched the little fellow’s bare legs.</p> + +<p>A moment afterwards, however, they had all forgotten their ill-humor in +their amusement at what was happening, for the King having withdrawn, +the rest of the fishes each took a partner,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_78" id="pg_78">78</a></span> and began whirling round +and round in a frantic way in a mad kind of dance, to the strains of +some weird music, provided by one or two of their number blowing through +some long shells, whilst others used some smaller flat ones as +castanets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:338px"> +<a name="illus-019" id="illus-019"></a> +<img src="images/img-00085.jpg" alt=""Whirling round and round in a frantic way."" title="" width="338" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Whirling round and round in a frantic way."</span> +</div> + +<p>“I suppose this is what is called a fish ball,” said Dick, laughing +heartily at the strange antics which the fishes were cutting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_79" id="pg_79">79</a></span></p> + +<p>And just as Marjorie was about to reply a dark shadow passing overhead +caused all of the children to look up.</p> + +<p>A pair of large webbed feet were seen slowly paddling above them, and +beyond them the outline of a bird’s body could be traced.</p> + +<p>Marjorie seized Dick’s arm excitedly. “Look! look!” she exclaimed, +hastily, “the Dodo!”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_80" id="pg_80">80</a></span> +<a name="THE_DODO_AT_LAST_1803" id="THE_DODO_AT_LAST_1803"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>THE DODO AT LAST.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I really believe it is the Dodo,” said Dick. “Only I’m not quite sure +if his feet <i>were</i> webbed.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t think they were,” declared Marjorie. “Now don’t you think,” +she continued, excitedly, “that it would be best for us just to swim +quietly up to him, and catch hold of his legs; you see, he couldn’t +possibly get away then, and——”</p> + +<p>“All right,” interrupted Dick. “Come on—steady now, so as not to alarm +him.”</p> + +<p>The feet above them were paddling leisurely along, and the children had +no difficulty in quickly catching up to the bird, and, with a triumphant +shout, Dick clutched hold of one leg, while Marjorie and Fidge hung on +to the other.</p> + +<p>There was immediately a great outcry from above the water.</p> + +<p>“Help! Help! Fire! Police! Thieves!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_81" id="pg_81">81</a></span> cried a voice, and the feet began +to kick so violently that the children had quite a difficulty to keep +their hold.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:337px"> +<a name="illus-020" id="illus-020"></a> +<img src="images/img-00088.jpg" alt=""The Dodo tried to follow their example."" title="" width="337" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Dodo tried to follow their example."</span> +</div> + +<p>In response to the cries a number of other birds came flying to the +rescue, and “splush,” “splash,” sounded on all sides as they settled +down on the water.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_82" id="pg_82">82</a></span></p> + +<p>“What is the matter?” cried several voices at once.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried the bird which the children had captured, beating his wings +about violently, and creating a terrible confusion, “a crab or something +has caught hold of my legs, and I am being killed—help!—save me!—save +me!”</p> + +<p>A confused sound of voices followed, and presently one or two heads +appeared below the water; they were hastily withdrawn, however, and with +an alarmed cry of “Sharks!” the other birds all flew away, leaving their +luckless companion to his fate.</p> + +<p>The bird, when he found himself deserted by his friends, made more +frantic efforts than ever to escape; and the beating of his wings upon +the water caused the whole party to move slowly along.</p> + +<p>“What are we to do now?” whispered Marjorie; “we can’t drag him +underneath, or he’d be drowned, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, let’s hang on,” cried Dick, “perhaps he will drag us along till we +come to land somewhere.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_83" id="pg_83">83</a></span> I say,” he shouted, “are you the Dodo, or not?”</p> + +<p>His voice could evidently not be heard above the water, for there was no +reply from the bird, which continued making a terrific outcry, using +every effort to get away from them.</p> + +<p>Presently, just as Dick had suggested, some rocks came in sight, and the +children could see that they were being gradually dragged towards the +shore.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes they had the satisfaction of being able to scramble out +of the water, when they discovered, to their great dismay, that their +captive was not the Dodo at all, but a great wild goose, who, when they +hurriedly released his legs waddled awkwardly ashore, and gazed at them +with reproachful eyes.</p> + +<p>A little way inland the Dodo himself could be seen standing, surrounded +by an excited group of birds, who, when they caught sight of the +children emerging from the water, immediately took to flight, screaming +in horrified tones—</p> + +<p>“The Sharks! The Sharks! Here come the Sharks!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_84" id="pg_84">84</a></span></p> + +<p>The Dodo tried to follow their example, and for a moment it looked as +though the children would lose him after all; but it soon became evident +that the creature could not fly, for after wildly beating the air for +awhile, with his little apologies for wings, the miserable bird fell +squalling into the water, while his companions disappeared in the +distance.</p> + +<p>“Help! Help!” he screamed, as he struggled with the waves. “Don’t you +see that I’m drowning? Oh! Oh! Help! Help!”</p> + +<p>“Swim ashore,” cried the children.</p> + +<p>“I can’t,” was the reply, in a faint voice. “I can’t swim. Oh!—oh! +there go my poor, dear gloves.” This last as his wings, which he had +been holding up out of the water, sank exhausted to his side.</p> + +<p>Dick plunged in, and soon brought the bird to shore, where he stood for +a moment or two, ruefully regarding his white kid gloves, which the salt +water had completely ruined, while the bow of his necktie had slipped +around to the back of his neck.</p> + +<p>“A pretty figure I shall cut now at the Ichthyosaurus”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_85" id="pg_85">85</a></span> At Home,” he +grumbled. “It’s all your fault, too,” he declared, ungratefully +disregarding the fact that Dick had just rescued him from a watery +grave. “What do you want with me, anyhow?”</p> + +<p>“Why, you see,” hastily explained Dick, “the Ambassador to the Little +Panjandrum sent us in search of you, and if we don’t take you back in +less than a week we’re to be—er—er—something with an awfully long +name——”</p> + +<p>“I know—Subtransexdistricated, that’s it, isn’t it?” said the Dodo. +“They always threaten to do that to people. Ough! its perfectly +horrible” he cried, shuddering.</p> + +<p>“What’s it like?” asked the children, in an awe-stricken whisper.</p> + +<p>“Why,” explained the Dodo, “you are mygrylaled in pslmsms till you +saukle, and then you are taken out and gopheled on both sides for a +fortnight. Ough! it’s dreadful to think about, and I wouldn’t dream of +putting you to the risk of having it done to you. So I suppose I shall +have to go back,” he added, with a sigh. “It’s jolly awkward, though! +Oh, I <i>hate</i> him!” he said, stamping his claw violently.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_86" id="pg_86">86</a></span></p> + +<p>“Who?” inquired the children.</p> + +<p>“The Little Panjandrum,” was the reply. “Nasty, consequential little +prig! And who is he, I should like to know? Panjandrums are not to be +mentioned in the same breath as Dodos—we are a much more ancient family +than they are, and, besides, <i>we</i> are extinct,” he said, proudly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, of course,” agreed Dick, who did not care to go into the Dodo +private grievances, and who certainly did not care to run the risk of +being “gopheled on both sides,” whatever that might mean; “but don’t you +think we had better be going now?”</p> + +<p>“How are we going to get back?” demanded the Dodo, abruptly. “I can’t +swim and I can’t fly. You’ll have to carry me.”</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” exclaimed Marjorie, in dismay. “I’m sure we can’t do +that! Why, you are as big as we are!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m sure I don’t know what is to be done,” said the Dodo. “I +won’t get into the water again for <i>any one</i>, so there.”</p> + +<p>Just then, Fidge, who had been playing on<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_87" id="pg_87">87</a></span> the shore, ran back with the +news that the little thin fish wanted to speak to them.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Sorry to trouble you,” he began, popping his head out of the water +and raising his hat politely; “but His Majesty sent me to inquire how +you were getting on. I see you have found him,” he added, pointing to +the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Yes; but now we are in another fix,” cried the children; “we don’t know +how to get the creature home.”</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:241px"> +<a name="illus-021" id="illus-021"></a> +<img src="images/img-00094.jpg" alt=""The Dodo cut a strange figure."" title="" width="241" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Dodo cut a strange figure."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Who are you calling a creature?” said the Dodo, sulkily.</p> + +<p>“Well, what else are you?” demanded Dick. “You’re an awful nuisance, +anyhow, and <i>I</i> don’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_88" id="pg_88">88</a></span> know how we are going to get you away from this +place, I’m sure.”</p> + +<p>“There are the Dolphins,” suggested the little fish.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, of course,” cried Dick. “I had forgotten them. I suppose you +can ride a Dolphin, can’t you?” he inquired of the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Don’t know. Never tried. Daresay I could,” answered the bird, sullenly.</p> + +<p>The fish disappeared, and returned a few minutes later with the three +Dolphins in tow.</p> + +<p>Fidge was more than delighted to see the “horses,” as he called them, +again, and lost no time in getting astride of one; the others followed +more deliberately, Marjorie taking her seat beside Fidge on the same +fish.</p> + +<p>The Dodo cut a strange figure, and looked very nervous at first, as he +clung to the slippery back of his strange steed.</p> + +<p>He seemed to feel at ease after a time, however, and when the children +had bade their kind little friend, the thin fish, “Good-by,” the party +started off at a fine pace.</p> + +<p>“By the bye, have you any idea where we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_89" id="pg_89">89</a></span> going to?” remarked the +Dodo, after they had been rushing along for some time.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious, no!” exclaimed Dick. “I thought you were directing us.”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the remotest idea where we are,” said the Dodo, coolly.</p> + +<p>“Why, then, we’re lost!” cried Marjorie, in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Mother told me,” said Fidge, solemnly, “that if I ever got lost, I was +to ask a policeman to take me home.”</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:252px"> +<a name="illus-022" id="illus-022"></a> +<img src="images/img-00096.jpg" alt=""At the entrance was a large walrus smoking."" title="" width="252" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"At the entrance was a large walrus smoking."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Yes, but I’m afraid there are no policemen about here,” laughed the +others.</p> + +<p>“What we had better do,” said Dick, “is to<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_90" id="pg_90">90</a></span> push on till we come to land +somewhere, or a ship, and inquire the way back.”</p> + +<p>This was thought to be the best plan to pursue, and the children hurried +along till Marjorie noticed that both the air and the water were growing +fresher every moment, and she was just beginning to wonder what they +were going to do if it grew much colder, when Dick cried out, in quite a +nautical style—</p> + +<p>“Land on the larboard side!”</p> + +<p>“Hooroy!” shouted the others, “now we shall find out where we are,” and +they headed the Dolphins to where they could see a rough kind of +landing-stage.</p> + +<p>The country looked very bleak and bare, but a little hut was visible a +short distance from the shore, and the children, having fastened up the +Dolphins to one of the wooden piles, assisted the Dodo to alight, and +made their way towards it.</p> + +<p>At the entrance they saw a large Walrus with a pipe in his mouth, and on +the ground beside him an Esquimaux dog, also smoking.</p> + +<p>Dick and the others hurried forward, and bowed politely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_91" id="pg_91">91</a></span></p> + +<p>“<i>Wie geths?</i>” said the Walrus, taking the pipe from his mouth, and +immediately putting it back again, while the little dog glanced at them +inquisitively out of the corners of his eyes.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_92" id="pg_92">92</a></span> +<a name="AT_THE_NORTH_POLE_2042" id="AT_THE_NORTH_POLE_2042"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3>AT THE NORTH POLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“What does he mean?” asked Marjorie, staring blankly at her brother.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” confessed Dick. “I beg your pardon,” he went on, +addressing the Walrus, “but I didn’t quite hear what you said.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Sprechen sie Deutsch?</i>” inquired the Walrus, with an encouraging +smile.</p> + +<p>“I can’t tell what the chap is talking about,” said Dick, turning to the +others in dismay.</p> + +<p>“Dond”t you undershtandt German, eh?” said the Walrus. “Ach! dat vos +verry bad,” and he shook his head reproachfully.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” argued Dick. “I can’t see that it matters much. We are +not likely to go there, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Not?” said the Walrus, lifting his eyebrows. “Vell, dere vos some funny +peoples in der vorld. Perhaps you dond”t <i>vant</i> to go dere?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_93" id="pg_93">93</a></span></p> + +<p>“Not much,” admitted Dick.</p> + +<p>The Walrus shrugged his shoulders, and looked commiseratingly at the +dog, who gave a sniff, and shrugged his shoulders too.</p> + +<p>“What we want to know,” said Dick, in a businesslike way, “is, Where are +we now, and how are we to get back to England?”</p> + +<p>“Vell, you vas in Germany now,” said the Walrus.</p> + +<p>“Germany!” exclaimed the children, in surprise. “Why, we’re quite near +to England, then.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Walrus, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“But we must be,” persisted Dick.</p> + +<p>“No,” repeated the Walrus. “Dis is not der Germany you mean, but id is +Germany all der same—most of der vorld is Germany.”</p> + +<p>“What nonsense!” laughed Dick. “I’m sure it isn’t. Why, there’s heaps of +places besides Germany. There’s—er—Africa, for instance——”</p> + +<p>“Thadt’s Germany!” said the Walrus, nodding violently.</p> + +<p>“Africa is?” cried Dick.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_94" id="pg_94">94</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yah! das is so,” said the Walrus. “Africa, und China, und alle der +blaces—dey is all Germany.”</p> + +<p>“The chap is evidently a little wrong in the head,” explained Dick to +the others in a whisper. “Never mind; don’t take any notice. Well, to +come to the point, <i>can</i> you direct us home again, that is the +question?” he asked, aloud.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Walrus, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>“Or to the Equator?” suggested the Dodo, smoothing out his gloves.</p> + +<p>The Walrus stared for a moment, and then, pointing to the Dodo with the +stem of his pipe, inquired, “Vat is dat ting?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo drew himself up to his full height, and gave him a withering +look. “How dare you?” he cried.</p> + +<p>“Vell, vat <i>is</i> id, anyhow?” chuckled the Walrus. “I never saw +somethings like id before, never!”</p> + +<p>“Of course not,” said the Dodo, with dignity, “Our family have been +extinct for some time.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_95" id="pg_95">95</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:356px"> +<a name="illus-023" id="illus-023"></a> +<img src="images/img-00102.jpg" alt="When the children got into the clumsy fur garments, they found them exceedingly comfortable.—Page 95. Dick, Marjorie and Fidge." title="" width="356" /><br /> +<span class="caption">When the children got into the clumsy fur garments, they found them exceedingly comfortable.—Page 95. <i>Dick, Marjorie and Fidge.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>“Vell, und vy didn’t you keep so?” asked the Walrus. “It vas der best +ting vat you could do. Dere is no goot for such tings like you to be +aboudt.”</p> + +<p>“Come along,” said the Dodo, turning to the others; “let’s go. I was +never so insulted in all my life.”</p> + +<p>“Ach! don’t ged in a demper,” said the Walrus, complacently. “Dat is no +goot also. Come, I show you der vay to der Equador—dat is Germany, +too,” he added, in parenthesis. “Bud you must haf some glothes first to +vare,” he cried, looking at the children’s scanty garments. “Id is so +gold dere.”</p> + +<p>“Cold at the Equator?” laughed Marjorie. “Why, I always thought that it +was very hot.”</p> + +<p>“Ach! dat is so,” said the Walrus. “But id is der gedding dere dat is so +gold. Come, I gif you some oudtfids,” and he led the way into the little +hut, which was hung all around with clumsy-looking fur garments, which, +however, when they had got into them, the children found to be +exceedingly comfortable.</p> + +<p>Besides the clothes, there were all kinds of stores piled up around the +inside of the hut,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_96" id="pg_96">96</a></span> and a quantity of snowshoes of various shapes, and +little sleds, like those which Dick remembered having seen in pictures +of Polar expeditions.</p> + +<p>When the children had been accommodated with some garments, the Walrus +turned to the Dodo, and said, “Veil, now, I egspecdt dat you vant some +glothes, too, dond”t id?”</p> + +<p>“No, thank you,” said the Dodo, proudly, settling his necktie and +folding his wings primly. “I have my gloves; they are quite +sufficient.”</p> + +<p>“Bud you haven’t any ting on your body,” said the Walrus. “You bedder +haf some glothes, eh?” and he kindly brought forth some very large +leather breeches, which the Dodo, after some hesitation, consented to +put on.</p> + +<p>Next the Walrus took down a rough, hairy coat, with mittens attached to +the sleeves.</p> + +<p>“Gom, put your arms in dis,” he said, “and trow avay dose gloves you got +on.”</p> + +<p>“What!” cried the Dodo, “take off my gloves? Never!”</p> + +<p>And he wouldn’t either; but put his wings<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_97" id="pg_97">97</a></span> (such as he had) into the +coat sleeves with the gloves still on the end of them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> +<a name="illus-024" id="illus-024"></a> +<img src="images/img-00106.jpg" alt=""'What' cried the Dodo, 'take off my gloves? Never!'"" title="" width="357" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'What' cried the Dodo, 'take off my gloves? Never!'"</span> +</div> + +<p>“Now you musdt haf some stores,” said the Walrus, going to the cupboard, +and bringing out some tins of sardines, some jam, and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_98" id="pg_98">98</a></span> things, +which he carefully tied on to the sled.</p> + +<p>“Now ve are ready to stardt,” he said, when these preparations were +completed; and after harnessing the little dog to the sled the party +made a move.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the least idea where we are going to,” said Dick, as they +walked along; “have you?”</p> + +<p>“Not the slightest,” said the Dodo. “I don’t suppose it matters much, +though, as long as we get somewhere or another.”</p> + +<p>The old Walrus was trudging along in front, leading Fidge (who seemed to +have taken a violent fancy to him) by the hand; presently he stopped in +front of a big round hole, and waited for the others to catch up to him.</p> + +<p>“Here ve are,” he said, pointing to the enormous hole, which looked like +the crater of an extinct volcano lined with ice.</p> + +<p>“Whatever is that?” asked Marjorie, peering over the edge curiously.</p> + +<p>“Der North Bole,” said the Walrus. “Id vas German, too,” he added, +emphatically.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_99" id="pg_99">99</a></span></p> + +<p>“The North Pole!” exclaimed the children. “Why, there isn’t any pole at +all!”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Walrus, “das is so, id vas meldted all avay.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:344px"> +<a name="illus-025" id="illus-025"></a> +<img src="images/img-00108.jpg" alt=""'Well, good-bye,' said Dick."" title="" width="344" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Well, good-bye,' said Dick."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Good gracious!” cried Dick.</p> + +<p>“Yah! id vas mit der lightning struck, und<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_100" id="pg_100">100</a></span> meldted all avay, und made a +big hole in der ground all der vay trough der earth to der Equador. Id +vas made in Germany, dat pole,” he added.</p> + +<p>The children gazed with wondering eyes into the deep, dark hole, and +Marjorie clung to Dick’s arm nervously. “How wonderful!” she exclaimed; +“but I’m glad we’ve seen where it was, aren’t you, Dick?”</p> + +<p>But Dick was thinking deeply.</p> + +<p>“Are you sure it went right through to the Equator?” he asked of the +Walrus.</p> + +<p>“Yah!” said that worthy, “for sure.”</p> + +<p>“Then if we slid through, we should come out at the other end?” said +Dick.</p> + +<p>“Yah! das is so,” said the Walrus, nodding violently.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, I think we’ll do it,” said Dick, boldly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dick!” cried Marjorie, in alarm.</p> + +<p>“Well, why not?” said Dick, for, really, so many strange things had +happened that nothing seemed impossible to him now. “It would be rather +jolly to see what it’s like at the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_101" id="pg_101">101</a></span> end, and it’s no use stopping +here. Do you know your way from the Equator?” he added, turning to the +Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the bird, who was quite ready to start on the perilous +voyage, and, grasping Fidge by the hand, he gave a loud whoop, and began +to slide down the steep incline.</p> + +<p>“Well, good-by,” cried Dick, hurriedly, shaking hands with the Walrus. +“Thanks for all your kindness.” And, jumping on the sled behind +Marjorie, he pushed off, and they shot over the edge after the others.</p> + +<p>They just caught a glimpse of the little dog throwing up his arms in +surprise, and as they disappeared into space they heard the old Walrus +crying, in an anxious voice—</p> + +<p>“Gom back! gom back! I forgot to tell you somedings.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_102" id="pg_102">102</a></span> +<a name="SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES_2263" id="SOME_NEW_ACQUAINTANCES_2263"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3>SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES.</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was all very well for the Walrus to shout “Come back!” but <i>that</i> was +a matter of utter impossibility, for down—and down—and down the +children sped at a terrific rate, so quickly indeed that after a moment +or two they must have lost their senses completely, for not one of them +could remember anything about the marvelous journey through the center +of the earth.</p> + +<p>“It seemed,” Dick explained afterwards, “as though we were falling +through a big black hole for hours and hours, and then, all of a sudden, +it was light again, and we shot out into the air at the other end.”</p> + +<p>The children were greatly relieved to find that they were not expected +to walk on their heads, as they had vaguely feared might have been the +case on the other side of the world. “But, of course,” Marjorie +explained, “we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_103" id="pg_103">103</a></span> not really <i>quite</i> on the other side, or we should +be at the South Pole, and that would be as cold as where we came from, +wouldn’t it, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,” answered Dick, looking about him. “Well, this place is +hot enough, anyhow, whew!” and he unbuttoned the heavy fur coat which he +had been glad enough to put on a short time before.</p> + +<p>“We are probably somewhere near the Equator,” remarked the Dodo, +pointing to the palms and other tropical plants to be seen on every +side. “I’ve heard that this sort of thing grows there.”</p> + +<p>“In that case we have only to find out where the sea is, and wait on the +shore for a passing ship to come and take us back to England,” said +Marjorie, who was as fond as her brother of reading books of adventure, +and so knew exactly what to expect under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Fidge had divested himself of his snowshoes and heavy Arctic outfit, and +was eagerly chasing some gaudy butterflies which were flitting about +amongst the bright tropical flowers, and the others, feeling the heat +very oppressive, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_104" id="pg_104">104</a></span> glad to follow his example, and get rid of their +cumbersome clothing. Marjorie made a neat little bundle of them, and hid +them behind a big stone, and then, calling Fidge to them, the party set +out to explore the surrounding country.</p> + +<p>They had not gone far before they heard a voice crying out in a +peremptory way—</p> + +<p>“Now then! move on, there!”</p> + +<p>The Dodo was highly indignant at being addressed in this unceremonious +way, particularly as he once more displayed his white kid gloves and his +bright necktie, and consequently, imagined that he presented a dignified +and imposing appearance.</p> + +<p>“Who’s that?” he cried, looking about him angrily.</p> + +<p>“Now then, move on! Do you hear?” cried the voice again.</p> + +<p>The children stared to the right and left, in front of them, and behind +them, but no one was in sight.</p> + +<p>“That’s very strange!” exclaimed Dick. “Whoever can it be?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_105" id="pg_105">105</a></span></p> + +<p>“<i>Will</i> you move on, there?” shouted the voice, louder than ever, and, +looking up into the trees, the children saw a huge green parrot, with a +red tail, hanging down from one of the branches by one claw, while he +shook the other at them menacingly.</p> + +<p>“Bah! it’s only a parrot,” said the Dodo, in a contemptuous voice.</p> + +<p>“What!” screamed the bird; “only a parrot, indeed. Who are you, I should +like to know?”</p> + +<p>“We’re tourists,” said the Dodo, importantly. “These—ahem—gentlemen, +and this lady and myself, are on our way to visit the Ichthyosaurus, +while you are merely a common or garden parrot, and not at all fit and +proper person for us to be seen talking to. Come along,” he added to the +others, grandly, and started to walk off with his beak in the air.</p> + +<p>“Hoity, toity! Not so fast,” said the parrot. “I’ve no doubt you think +yourself very grand with your kid gloves and your consequential airs; +but allow me to inform you that <i>I</i> am some one of consequence in these +parts, too. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_106" id="pg_106">106</a></span> am a police officer, and regulate the traffic, so move +on, there, and don’t block the way.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Marjorie, “if this—er—” (she was going to say “bird,” but +thought perhaps the parrot might be offended, and she certainly couldn’t +say “gentleman,” so she got out of it this way)—“if this is a police +officer, perhaps he could be kind enough to direct us to where the +steamboats start for England.”</p> + +<p>“I daresay I <i>could</i> if I wanted to,” said the parrot, ungraciously, +“but I don’t choose. Move on! You are stopping the traffic.”</p> + +<p>“What nonsense! you ridiculous bird; there is not any traffic,” said +Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh! isn’t there? A lot <i>you</i> know about it,” replied the parrot. +“There’s a vehicle coming along this way now.”</p> + +<p>The children turned around, and, sure enough, there was a something +coming down the road, though what it was the children couldn’t determine +till it came a little closer. They waited and waited, but it scarcely +seemed to move at all, and, at last, Dick, whose curiosity was greatly +aroused, proposed going to meet it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_107" id="pg_107">107</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let’s go and fetch the clothes the Walrus gave us first,” suggested +Marjorie, wisely, and so they ran off to the rock behind which they had +hidden them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:366px"> +<a name="illus-026" id="illus-026"></a> +<img src="images/img-00116.jpg" alt=""The snowshoes seemed to puzzle them somewhat."" title="" width="366" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The snowshoes seemed to puzzle them somewhat."</span> +</div> + +<p>To their great surprise, they found a party of apes and monkeys calmly +trying the things on, and apparently enjoying themselves very much +indeed. The snowshoes seemed to puzzle them considerably, however, and +they were undecided<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_108" id="pg_108">108</a></span> whether to regard them as musical instruments or a +novel form of headgear.</p> + +<p>“Hi! Just you put those clothes down at once!” shouted Dick. “How dare +you interfere with our things!”</p> + +<p>“They’re not yours,” said one of the monkeys. “Findings keepings. We +found them, and so they are ours.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed they are not. Give them back at once!” demanded Dick.</p> + +<p>“Shan’t!” screamed the monkeys, impudently, and, scampering up into the +trees beyond the children’s reach, they made grimaces at them, and +openly defied them. Indeed, one of them went so far as to climb up into +a cocoanut palm and began pelting the children with the nuts.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, none of them reached the mark, however, and the children, +hastily gathered one or two of the cocoanuts, abandoned the clothes, +which, really, were not of much value to them now, and fled.</p> + +<p>This little incident had almost driven from their mind the recollection +of the vehicle which they had seen in the high-road, but a rumbling<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_109" id="pg_109">109</a></span> +sound, as they neared the place where they had last seen it, reminded +them of the fact, and they hurried up to the spot from whence the sounds +proceeded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:368px"> +<a name="illus-027" id="illus-027"></a> +<img src="images/img-00118.jpg" alt=""'I shall get very angry in a minute,' said the Dodo."" title="" width="368" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'I shall get very angry in a minute,' said the Dodo."</span> +</div> + +<p>To their great astonishment, they found a clumsy-looking cart, somewhat +resembling the pictures which they had seen of the old Roman chariots, +to the shafts of which a sleepy-looking sloth-bear was attached.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! what a funny horse,” laughed Fidge. “It is a horse, isn’t it, +Dick?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Dick; “I don’t think so.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_110" id="pg_110">110</a></span></p> + +<p>“Horse! no, indeed,” said the Dodo. “It’s a kind of camel.”</p> + +<p>“I ain’t,” said the sloth-bear, with a yawn.</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t say ‘ain’t,’” said the Dodo, rebukingly. “What are you, +then?”</p> + +<p>There was no answer, the creature had gone to sleep.</p> + +<p>“Wake up! wake up!” cried the Dodo, shaking him violently. “The idea of +dropping off to sleep when any one is talking to you!”</p> + +<p>“I thought you were going to preach,” explained the sloth-bear. “You +began talking about something that I shouldn’t do or say, and I always +go to sleep when people talk to me like that—it’s so stupid of them.”</p> + +<p>“Where are you going to?” asked the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” was the reply. “Where are you?”</p> + +<p>“We want to get to the place where the steamers start for England,” +explained Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Jump in, then,” said the sloth-bear, jerking his head in the direction +of the cart; and the children, highly delighted at the prospect of a +ride, all scrambled in.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_111" id="pg_111">111</a></span></p> + +<p>Dick took the reins, and Marjorie made herself comfortable beside him, +while Fidge dangled his legs over the back of the “chariot,” the Dodo +solemnly squatting down at his side, with his gloves carefully +displayed, and his necktie properly adjusted.</p> + +<p>“Now then,” said Dick, shaking the reins, “we are ready to start. Go on, +please.”</p> + +<p>There was no answer, and it transpired that the creature was asleep +again.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” said the Dodo, impatiently, “we shall never get +anywhere at this rate. I say, do wake up,” he cried, going up to the +sloth-bear and giving him a good shake.</p> + +<p>“Oh! are you ready?” said that individual, waking up slowly. “Come on, +then!” and he took two or three steps forward, and then stopped to rest, +his eyes gradually closing, and his head beginning to sink.</p> + +<p>“Come, come!” said the Dodo, getting in front of him, grasping the +reins, and pulling with all his might. “I shall get very angry with you +in a minute. It’s perfectly ridiculous going on in this way; however do +you imagine<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_112" id="pg_112">112</a></span> we are to get to our destination if you waste time in this +manner?”</p> + +<p>The answer was a loud snore from the sloth-bear, who had once more +fallen into a deep sleep.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_113" id="pg_113">113</a></span> +<a name="THE_SKIPPER_OF_THE_ARGONAUT_2479" id="THE_SKIPPER_OF_THE_ARGONAUT_2479"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3>THE SKIPPER OF THE ARGONAUT.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Well, of all the stupid creatures,” said the Dodo, “I think that this +is the most remarkable. Here, I say! Wake up, will you!” and he gave the +reins another sharp pull.</p> + +<p>The sloth-bear blinked his eyes, sleepily, and muttered, “What’s up?”</p> + +<p>“Why, aren’t you going to make a start?” inquired the Dodo, angrily; +“how do you suppose we shall ever get to our destination if you go on +like this?”</p> + +<p>The sloth-bear, after staring vacantly awhile slowly shook his head. +“Speed not to exceed quarter of a mile an hour, them’s my orders,” he +said, “and four times nine is—er—ninety-nine, so you’ll get there +about next Thursday week. Y—ah—a—a—ow,” and he gave another +tremendous yawn, as his head sank between his knees again.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious! what’s to be done?” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_114" id="pg_114">114</a></span> Dick, getting down from the +chariot. “It’s not the slightest use our trying to go anywhere in this +thing.”</p> + +<p>“What did he mean by saying four times nine were ninety-nine? They +ain’t,” said Fidge, “”cos I know my ”four times,” and four nines are +thirty-six.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it was something to do with the number of miles we shall have +to travel before we reach the place where the ships start from,” +suggested Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Wake him up again, will you, please?” she said, turning to the Dodo. +“Perhaps he will tell us.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said the Dodo, “I’ll wake him up. Here!” he cried, going up +to the sloth-bear, and giving him a good shake. “Wake up! Wake up!”</p> + +<p>The creature slowly lifted his head, and, staring reproachfully at the +Dodo, began to cry. “Boo—hoo—hoo! Boo—hoo—hoo!” he sobbed. “It’s a +shame, it is.”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter now, cry-baby?” asked the Dodo.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_115" id="pg_115">115</a></span></p> + +<p>“Why can’t you let me alone?” whined the sloth-bear. “I’ve never done +nothing to you, have I? Why can’t you let a poor beast sleep in peace?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, for goodness’ sake let the lazy old thing go to sleep if it wants +to,” said Dick, impatiently, while tender-hearted Marjorie went up to +the creature and stroked and comforted it as best she could.</p> + +<p>Her pity was wasted, however, for almost before the last words were out +of its mouth the sloth-bear was snoring peacefully with a contented +smirk on its face.</p> + +<p>“Come on,” said Dick, “let’s try and find the way ourselves. Oh! I +know,” he exclaimed; “of course, why we’ve forgotten all about the power +we have of floating in the air; we’ll rise up above the trees, and then +we shall soon see where the sea is.”</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done. The children just expressed the wish, and, as +the Little Panjandrum’s Ambassador had promised them, they found that +they had the power of rising at will.</p> + +<p>“Jolly, isn’t it?” said Dick, as they floated<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_116" id="pg_116">116</a></span> upwards, leaving the Dodo +gazing after them enviously.</p> + +<p>“Like being in a b”loon,” chuckled Fidge, clutching at the leaves of a +tree as he passed through them. Fidge never would pronounce balloon +properly.</p> + +<p>“Oh! look!” cried Marjorie, as they passed above the trees, “there’s the +sea over there, and some houses, and people on the beach. I can see them +quite distinctly. Oh, jolly, we can soon fly over there; come on.”</p> + +<p>“What about the Dodo?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course. I’d forgotten him. Let’s see, he can’t fly, can he?”</p> + +<p>“Judging by the exhibition he made of himself when we first saw him, I +should say not,” laughed Dick.</p> + +<p>“Well, perhaps we could carry him between us,” suggested Marjorie, “he +doesn’t look <i>very</i> heavy.”</p> + +<p>“All right, let’s try,” said her brother, and, having made quite sure of +the direction in which the sea lay, they slowly descended to the ground +again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_117" id="pg_117">117</a></span></p> + +<p>“Find out what you wanted to?” asked the Dodo, who had taken off his +gloves, and was blowing into them to take out the creases.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Dick, “there are a few houses by the side of the sea about +two miles to the left; do you think you could manage to fly as far as +that?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo smiled in a sickly sort of way. “I’m a little out of practise,” +he faltered.</p> + +<p>“Well, do you think that if we each took hold of one of +your—ahem—wings, we could get along that way?”</p> + +<p>“You wouldn’t crush my gloves?” asked the Dodo, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you could take them off, you know,” said Dick, “and put them in +your p——” (he was going to say pocket, but suddenly remembered that +the Dodo hadn’t one)—“in my pocket till we get there, if you like,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“What!” cried the Dodo, indignantly, “travel without my gloves! Never! +It wouldn’t be respectable. I shouldn’t think of doing such a thing!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, come, on then; let’s try this way,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_118" id="pg_118">118</a></span> said Dick, putting his +arm under one of the Dodo’s wings, while Marjorie did the same to the +other. “Now then—one—two—three.”</p> + +<p>Slowly, very slowly, the children rose, for the Dodo was rather heavy +after all, as he dangled down clumsily and uncomfortably between them.</p> + +<p>I think they would have managed, however, but just as they had reached +the lower branches of the trees, they heard a voice scream furiously—</p> + +<p>“<i>Now</i>, then, what are you up to?”</p> + +<p>In their agitation they let go of the Dodo, who, after making several +frantic efforts to support himself, fell to the ground with a dull thud.</p> + +<p>“What are you up to, I say?” said the voice again, and the children +could see that the parrot, who had been so insolent to them before, was +sitting on one of the branches near them.</p> + +<p>“Pretty objects you are making of yourselves, I must say,” he remarked, +sneeringly. “What do you think you are doing, I should like to know?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_119" id="pg_119">119</a></span></p> + +<p>“I don’t see what it has to do with you,” said Dick, crossly, while the +Dodo, with his eyes shut and his head on one side, ran about rubbing his +back with one pinion, and crying, “Oh! oh! oh!” for he had evidently +hurt himself very much.</p> + +<p>“You don’t, do you?” said the parrot. “Well, then, it has a great deal +to do with me. Trying to fly, weren’t you? Well, you are not birds, and +it isn’t allowed; do you hear? The idea of mere human creatures aping +their betters in that way. Flying, indeed! Don’t you let me catch you at +it again, or you will be sorry for it, I can tell you. Now move on, and +walk on your feet in a sensible way, like rational human beings. Go +along! What next, I wonder!”</p> + +<p>He was evidently so very angry that the children thought it best not to +provoke him further, so, leading the Dodo, who hobbled along painfully, +they walked silently away in the direction of the sea, while the parrot +watched them with a severe expression, screaming out—“Move on! move +on!” every time they stopped.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_120" id="pg_120">120</a></span></p> + +<p>“What a disagreeable bird,” whispered Marjorie, when they had gone some +little distance.</p> + +<p>“Wretch!” declared the Dodo, rubbing his back.</p> + +<p>“For two pins I’d wring his neck,” muttered Dick, angrily.</p> + +<p>“Much obliged, I’m sure,” said a mocking voice overhead, and there was +that wretched parrot, looking down from one of the upper branches.</p> + +<p>“Listeners never hear any good of themselves,” remarked the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Pooh!—as though I cared what <i>you</i> thought about me,” said the parrot. +“Why, if I liked, I could—oh!” he cried, looking off to the left, “the +Skipper,” and, spreading his wings, he flew rapidly away with every sign +of alarm.</p> + +<p>The children followed his glance, and saw coming towards them a very +stout, very jolly-looking sailor, with a red, hearty face and a jovial +smile. To their great surprise, they saw that he was using a +skipping-rope, and skipping towards them, smiling good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness, here’s a man at last,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_121" id="pg_121">121</a></span> Dick. “Now we shall be +able to find out something as to where we are, and how we are to get +home again.”</p> + +<p>“Ship ahoy!” called out the sailor, when he first saw them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:308px"> +<a name="illus-028" id="illus-028"></a> +<img src="images/img-00130.jpg" alt=""'They calls me a skipper,' said he, 'because I skips.'"" title="" width="308" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'They calls me a skipper,' said he, 'because I skips.'"</span> +</div> + +<p>“How do you do?” said Dick, politely offering his hand.</p> + +<p>“Stop a bit, my hearty,” said the sailor. “Salt!” and he began skipping +rather quickly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_122" id="pg_122">122</a></span> “Pepper!!” and he quickened the pace considerably. +“Mustard!!!” and the rope flew round so quickly that the children could +hardly see it, while the jolly fat sailor skipped up and down furiously. +Presently he stopped, and sank exhausted on a stone, puffing and blowing +with all his might.</p> + +<p>“I’m a Skipper,” he panted, in an explanatory tone.</p> + +<p>“A Skipper!” exclaimed the children.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they calls me a Skipper,” said he, “because I skips.”</p> + +<p>“But I thought a Skipper was a kind of Captain or something,” said +Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Quite right, my little dear; I’m Captain of the tidiest craft ye ever +set eyes on. She’s lying out yonder. Will ye come and have a look at +her?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, please,” said Dick, delightedly; “and perhaps you can tell us +the way to get to England?”</p> + +<p>“To be sure I can,” said the Skipper. “There are my men,” he said, +proudly, as they came to an open space, where a dozen or more<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_123" id="pg_123">123</a></span> sailors, +of all ages, sat at spinning wheels, working industriously.</p> + +<p>“Whatever are they doing?” inquired Marjorie, curiously.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:368px"> +<a name="illus-029" id="illus-029"></a> +<img src="images/img-00132.jpg" alt=""Each sailor was spinning a yarn."" title="" width="368" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Each sailor was spinning a yarn."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Spinning yarns,” explained the Skipper; “each sailor is spinning a +yarn—they always do that in their spare time, you know. Here, Bill,” he +called out to one of the sailors, who answered, “Aye, aye, Sir,” and +touched his forelock. “Bring some of your yarn here, and show this young +lady.”</p> + +<p>The man said, “Aye, aye, Sir,” again, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_124" id="pg_124">124</a></span> came forward with some coarse +brown worsted.</p> + +<p>“This,” said the Skipper, “is the toughest yarn you will find anywhere. +We are celebrated for it here.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_125" id="pg_125">125</a></span> +<a name="THE_ARCHAEligOPTERYX_2717" id="THE_ARCHAEligOPTERYX_2717"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3>THE ARCHÆOPTERYX.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“But we always thought——” began Marjorie—</p> + +<p>“That when people spoke of a sailor ”spinning a yarn,” they meant +telling a story,” finished Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh! how <i>could</i> you think such a thing,” said the sailors, +indignantly. “Sailors always tell the truth; don’t they, Skipper?”</p> + +<p>The Skipper winked at Dick with one eye, and answered, guardedly, “Ahem! +I <i>have</i> heard a sailor speak the truth, certainly, but——”</p> + +<p>“Let’s change the subject,” said the sailors, getting up from their +wheels. “Isn’t it nearly time for us to be starting on another voyage?”</p> + +<p>“When we get some passengers, it will be,” responded the Skipper, +gruffly. “By-the-bye,” he added, turning to the children; “<i>you</i> want to +go somewhere or another, don’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, to England,” said Dick, eagerly. “Do you go there, please?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_126" id="pg_126">126</a></span></p> + +<p>“H’m! Never heard of the place as I knows of,” said the Skipper, +scratching his head. “We might cruise about till we come across it, if +you like, though.”</p> + +<p>“Never heard of England!” exclaimed Dick.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Skipper, unconcernedly. “I never had no time to study +goggerfy, I didn’t, so there’s lots of places I don’t know, no more than +the Man in the Moon.”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you find it very awkward?” cried the children; “however do +you know how to go from one place to another?”</p> + +<p>“We don’t know,” said the Skipper, laughing; “that’s just the fun of the +thing. We get into our ship, and just go on and on till we come to +somewhere or another, and then we land, you know. It’s much the best +way, and saves such a lot of bother.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid we should be a long while reaching England that way,” +remarked Dick, dubiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” said the Skipper, “we might drop across it the first +time, you know. You see, it’s not much use knowing in which<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_127" id="pg_127">127</a></span> direction +it lies, because, once you get out to sea, there are no roads and +things, so one way is as good as another.”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you use a compass?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“What’s that, Miss?” asked the Skipper.</p> + +<p>“Why, a little thing that always points to the North,” said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Blessed if I know, Miss,” said the Skipper, good-naturedly. “Here, +Bill,” he called to one of the sailors, “do we use a little thing that +always points to the North?”</p> + +<p>“Not as I knows on,” answered the man, sulkily. “We ain’t got none of +them newfangled things, and don’t want ’em.”</p> + +<p>“Dear me, what a very odd ship yours must be,” said Dick. “Is it a +steamer, or a sailing vessel, please?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s partly a sailing vessel and partly a rowing boat,” said the +Skipper. “She’s a very fine ship,” he added, proudly, “come and have a +look at her.”</p> + +<p>The children followed him to a kind of rough harbor, where a most +extraordinary craft was<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_128" id="pg_128">128</a></span> moored. She looked very like a picture which +all the children remembered having seen in an old book at home, and +although there was a small sail, a number of gaily-painted paddles +sticking through the side of the huge boat, showed that, as the Skipper +had said, rowing played a very important part in moving it along.</p> + +<p>“What a dear old-fashioned thing,” exclaimed Marjorie, directly she saw +it.</p> + +<p>The Skipper looked rather hurt. “It isn’t more than a thousand years +old,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s an awful long time for a ship to last, isn’t it?” said +Marjorie, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>“Our family is much older than that,” chimed in the Dodo, +consequentially. “We date back to——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, please don’t go into ancient history,” said the Skipper, “I can’t +bear it; it reminds me so of my younger days, when I was first learning +to skip.”</p> + +<p>“What <i>do</i> you mean?” asked the children.</p> + +<p>“Why, when I was a little boy, you know,” explained the Skipper, “I used +to skip all the dry<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_129" id="pg_129">129</a></span> parts of a book—and the pages and pages I used to +skip of my ancient history you’d never believe. It was that which +decided my parents upon making me a Skipper. ”He’ll never do for +anything else,” they used to say?”</p> + +<p>“Well, are you going aboard or not?” he added, “because, if so, we ought +to be starting.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, let’s go,” pleaded Marjorie, “we might just as well be on +board as at this place, you know, and we shall, at any rate, be going +somewhere, and perhaps we shall find some one who knows the way to +England on the sea.”</p> + +<p>So the children and the Dodo went aboard, and the Skipper blew a little +whistle, which he wore tied around his neck by a white cord, and the +sailors all came running up, bringing their spinning wheels, which they +packed away at the bow of the vessel, and then settled themselves down +at the oars. At the other end was a cosy little cabin, and above it a +small deck, upon which the little passengers made themselves quite +comfortable, and the Captain ordered the scales to be brought up from +below.</p> + +<p>“What are they for?” asked Dick, who, boy-like,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_130" id="pg_130">130</a></span> always wanted to know +the reason for everything.</p> + +<p>“To weigh the anchor with,” explained the Skipper, seriously. “We always +have to weigh it when we start on a voyage, and again when we reach our +journey’s end.”</p> + +<p>“What for?” asked Dick, who certainly remembered having heard the +expression “weighing the anchor” before.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know, I’m sure,” said the Skipper; “pack of nonsense, I +calls it; but it’s the custom, and it’s got to be done.”</p> + +<p>So the anchor was duly weighed, and the exact weight put down in a book, +and the <i>Argosy</i>, as the ship was called, slowly moved out of the +harbor.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful day, but there was just a little breeze blowing, and +the sea was a little “choppy” outside, and, as a consequence, the +<i>Argosy</i> rolled a little.</p> + +<p>After they had been out at sea for about an hour, and the Skipper had +been letting them take turns in looking through his telescope, the Dodo +suddenly muttered something about having<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_131" id="pg_131">131</a></span> “forgotten his +pocket-handkerchief,” and hurried down into the cabin.</p> + +<p>“Why, I didn’t know he had one,” said Marjorie, wonderingly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:291px"> +<a name="illus-030" id="illus-030"></a> +<img src="images/img-00140.jpg" alt=""Hope you're feeling better, Sir."" title="" width="291" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Hope you're feeling better, Sir."</span> +</div> + +<p>The Skipper winked, and said in a whisper behind his hand, “They always +say that; he’s gone to lie down, the motion of the boat has made him +feel a little seasick.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo didn’t come up for a long while<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_132" id="pg_132">132</a></span> and at last the Skipper said +he would go down and see if he wanted anything.</p> + +<p>He found the poor bird looking the picture of misery, lolling limply +against the cushioned seat.</p> + +<p>“Hope you’re feeling better, Sir,” he said, respectfully, tugging at his +forelock.</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh!” groaned the Dodo. “Do throw me overboard, and let me die.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense,” said the Skipper, cheerfully. “You’ll be all right in an +hour or two.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” said the bird; “I shall never be well again. I have never, +never felt so ill in all my life.”</p> + +<p>“Lie down, Sir, and I’ll cover you up with this rug,” said the Skipper, +kindly; “you’ll be better presently.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell the others,” gasped the bird, faintly.</p> + +<p>“All right, Sir,” was the reply, and the Skipper went on deck again.</p> + +<p>The breeze was quite fresh still, and the children had climbed up into +the “lookout,” and were pointing eagerly into the distance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_133" id="pg_133">133</a></span></p> + +<p>“Land! over there!” shouted Dick, when he saw the Skipper.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Ah! It’s an island,” said the Skipper. “I’ve been there before. The +Archæopteryx lives there.”</p> + +<p>“The what?” cried the children.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> +<a name="illus-031" id="illus-031"></a> +<img src="images/img-00142.jpg" alt=""'Charmed to meet you,' said the Archæopteryx."" title="" width="358" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Charmed to meet you,' said the Archæopteryx."</span> +</div> + +<p>“The Archæopteryx,” repeated the Skipper. “It’s an awful name, isn’t +it?”</p> + +<p>“What is he?” demanded Dick.</p> + +<p>“A kind of lizardish bird, or a birdish lizard, whichever you like,” was +the reply. “He’s a great swell, I can tell you, and fancies himself +immensely.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_134" id="pg_134">134</a></span></p> + +<p>The children were all eagerness to see this strange creature, and could +scarcely wait until the ship reached the land.</p> + +<p>The Skipper went down and told the Dodo, who, directly he heard that +they would meet the Archæopteryx, made a great effort to pull himself +together again.</p> + +<p>“I mustn’t let him see me in this state,” he declared. “He is a distant +relative of mine, and a person of great consequence. Do you think,” he +continued, addressing the Skipper, “that you could clean up my gloves a +little with some bread crumbs, they have become slightly soiled; and +would you kindly rearrange my necktie?”</p> + +<p>These necessary preparations completed, the Dodo staggered up on deck +just as the <i>Argosy</i> reached the shore.</p> + +<p>The Archæopteryx was waiting for them on the beach, and recognized the +Dodo immediately.</p> + +<p>“Charmed to meet you again,” he said, hurrying forward to meet him, and +raising his hat, with a polite bow. “Pray, introduce me to your +friends.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_135" id="pg_135">135</a></span> +<a name="THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUMS_BALLOON_2947" id="THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUMS_BALLOON_2947"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3>THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM”S BALLOON.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Delighted to make your acquaintance,” said the Archæopteryx, when the +necessary introductions had been made. “I’ve often wanted to meet some +human beings; come and have luncheon with me. I’ve a couple of old +friends staying here who will be delighted to see you.” So saying, he +led the way to where two most extraordinary-looking creatures sat +waiting at a table, which was set for seven people.</p> + +<p>“Both antediluvians,” whispered their host, “the Palæotherium and the +Eterædarium. Capital chaps, but crotchety.”</p> + +<p>Fidge was a little alarmed at first, for they were really very ugly. +They seemed quite amiable, however; and the Palæotherium—his mouth full +of banana—motioned them to seats at the table, and, turning to the +Dodo, said, “Haven’t I seen you before?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo smirked, and, smoothing his gloves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_136" id="pg_136">136</a></span> said, in a self-conscious +voice, “Very possibly we <i>may</i> have met before. I don’t remember you, +but mine is a face which one is not likely to forget. Where did we meet, +do you think?”</p> + +<p>“I’m trying to remember,” said the Palæotherium, “it must have been +several hundreds of years ago now, and my memory is getting so bad——”</p> + +<p>“I once stayed with the Ichthyosaurus,” said the Dodo. “It may have been +there.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, that must have been it,” said the Palæotherium. “I met a curious +lot of people there—very mixed lot of associates <i>he</i> had, to be sure.”</p> + +<p>“Ahem,” said the Dodo, indignantly. “I hope you don’t mean that I——”</p> + +<p>“My dear Sir,” replied the other, “I’m quite sure you are highly +respectable; your gloves alone are a guarantee for that.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks,” said the Dodo, looking quite happy again.</p> + +<p>“Do you know any riddles?” asked the Eterædarium, suddenly, addressing +Dick.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_137" id="pg_137">137</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let’s see,” said he, glad that the conversation had taken a turn which +they could all understand. “I think I do know a few. Why is a robin like +a waterbut?”</p> + +<p>“First of all,” said the Archæopteryx, anxiously, “what is a robin, and +who is a waterbut?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, a robin,” explained Marjorie, “is a dear little bird with a red +breast that comes in the winter——”</p> + +<p>“Stop! stop!” said the Palæotherium, “one thing at a time. What is a +bird?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I say! You <i>must</i> know what a bird is,” expostulated Dick.</p> + +<p>“I don’t,” said the Palæotherium, stubbornly.</p> + +<p>“Why—why—the Dodo is a bird,” explained Dick.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but nothing like a robin, Dick, dear,” added Marjorie; “a robin is +such a sweet, pretty little thing——”</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!” exclaimed the Dodo, “do you mean to say <i>I’m</i> not a +pretty little thing?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you’re not <i>quite</i> like a robin, are you?” said Marjorie, getting +out of the difficulty very cleverly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_138" id="pg_138">138</a></span></p> + +<p>“Not <i>quite</i>, perhaps,” admitted the Dodo; “but I <i>am</i> pretty,” he added +decidedly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see what all this has to do with my conundrum,” said Dick.</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s try again,” said the Archæopteryx. “Why is a robin like a +waterbut?”</p> + +<p>“A robin is a bird that comes in the winter,” repeated the Eterædarium, +“and the waterbut—is that also a bird?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” laughed Marjorie; “a waterbut is a tub for holding water.”</p> + +<p>“Can it fly?” asked the Eterædarium.</p> + +<p>“Of course not!” said Dick; “who ever heard of such a thing?”</p> + +<p>“Well, <i>is</i> it like a robin? That’s the point,” said the Palæotherium.</p> + +<p>“Not in appearance,” admitted Dick. “Will you give it up?” he added, +looking around the table.</p> + +<p>“Give what up?” asked the creatures.</p> + +<p>“The conundrum,” replied Dick.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t got it,” declared the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Nor have I.” “Nor I.” “Nor I,” said the others.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_139" id="pg_139">139</a></span></p> + +<p>“No, no! I mean, will you give the answer up?” said Dick, losing +patience.</p> + +<p>“But we haven’t it,” said the Archæopteryx.</p> + +<p>“Look here, I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said the Palæotherium, +generously: “I’ll give up the robin, and my friend here will give up the +waterbut. There!”</p> + +<p>“Now <i>that’s</i> settled,” said the Dodo, conclusively, “<i>I’ll</i> ask you a +conundrum. ”If your wife’s aunt is——””</p> + +<p>“Stop! stop!” said the Palæotherium, “I haven’t got a wife, you know.”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Eterædarium, “he hasn’t, and, if he had, she very likely +would not have an aunt. Make it my wife’s aunt.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” said the Dodo. “If <i>your</i> wife’s aunt is my brother’s son, +what relation is Dick to Tom?”</p> + +<p>“You haven’t asked it right,” said Dick, who knew a riddle something +like that. “It’s ”if this man’s father is that man’s son, what relation +is Dick to Tom?””</p> + +<p>“I wish you wouldn’t interfere,” said the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_140" id="pg_140">140</a></span> Dodo. “I tell you the +question is right as I asked it.”</p> + +<p>“But your wife’s aunt couldn’t be anybody’s son,” said Marjorie, who was +trying to puzzle it out.</p> + +<p>“Who said she <i>was</i>?” snapped the Dodo, crossly; “she is as likely to be +anybody’s son as a robin is to be like a waterbut, and besides, I didn’t +say she was; I said, if she was, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s work it out,” said the Eterædarium, spreading out his +fingers. “Let’s see, that’s my wife’s aunt,” he continued, pointing to +his thumb, “and that’s my brother’s son,” he added, touching the next +finger, “and the other two will do for Dick and Tom. Now—er——”</p> + +<p>“Who is the other finger?” interrupted the Dodo, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Me,” said the Palæotherium, solemnly and ungrammatically.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t,” declared the other.</p> + +<p>“It is,” repeated the Palæotherium.</p> + +<p>“Oh, very well! let it be so,” cried the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_141" id="pg_141">141</a></span> Archæopteryx, impatiently. +“What’s the answer, anyhow?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:370px"> +<a name="illus-032" id="illus-032"></a> +<img src="images/img-00150.jpg" alt=""'Who is the other finger?' interrupted the Dodo, anxiously."" title="" width="370" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Who is the other finger?' interrupted the Dodo, anxiously."</span> +</div> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said the Eterædarium, staring at his fingers stupidly. +“I don’t see what relation those two fingers are to the other two. Well, +what relation <i>is</i> Dick to Tom?” he asked, turning to the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“The same relation that the robin is to the waterbut,” said that bird, +conclusively. “Come on, let’s get the Skipper to teach us how to dance a +hornpipe,” and he led the way from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_142" id="pg_142">142</a></span> table, quite disregarding the +fact that the others had not finished.</p> + +<p>The Skipper, who had been quite as puzzled as the others were by these +extraordinary conundrums, willingly agreed, and, first of all, danced a +hornpipe himself very successfully, and then did his best to teach the +others.</p> + +<p>The Dodo, with his short legs and big body, very soon gave up trying, +and, thoroughly worn out by the exertion, lay panting on the shingle, +while the Eterædarium took his turn. He got along capitally, and the +children laughed heartily at the queer capers which he cut.</p> + +<p>They were in the midst of the fun, when the Dodo suddenly jumped up, +and, pointing excitedly up into the air, cried, “Look! Look! What’s +that?”</p> + +<p>They all looked in the direction which he indicated, and after a time +discerned a tiny speck in the sky, which the Skipper declared, after +watching some time, to be a balloon.</p> + +<p>“It’s all red,” cried Marjorie, whose eyesight was very keen.</p> + +<p>“What!” exclaimed the Dodo, trembling.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_143" id="pg_143">143</a></span> “Red! Are you sure?” he +inquired, anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Certain,” said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Dick, “I can see it now; it’s quite red—a bright scarlet, +in fact.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:367px"> +<a name="illus-033" id="illus-033"></a> +<img src="images/img-00152.jpg" alt=""The Eterædarium took his turn."" title="" width="367" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Eterædarium took his turn."</span> +</div> + +<p>“The Little Panjandrum’s State Balloon!” gasped the Dodo, in a terrible +fright. “Oh, my dear friends, hide me somewhere! If he finds me I’m done +for! I’ve—got—his gloves on—oh! How could I have been so foolish as<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_144" id="pg_144">144</a></span> +to have taken them—it’s all my pride—and now I shall have to suffer +for it—oh!—oh!” And the Dodo, quite overcome with fear and anxiety, +fell upon his knees and sobbed violently.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the state balloon belonging to His Importance the Little +Panjandrum rapidly drew near.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_145" id="pg_145">145</a></span> +<a name="THE_DUFF_AND_DEM_EXECUTIONER_3159" id="THE_DUFF_AND_DEM_EXECUTIONER_3159"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3>THE DUFF AND DEM EXECUTIONER.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Can you see who’s in it?” asked the Dodo, anxiously, when the balloon +had drawn a little nearer.</p> + +<p>“Two gentlemen,” declared Marjorie, whose eyesight was very keen. “And +one is carrying such a funny stick, with a big hand at the top of it.”</p> + +<p>“And the other one has just put on a hideous black mask, and has a +curious kind of pole with a sort of scythe at the end,” chimed in Dick.</p> + +<p>“What!” screamed the Dodo, “a black mask! Then it’s the Lord High +Executioner, and the other is the Court Glover. Oh dear! oh dear! what +will become of me? I wish I’d never seen the wretched old gloves.”</p> + +<p>The balloon by this time was almost directly overhead and was descending +rapidly. Presently two ropes were thrown out, and a muffled voice cried, +“Catch hold of these, please.”</p> + +<p>Dick politely ran forward and hung on to<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_146" id="pg_146">146</a></span> one rope, while Marjorie and +Fidge took the other.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:365px"> +<a name="illus-034" id="illus-034"></a> +<img src="images/img-00155.jpg" alt=""The Court Glover arrives."" title="" width="365" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Court Glover arrives."</span> +</div> + +<p>The occupants of the balloon then lowered some wooden steps, and gravely +descended, the Lord High Executioner leading the way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_147" id="pg_147">147</a></span></p> + +<p>The balloon, lightened of its occupants, bounded upwards again, and the +children (who had the greatest difficulty in hanging on to the ropes) +called to the Archæopteryx and the others to come to their aid. To their +great surprise, however, they discovered that these creatures, taking +the Dodo with them, quietly slipped away.</p> + +<p>The Court Glover and the Executioner helped the children to fasten the +balloon to one of the large palm trees, and then the Court Glover, +folding his arms, turned to them abruptly and inquired, “Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“Who do you mean, Sir?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“The Dodo,” was the response.</p> + +<p>“Oh! the Dodo! Why, he was here just now. I expect he has gone off with +the Archæopteryx and the others,” said Dick.</p> + +<p>“The what!” exclaimed the Court Glover.</p> + +<p>“The er—Archæopteryx,” said Dick, hesitatingly, fearing that he might +have mispronounced the name.</p> + +<p>“H’m! You see,” said the Court Glover, addressing the Executioner, “to +what depths this<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_148" id="pg_148">148</a></span> misguided bird has fallen, to actually associate with +an animal bearing a name of <i>that</i> description. I suppose it <i>is</i> an +animal, by-the-bye,” he added, turning to the children.</p> + +<p>“Well,” laughed Marjorie, “we are not quite sure. The Dodo says it’s a +kind of lizard-like bird, or bird-like lizard.”</p> + +<p>“It’s got feathers,” chimed in Fidge.</p> + +<p>“Ough! The miserable creature doesn’t even know what it is <i>itself</i>, I +expect,” said the Court Glover, in tones of disgust.</p> + +<p>“The others,” said Dick reflectively, “are evidently animals—the +Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Look here,” interrupted the Court Glover, severely, “you really must +<i>not</i> use such disgraceful language. I am not accustomed to it.”</p> + +<p>“Why, they are only names,” explained Dick, smilingly.</p> + +<p>“Very well, then. Call the creatures <i>thingummybobs</i>; I shall know what +you mean—only don’t use those other awful words again, they’re +outrageous. Now then, to come to the point—where is that Dodo?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_149" id="pg_149">149</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’ll try and find him,” said Dick, obligingly, running off in the +direction of some bushes, behind which he imagined that he might +possibly find the runaways.</p> + +<p>“Is your—er—chopper ready?” said the Court Glover, turning to the +executioner.</p> + +<p>“He—he—he—ye—es!” giggled that worthy.</p> + +<p>“Oh! If you please,” pleaded Marjorie, “I do hope you are not going to +execute the poor Dodo. I’m sure he’s <i>very</i> sorry that he took the +Little Panjandrum’s gloves, and he will give them back, I know. Please, +<i>please</i>, forgive him.”</p> + +<p>“He—he—he!” giggled the Executioner again.</p> + +<p>“Do be quiet,” shouted the Court Glover.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I don’t see anything to laugh at,” said Marjorie indignantly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, he’s <i>always</i> laughing,” declared the Court Glover; “that’s why he +has to wear a mask—so that people shan’t see him laughing while he is +chopping off their heads. It’s so rude, you know, to giggle at a time +like that, isn’t it?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_150" id="pg_150">150</a></span></p> + +<p>“I should think so, indeed,” cried Marjorie, in a horrified voice; +“perfectly disgraceful, I call it.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what the last man who was executed said,” declared the Court +Glover. After it was all over he said, “Well, I was never so +disgracefully executed before in all my life; and I hope the next time +you chop off my head, you’ll get some one else to do it.””</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand,” said Marjorie, who was dreadfully puzzled. “How +<i>could</i> he say all that after he was executed?”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” asked the Court Glover, composedly.</p> + +<p>“Why, people can’t talk when they are killed, you know,” said Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“He—he—he!” sniggered the Executioner, putting his hand up to his +mouth under his mask.</p> + +<p>The Court Glover frowned at him. “Bless you, they aren’t <i>killed</i>!” he +said.</p> + +<p>“Not killed, when they are executed!” cried Marjorie.</p> + +<p>The Executioner giggled louder than ever, and shook his head.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_151" id="pg_151">151</a></span></p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Don’t ask me, I’m duff and dem,” said the Executioner.</p> + +<p>“He means dem and duff,” explained the Court Glover, considerately.</p> + +<p>Marjorie laughed, and so did Fidge. “You are both wrong,” she said. “You +mean deaf and dumb, I suppose. But I don’t think that <i>can</i> be the case, +for he must have heard me, because he answered my question, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say anything about being deaf or dumb, either. I simply said I +was duff and dem, and I defy you to prove to the contrary,” said the +Executioner, stubbornly.</p> + +<p>Marjorie was quite bewildered; but there was no time for further +argument, for, just then, Dick and the Archæopteryx returned, supporting +the Dodo (who appeared half dead with fright), and followed by the +Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, walking arm in arm.</p> + +<p>“Ah! now we will settle this little matter,” said the Court Glover, +placing himself in an imposing attitude, and motioning the Executioner +to stand a little way behind him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_152" id="pg_152">152</a></span></p> + +<p>The Dodo prostrated himself before them, the tears streaming from his +eyes, and the offending gloves thrown on the ground in front of him.</p> + +<p>“Miserable fowl!” began the Court Glover.</p> + +<p>The Dodo winced.</p> + +<p>“To what degraded depths have you sunken! I find you here hob-a-nobbing +with <i>thingummybobs</i> and <i>what’s-his-names</i>.”</p> + +<p>“Here, I say, hold on!” interrupted the Archæopteryx. “If you mean us, +you know, we are——”</p> + +<p>“<i>Thingummybobs</i> and <i>what’s-his-names</i>,” repeated the Court Glover, +waving his hand contemptuously. “Was it to create an impression amongst +such creatures as <i>these</i> that you ran off with the very best pair of +white kid gloves in the whole collection belonging to His Importance the +Little Panjandrum? Oh, Dodo! Dodo! Dodo! it is <i>too</i> much!”</p> + +<p>“How much too much?” inquired the Palæotherium, kindly taking out his +purse.</p> + +<p>The Court Glover waved him aside with an impatient scowl.</p> + +<p>“The vanity of the bird!” he went<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_153" id="pg_153">153</a></span> on—“white kid, above all others! +Why, you might have taken a dozen pairs of colored cotton gloves, and no +one would have minded in the least; but best white kid—oh! shocking! +shocking! And look at the state you’ve made them in! But there—what can +be expected of a creature that goes wandering about the world visiting +what-you-may-call-ems.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:337px"> +<a name="illus-035" id="illus-035"></a> +<img src="images/img-00162.jpg" alt=""'Bear up, old man,' said the Archæopteryx."" title="" width="337" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Bear up, old man,' said the Archæopteryx."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Of course, there’s nothing to be done,” continued the Court Glover, +after an impressive pause, “but to execute you.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo sobbed; and Marjorie, who was greatly concerned, began: “Oh, +please——”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_154" id="pg_154">154</a></span></p> + +<p>But the Court Glover was inexorable, and murmured solemnly, “In one +hour’s time—here,” he walked off towards the balloon, followed by the +Executioner, who was giggling idiotically, and had to stuff a +handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself from laughing outright.</p> + +<p>“Inhuman wretch—there!” said Marjorie, bursting into tears, while the +Dodo’s friends assisted him up from the ground, where he was lying in a +half-fainting condition.</p> + +<p>“Bear up, old man,” said the Archæopteryx, sympathetically, fanning him +with his tail.</p> + +<p>“When did he say?” inquired the Dodo, faintly.</p> + +<p>“In an hour’s time,” said Dick, sadly.</p> + +<p>The Dodo shuddered.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” said the Eterædarium, suddenly. “I think I have found a way out +of the difficulty.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! what is it? What is it?” cried the Dodo, eagerly; while the others +all crowded round to hear what the Eterædarium had to say.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_155" id="pg_155">155</a></span> +<a name="THE_EXECUTION_OF_THE_DODO_3381" id="THE_EXECUTION_OF_THE_DODO_3381"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3>THE EXECUTION OF THE DODO.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Let us pretend,” suggested the Palæotherium, “that the Dodo is dead. +They will readily imagine that the shock has been too much for him, and, +of course, being dead, there will be no necessity to execute him.”</p> + +<p>“He—he—he! Very nice indeed. A capital arrangement!” giggled a voice +over the children’s shoulder; and, turning round, they beheld the +Executioner, who had apparently overheard everything that had been said.</p> + +<p>“Bother!” remarked the Palæotherium; “now I shall have to invent some +other way.”</p> + +<p>“I can’t think,” said the Executioner, who had removed his mask, and who +the children discovered to be a very amiable-looking gentleman—“I can’t +think why you are making all this fuss about the execution.”</p> + +<p>“Well, how would you like it yourself?” asked the Dodo, indignantly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_156" id="pg_156">156</a></span></p> + +<p>“I shouldn’t mind in the least,” remarked the Executioner, coolly.</p> + +<p>“Not mind being killed!” shuddered the children.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:346px"> +<a name="illus-036" id="illus-036"></a> +<img src="images/img-00165.jpg" alt=""I never kill anybody when I chop their heads off."" title="" width="346" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"I never kill anybody when I chop their heads off."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Oh, <i>that’s</i> another question entirely,” said the Executioner. “I never +kill anybody when I chop their heads off. It would be so cruel;<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_157" id="pg_157">157</a></span> +besides, that old-fashioned way is so ordinary. I am the Executioner +Extraordinary, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Well, how on earth do you execute people, then, if you don’t kill +them?” demanded Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh, by a new method, which I have invented myself,” declared the +Executioner. “I call it execution by proxy. I just make an effigy.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” inquired Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Don’t interrupt,” said Dick. “Guy Fawkes is an effigy, you know—an old +stuffed thing, with a mask on. Go on, please.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then,” continued the Executioner, “having made an effigy, as near +like my subject as possible, I just chop its head off, and there is an +end of the matter.”</p> + +<p>He looked around at the company, and smiled triumphantly.</p> + +<p>Marjorie gave a sigh of relief. She didn’t so much mind the execution +taking place if the poor Dodo was not to be killed. To her great +surprise, however, on looking at that interesting bird, she discovered +that he was weeping copiously, and wiping with an elaborate lace +handkerchief, which had evidently been concealed<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_158" id="pg_158">158</a></span> about his person, the +tears which trickled slowly down his great beak.</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter, poor goosey, goosey, gander?” said Fidge, +sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“Don’t!” snapped the Dodo, crossly. “I’m <i>not</i> a goose.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what <i>is</i> the matter, anyhow?” said Dick. “They are not going to +chop your head off it appears; so you ought to be glad, and not snivel +like that.”</p> + +<p>“I d—don’t want to—to be—e m—made a guy of,” sobbed the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“What <i>do</i> you mean?” asked the Executioner.</p> + +<p>“Why, you said you would have to make an effigy of me; and he” (pointing +to Dick) “said it was a kind of Guy Fawkes, didn’t you?” he added +appealing to Dick.</p> + +<p>“Well, never mind,” said the Archæopteryx, sympathetically; “you have +the consolation that they couldn’t make you a bigger guy than you are.”</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, the Dodo seemed to derive a considerable amount of +comfort from this<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_159" id="pg_159">159</a></span> idea, and, wiping away the few remaining tears, he +began to take an active interest in the manufacture of the effigy, which +the others set about constructing without further delay.</p> + +<p>“Is it like me?” he asked, conceitedly, as they bound some cloths to a +piece of stick, in such a way that they bore some slight resemblance to +a bird.</p> + +<p>“Dear me, what a pity! I’m not moulting, or you might have had one or +two of my feathers to stick on for a tail,” he added.</p> + +<p>“H’m! I shouldn’t have thought you had any to spare for moulting +purposes,” said the Archæopteryx.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be unkind,” retorted the Dodo; “<i>you</i> haven’t many to boast of.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve more than you have, anyhow,” said the Archæopteryx.</p> + +<p>“Oh, for goodness’ sake leave off quarreling. What on earth does it +matter how many feathers you have?” said Dick.</p> + +<p>“Not to a <i>boy</i>, I suppose,” remarked the Dodo, somewhat insolently; +“but no respectable bird would care to be seen about with less than<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_160" id="pg_160">160</a></span> +five; though, undoubtedly, too many are vulgar”—this with a scornful +glance at the Archæopteryx’s tail, which was decorated with quite a +number of curious flat feathers.</p> + +<p>I don’t know how much longer this wrangling would have gone on, had not +the Court Glover just then made his appearance.</p> + +<p>“Time’s up!” he announced, sternly. “Are you prepared for execution, +Dodo?”</p> + +<p>“Not quite,” answered the Executioner, who was putting the finishing +touches to the effigy; “his head keeps tumbling off.”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, it will save cutting it off,” said the Court Glover, who +was evidently quite used to the Executioner’s patent method of +performing his dreadful duty.</p> + +<p>“Now then,” he continued importantly. “Stand round in a ring while I +read the Warrant. ”Ahem! Nevertheless, likewise, notwithstanding, +heretofore, as is aforesaid. It having been proven that a certain bird +named the Dodo having maliciously and contemptibly worn the white kid +gloves of the Little Panjandrum, it is hereby enacted that the said +Dodo, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_161" id="pg_161">161</a></span> his heirs male, or assigns, be chopped at the neck till one or +all of their respective heads do fall off—and this to be done to their +entire satisfaction. <span class="smcap">Long live the Panjandrum!</span>””</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:357px"> +<a name="illus-037" id="illus-037"></a> +<img src="images/img-00170.jpg" alt=""'Alas! Alas!' murmured the Court Glover."" title="" width="357" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Alas! Alas!' murmured the Court Glover."</span> +</div> + +<p>“What a rigmarole!” whispered Dick, while the Executioner stretched out +the Dodo’s effigy on the ground, and, resuming his hideous black mask, +made ready to strike.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_162" id="pg_162">162</a></span></p> + +<p>“Alas! Alas!” murmured the Court Glover, covering his face with his +hands, and peeping through his fingers, while the Dodo held his sides +with suppressed laughter.</p> + +<p>The children all looked on with interest as the Executioner performed +his terrible duty. Raising his curious scythe-like chopper, with one +mighty blow he severed the piece of wood which answered for the Dodo’s +neck, and then stood gloomily aside.</p> + +<p>“<i>Fiat Justitia</i>!” said the Court Glover, solemnly; and then, turning to +the Dodo, he inquired anxiously, “Well, how did you like it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! it was delightful!” replied the bird, enthusiastically. “I am sure +no one could wish to have a pleasanter or more delightful execution. I’m +much obliged to you for having it so nicely performed.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we always like to manage these little things as pleasantly as +possible, you know,” said the Court Glover, deprecatingly.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I quite enjoyed it!” said the Dodo. “That’s a <i>very</i> nice +Executioner you have.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_163" id="pg_163">163</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes; isn’t he?” agreed the Court Glover. “Pity he laughs so much, +though, it spoils the effect. Well, having done my duty, I must be off. +Any message for the Little Panjandrum?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! can’t we go back with you in the balloon?” asked Marjorie, eagerly, +for it seemed to her a capital opportunity of getting away from this +strange place.</p> + +<p>“H’m! I’m afraid not,” said the Court Glover, reflectively. “You see, it +only holds two comfortably.”</p> + +<p>“Where do you want to go to?” asked the Archæopteryx.</p> + +<p>“England!” said the children, all together.</p> + +<p>“Oh! <i>that’s</i> all right. I’ll tell you the way to get <i>there</i>,” said the +Palæotherium.</p> + +<p>And the Court Glover and the Executioner began to undo the cords which +held the balloon to the palm tree.</p> + +<p>“You might leave me your card,” said the Dodo to the Executioner, +pressing a small coin into his hand. “I shall probably go in for a +complete course of execution when I get back again; and, besides, the +address of a good,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_164" id="pg_164">164</a></span> reliable Executioner is a handy thing to have in the +house.”</p> + +<p>The Executioner giggled, and handed the bird his card, and then both he +and the Court Glover got into the car, and the balloon was soon +vanishing in the distance.</p> + +<p>After watching them nearly out of sight the Dodo capered wildly about +till the children began to fear that he had suddenly gone off his head.</p> + +<p>“Whatever is the matter?” inquired Dick. “Why are you carrying on in +that absurd way?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo fumbled beneath one wing, and drew forth a little paper +package.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! ha! <i>They went away without the gloves after all</i>!” he +shrieked, and began to roll about on the ground in an uncontrollable fit +of laughter.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_165" id="pg_165">165</a></span> +<a name="THE_PREHISTORIC_DOCTOR_3589" id="THE_PREHISTORIC_DOCTOR_3589"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h3>THE PREHISTORIC DOCTOR.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I can’t imagine,” said Dick, “why you think such a lot of those +wretched old gloves. They seem to have got you into quite enough trouble +already.”</p> + +<p>“They look so respectable,” explained the Dodo, “and give one such an +air. You have <i>never</i> before seen a bird wearing gloves, now, have you?” +he added, appealing to the company generally, who were obliged to +flatter his vanity by confessing that they never had.</p> + +<p>Dick, however, in a spirit of pure mischief, decided to play him a +trick. So, when the Dodo, having put on one glove, strutted away to show +off before the Archæopteryx, leaving the other one behind him, Dick +quickly picked it up and put it on himself, then calling to aid the +power which the Panjandrum’s Ambassador had given him of being able to +make himself whatever size he wished, he cried, “I wish to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_166" id="pg_166">166</a></span> as big as +the biggest giant that ever lived,” and immediately became so tall that +the Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, who were standing near, fled in +dismay, while Marjorie and Fidge looked up with the greatest of +admiration to their now big—big brother.</p> + +<p>Dick then telling them, in a voice that sounded like thunder, to stand +aside, took off the glove, which had, of course, grown with him, and +threw it on to the ground, where it lay a huge mass of coarse leather as +many <i>feet</i> long as it had formerly been <i>inches</i>, and with buttons +almost as big as dinner plates.</p> + +<p>It was, of course, the easiest matter imaginable for Dick to reduce +himself to his proper size again, while the glove remained as it was, +and this he very quickly did, to the evident relief of the poor +Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, who had been trembling and quaking +behind a clump of trees, and looking with the greatest disquietude at +these extraordinary proceedings.</p> + +<p>“This is fine growing weather, Sir,” remarked the Palæotherium, +respectfully, as he came forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_167" id="pg_167">167</a></span> and stood by Dick beside the enormous +glove.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:321px"> +<a name="illus-038" id="illus-038"></a> +<img src="images/img-00176.jpg" alt=""'Is that it?' asked Dick."" title="" width="321" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Is that it?' asked Dick."</span> +</div> + +<p>Dick laughed, and rather delighted in the evident impression which he +had made upon the creatures by his performance, and a moment after the +Dodo returned, looking about him eagerly in search of his lost +property.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_168" id="pg_168">168</a></span></p> + +<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired Dick, solicitously.</p> + +<p>“Er—have any of you seen a white kid glove lying about?” said the Dodo, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Is that it?” asked Dick, pointing to the enormous object lying at his +feet.</p> + +<p>The Dodo gave a start.</p> + +<p>“Er—er—oh—my!” he exclaimed. “I do believe—why, surely it +isn’t—yes—yes—bless me, if I don’t believe that it really <i>is</i> my +glove. Why, whatever has happened to it?”</p> + +<p>“It certainly looks rather large for you,” remarked the Palæotherium.</p> + +<p>“Large! why it’s prodigious!” exclaimed the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“What size do you wear?” asked Marjorie, who was enjoying the fun.</p> + +<p>The Dodo undid the glove which he had on and looked inside.</p> + +<p>“Sevens,” he remarked.</p> + +<p>“And this,” said Dick, kicking the enormous glove open, “is marked +ninety-nines!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe I <i>could</i> wear that size,” said the bird, +disconsolately. “Whatever is to be done?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_169" id="pg_169">169</a></span></p> + +<p>“I should get inside it altogether, if I were you,” suggested Dick.</p> + +<p>“Don’t be ridiculous,” said the Dodo, beginning to cry. “It’s bad enough +to—to—have one’s gloves car—carrying on in this fas-fashion, without +being laughed at by—by a parcel of cre—creatures that don’t care +anything about their per—per—personal appearance, and who—who +nev—never wore a p—p—pair of gloves in their lives!”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” cried Marjorie, “I’m sure <i>we</i> wear gloves when we are at home, +don’t we, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” said he.</p> + +<p>“And me, too,” declared Fidge; “me wears goves.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe it,” sobbed the Dodo; “and if I did, I wouldn’t, so +there!”</p> + +<p>“I think you are an awful cry-baby,” said Dick; “I should be ashamed, if +I were you, to be always sniveling about nothing.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo didn’t answer, but sat down beside the enormous glove, and +continued to sob and cry till his eyes, which were never very beautiful, +became swollen and red, and his little<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_170" id="pg_170">170</a></span> lace handkerchief was wringing +wet with his tears.</p> + +<p>Marjorie, in her kind-hearted way, tried to comfort him, and privately +suggested to Dick that, as the poor bird seemed so very much cut up +about his glove, that he should restore it to its natural size again.</p> + +<p>This, however, Dick positively refused to do for the present, and the +Dodo becoming worse instead of better, the Archæopteryx said he should +go and fetch a doctor.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do!” cried the Dodo, sitting up, and becoming interested at once. +“I <i>love</i> doctors, they give you such nice stuff to take.”</p> + +<p>“Ough!” shuddered Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure they do, then,” said the Dodo; “lovely little pills with sugar +on them, and powders in jam—oh, lovely! Don’t you think powders in jam +delicious?” he asked, appealing to Dick.</p> + +<p>“No; I certainly don’t,” was the reply, as the Archæopteryx, followed by +a funny-looking little old man, came running back.</p> + +<p>The Prehistoric Doctor—for so the children<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_171" id="pg_171">171</a></span> found he was called—was +dressed in a coarse coat made of bear’s skin, under which was a spotless +shirt-front and collar; an old-fashioned pair of horn-rimmed spectacles +completed his costume, while some dangerous-looking surgical instruments +projected from a rough pocket tacked on to the side of his coat.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:260px"> +<a name="illus-039" id="illus-039"></a> +<img src="images/img-00180.jpg" alt=""'Tut, tut, this is serious,' said the Doctor."" title="" width="260" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Tut, tut, this is serious,' said the Doctor."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Ah!—h’m! and <i>how</i> are we feeling this morning?” he said, kindly, +going up to the Dodo.</p> + +<p>The bird turned up his eyes pathetically and gave a sigh.</p> + +<p>“Like a dying duck in a thunderstorm,” whispered Dick, and Marjorie had +to hold her handkerchief to her mouth to keep from giggling out loud.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_172" id="pg_172">172</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ah! How is the pulse?” continued the Doctor, in a soothing voice.</p> + +<p>The Dodo gravely extended the pinion with the glove on it.</p> + +<p>This seemed to puzzle the Doctor a little at first, but after looking at +it for a moment through his spectacles, he fished an enormous silver +watch out of another pocket in his skin coat, and carefully pinching the +glove between his finger and thumb, regarding his timepiece anxiously.</p> + +<p>This operation over, he shook his head gravely, and demanded to see the +Dodo’s tongue.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I couldn’t!” simpered the bird; “I really couldn’t; it’s so rude to +put out one’s tongue, you know.”</p> + +<p>A little persuasion, however, on the part of the Doctor prevailed upon +him to open his enormous beak, and the examination was proceeded with.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_173" id="pg_173">173</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:292px"> +<a name="illus-040" id="illus-040"></a> +<img src="images/img-00182.jpg" alt=""They hurried to the station."" title="" width="292" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"They hurried to the station."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Tut! tut! this is serious!” exclaimed the Doctor, regarding the Dodo’s +tongue critically. “We must have a change of air immediately, and +thorough rest. I will go and make you up a little prescription, and I +would advise you to start at once. The air at—er—the Crystal<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_174" id="pg_174">174</a></span> Palace +would suit you admirably. There is an excursion starting to-day. I +should certainly go by that if I were you.”</p> + +<p>“The Crystal Palace! Why, that’s near London!” cried Marjorie, +excitedly. “Can’t we go by the excursion, too?”</p> + +<p>“Of course you can,” chimed in the Palæotherium; “we’ll all go, and make +up a nice little family party.”</p> + +<p>So, without further ado—the Doctor having made up his prescription, +consisting of a large bottle of “bull’s eyes,” one to be taken every +quarter of an hour—they hurried to the station, at the door of which a +most energetic porter was ringing a huge bell.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_175" id="pg_175">175</a></span> +<a name="WAITING_FOR_THE_TRAIN_3779" id="WAITING_FOR_THE_TRAIN_3779"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h3>WAITING FOR THE TRAIN.</h3> +</div> + +<p>They found, on reaching the station, which was a very primitive affair +with a thatched roof, that the booking-office was closed.</p> + +<p>“Clerk be goned away for ”ees ”oliday,” explained the Porter, with a +grin.</p> + +<p>“Then whatever are we going to do about tickets?” asked Marjorie, +anxiously, for the trip to the Crystal Palace seemed to afford such an +excellent opportunity of getting home again that she was anxious not to +miss it.</p> + +<p>“He may be back before the train comes in,” said the Archæopteryx; +“there doesn’t seem to be one in sight, and we often have to wait weeks +and weeks for a train here, you know.”</p> + +<p>“But what was he ringing the bell for, then?” inquired Dick, “if the +train isn’t coming in.”</p> + +<p>“I seed some smoke awhile ago, over yonder,” said the Porter, “and I +thought maybe ”tmight be th” train, but like as not it isn’t.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_176" id="pg_176">176</a></span></p> + +<p>“Then we have had this long run for nothing,” complained the Dodo, +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Calm yourself, my dear Sir,” said the Doctor, patting him on the back; +“excitement of any kind is very bad for you. We will wait here quietly +till the train does come.”</p> + +<p>“But isn’t there a time-table?” asked Dick, “so that we can tell when to +expect it.”</p> + +<p>“No, Sir,” said the Porter. “There was a time-table when I fust come +here, nine years ago; but it got lost somehow, and we’ve never had +another.”</p> + +<p>By this time the platform was crowded with a number of other animals, +who had apparently come to join the excursion.</p> + +<p>“We had better get our tents before they are all gone,” whispered the +Palæotherium.</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes, of course,” said the Eterædarium. “Er—Porter, just bring us +some tents, will you?”</p> + +<p>“Tents?” exclaimed the children.</p> + +<p>“Yes; if we are to stay here till the train starts we shall find it very +awkward at night without tents, you know.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_177" id="pg_177">177</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, tents by all means,” said the Archæopteryx. “I think five will +be sufficient,” he added.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:358px"> +<a name="illus-041" id="illus-041"></a> +<img src="images/img-00186.jpg" alt=""The Dodo contented himself with fussing about and giving directions."" title="" width="358" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Dodo contented himself with fussing about and giving directions."</span> +</div> + +<p>The Porter grumbled a little, and then brought forth from somewhere a +number of poles and some canvas tents, and these the creatures began +solemnly to erect on various parts of the platform.</p> + +<p>The Dodo excused himself from assisting, on the plea that he might soil +his gloves, and contented<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_178" id="pg_178">178</a></span> himself with fussing about and giving +directions in a loud voice.</p> + +<p>While the tents were being erected, the children amused themselves by +exploring their surroundings.</p> + +<p>“Oh! there’s a refreshment room!” exclaimed Marjorie, pointing to a hole +in the wall, on the ledge of which were displayed a few doubtful-looking +articles.</p> + +<p>“Shall I join you in a little light repast?” said an insinuating voice +behind them, and turning around, they beheld the Dodo smoothing his +glove and smirking ingratiatingly.</p> + +<p>Dick felt in his pocket, and was delighted to find that he had a +two-shilling-piece tucked away in a corner.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we might as well have something,” he said, generously. “I wonder +who attends to this department? There doesn’t seem to be anybody about.”</p> + +<p>He knocked at the wall with his two-shilling-piece, and, suddenly, an +elderly lady, with a very sharp face and a shrill voice, popped her head +up and exclaimed, “Well! what do <i>you</i> want?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_179" id="pg_179">179</a></span></p> + +<p>Dick was startled by her sudden appearance, and stammered a little.</p> + +<p>“Er—er—a——” he began.</p> + +<p>“A glass bun and a bath of milk, please,” prompted the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“No; he means a bath bun and a glass of milk,” laughed Marjorie, smiling +up at the lady’s face.</p> + +<p>There was no smile in response, however, and she replied, crossly, “Why +doesn’t he say what he means, then? We’ve no bath buns, and no milk,” +she went on. “There’s a currant bun, a box of chocolates, and a bottle +of gingerbeer. You can take them or leave them, whichever you like.”</p> + +<p>“Er—how much is the bun, please?” inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>“Shilling,” snapped the waitress.</p> + +<p>“Dear me! that’s rather expensive, isn’t it?” said Dick, regarding his +two-shilling-piece ruefully. “And I’m afraid it looks a little stale, +too.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!” said the waitress, tossing her head scornfully, and +shaking back her little<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_180" id="pg_180">180</a></span> corkscrew curls. “What next, I wonder? That bun +has been here on and off for seventeen years, and I never had a +complaint about it before. Stale, indeed!” And she sniffed scornfully.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we had better try the chocolate,” suggested Marjorie. “Can you +tell us, please, how many pieces there are in the box?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“No, I can’t!” was the ungracious reply. “It’s half-a-crown,” she added.</p> + +<p>That, of course, put it out of the question, and as the gingerbeer +bottle turned out to be empty, the contents having evaporated some years +since, the children were obliged to turn, somewhat disconsolately, away +from the “refreshment room,” and as they left they heard the waitress +complaining, crossly—</p> + +<p>“I can’t think what people want to come bothering for refreshments for, +when I am busy reading; some folks have <i>no</i> consideration for others.” +And she disappeared as mysteriously as she had arrived.</p> + +<p>A little further down the platform, to their great delight, they +discovered an automatic<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_181" id="pg_181">181</a></span> machine, but were greatly disappointed to find +that it only professed to supply “furniture polish,” “tin tacks,” and +“postage stamps.”</p> + +<p>“And as we have no post-office here at all,” said the Archæopteryx, who +had by this time joined them, “the stamps are of no use whatever. +Fortunately,” he went on, “the Palæotherium brought some banana +sandwiches in his carpet bag; so, if you come back with me to his tent, +we can have a little supper before we go to bed.”</p> + +<p>The children very gratefully accepted the invitation, and were delighted +on entering the tent to find that the Eterædarium and the Palæotherium +had arranged quite a dainty little repast with the sandwiches, some +fresh fruit, and cocoanut milk, which was served in the shell.</p> + +<p>While the feast was progressing it began to grow quite dark, and the +Dodo suggested asking the Porter for a light.</p> + +<p>“There’s only one candle,” grumbled that individual, “and I be obligated +to use that for the signal.”</p> + +<p>So there was nothing to be done but to hurry<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_182" id="pg_182">182</a></span> over the supper as soon as +possible, and go to rest.</p> + +<p>Marjorie and Fidge shared a little tent next to the Dodo and Dick, and +the children made themselves as comfortable as they could, under the +circumstances, with some cushions and rugs, with which the Porter had +provided them; and, after chatting for a little while about their +strange adventures, dropped off to sleep.</p> + +<p>They were awakened after an hour or two by the clanging of a huge bell, +and, hastily putting their heads out of the tent, beheld the Porter +rushing up and down the platform, ringing his bell violently. The candle +was flaring away at the top of the signal pole, and the children jumped +to the conclusion that the train had been signaled.</p> + +<p>“What’s up!” called out Dick, as the Porter approached.</p> + +<p>There was no answer, and the great bell was plied more vigorously than +ever.</p> + +<p>“Oh! <i>do</i> leave off!” screamed the Dodo. “What’s the bell for?”</p> + +<p>“To keep you awake,” shouted the Porter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_183" id="pg_183">183</a></span> “I shall keep on ringing this +bell all night to prevent you from going to sleep, in case the train +comes in and you don’t hear it.”</p> + +<p>“But the noise will drive us mad,” expostulated the Dodo.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:320px"> +<a name="illus-042" id="illus-042"></a> +<img src="images/img-00192.jpg" alt=""'Oh! Do leave off!' screamed the Dodo."" title="" width="320" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Oh! Do leave off!' screamed the Dodo."</span> +</div> + +<p>“H’m! won’t have far to drive you, then,” said the Porter, rudely. +“Howsomedever, I’m going to do my duty, whatever happens, and this ”ere +bell I’m going to ring if I drops.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_184" id="pg_184">184</a></span></p> + +<p>Remonstrance was vain, and as it was hopeless to try and sleep through +all the noise the children got up again, and had hardly done so, when, +looking towards the end of the platform they beheld a red and a green +light appearing around the curve, and a moment later the train dashed +into the station.</p> + +<p>“Crystal Palace train! Crystal Palace train! Take your seats, there!” +shouted the Guard; and, regardless of the fact that they had no tickets, +the children and their friends scrambled in.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_185" id="pg_185">185</a></span> +<a name="A_NIGHT_IN_THE_TRAIN_3984" id="A_NIGHT_IN_THE_TRAIN_3984"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> +<h3>A NIGHT IN THE TRAIN.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“What a funny puff-puff!” exclaimed Fidge, when, all of the creatures on +the platform having entered the train, it slowly steamed out of the +station, while the Porter took down the candlestick signal and carefully +extinguished the light, remarking aloud, as he did so, “Well, thank +goodness, <i>they’re</i> gone!”</p> + +<p>“I think,” said Dick, looking about him curiously, “that it must be what +is called a sleeping car.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course it is,” agreed the Prehistoric Doctor, who had joined +the party. “See, here are the sleeping bunks. This is mine,” he added, +taking possession of one of the lower berths by throwing his carpet bag +on to it.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have the one above it,” announced the Palæotherium, climbing up to +the upper berth, and clumsily treading on the Prehistoric Doctor’s hand +as he did so.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_186" id="pg_186">186</a></span></p> + +<p>“I shall have to be near my Doctor, of course, as I am an invalid,” +remarked the Dodo, plaintively, “so shall take the lower berth next to +him.”</p> + +<p>And thus each of the creatures took up their respective positions, and +the children thought it best to follow their example. Dick and Fidge +climbed up to one of the upper berths, and Marjorie made herself +comfortable in the one below them.</p> + +<p>“It’s much better than being in those horrid little tents on the +draughty station,” she called out; “and we are sure to get to +<i>somewhere</i> in this train, aren’t we, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, rather,” was her elder brother’s reply. “I say, Sis, what are we +going to do when they ask us for our tickets at the Crystal Palace? I +haven’t got any money except this two shillings, have you?”</p> + +<p>“Not a penny,” admitted Marjorie. “However,” she added, yawning +sleepily, “I suppose it will all come right; none of the other creatures +took tickets, you know. The great thing is to get back to England.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_187" id="pg_187">187</a></span></p> + +<p>“There’s a window up here, and I have just looked out,” said Dick, “it’s +all pitch dark.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” murmured Marjorie; “Underground Railway to Crystal Palace; that’s +how we went last time, you know—part of the way, at any rate—let’s go +to sleep now. Good-night, Dick.”</p> + +<p>“Good-night.”</p> + +<p>“Nighty, nighty!” shouted Fidge.</p> + +<p>“Good-night, Fidge, dear,” was his sister’s reply, in a very tired +voice.</p> + +<p>A moment afterwards the train gave a lurch, and there was a crash and a +loud cry from one of the lower berths.</p> + +<p>Dick hastily scrambled down to ascertain what was the matter, and found +that the Dodo had tumbled out of bed.</p> + +<p>“Bless my gloves and beak!” ejaculated the bird, as he picked himself +up; “it’s enough to frighten one out of their lives, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Have you hurt yourself much?” inquired Dick, kindly.</p> + +<p>“No; I don’t think so,” said the Dodo, carefully feeling himself all +over to see if any bones were broken.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_188" id="pg_188">188</a></span></p> + +<p>“How do you like my nightcap?” he inquired, suddenly and inconsequently. +“Does it suit me?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s all right, I suppose,” said Dick, laughing in spite of himself +at the bird’s vanity. “Where did you get it?”</p> + +<p>“Found it under my pillow,” announced the bird, triumphantly. “That’s +why I tumbled out of bed, so that some one at any rate, should come and +see me in it. Nobody else seems to be coming, though,” he added, looking +anxiously up and down, “so I shall go to bed again; but I shall leave my +curtains wide open, so that if anybody passes by during the night, or in +the morning, they will see how beautiful I am when I am asleep.”</p> + +<p>At that moment there was an awful noise like a deep groan, which grew +and grew in volume till it sounded like distant thunder, and then faded +away and ended up with a comical little whistle. Again and again it was +repeated.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dick! what is it?” called Marjorie, putting her head outside the +curtains.</p> + +<p>“I can’t think,” said Dick, in a puzzled voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_189" id="pg_189">189</a></span></p> + +<p>“Where have I heard that sound before?” exclaimed the Dodo, putting one +finger of the glove to his forehead, and striking a thoughtful attitude.</p> + +<p>“Ah! I have it,” he cried. “Of course, it’s a prehistoric snore—the +Doctor is asleep.”</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, that was what the noise was. By listening outside the +curtains of his berth they discovered, without a doubt, that it +proceeded from there.</p> + +<p>“What a frightful row,” cried Dick, indignantly. “We can’t go to sleep +with all that noise going on. Let’s wake him up.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no!” cried the Dodo, “not for worlds. He is sure to be very +sensitive on the point, and would doubtless resent it very much.”</p> + +<p>“He ought to be made to sleep in another part of the train, or in a +carriage by himself,” grumbled Dick, scrambling back to his berth just +in time to meet Fidge, who was trying to get down at the risk of +breaking his neck.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Dick!” he cried, pointing to the further corner of the berth, +“Look! Look! A snake!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_190" id="pg_190">190</a></span></p> + +<p>“What?” cried Marjorie, from below, with a little scream.</p> + +<p>“A snake!” repeated Fidge. “Look, look, Dick!” he cried, pointing.</p> + +<p>Dick looked in the direction indicated, and was horrified to see what he +took to be a huge snake, slowly crawling over the partition which +divided their berth from the next.</p> + +<p>“Give me something to hit it with, quick!” he shouted, excitedly. And +Marjorie, with another little frightened scream, handed him the +Prehistoric Doctor’s umbrella, which was lying on the floor outside her +berth.</p> + +<p>Dick seized the umbrella, and, grasping it with both hands, aimed a +mighty blow at what he took to be the snake.</p> + +<p>An agonized scream from the next berth, and a hasty withdrawal of the +<i>snake</i>, was followed by the appearance of the Palæotherium’s head over +the top of the partition.</p> + +<p>“Who did that?” he demanded, with tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“It was a snake!” cried Dick, excitedly, “and I was trying to kill it.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_191" id="pg_191">191</a></span></p> + +<p>“Snake, indeed!” said the Palæotherium, wrathfully. “It was my tail.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m <i>so</i> sorry,” exclaimed Dick, “I really <i>thought</i> it was a +snake, you know. I beg your pardon. I <i>do</i> hope I haven’t hurt you very +much.”</p> + +<p>“H’m! Well, I can’t say that it was very pleasant,” said the +Palæotherium, “but if you are really sorry I’ll forgive you—only you +mustn’t let it happen again.”</p> + +<p>“Shouldn’t have a tail like a snake,” said Fidge, half crying, “and +shouldn’t let it come over in our bed.”</p> + +<p>The Palæotherium muttered something that neither of the children could +understand, and retired, and, except for the Prehistoric Doctor’s +snoring, all was quiet again.</p> + +<p>This time the children really did get to sleep, and when they awoke the +carriage was quite light, and Dick, looking out through the little +window at the side of his berth, could see that they were traveling +through some very delightful country.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_192" id="pg_192">192</a></span></p> + +<p>“Wake up! Wake up, Marjorie,” he cried, “it’s morning.”</p> + +<p>“I’m velly hungry,” announced Fidge, sitting up and rubbing his eyes +sleepily.</p> + +<p>“Yes, so am I,” admitted Dick; “we must see what we can do to get some +food.”</p> + +<p>“The doors at the ends of the carriage are open,” cried Marjorie, from +below. “I believe it’s a corridor train, like that we went to +Scarborough in last year,” she added. “Perhaps there’s a dining-car at +the end of this one.”</p> + +<p>Dick and Fidge scrambled down, and, accompanied by Marjorie, determined +to explore.</p> + +<p>None of the other creatures were apparently awake, and most of the +curtains were drawn.</p> + +<p>The Dodo, however, true to his word, had left his open, and there he lay +in an affected attitude, with his gloves carefully displayed outside the +bed-clothes, and his nightcap arranged at the most becoming angle.</p> + +<p>Dick could see that he was not really asleep, for one eye was partially +open, and as the children passed he murmured, quite loudly enough for +Dick to hear—“Ain’t I <i>beautiful</i>?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_193" id="pg_193">193</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:337px"> +<a name="illus-043" id="illus-043"></a> +<img src="images/img-00202.jpg" alt="The Greedy Eterædarium." title="" width="337" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Greedy Eterædarium.</span> +</div> + +<p>Dick laughed, and passed on to where he could see some wash-basins and a +water tap, and there the children had a most refreshing wash; and then, +to their great delight, found that the next carriage was +labeled—“<span class="smcap">Breakfast Car</span>”;<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_194" id="pg_194">194</a></span> and as it was the easiest matter in the world +to step from one carriage to the other, they were soon at the door.</p> + +<p>As soon as they opened it they beheld a curious sight.</p> + +<p>There were a number of little tables in the carriage, on each of which +were basins of steaming hot bread-and-milk.</p> + +<p>The Eterædarium stood at one of the tables, and, with a spoon in each +hand, was greedily devouring the bread-and-milk as quickly as he +possibly could.</p> + +<p>“Come on!” he shouted, with his mouth full. “Just in time. There are one +or two basins left; but make haste, before the others come, or you won’t +get any.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_195" id="pg_195">195</a></span> +<a name="AT_THE_CRYSTAL_PALACE_4204" id="AT_THE_CRYSTAL_PALACE_4204"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h3>AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The bread-and-milk was very good, and the children enjoyed it immensely.</p> + +<p>They would have taken a second basinful had the Eterædarium been at all +pressing in his invitation for them to do so; but instead of asking them +in the usual way, “Will you have any more?” he said, in a very anxious +tone of voice, “You won’t have any more, will you?” which was, of +course, a very different thing; and so they each meekly said, “No, thank +you,” and watched the Eterædarium finish up the remaining basins.</p> + +<p>“There now, I feel that I’ve done my duty,” he said, with a sigh of +satisfaction, as he wiped his lips with a serviette, after scraping out +the very last spoonful.</p> + +<p>“You see,” he said, with a sort of half attempt at an apology, “I was +afraid the poor, dear Dodo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_196" id="pg_196">196</a></span> in his delicate state of health, might come +in to breakfast and eat more than was good for him; so, by eating the +lot myself, I have prevented him from doing that. He ought to be very +grateful to me, I’m sure.”</p> + +<p>“But what about the others?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“Oh, great, strong, healthy animals like them, it will do them good to +go without for once in a way. I think, though, that in order to prevent +them from feeling any disappointment it will be better to throw the +basins out of the window, the sight of them would probably be rather +tantalizing.” And the Eterædarium began hurriedly to throw all the +breakfast things out of the window—spoons, basins, tablecloths, and +serviettes, all disappeared, and only the three basins which the +children had been using remained.</p> + +<p>They, doubtless, would have followed the others had not the Dodo, +leaning heavily on the Prehistoric Doctor’s arm, entered the breakfast +car just at that moment.</p> + +<p>“Ah! bread-and-milk—capital!” exclaimed the Doctor, rubbing his hands, +and looking at<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_197" id="pg_197">197</a></span> the children’s basins. “I think our patient could manage +a small basinful, eh?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo, with a great affectation of weakness, feebly nodded his head.</p> + +<p>“I think I <i>could</i> manage a small basinful, Doctor—er—er—not <i>too</i> +small, you know. A <i>very</i> small quantity never agrees with me.”</p> + +<p>“No, no; of course not,” said the Doctor, soothingly. “I will see that +it is not too small; and perhaps, just to encourage you, I will have a +basinful myself.”</p> + +<p>“It’s all gone!” said the Eterædarium, suddenly and emphatically.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” screamed the Dodo, in a loud voice, quite forgetting his +supposed weakness. “Do you mean to say there is <i>none</i> left?”</p> + +<p>The Eterædarium shook his head.</p> + +<p>“But where’s it all gone to?” asked the Doctor.</p> + +<p>The Eterædarium solemnly pointed to the children.</p> + +<p>“Pigs!” declared the Dodo, wrathfully.</p> + +<p>“Here, who are you calling pigs?” demanded Dick, getting up angrily.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_198" id="pg_198">198</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, I must say that it was exceedingly greedy of you to devour all of +the breakfast,” said the Doctor, reprovingly.</p> + +<p>“But we didn’t,” said Dick. “It was the Eterædarium; he had ever so many +basinsful. We only had one each, didn’t we, Marjorie?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Marjorie; “and mine was a very small one.”</p> + +<p>“And mine was the littlest of all,” said Fidge, flourishing his spoon, +“like the littlest bear’s, you know, in the story of the Three Bears.”</p> + +<p>“Well, where are the other basins, then, if you say the Eterædarium had +such a lot?” demanded the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“He threw them out of the window,” declared the children.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh! Well, I <i>never</i>—whatever will they say next?” cried the +Eterædarium, throwing up his hands and turning his eyes up to the +ceiling.</p> + +<p>“I must say it doesn’t seem a very probable story,” said the Doctor, +looking out of the window; “and as I don’t see any of the basins lying +about I am afraid I cannot believe your statement.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_199" id="pg_199">199</a></span></p> + +<p>“But that was some time ago,” argued Dick, “and as we are traveling very +rapidly they must be some miles down the line by this time.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:355px"> +<a name="illus-044" id="illus-044"></a> +<img src="images/img-00208.jpg" alt="The arrival at the Crystal Palace." title="" width="355" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The arrival at the Crystal Palace.</span> +</div> + +<p>“Rubbish!” exclaimed the Dodo, “you are only making matters worse by +your lame excuses. I always had my suspicions that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_200" id="pg_200">200</a></span> were a greedy +lot, like all the rest of the human creatures.”</p> + +<p>“Ahem!” coughed the Doctor, looking pained.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re prehistoric—that doesn’t count,” said the Dodo, and the +Doctor brightened up again.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, at this moment, something occurred to prevent the argument +from continuing, or goodness knows where it might have led to, for the +children were naturally indignant at being so greatly misjudged. Dick +was particularly wroth. Their attention was diverted, however, by the +train dashing into a station, and coming to a somewhat abrupt stop, +causing the passengers to pitch forward, while a porter called in a loud +voice, “Crystal Palace! Crystal Palace! All change here!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! here we are, at last,” cried the children, hurrying on to the +platform where the animals were all turning out.</p> + +<p>The porter had given one horrified glance at the strange creatures, and +then, with a howl of fear, had fled up the steps at the end of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_201" id="pg_201">201</a></span> +platform. The children could see that he was explaining something or +other to the ticket collector, for that worthy came to the barrier and +peeped over.</p> + +<p>“Oh—o—o—a—aah!” the children heard him cry, and then he fled, as his +companion had done, leaving the barrier free.</p> + +<p>“Come,” laughed Dick, “that simplifies matters considerably, for we +shall not have to bother about our tickets now.” And the children +hurried up the stairs, while the Dodo remained behind to adjust his +gloves, complaining loudly that notice ought to have been given that +they were nearing the station, so that he might have made himself +presentable before alighting.</p> + +<p>On turning back, while on the steps, the children could see that, +besides their own party, the train had contained a number of other +strange animals, some of whom, the Archæopteryx whispered, impressively, +were “antediluvians.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_202" id="pg_202">202</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:321px"> +<a name="illus-045" id="illus-045"></a> +<img src="images/img-00211.jpg" alt=""'Sh'sh! A Missionary,' whispered the Dodo, excitedly."" title="" width="321" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Sh'sh! A Missionary,' whispered the Dodo, excitedly."</span> +</div> + +<p>The whole party having alighted, with a great deal of noise and +confusion, they proceeded at once to the Palace. Everywhere their +appearance was the signal for a wild stampede of other visitors, and by +the time they had reached the great hall no one at all was in sight, +except one old gentleman in glasses, who was consulting a guide book +while he stood before a group of wooden Hottentots.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_203" id="pg_203">203</a></span></p> + +<p>“Sh!” whispered the Dodo, “a Missionary! I have seen them before, when +abroad. In some places they are greatly admired by the natives, some of +whom have described them enthusiastically as being simply <i>delicious</i>! +Let us be friendly to him; he is, no doubt, a very excellent man.</p> + +<p>“My dear Sir,” he continued, waddling up to the Missionary, “delighted +to see you looking so well.”</p> + +<p>The Missionary, who was very short-sighted, beamed kindly, and grasped +the Dodo’s glove, while he peered up into his face through his glasses. +On catching sight of his beak, however, he gave a gasp of astonishment, +and stammered—</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid, Sir, you’ve made a mistake. I—er—I—er—don’t remember +your face.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, it is some time since we met, certainly; but perhaps you know +my friend?” said the Dodo, introducing the Eterædarium, who came forward +with an engaging grin.</p> + +<p>The poor Missionary gave him a hasty glance through his glasses, and +then, nervously clutching<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_204" id="pg_204">204</a></span> his guide book and umbrella, muttered +something about “an important engagement,” and fled in the direction of +the big clock.</p> + +<p>“Strange how nervous everybody is in my presence,” murmured the Dodo, +conceitedly. “It’s doubtless my beauty and brilliant wit which alarms +them; but, come on, let’s go out to the lake, and I’ll take you for a +row.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:373px"> +<a name="illus-046" id="illus-046"></a> +<img src="images/img-00213.jpg" alt=""The Dodo was a muff at rowing."" title="" width="373" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"The Dodo was a muff at rowing."</span> +</div> + +<p>So, having met with the Palæotherium, they all three got into a boat.</p> + +<p>The Dodo was a muff at rowing, though, and kept “catching a crab,” which +disaster he accounted for by declaring that the fishes would keep +holding on to his oar when he dipped it<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_205" id="pg_205">205</a></span> into the water; but the +Palæotherium, who was in the bow of the boat, and consequently got all +of the splashes and knocks with the oar, declared that this was all +nonsense, and I am inclined to agree with him.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_206" id="pg_206">206</a></span> +<a name="A_DIFFICULTY_WITH_THE_ROUNDABOUT_4402" id="A_DIFFICULTY_WITH_THE_ROUNDABOUT_4402"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<h3>A DIFFICULTY WITH THE ROUNDABOUT.</h3> +</div> + +<p>While the Dodo and his friends were enjoying themselves on the lake, the +children and the others were wandering about the grounds, and +continually discovering fresh attractions. What puzzled them not a +little, however, was the fact that there seemed to be no other visitors +about, and even the attendants had disappeared in a most mysterious +manner.</p> + +<p>At the roundabout the steam was up, but there was apparently nobody in +charge.</p> + +<p>“What a pity,” said Dick, “I should have liked very much to have gone +around on the horses, wouldn’t you, Marjorie?”</p> + +<p>“I should,” chimed in Fidge.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it would have been rather jolly,” said Marjorie. “Don’t you think +perhaps the Prehistoric Doctor could manage to set it going? Let’s ask +him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, my dear,” said the Doctor, when consulted<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_207" id="pg_207">207</a></span> on the subject, “I +don’t know much about machinery, but I’ll try, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” inquired the Dodo, just then coming up, he having failed +to get on with the rowing to his own or anybody else’s satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Why, we are just discussing the question of setting this roundabout +going,” explained the Doctor.</p> + +<p>“Pooh! the easiest thing in the world,” said the Dodo. “You just get on, +and I’ll soon start you off.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” cried the Doctor, getting astride one of the horses.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” cried the Palæotherium; “let us get on, too.”</p> + +<p>And he and several of the others clambered up to their places.</p> + +<p>“I think,” whispered Marjorie, nervously, “that we had better wait and +see how they get on, before trying ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“That’s just like a girl,” cried Dick—“afraid of everything.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not,” replied Marjorie, indignantly; “I’m<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_208" id="pg_208">208</a></span> quite ready to go on, if +you want to—only I thought——”</p> + +<p>“All aboard!” interrupted the Dodo, pulling the lever.</p> + +<p>“Stop! Stop!” shouted Dick; “we want to get on.”</p> + +<p>“Too late!” cried the Dodo. “You shall go on the next journey.” And with +a shriek from the steam-whistle the horses began to go around.</p> + +<p>“There you are, you see,” said the Dodo, complacently regarding the +result of his efforts. “I said it was an easy matter to set them going.”</p> + +<p>Faster and faster grew the pace, till the Doctor, who at first seemed to +be enjoying his ride immensely, suddenly threw his arms around his +horse’s neck, and gasped out, breathlessly—</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh! Stop them! They’re running away?”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! Nonsense!” cried the Dodo; “don’t be a baby.”</p> + +<p>“Stop them! Stop them! Help! Help!” screamed the other poor creatures, +as the horses whirled around faster and faster.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_209" id="pg_209">209</a></span></p> + +<p>The Dodo went to the engine and tried to push the lever back again, but, +to his great consternation, he found that he could not do so, and the +only result of pulling another lever which he discovered was to make the +machinery work more rapidly than before.</p> + +<p>“Gracious!” cried Marjorie, wringing her hands, “whatever <i>is</i> to be +done?” While even Dick turned a little pale, for the poor creatures were +by this time whirling around so quickly that one could scarcely be +distinguished from the other.</p> + +<p>Every now and then the poor Palæotherium might be heard screaming above +the others, who were all calling out in their fright and alarm.</p> + +<p>The Dodo left the engine, and came and stared at them.</p> + +<p>“H’m!” he ejaculated. “<i>I</i> don’t know what’s to be done. If they don’t +stop soon, I suppose we shall have to shoot them. It’s the only thing I +can think of.”</p> + +<p>“Shoot them!” exclaimed Dick, in a horrified voice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_210" id="pg_210">210</a></span></p> + +<p>“Well, what else is to be done, I should like to know? We can’t leave +them here whirling around like that forever.”</p> + +<p>“I should think,” suggested Dick, after vainly trying to push the lever +back into its place himself, “that if we raked all the fuel out of the +engine, it would probably stop of its own accord.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! happy thought,” said the Dodo, and with all possible speed they set +to work to carry out Dick’s suggestion.</p> + +<p>They were delighted to find that after a time their project was +successful, and the machinery gradually ceased to work, and at last +stopped altogether.</p> + +<p>The poor creatures looked more dead than alive as with pale faces they +clung limply to the upright supports attached to each of the horses.</p> + +<p>The Doctor, weak though he was, was furious.</p> + +<p>“Wretched, ungrateful creature!” he cried, getting painfully off his +horse and going up to the Dodo. “This is how you reward me for having +saved your life.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_211" id="pg_211">211</a></span></p> + +<p>“I couldn’t help it,” whimpered the Dodo. “I couldn’t, really.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:291px"> +<a name="illus-047" id="illus-047"></a> +<img src="images/img-00220.jpg" alt=""'Not any higher, please,' gasped the Dodo."" title="" width="291" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Not any higher, please,' gasped the Dodo."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Bah! I’ve a great mind never to speak to you again,” said the Doctor, +disgustedly.</p> + +<p>The other creatures now came up, and began to abuse the Dodo, too.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_212" id="pg_212">212</a></span></p> + +<p>Fortunately, just in time to prevent a general squabble, the +Eterædarium, who had not been one of the number to patronize the +roundabout, returned with the information that there were some swings a +little way off.</p> + +<p>Despite their unfortunate experience on the roundabout, there was a +general rush on the part of the creatures for this new attraction, and +the Dodo and the Eterædarium had hard work to secure a swing for +themselves.</p> + +<p>“Shall I give you a push?” asked the Doctor, kindly, though with a +curious gleam in his eye.</p> + +<p>“Yes, please,” said the Dodo, gratefully.</p> + +<p>“All right,” said the Doctor. “Hold tight!” And he gave a mighty shove, +sending the swing high above all the others.</p> + +<p>“It’s very—very nice,” gasped the Dodo, “but don’t push any higher, +please.”</p> + +<p>“Hold tight,” said the Doctor, relentlessly, giving another shove, +harder than before.</p> + +<p>“Oh! please—please d—don’t, or we shall be upset,” implored the Dodo, +nervously, as the swing shot up into the air.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_213" id="pg_213">213</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’ll teach you to twizzle me on the roundabout,” cried the Doctor, +vindictively. “Will you ever do it again?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:364px"> +<a name="illus-048" id="illus-048"></a> +<img src="images/img-00222.jpg" alt=""Fidge was delighted."" title="" width="364" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Fidge was delighted."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Oh! no, n—no, never!” promised the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Well, one good one for the last, then,” cried<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_214" id="pg_214">214</a></span> the Doctor, giving a +final push, and then leaving the poor Dodo to his fate.</p> + +<p>I don’t think that it could have been a very dreadful one, however, for +a few minutes later he had joined the three children and the +Palæotherium in a journey on the switchback.</p> + +<p>Fidge, who had never been on one before, was delighted with the +experience, and shouted, “Hooray! This is jolly!” as the car dashed down +the steep incline.</p> + +<p>The poor Palæotherium, however, his nerves evidently greatly unstrung by +his unfortunate experience on the roundabout, was dreadfully upset, and +alarmed, and, hiding his eyes, he crouched at the bottom of the car till +it reached the other end, when he at once got out, and no amount of +persuasion would induce him to undertake the return journey.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely got out into the grounds again, when he met the +Archæopteryx, who was carrying a strange-looking object, which he held +up for the Palæotherium’s inspection.</p> + +<p>“Your tail, I believe,” he said.</p> + +<p>The Palæotherium gave a hasty glance at his<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_215" id="pg_215">215</a></span> back, and then said, in +rather a shamefaced way—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:343px"> +<a name="illus-049" id="illus-049"></a> +<img src="images/img-00224.jpg" alt=""Does this belong to you?"" title="" width="343" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Does this belong to you?"</span> +</div> + +<p>“Thank you! Yes, it is. You see, I have been obliged to wear a false one +for some time; I had no idea, however, that it had become detached.” And +he carefully adjusted it again, tying it on with a couple of tapes, and +artfully concealing the ends.</p> + +<p>“Our family,” he whispered, “have no tails<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_216" id="pg_216">216</a></span> to speak of, and, as we look +rather remarkable without them, most of us wear artificial ones; but +please don’t tell the others, they are sure to make fun of me, if you +do.”</p> + +<p>“All right,” promised the Archæopteryx, kindly; “I won’t, if you don’t +wish me to; but I——”</p> + +<p>“Hist! hist!” interrupted a voice, and the Dodo, with a very scared +face, peeped from behind a tree. “Who <i>do</i> you think is here?” he +gasped.</p> + +<p>“Who?” inquired the others, curiously.</p> + +<p>“The Little Panjandrum himself,” declared the Dodo. “I have just caught +sight of him up by the Palace, and he looks <i>so</i> angry about +something.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_217" id="pg_217">217</a></span> +<a name="THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUM_AT_LAST_4622" id="THE_LITTLE_PANJANDRUM_AT_LAST_4622"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<h3>THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM AT LAST.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“The Little Panjandrum!” exclaimed Marjorie, “I <i>shall</i> be glad to see +him at last. What is he like?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! don’t bother me about him,” cried the Dodo, impatiently; “he’s all +right as Panjandrums go, I suppose, but I don’t want to get into his +clutches again, I can tell you.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you, indeed?” remarked a voice, sarcastically. “Well, His +Importance is particularly anxious to see <i>you</i> again, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo gasped, and the children turning around beheld the Little +Panjandrum’s Ambassador.</p> + +<p>“Hullo! you here, too?” he continued, when he recognized them. “Well, I +must say, you have been long enough bringing this wretched bird along.”</p> + +<p>“I think you ought to be very grateful to us for having done so at all,” +said Dick, boldly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_218" id="pg_218">218</a></span> “What are you going to do with him now you have got +him?”</p> + +<p>“H’m! that remains to be seen,” said the Ambassador, pursing his lips up +tightly, and staring at the Dodo severely.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:273px"> +<a name="illus-050" id="illus-050"></a> +<img src="images/img-00227.jpg" alt=""'Come along,' said the Ambassador."" title="" width="273" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Come along,' said the Ambassador."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Come along,” he continued, catching hold of what would have been the +Dodo’s ear if he had had one, but which was in reality a sort of woolly +fluff growing all over his head.</p> + +<p>“Come along, and see your friend the Little Panjandrum.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_219" id="pg_219">219</a></span></p> + +<p>“Leave go!” screamed the Dodo, “you hurt.”</p> + +<p>“Rubbish!” exclaimed the Ambassador, dragging him along, “it doesn’t +hurt <i>me</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh! I’ve dropped one of my gloves,” cried the Dodo, pathetically.</p> + +<p>“If you take my advice, you’ll throw the other one away, too,” said the +Ambassador; “it will only make the Little Panjandrum more angry than +ever to see them.”</p> + +<p>“They make me look so respectable,” whispered the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Respectable!” said the Ambassador, contemptuously; “nothing would make +<i>you</i> respectable—you ridiculous object, you.”</p> + +<p>“I think you are most un—un—ki—ki—kind,” sobbed the Dodo, “you are +always pi—pi—pi—pitching into m—me, and ca—ca—calling me +n—n—nasty names. It—it—it’s too bad.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, stop that noise,” said the Ambassador, giving the Dodo’s wool a +twist; “I’m ashamed of you. Ah, here comes His Importance,” he +continued, as the sound of a drum was heard in the distance.</p> + +<p>The children all eagerness to see the Little<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_220" id="pg_220">220</a></span> Panjandrum, stood in a +line by the side of the pathway, while the Ambassador, keeping a firm +hold on the Dodo, remained by their side.</p> + +<p>The sound of the drum drew nearer, and the children could distinguish +another sound mingling with it.</p> + +<p>The Ambassador smiled blandly, while he kept time with his foot.</p> + +<p>Presently the children caught sight of a curious procession approaching. +The Little Panjandrum, a little fat man in Oriental costume, was +preceded by two attendants—one playing a kind of drum, and the other a +jew’s harp, while a third attendant held an enormous umbrella over His +Importance’s head. On the top of the umbrella were a number of curious +signs, of which the children could not possibly imagine the meaning.</p> + +<p>“Obbly—bobblee—wallee—bobbel—ob,” said the Ambassador, bowing three +times, and dragging the Dodo’s head down with him each time.</p> + +<p>“Flop!” replied the Little Panjandrum, and the two musicians fell on +their faces.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_221" id="pg_221">221</a></span></p> + +<p>“Um—sopelee—gumbos—galapaloo—glab,” remarked the Ambassador.</p> + +<p>“Ploff!” said the Little Panjandrum, and the black slave at the back +jigged the State Umbrella up and down several times very violently.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:366px"> +<a name="illus-051" id="illus-051"></a> +<img src="images/img-00230.jpg" alt="The Panjandrum and suite passed along." title="" width="366" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Panjandrum and suite passed along.</span> +</div> + +<p>“What a funny language,” whispered Marjorie. “I wonder what they are +talking about?”</p> + +<p>“Semlifee—dobbel—bingle—bingle—boff,” cried the Ambassador, lifting +up one leg, while the Dodo painfully followed his example.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_222" id="pg_222">222</a></span></p> + +<p>The Little Panjandrum gravely kicked the two musicians, who were still +prostrate on the ground before him, and they immediately arose and stood +on one leg each, like the Ambassador. Then His Importance himself +balanced himself in the same way. The black slave at the back, whose +legs were attached to those of the Little Panjandrum, imitated him.</p> + +<p>The children were highly interested in this proceeding, when the +Ambassador, without speaking, motioned them to stand on one leg each, +too.</p> + +<p>“Come on, let’s do it,” said Dick, “and see what they are going to do.”</p> + +<p>So the three children solemnly hopped upon one foot, too.</p> + +<p>For a moment or two no one spoke. And at last the Dodo, gasping out, +“Oh! I can’t keep it up any longer,” fell to the ground, and everybody +else put their leg down again.</p> + +<p>“Ough!” said the Ambassador, in a disgusted voice. “Of course, <i>you</i> +must needs spoil it all. Most disrespectful behavior to the Little +Panjandrum, I call it.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_223" id="pg_223">223</a></span></p> + +<p>“I couldn’t help it,” gasped the Dodo, apologetically.</p> + +<p>“Oh, of course not,” said the Ambassador. “A bad excuse is better than +none.”</p> + +<p>“Well, <i>I</i> couldn’t have kept it up much longer,” declared Marjorie; +“could you, Dick?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Dick; “I can’t think what we are doing it at all for.”</p> + +<p>“Court etiquette demands it,” said the Ambassador, importantly. “Hush! +His Importance is about to speak.”</p> + +<p>“Gobloblee! grabluff!” said the Little Panjandrum.</p> + +<p>“Go on, Dodo,” said the Ambassador. “<i>Gobloblee, grabluff</i>, at once when +His Importance tells you.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo gave a sigh, and went up to the Little Panjandrum’s Umbrella +and gave it a twirl. When it stopped, a little finger at the top pointed +to the word “Guilty,” which was painted in large letters in one section +of the Umbrella.</p> + +<p>“Again,” said the Ambassador.</p> + +<p>The Dodo, looking very dejected, gave the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_224" id="pg_224">224</a></span> Umbrella another twirl. This +time it stopped at the words “Hard labor.”</p> + +<p>The Dodo groaned.</p> + +<p>“Once more!” shouted the Ambassador.</p> + +<p>For the third time the unlucky bird spun the Umbrella round, and this +time it stopped at “Fine.”</p> + +<p>“How much, your Importance?” asked the Ambassador of the Little +Panjandrum.</p> + +<p>“<i>Cablofechee!</i>” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Your gloves are forfeited,” declared the Ambassador.</p> + +<p>The Dodo gave a despairing glance at the children, and began to remove +his one glove.</p> + +<p>“What’s he being tried for?” asked Dick, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Contempt of Panjandrumosity,” said the Ambassador. “It’s a dreadful +offence. All trials are conducted by means of the State Umbrella; it +saves all the bother of judges and juries, you know. But, look out! the +Little Panjandrum is off again.”</p> + +<p>“Dumflopety—golopegee—gal—popo—sum—delopotomex,” remarked the +Little Panjandrum,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_225" id="pg_225">225</a></span> as he walked away, escorted by his retinue.</p> + +<p>“He says that your ”hard labor” sentence is, to carry the State Umbrella +in future, and that you are to commence your duties in one hour from +now; in the meantime you may consider yourself at liberty till then.”</p> + +<p>The Ambassador followed after the Little Panjandrum, and the children +gathered around the poor Dodo, full of sympathy for his misfortunes.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width:238px"> +<a name="illus-052" id="illus-052"></a> +<img src="images/img-00234.jpg" alt=""'Go it, Dodo!' cried the Palæotherium."" title="" width="238" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Go it, Dodo!' cried the Palæotherium."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Have they gone?” whispered the Prehistoric Doctor, coming forward from +behind a bush, behind which he had been hiding.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_226" id="pg_226">226</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Marjorie. “Isn’t it a shame the poor Dodo should always be +getting into hot water?”</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said the Doctor; “I’ve found something that will make him +happy. Look here!”</p> + +<p>The Dodo raised himself up from the ground, and gave an inquiring glance +at the Doctor who held out a pair of boxing-gloves.</p> + +<p>“Oh! what beauties!” said the Dodo. “How fat they are! Are they for me?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you would like them,” said the Doctor. “I have a pair, too. +Let’s try a round together—shall we?”</p> + +<p>“All right!” shouted the Dodo, getting up excitedly, and hastily +fastening on the gloves. “Now then—guard!” And he went for the Doctor +furiously. The Doctor squared up, and was soon boxing as skilfully as +the Dodo.</p> + +<p>The Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, hearing the noise, came forward +and joined the crowd of creatures, which by this time had collected in a +ring. And amid shouts of “Go it, Dodo!” “Three cheers for the Dodo!” +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_227" id="pg_227">227</a></span> first round concluded, the ungainly bird winning a decided victory. +They were just about to begin again, when they heard a succession of +piercing screams from the direction in which the lake was situated.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_228" id="pg_228">228</a></span> +<a name="TURNED_TO_STONE_4843" id="TURNED_TO_STONE_4843"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +<h3>TURNED TO STONE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Good gracious! what’s that?” inquired the Dodo, as the screams +continued.</p> + +<p>“We’d better go and see,” said Dick, practically running off in the +direction of the lake, followed by the others.</p> + +<p>On passing the clump of trees and evergreens, which obstructed their +view, they discovered the Little Panjandrum, in a great state of +agitation, hiding behind the official Umbrella, his body-attendant lying +prone on the ground in a state of abject fear; while the rest of the +suite, having cast aside their musical instruments, were rushing away, +shouting lustily.</p> + +<p>On the opposite side of the path stood a few of the prehistoric +creatures which accompanied the children on their excursion to the +Crystal Palace.</p> + +<p>They were looking at the Little Panjandrum<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_229" id="pg_229">229</a></span> with a mild surprise, and +seemed quite at a loss to know what all the hullabaloo was about.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:364px"> +<a name="illus-053" id="illus-053"></a> +<img src="images/img-00238.jpg" alt="The Little Panjandrum and suite are alarmed." title="" width="364" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Little Panjandrum and suite are alarmed.</span> +</div> + +<p>“Gulla—hubly—olla—bolee!” shouted the Little Panjandrum, pointing to +the animals with his umbrella.</p> + +<p>“Oh, they’re all right, your Importance,” said the Dodo; “they are +friends of mine.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_230" id="pg_230">230</a></span></p> + +<p>“Friends, indeed!” exclaimed the Ambassador, coming from where he had +been hiding behind a tree. “Pretty friends! What do you call the +creatures?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s the Archæopteryx, you know, and the Eterædarium, and the +Palæo——”</p> + +<p>“Stop! stop!” interrupted the Ambassador, as each of the animals +mentioned bowed gravely. “I absolutely decline to know creatures with +names like <i>those</i>. I’m sure they are not respectable, and I’m not at +all sure, even now, that they are not dangerous; however, I shall know +how to deal with <i>them</i> presently. The penalty for alarming the Little +Panjandrum is a very severe one.” And he frowned very sternly at the +creatures, who looked rather uncomfortable, and waddled off in the +direction of the lake, whispering together in a decidedly scared way.</p> + +<p>“You didn’t tell me you had all these hideous objects with you,” +continued the Ambassador, addressing the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“I thought you knew,” stammered the unlucky bird; “they are prehistoric, +you know,” he added, apologetically.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_231" id="pg_231">231</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:342px"> +<a name="illus-054" id="illus-054"></a> +<img src="images/img-00240.jpg" alt="There was some consolation, he was allowed to wear his gloves." title="" width="342" /><br /> +<span class="caption">There was some consolation, he was allowed to wear his gloves.</span> +</div> + +<p>“That only makes it worse,” declared the Ambassador. “In that case they +ought to be dead, every one of them, ever so long ago. They have no +right to be prowling about at a highly-respectable place like the +Crystal Palace. No wonder there’s nobody about; they’ve<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_232" id="pg_232">232</a></span> frightened them +away, that’s what it is. And you’re to blame as much as anybody for +bringing them here.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t!” gasped the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“You did,” said the Ambassador, emphatically. “You said they were your +friends; so they <i>must</i> have come with you. And I’ll tell you what, in +order to prevent you from picking up any more undesirable acquaintances, +you shall just commence your duties as Umbrella Bearer at once,” and, +untying the ribbons by which the Little Panjandrum’s attendant was +attached to His Importance, the Ambassador, bringing forth a heavy pair +of chains from his capacious pockets, proceeded to chain the Dodo up to +the Little Panjandrum’s waistband.</p> + +<p>The poor Dodo looked the picture of misery as the Umbrella was put into +his hand.</p> + +<p>“M—may I have m—my gloves?” he whimpered.</p> + +<p>The Ambassador, after considering a minute, gave his consent, on the +score that it <i>might</i> improve his appearance, and caused the black +attendant to hunt for the missing one, which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_233" id="pg_233">233</a></span> been thrown down on +the ground near to the roundabout.</p> + +<p>He soon returned with it, and the Dodo, with a delighted chuckle, put +the pair on, and, after smoothing them carefully, regarded his hands +very complacently, and seemed to consider having them some compensation +for the degraded occupation to which he had been put.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go now and settle the others,” declared the Ambassador. “What did +you say their names were?” he inquired, sternly, of the Dodo.</p> + +<p>The poor bird called out the names one by one, and the Ambassador +carefully entered them in his pocket-book, and then stalked majestically +away in the direction of the lake, while the Little Panjandrum settled +himself on a gaudily-colored rug, which the black attendant carefully +spread on the ground at his feet, and with a self-satisfied smile on his +little round face gravely twiddled his thumbs and took no notice of +anybody.</p> + +<p>“Go and see what he does to them,” whispered the Dodo, referring to the +Ambassador and the creatures.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_234" id="pg_234">234</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing loth, the children ran off to the lake to see what was +happening. Pushing aside the bushes, they could see the Ambassador +standing on the edge of the path, waving a wand in one hand, while in +the other he flourished a legal-looking document.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:360px"> +<a name="illus-055" id="illus-055"></a> +<img src="images/img-00243.jpg" alt=""In the name of the Panjandrum, I command you."" title="" width="360" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"In the name of the Panjandrum, I command you."</span> +</div> + +<p>The prehistoric creatures were scrambling through the water, and getting +as far away as possible on to the islands in the middle of the lake.</p> + +<p>“All you Palæotheriums, Eterædariums, Archæopteryx,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_235" id="pg_235">235</a></span> Megatheriums, +Pleisiosauruses, Ichthyosauruses, and other prehistoric wretches, in the +name of the Panjandrum, I command you—<i>be turned into stone</i>.”</p> + +<p>When the Ambassador uttered these terrible words a most singular thing +happened. In whatever attitude the creatures were they remained so; and +gradually each assumed a stony and lifeless expression, and the spell or +incantation which the Ambassador had pronounced had evidently taken +effect.</p> + +<p>The children were very much alarmed, and ran back to the Dodo, and in a +hurried whisper informed him of what had occurred.</p> + +<p>“Turned all the prehistoric animals into stone, has he?” said the bird, +gleefully; “then I can see a splendid way out of my troubles. Wait till +the Ambassador returns, and you will see some capital fun.” And the Dodo +struck a rigid attitude, and remained in that position, totally +disregarding the questions with which the children plied him.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_236" id="pg_236">236</a></span> +<a name="THE_DODOS_LITTLE_RUSE_4987" id="THE_DODOS_LITTLE_RUSE_4987"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> +<h3>THE DODO”S LITTLE RUSE.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The State Umbrella, which the Dodo had been carrying, fell to the ground +with a crash, and so startled the Little Panjandrum that he jumped to +his feet and nervously tried to run away. The chains, however, by which +the Dodo was attached to his girdle, prevented him from doing so.</p> + +<p>The bird, with his beak in the air, and his gloves extended in a most +grotesque attitude, was immovable and rigid as stone. Not a muscle +moved, and the Little Panjandrum, after staring at him a moment, called +out, angrily—</p> + +<p>“Olla—balloo—calle—gablob?”</p> + +<p>There was not the slightest movement on the part of the bird, and just +then the Ambassador returned.</p> + +<p>“Hullo! What’s the trouble?” he cried, staring at the Dodo.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_237" id="pg_237">237</a></span></p> + +<p>“Gablobbee—balloo—olla—wobble!” said the Little Panjandrum, +excitedly.</p> + +<p>“What!” exclaimed the Ambassador, “something gone wrong with the Dodo? +Here, what’s the matter with you?” he continued, giving the bird a +shake.</p> + +<p>The Dodo didn’t budge an inch, but continued in the same position, his +eyes fixed in a stony stare.</p> + +<p>“I can’t think what’s wrong with him,” declared the Ambassador, with a +puzzled expression on his face.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he’s turned into stone, like the others,” suggested Dick, +mischievously.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said the Ambassador, clapping his hand to his forehead in a +dramatic manner; “<i>that’s</i> what it is, depend upon it. Good gracious! +<i>how</i> unfortunate. Let’s see, what did I say when pronouncing the +spell?”</p> + +<p>“Why, after mentioning most of the creatures’ names, you said, ”and all +other prehistoric wretches.” I remember quite well,” said Marjorie, +“because I thought at the time it was rather rude of you to call them +wretches.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_238" id="pg_238">238</a></span></p> + +<p>“H’m! Then <i>he</i> must have been a prehistoric wretch,” said the +Ambassador, absently. “Dear me! I always knew he was extinct, but I had +no idea he was antediluvian as well. That accounts for a lot of things. +No wonder he was eccentric.” And he gazed at the Dodo quite sorrowfully.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:258px"> +<a name="illus-056" id="illus-056"></a> +<img src="images/img-00247.jpg" alt="The Dodo was rigid, motionless." title="" width="258" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Dodo was rigid, motionless.</span> +</div> + +<p>“Well, well,” he resumed, “it can’t be helped now. We must make the best +of a bad matter; all the talking in the world won’t restore him to life +again.” And he turned to the Little Panjandrum and entered into a lengthy +conversation with him in their native language, which the children could +not understand in the least.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_239" id="pg_239">239</a></span>The Little Panjandrum seemed greatly distressed at the disaster which +had befallen the Dodo, and, it appeared, insisted upon a monument being +erected to his memory. Thereupon the Ambassador, by a brilliant +inspiration, thought of the novel plan of making the bird act as his own +statue.</p> + +<p>“As he is turned into stone,” said he, “we have only to find a pedestal +to put him on, and there we are.”</p> + +<p>A little way off, a stone Cupid, rather the worse for wear, stood beside +the pathway, and this, the Ambassador decided, should be removed to make +way for the Dodo.</p> + +<p>The united efforts of the Little Panjandrum’s suite (who had by this +time returned, having been assured that the creatures which had so +alarmed them had been rendered harmless) soon succeeded in overthrowing +Cupid from his pedestal, and after a great deal of pulling, pushing, and +straining, the Dodo, still posing in his grotesque attitude, was stuck +up in his place.</p> + +<p>“There must be an inscription,” said the Ambassador, and, rummaging +about in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_240" id="pg_240">240</a></span> pockets, he brought forth a piece of black crayon. “<span class="smcap">The +Dodo, now fortunately extinct</span>,” he wrote in large letters, and then +stood back to admire the effect.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:321px"> +<a name="illus-057" id="illus-057"></a> +<img src="images/img-00249.jpg" alt="The Dodo's Monument." title="" width="321" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Dodo's Monument.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Little Panjandrum beamed approval, and calling together his suite, +the Black Attendant<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_241" id="pg_241">241</a></span> once more raised the State Umbrella over His +Importance’s head, and the tom-tom and Jew’s harp began their strange +music, while the Ambassador took a hurried leave of the children, and +the cortège passed out of sight. Fainter and fainter grew the sound of +the instruments, and the children, somewhat alarmed at being left all +alone, were half undecided whether to follow or not, when their +attention was called to a smothered giggling at the back of them.</p> + +<p>Turning around, they beheld the Dodo holding his hands to his sides, and +shaking with suppressed laughter.</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho! ho!” he laughed, dancing about on the pedestal, “haven’t I +tricked them beautifully? <i>Turned to stone! The Dodo, now fortunately +extinct!</i> Ha! ha! ha! he! he! <i>what</i> a lark! They’ll find I’m not so +extinct as they think.” And, jumping down, he made a grimace in the +direction in which the Little Panjandrum and suite had vanished.</p> + +<p>“I think I’ve got the best of them <i>this</i> time,” he continued, +triumphantly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_242" id="pg_242">242</a></span></p> + +<p>“But come, let’s get out of this as soon as possible. You want to get to +London, don’t you? Let’s start at once, if not sooner.”</p> + +<p>“But, I say, what are we going to do for money?” said Dick. “One can’t +get to London without that, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we’ll find a way somehow,” said the Dodo, hopefully. “Come along.”</p> + +<p>So the children all trudged back to the Palace again. Fidge, who was +very glad to see his old friend the Dodo restored to life again, +wouldn’t leave his side, but trotted along with him, chatting merrily.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said the Dodo, as they went up the steps leading into the great +hall, “there’s my old friend the Missionary; perhaps he will be able to +help us out of our difficulty.” And going up to the gentleman, he gave +him a playful pat on the shoulder, and exclaimed, pleasantly—</p> + +<p>“Here we are again, you see!”</p> + +<p>The Missionary started nervously, and peered at the Dodo through his +glasses.</p> + +<p>“Oh—er—how do you do?” he cried,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_243" id="pg_243">243</a></span> hurriedly, giving a rather startled +glance all round him. “Are your other friends with you?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:304px"> +<a name="illus-058" id="illus-058"></a> +<img src="images/img-00252.jpg" alt=""'You're very good,' said the Dodo."" title="" width="304" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'You're very good,' said the Dodo."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Oh, you mean the Eterædarium, and the Palæotherium. No—they—er, +they’ve met with a rather nasty accident. They’ve been turned into +stone.”</p> + +<p>“Bless me!” exclaimed the Missionary, looking greatly concerned. “You +don’t say so!<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_244" id="pg_244">244</a></span> What an extraordinary thing to happen. I had no idea that +there were any petrifying waters hereabouts.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they’re turned to stone, anyhow,” said the Dodo, “down by the +lake there. It’s rather awkward for us, you see, because we can’t stop +here forever by ourselves, and we haven’t any money to get home with.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Sir,” said the Missionary, generously taking out his purse, +“can I be of any assistance to you?”</p> + +<p>“It’s very kind of you,” said the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” cried the Missionary, heartily, pressing some money into +the Dodo’s glove, which, of course, immediately fell off and +disconcerted the Missionary very much, while the Dodo scrambled about +and picked up the scattered coins.</p> + +<p>The children thought it very kind of the Missionary to lend them the +money, and Dick and Marjorie went up to him and thanked him very +politely; and then, having done this, the whole party hurried off to the +train.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_245" id="pg_245">245</a></span> +<a name="FIRST_CLASS_TO_LONDON_5160" id="FIRST_CLASS_TO_LONDON_5160"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +<h3>FIRST CLASS TO LONDON.</h3> +</div> + +<p>The railway station at the Crystal Palace was soon reached, and the Dodo +went boldly up to the booking-office and demanded some tickets for +London.</p> + +<p>The Ticket-clerk, who could only see the top of the Dodo’s head, very +naturally mistook him for an old gentleman without his hat, and +inquired, politely, “What class, Sir?”</p> + +<p>This was a puzzler, and the Dodo went back to Dick and told him that the +gentleman in the office wanted to know what class they were in.</p> + +<p>“What does he mean?” asked Dick.</p> + +<p>“What class you’re in at school, I suppose,” said the Dodo, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Why, I’m in the fourth form,” said Dick; “but I don’t see what he wants +to know <i>that</i> for, unless—Oh yes, of course, I see—he wants to find +out how old we are, because up to twelve years of age you can travel +half-price, you know. Let’s see—we only want halves, Marjorie and<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_246" id="pg_246">246</a></span> +Fidge and myself; you’ll have to get a whole ticket, I suppose, though I +have seen a notice at a railway station somewhere, on which it stated, +”Soldiers and Dogs half-price.” Perhaps it applies to birds, too. You +had better ask, I think.”</p> + +<p>So the Dodo went back to the booking-office again and inquired, “Do +birds travel half-price?”</p> + +<p>“Birds!” exclaimed the Booking-clerk. “Nonsense! There is no charge for +birds, unless you have a quantity,” he added, as an afterthought. “How +many have you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there’s only one,” said the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Take it in the carriage with you, no charge,” said the Clerk.</p> + +<p>“Thanks! It’s awfully kind of you,” said the Dodo. “I’ll take three +half-tickets for London, then, please.”</p> + +<p>“First class?” inquired the Clerk.</p> + +<p>“No! Fourth form, please,” said the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“You mean fourth <i>class</i>, I suppose,” said the Clerk, laughing; “but +there <i>is</i> no fourth class, you know. First, second, or third.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_247" id="pg_247">247</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh! then I’ll have third; I suppose that’s the best?” cried the Dodo.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:336px"> +<a name="illus-059" id="illus-059"></a> +<img src="images/img-00256.jpg" alt=""You can't take that into the carriage with you."" title="" width="336" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"You can't take that into the carriage with you."</span> +</div> + +<p>“No,” explained the Clerk, “first class is best.”</p> + +<p>“What a funny arrangement,” said the Dodo.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_248" id="pg_248">248</a></span> “I should have thought the +third would have been an improvement on the first; but, however, let’s +have the first-class tickets, please. When does the train start?”</p> + +<p>“There’s one due in directly,” said the Clerk. “Down the steps on the +right.”</p> + +<p>And the Dodo, collecting his change, and grasping his tickets, marched +off towards the barrier.</p> + +<p>The Clerk, whose curiosity was aroused by the strange questions which +had been addressed to him, came to the window to have a better view of +his interrogator, and was just in time to catch sight of the Dodo +walking off with the three children.</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!” he exclaimed, perfectly astounded at this strange +sight. “And he asked if birds traveled at half-price, too! Well, I’ve +had some odd customers here at the Crystal Palace, but never a one like +that before.” And he went back to his work in a highly-bewildered frame +of mind.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Dodo and the children, finding no one at the barrier to +obstruct them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_249" id="pg_249">249</a></span> went down to the platform, and a moment later the train +came dashing into the station.</p> + +<p>“First class in the middle of the train,” shouted Dick, grasping Fidge’s +hand, and hurrying down the platform.</p> + +<p>“Here! where are you going to with that bird?” shouted a voice behind +them, and Dick and the Dodo turned around and walked slowly back to +where the Guard, an elderly and very important-looking man, stood +regarding them sternly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s all right; the gentleman up-stairs said there was no charge +for birds,” explained the Dodo, importantly, thinking that the man was +inquiring about his ticket.</p> + +<p>“H’m! sort of a big parrot, I suppose, Sir?” said the Guard, addressing +Dick, and not taking the slightest notice of the Dodo’s remark.</p> + +<p>“Parrot, indeed!” shouted the bird, indignantly. “Perhaps you haven’t +noticed my gloves and necktie?”</p> + +<p>The Guard smiled indulgently. “Talks well, Sir,” he said to Dick, “but +you can’t take <i>that</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_250" id="pg_250">250</a></span> into the carriage with you, you know. Better put +him in the van.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:367px"> +<a name="illus-060" id="illus-060"></a> +<img src="images/img-00259.jpg" alt="All crowded around, anxious to catch a glimpse." title="" width="367" /><br /> +<span class="caption">All crowded around, anxious to catch a glimpse.</span> +</div> + +<p>“How dare you?” said the Dodo. “You’ll do nothing of the sort, I can +tell you.” And despite the protests of the Guard he strutted up the +platform and entered a first-class carriage, followed by the children.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_251" id="pg_251">251</a></span></p> + +<p>There was no further time for argument, as the train was even now late +in starting; so the Guard blew his whistle and waved his flag, and, +after an answering toot from the engine, they were off.</p> + +<p>They had the carriage all to themselves, and a moment or two after +starting Marjorie discovered that somebody had left a little illustrated +Magazine on one of the seats.</p> + +<p>They all crowded round to look at the pictures, and presently the Dodo +exclaimed, excitedly—</p> + +<p>“Hullo! Look here! Why, here’s a situation that would just suit +me:—”Typewriter wanted; must be quick and accurate, and of undoubted +respectability. Hours, nine till six. Liberal salary to suitable +person.—Apply to A. B. C., Suffolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand.” It’s +the very thing! With the liberal salary, I shall be able to take a house +somewhere in London, and we can all live together, and have the jolliest +larks. We’ll keep a horse and trap, you know, and I’ll buy you each a +bicycle, and we’ll go to the Pantomime every evening, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_252" id="pg_252">252</a></span> to Madame +Tussaud’s, and the Zoo, and the Tower of London, and Masklyne and +Cook’s, and other things every day—and—and——” he went on +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“But do you know how to do typewriting?” asked Dick, dubiously.</p> + +<p>“Well—er, not exactly,” admitted the Dodo; “but,” he added, hopefully, +“I can soon learn, you know; and, besides, the advertisement fits me +exactly. I’m sure I’m quick and accurate; and as for my respectability, +look at my gloves! I’m sure any one would engage me directly they saw +what a superior person I was.”</p> + +<p>“How much do you think the salary will be?” asked Marjorie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t know. I suppose they’ll be glad to pay me anything I like +to ask,” replied the Dodo, “and I shall be sure to ask enough, you may +be certain of that.”</p> + +<p>“But how are we to get to Norfolk Street, Strand?” persisted Marjorie. +“We don’t know where it is.”</p> + +<p>“Father said, that if we were ever lost, we were to jump into a cab, and +ask to be driven to<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_253" id="pg_253">253</a></span> wherever we wanted to go,” suggested Dick, +practically.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:370px"> +<a name="illus-061" id="illus-061"></a> +<img src="images/img-00262.jpg" alt=""Kept the cabby highly amused."" title="" width="370" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Kept the cabby highly amused."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Of course,” said the Dodo, “just what I intended doing.” And then he +rattled on about what he should do, and buy, when he got the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_254" id="pg_254">254</a></span> situation, +till at last the train stopped, and the Porter shouted out, “Victoria!”</p> + +<p>They all hurried out, and, disregarding the curious glances which their +unusual appearance excited, made their way to the nearest hansom, and +asked to be driven to Norfolk Street.</p> + +<p>There was some little difficulty at first, as to how they should all +find room in the cab, but it was finally decided that the Dodo should +sit on the top, while the three children managed to find room inside.</p> + +<p>The Dodo, from his elevated position, had a capital view of everything +of interest which they passed, and kept the cabby highly amused by his +exceedingly naïve remarks about them all; while, to every exclamation of +surprise or derision, which met them on every side from astounded street +boys, the remarkable bird had something droll and amusing to say in +reply. In fact, the driver declares to this day, that he never before or +since has had so extraordinary a fare.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_255" id="pg_255">255</a></span> +<a name="THE_DODO_OBLIGES_WITH_A_SONG_5346" id="THE_DODO_OBLIGES_WITH_A_SONG_5346"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +<h3>THE DODO OBLIGES WITH A SONG.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Hold hard! Stop! Here we are!” cried the Dodo, soon after they had +reached Charing Cross. “There’s A. B. C.”</p> + +<p>“We haven’t got to Norfolk Street yet,” said the cabby.</p> + +<p>“Never mind, there’s A. B. C., and that’s who I want,” declared the +Dodo, scrambling down from the roof. “You stay in the cab till I come +back,” he called out to the children, smoothing his gloves and settling +his tie as he walked towards the door.</p> + +<p>The children watched him enter, and through the glass door of the +shop—for it was a shop into which he had gone—saw him engaged in a +lengthy conversation with a young lady, who at first seemed afraid of +him; but, some more ladies coming up, they closed around the bird, and +seemed to be highly amused at something,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_256" id="pg_256">256</a></span> while the Dodo grew more and +more excited, waving his pinions about, and stamping his claws +furiously, and finally rushing out of the shop and slamming the door too +violently.</p> + +<p>“I never heard of such impertinence,” he declared, puffing and blowing +in his excitement, “putting up A. B. C., when they are nothing of the +sort. They wanted to tell me that they have a right to use those +letters, because they are the Aerated Bread Company. What rubbish! They +might as well stick up X. Y. Z. Who’s to know what’s meant? Aerated +Bread Company, indeed! It might as well have stood for Antediluvian +Bottlewashing Company. Bah! I’ve no patience with such nonsense.” And in +a highly-ruffled state of mind he scrambled back to his place on the +roof, and told the cabby to drive on to Norfolk Street.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes’ ride they stopped outside a handsome building, and +the Dodo once more alighted, and went up the steps to where a man in +brown livery, with gilt buttons, stood by the lift.</p> + +<p>“Are you A. B. C.?” demanded the Dodo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_257" id="pg_257">257</a></span> posing in what he evidently took +to be a dignified attitude.</p> + +<p>“N—no—second floor!” gasped the astonished attendant.</p> + +<p>“Dear me, what a bother,” said the Dodo. “Just go and tell him I’m here, +will you?” he said; “I’ve come about the situation, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said the man, “you’d better go up; there are several applicants +already.”</p> + +<p>“Bless me!” cried the Dodo, in alarm. “I’d better hurry then.”</p> + +<p>“Will you go up in the lift—er—Sir?” asked the attendant.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” demanded the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Oh, get in, and you’ll see,” said the man, unceremoniously, pushing the +bird into the lift, and getting in after him.</p> + +<p>He pulled the rope, and up they went, the Dodo sinking to the ground +with a ridiculous sprawl as the lift ascended.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh! Stop!” he screamed, shrilly.</p> + +<p>But the lift went till the second floor was reached, when the attendant +opened the door, and bundled the bird out into the passage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_258" id="pg_258">258</a></span></p> + +<p>“Second door on the left,” he called out, and, pulling the string, was +soon out of sight again.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” gasped the bewildered Dodo, “I was never so bustled +about before in all my life. But now for this A. B. C., whoever he is. I +mustn’t lose the situation if I can help it.”</p> + +<p>The second door on the left was soon found, and the Dodo knocked with +his beak.</p> + +<p>A small youth appeared, who at first seemed rather alarmed, but +presently exploded into a half-stifled laugh. “My hat!” he exclaimed. +“Here’s a go! Why, blessed if it ain’t a bird with gloves on—and a +tie—oh! what a lark!”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the Dodo, with dignity, “not a lark—your education must have +been sadly neglected, my good boy—I’m a Dodo, or <i>the</i> Dodo, in fact.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!” said the boy, “if it isn’t talking!”</p> + +<p>“Of course. Why not?” demanded the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh! this is too good! What may your business be, Mr.—er—Dodo?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_259" id="pg_259">259</a></span></p> + +<p>“I’ve come about the situation,” said the bird, smoothing his gloves +consequentially.</p> + +<p>The boy exploded into a fit of laughter. “Oh, come in!” he cried. “This +is better than a circus—come in—I’ll tell the Governor you’re here.” +And the Dodo was ushered into a room where two or three gentlemen were +sitting at high desks.</p> + +<p>“Who is it, Perkins?” said one of the gentlemen.</p> + +<p>“Some one about the situation, Sir,” said Perkins, stuffing his +handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself laughing aloud.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen all turned around and stared at the Dodo.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s a bird!” cried one.</p> + +<p>“Of course it is; what else did you expect I was?” said the Dodo. “Are +you A. B. C.?”</p> + +<p>“No—no,” stammered the man. “I’m the Head Clerk, though, and—I——”</p> + +<p>“I’ve no time to waste with Head Clerks,” said the Dodo. “Just go and +tell A. B. C. I’m here, will you?”</p> + +<p>“But er——”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_260" id="pg_260">260</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment an inner door opened, and another gentleman stepped into +the room.</p> + +<p>“Whatever is all this noise——” he began, when he caught sight of the +Dodo.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:327px"> +<a name="illus-062" id="illus-062"></a> +<img src="images/img-00269.jpg" alt=""Do—o—o not—a—for—r—r—get m—e—e—e"" title="" width="327" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e"</span> +</div> + +<p>“Are you A. B. C.?” said the bird, pouncing upon him at once.</p> + +<p>“Well—really,” said the gentleman, “I——”</p> + +<p>“Don’t beat about the bush. Are you A. B. C., or are you not?” demanded +the Dodo.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_261" id="pg_261">261</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I am, but——”</p> + +<p>“Very well, then, I’ve come to take the situation, and I’ll just draw my +first week’s salary at once, if you please.”</p> + +<p>“But,” said the gentleman, with an amused smile, “I must see some of +your work first. Perkins, bring the typewriter!”</p> + +<p>The boy brought the instrument, and placed it on a small table.</p> + +<p>“Now, then,” said the gentleman, motioning the Dodo towards it.</p> + +<p>“Oh! it’s so long since I played,” said the Dodo, smirking bashfully, “I +think I have almost forgotten my notes; however, I’ll try.” And, +throwing his head back, he shrieked out in a discordant voice—</p> + +<p>“<i>Do—o—o not—a—for—r—r—get m—e—e—e</i>!” banging on the keys at +the same time with both pinions.</p> + +<p>“Here! Stop! Stop!” called out the gentleman; “you’ll break it! <i>That’s</i> +not the way to do typewriting.”</p> + +<p>“No?” said the Dodo, innocently. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_262" id="pg_262">262</a></span> thought it was a kind of piano. I +was singing to you, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! were you?” remarked the gentleman. “Well, don’t do it again, +please. I can see you won’t do for us as typewriter,” he added; “but +perhaps I can get you a good situation at the Zoological Gardens. What +do you say to that, eh?”</p> + +<p>The Dodo, who during the first part of the speech looked very +crestfallen, brightened up considerably.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I should think that would do,” he said; “I’ll just go and ask the +others.”</p> + +<p>“What others?” demanded the gentleman.</p> + +<p>And the Dodo explained about Marjorie, and Dick, and Fidge, who had been +waiting in the cab all this time.</p> + +<p>The children were at once sent for, and the whole party were shown into +the private room, where Marjorie and Dick related their marvelous +adventures, as well as the continual interruptions of the Dodo would +permit them to do.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_263" id="pg_263">263</a></span> +<a name="THE_DODO_DEPARTS_5531" id="THE_DODO_DEPARTS_5531"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> +<h3>THE DODO DEPARTS.</h3> +</div> + +<p>“It seems to me,” said the gentleman, kindly, when the children had +finished the story of their adventure, and had given him their names and +addresses, “it seems to me that the first thing to be done is to get +some suitable clothes for you.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! we never thought of that,” cried Marjorie, looking down at her bare +feet in dismay. “You see, there have been such a lot of strange things +happening lately that we quite forgot how we all looked. Of course,” she +laughed, glancing at the others, “we must appear very funny indeed, +dressed in this fashion.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! I fancy we can soon put that right,” was the kind reply. “I have +some boys and girls of my own, you know, and I think, if I send a note +to my wife, she will be able to find some garments that you can wear for +the time being. And the next thing is, to let your<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_264" id="pg_264">264</a></span> father and mother +know that you are here. I expect they must be very anxious about you by +this time.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:334px"> +<a name="illus-063" id="illus-063"></a> +<img src="images/img-00273.jpg" alt=""'Oh, Papa! Papa!' cried Marjorie."" title="" width="334" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"'Oh, Papa! Papa!' cried Marjorie."</span> +</div> + +<p>“Dear me!” exclaimed Dick, looking greatly troubled, “that’s another +thing we never thought of, Marjorie.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_265" id="pg_265">265</a></span></p> + +<p>“I want to see my Daddy!” announced Fidge, suddenly and decidedly.</p> + +<p>But on being assured that he should soon do so he sat down with the +others, and looked through the picture books which Perkins found for +them, while the gentleman sent home for the clothes, and telegraphed to +their father.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the day some luncheon was brought in for them from a +neighboring restaurant, and soon afterwards the clothes arrived.</p> + +<p>An Eton suit for Dick, the jacket of which was just a trifle short; a +pretty, simple dress for Marjorie; and a sailor suit for Fidge.</p> + +<p>When the children had donned these, after having had a good wash, they +looked as different as possible; and when, a little later on, they were +led into another room with the mysterious statement, “That somebody +wanted to see them,” they were all eagerness to know who it possibly +could be.</p> + +<p>As soon as the door opened, however, there could be no doubt as to who +it was, for with a delighted cry of “Oh, Papa! Papa!” Marjorie<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_266" id="pg_266">266</a></span> rushed +into the arms of a gentleman standing in the middle of the room, and +seemed half undecided whether to cry or to laugh, while Fidge and Dick +crowded around and joined in the excitement.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width:265px"> +<a name="illus-064" id="illus-064"></a> +<img src="images/img-00275.jpg" alt="The Dodo was moved to tears." title="" width="265" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Dodo was moved to tears.</span> +</div> + +<p>The Dodo, who had come into the room at that moment, thought that he, +too, ought to have a share in the welcoming, and, in grotesque imitation +of Marjorie, he tried to jump up into<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_267" id="pg_267">267</a></span> the gentleman’s arms, crying +excitedly, “Oh, Papa! Papa!” just as she had done.</p> + +<p>“Good gracious!” exclaimed the children’s father, drawing back in +dismay, and gazing at the clumsy bird. “What on earth is this?”</p> + +<p>And then, when they tried to explain—all speaking at once—they made +such a confusion that he was glad to put his hands to his ears, and to +cry out that they must reserve the story till they reached home. And +after thanking the gentleman for all his kindness, the children and +their father said good-by, and went down to the carriage which was +waiting at the door to drive them away.</p> + +<p>It had been decided, despite the children’s pleading, that the Dodo had +better <i>not</i> go home with them; and so, with many promises to write and +invite him soon, they took an affectionate farewell of their old friend; +and the last view they had of him, as he stood at the window, meekly +flourishing a limp glove, showed that he was moved to tears at having to +part from them. What happened to him after the<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_268" id="pg_268">268</a></span> children had gone I have +never been able quite to find out.</p> + +<p>It <i>is</i> said that, later on in the day, a curious-looking bird was seen +by the people in the Strand, clumsily flying away over the tops of the +houses, clutching a roll of papers in one claw. And from away down in +the country comes a weird story of two countrymen, walking across a +field, being—to use their own description—“flabbergasted!” at seeing a +great bird flying over their heads, screaming out a lot of aggravating +personal remarks as he passed, and finally dropping, from the end of one +of his pinions, a soiled white kid glove, the loss of which seemed to +cause him great uneasiness; but whether—as I shrewdly suspect—this was +the Dodo, or not, I have never actually discovered.</p> + +<p>The people at Suffolk House, including Perkins, maintain a most +mysterious silence on the subject, and will afford me no information +whatever; and the only consolation which I can find, in my endeavors to +ascertain whether these things really happened or not, is the fact +that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg_269" id="pg_269">269</a></span> on the island of the lake at the Crystal Palace, <i>all the curious +animals which the Ambassador is said to have turned into stone, are +really there</i>—you may see them for yourself—and I hope, when next you +go to Sydenham, you will hunt them up. And if so, you will notice—what +struck me as being a very conclusive proof of the truth of the +narrative—that the Palæotherium’s tail really looks as if it were +broken off, about four or five inches from the end; and decidedly as +though he <i>might</i> have worn a false one while he was alive.</p> + +<p style="margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:3em; text-align:center;">THE END</p> + +<div style="font-size:smaller"> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>A. L. Burt’s Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers, +52-58 Duane Street, New York</b></p> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Joe’s Luck</b>: A Boy’s Adventures in California. By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>The story is chock full of stirring incidents, while the amusing +situations are furnished by Joshua Bickford, from Pumpkin Hollow, +and the fellow who modestly styles himself the “Rip-tail Roarer, +from Pike Co., Missouri.” Mr. Alger never writes a poor book, and +“Joe’s Luck” is certainly one of his best.</p> + +<p><b>Tom the Bootblack</b>; or, The Road to Success. By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the Bootblack. He was not at all +ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the lookout to +better himself. The lad started for Cincinnati to look up his +heritage. Mr. Grey, the uncle, did not hesitate to employ a ruffian +to kill the lad. The plan failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the +Bootblack, came into a comfortable fortune. This is one of Mr. +Alger’s best stories.</p> + +<p><b>Dan the Newsboy</b>. <span class="smcap">By Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00.</p> + +<p>Dan Mordaunt and his mother live in a poor tenement, and the lad is +pluckily trying to make ends meet by selling papers in the streets +of New York. A little heiress of six years is confided to the care +of the Mordaunts. The child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child +to the house where she is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt +of the little heiress is so delighted with Dan’s courage and many +good qualities that she adopts him as her heir.</p> + +<p><b>Tony the Hero</b>: A Brave Boy’s Adventure with a Tramp. By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, +Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen, is under the control of +Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal. After much abuse Tony runs away +and gets a job as stable boy in a country hotel. Tony is heir to a +large estate. Rudolph for a consideration hunts up Tony and throws +him down a deep well. Of course Tony escapes from the fate provided +for him, and by a brave act, a rich friend secures his rights and +Tony is prosperous. A very entertaining book.</p> + +<p>The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>The career of “The Errand Boy” embraces the city adventures of a +smart country lad. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted +innkeeper named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for +the hero’s subsequent troubles. A retired merchant in New York +secures him the situation of errand boy, and thereafter stands as +his friend.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Temple’s Career</b>. By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Tom Temple is a bright, self-reliant lad. He leaves Plympton +village to seek work in New York, whence he undertakes an important +mission to California. Some of his adventures in the far west are +so startling that the reader will scarcely close the book until the +last page shall have been reached. The tale is written in Mr. +Alger’s most fascinating style.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Frank Fowler, a poor boy, bravely determines to make a living for +himself and his foster-sister Grace. Going to New York he obtains a +situation as cash boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a +wealthy old gentleman who takes a fancy to the lad, and thereafter helps +the lad to gain success and fortune.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Thatcher’s Fortune.</b> By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, unselfish boy. He supports his +mother and sister on meagre wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John +Simpson’s factory. Tom is discharged from the factory and starts +overland for California. He meets with many adventures. The story is +told in a way which has made Mr. Alger’s name a household word in so +many homes.</p> + +<p><b>The Train Boy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00.</p> + +<p>Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported his mother and +sister by selling books and papers on the Chicago and Milwaukee +Railroad. He detects a young man in the act of picking the pocket of a +young lady. In a railway accident many passengers are killed, but Paul +is fortunate enough to assist a Chicago merchant, who out of gratitude +takes him into his employ. Paul succeeds with tact and judgment and is +well started on the road to business prominence.</p> + +<p><b>Mark Mason’s Victory.</b> The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy. By +<span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily +won his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many +difficulties. This story will please the very large class of boys who +regard Mr. Alger as a favorite author.</p> + +<p><b>A Debt of Honor.</b> The Story of Gerald Lane’s Success in the Far West. By +<span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>The story of Gerald Lane and the account of the many trials and +disappointments which he passed through before he attained success, will +interest all boys who have read the previous stories of this delightful +author.</p> + +<p><b>Ben Bruce.</b> Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. By <span class="smcap">Horatio Alger, Jr</span>. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Ben Bruce was a brave, manly, generous boy. The story of his efforts, +and many seeming failures and disappointments, and his final success, +are most interesting to all readers. The tale is written in Mr. Alger’s +most fascinating style.</p> + +<p><b>The Castaways;</b> or, On the Florida Reefs. By <span class="smcap">James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This tale smacks of the salt sea. From the moment that the Sea Queen +leaves lower New York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off the +coast of Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind through +her rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to the +leeward. The adventures of Ben Clark, the hero of the story and Jake the +cook, cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young people Mr. +Otis is a prime favorite.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Wrecked on Spider Island;</b> or, How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Ned Rogers, a “down-east” plucky lad ships as cabin boy to earn a +livelihood. Ned is marooned on Spider Island, and while there discovers +a wreck submerged in the sand, and finds a considerable amount of +treasure. The capture of the treasure and the incidents of the voyage +serve to make as entertaining a story of sea-life as the most captious +boy could desire.</p> + +<p><b>The Search for the Silver City:</b> A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Two lads, Teddy Wright and Neal Emery, embark on the steam yacht Day +Dream for a cruise to the tropics. The yacht is destroyed by fire, and +then the boat is cast upon the coast of Yucatan. They hear of the +wonderful Silver City, of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians, and with the help +of a faithful Indian ally carry off a number of the golden images from +the temples. Pursued with relentless vigor at last their escape is +effected in an astonishing manner. The story is so full of exciting +incidents that the reader is quite carried away with the novelty and +realism of the narrative.</p> + +<p><b>A Runaway Brig;</b> or, An Accidental Cruise. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This is a sea tale, and the reader can look out upon the wide shimmering +sea as it flashes back the sunlight, and imagine himself afloat with +Harry Vandyne, Walter Morse, Jim Libby and that old shell-back, Bob +Brace, on the brig Bonita. The boys discover a mysterious document which +enables them to find a buried treasure. They are stranded on an island +and at last are rescued with the treasure. The boys are sure to be +fascinated with this entertaining story.</p> + +<p><b>The Treasure Finders:</b> A Boy’s Adventures in Nicaragua. By James Otis. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Roy and Dean Coloney, with their guide Tongla, leave their father’s +indigo plantation to visit the wonderful ruins of an ancient city. The +boys eagerly explore the temples of an extinct race and discover three +golden images cunningly hidden away. They escape with the greatest +difficulty. Eventually they reach safety with their golden prizes. We +doubt if there ever was written a more entertaining story than “The +Treasure Finders.”</p> + +<p><b>Jack, the Hunchback.</b> A Story of the Coast of Maine. By James Otis. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p>This is the story of a little hunchback who lived on Cape Elizabeth, on +the coast of Maine. His trials and successes are most interesting. From +first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us +along as on a stream whose current varies in direction, but never loses +its force.</p> + +<p><b>With Washington at Monmouth:</b> A Story of Three Philadelphia Boys. By +James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price +$1.50.</p> + +<p>Three Philadelphia lads assist the American spies and make regular and +frequent visits to Valley Forge in the Winter while the British occupied +the city. The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life skillfully +drawn, and the glimpses of Washington’s soldiers which are given shown +that the work has not been hastily done, or without considerable study. +The story is wholesome and patriotic in tone, as are all of Mr. Otis” +works.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>With Lafayette at Yorktown:</b> A Story of How Two Boys Joined the +Continental Army. <span class="smcap">By James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, +illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>Two lads from Portsmouth, N. H., attempt to enlist in the Colonial Army, +and are given employment as spies. There is no lack of exciting +incidents which the youthful reader craves, but it is healthful +excitement brimming with facts which every boy should be familiar with, +and while the reader is following the adventures of Ben Jaffrays and Ned +Allen he is acquiring a fund of historical lore which will remain in his +memory long after that which he has memorized from textbooks has been +forgotten.</p> + +<p><b>At the Siege of Havana</b>. Being the Experiences of Three Boys Serving +under Israel Putnam in 1762. By <span class="smcap">James Otis</span>. 12mo, ornamental cloth, +olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>“At the Siege of Havana” deals with that portion of the island’s history +when the English king captured the capital, thanks to the assistance +given by the troops from New England, led in part by Col. Israel Putnam.</p> + +<p>The principal characters are Darius Lunt, the lad who, represented as +telling the story, and his comrades, Robert Clement and Nicholas Vallet. +Colonel Putnam also figures to considerable extent, necessarily, in the +tale, and the whole forms one of the most readable stories founded on +historical facts.</p> + +<p><b>The Defense of Fort Henry. </b> A Story of Wheeling Creek in 1777. By <span class="smcap">James +Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>Nowhere in the history of our country can be found more heroic or +thrilling incidents than in the story of those brave men and women who +founded the settlement of Wheeling in the Colony of Virginia. The +recital of what Elizabeth Zane did is in itself as heroic a story as can +be imagined. The wondrous bravery displayed by Major McCulloch and his +gallant comrades, the sufferings of the colonists and their sacrifice of +blood and life, stir the blood of old as well as young readers.</p> + +<p><b>The Capture of the Laughing Mary.</b> A Story of Three New York Boys in +1776. By <span class="smcap">James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>“During the British occupancy of New York, at the outbreak of the +Revolution, a Yankee lad hears of the plot to take General Washington’s +person, and calls in two companions to assist the patriot cause. They do +some astonishing things, and, incidentally, lay the way for an American +navy later, by the exploit which gives its name to the work. Mr. Otis” +books are too well known to require any particular commendation to the +young.”—Evening Post.</p> + +<p><b>With Warren at Bunker Hill.</b> A Story of the Siege of Boston. By <span class="smcap">James +Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>“This is a tale of the siege of Boston, which opens on the day after the +doings at Lexington and Concord, with a description of home life in +Boston, introduces the reader to the British camp at Charlestown, shows +Gen. Warren at home, describes what a boy thought of the battle of +Bunker Hill, and closes with the raising of the siege. The three heroes, +George Wentworth, Ben Scarlett and an old ropemaker, incur the enmity of +a young Tory, who causes them many adventures the boys will like to +read.”—Detroit Free Press.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>With the Swamp Fox.</b> The Story of General Marion’s Spies. By <span class="smcap">James Otis</span>. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This story deals with General Francis Marion’s heroic struggle in the +Carolinas. General Marion’s arrival to take command of these brave men +and rough riders is pictured as a boy might have seen it, and although +the story is devoted to what the lads did, the Swamp Fox is ever present +in the mind of the reader.</p> + +<p><b>On the Kentucky Frontier.</b> A Story of the Fighting Pioneers of the West. +By <span class="smcap">James Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.</p> + +<p>In the history of our country there is no more thrilling story than that +of the work done on the Mississippi river by a handful of frontiersmen. +Mr. Otis takes the reader on that famous expedition from the arrival of +Major Clarke’s force at Corn Island, until Kaskaskia was captured. He +relates that part of Simon Kenton’s life history which is not usually +touched upon either by the historian or the story teller. This is one of +the most entertaining books for young people which has been published.</p> + +<p><b>Sarah Dillard’s Ride.</b> A Story of South Carolina in 1780. By <span class="smcap">James +Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“This book deals with the Carolinas in 1780, giving a wealth of detail +of the Mountain Men who struggled so valiantly against the king’s +troops. Major Ferguson is the prominent British officer of the story, +which is told as though coming from a youth who experienced these +adventures. In this way the famous ride of Sarah Dillard is brought out +as an incident of the plot.”—Boston Journal.</p> + +<p><b>A Tory Plot.</b> A Story of the Attempt to Kill General Washington. By <span class="smcap">James +Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“”A Tory Plot” is the story of two lads who overhear something of the +plot originated during the Revolution by Gov. Tryon to capture or murder +Washington. They communicate their knowledge to Gen. Putnam and are +commissioned by him to play the role of detectives in the matter. They +do so, and meet with many adventures and hairbreadth escapes. The boys +are, of course, mythical, but they serve to enable the author to put +into very attractive shape much valuable knowledge concerning one phase +of the Revolution.”—Pittsburgh Times.</p> + +<p><b>A Traitor’s Escape.</b> A Story of the Attempt to Seize Benedict Arnold. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“This is a tale with stirring scenes depicted in each chapter, bringing +clearly before the mind the glorious deeds of the early settlers in this +country. In an historical work dealing with this country’s past, no plot +can hold the attention closer than this one, which describes the attempt +and partial success of Benedict Arnold’s escape to New York, where he +remained as the guest of Sir Henry Clinton. All those who actually +figured in the arrest of the traitor, as well as Gen. Washington, are +included as characters.”—Albany Union.</p> + +<p><b>A Cruise with Paul Jones.</b> A Story of Naval Warfare in 1776. By <span class="smcap">James +Otis</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“This story takes up that portion of Paul Jones’ adventurous life when +he was hovering off the British coast, watching for an opportunity to +strike the enemy a blow. It deals more particularly with his descent +upon Whitehaven, the seizure of Lady Selkirk’s plate, and the famous +battle with the Drake. The boy who figures in the tale is one who was +taken from a derelict by Paul Jones shortly after this particular cruise +was begun.”—Chicago Inter-Ocean.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Corporal Lige’s Recruit.</b> A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. By +<span class="smcap">James Otis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“In ”Corporal Lige’s Recruit,” Mr. Otis tells the amusing story of an +old soldier, proud of his record, who had served the king in ”58, and +who takes the lad, Isaac Rice, as his ”personal recruit.” The lad +acquits himself superbly. Col. Ethan Allen ”in the name of God and the +continental congress,” infuses much martial spirit into the narrative, +which will arouse the keenest interest as it proceeds. Crown Point, +Ticonderoga, Benedict Arnold and numerous other famous historical names +appear in this dramatic tale.”—Boston Globe.</p> + +<p><b>Morgan, the Jersey Spy.</b> A Story of the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. By +<span class="smcap">James Otis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“The two lads who are utilized by the author to emphasize the details of +the work done during that memorable time were real boys who lived on the +banks of the York river, and who aided the Jersey spy in his dangerous +occupation. In the guise of fishermen the lads visit Yorktown, are +suspected of being spies, and put under arrest. Morgan risks his life to +save them. The final escape, the thrilling encounter with a squad of red +coats, when they are exposed equally to the bullets of friends and foes, +told in a masterly fashion, makes of this volume one of the most +entertaining books of the year.”—Inter-Ocean.</p> + +<p><b>The Young Scout:</b> The Story of a West Point Lieutenant. By <span class="smcap">Edward S. +Ellis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>The crafty Apache chief Geronimo but a few years ago was the most +terrible scourge of the southwest border. The author has woven, in a +tale of thrilling interest, all the incidents of Geronimo’s last raid. +The hero is Lieutenant James Decker, a recent graduate of West Point. +Ambitious to distinguish himself the young man takes many a desperate +chance against the enemy and on more than one occasion narrowly escapes +with his life. In our opinion Mr. Ellis is the best writer of Indian +stories now before the public.</p> + +<p><b>Adrift in the Wilds:</b> The Adventures of Two Shipwrecked Boys. By <span class="smcap">Edward +S. Ellis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Elwood Brandon and Howard Lawrence are en route for San Francisco. Off +the coast of California the steamer takes fire. The two boys reach the +shore with several of the passengers. Young Brandon becomes separated +from his party and is captured by hostile Indians, but is afterwards +rescued. This is a very entertaining narrative of Southern California.</p> + +<p><b>A Young Hero;</b> or, Fighting to Win. By <span class="smcap">Edward S. Ellis.</span> 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This story tells how a valuable solid silver service was stolen from the +Misses Perkinpine, two very old and simple minded ladies. Fred Sheldon, +the hero of this story, undertakes to discover the thieves and have them +arrested. After much time spent in detective work, he succeeds in +discovering the silver plate and winning the reward. The story is told +in Mr. Ellis’ most fascinating style. Every boy will be glad to read +this delightful book.</p> + +<p><b>Lost in the Rockies.</b> A Story of Adventure in the Rocky Mountains. By +<span class="smcap">Edward S. Ellis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.</p> + +<p>Incident succeeds incident, and adventure is piled upon adventure, and +at the end the reader, be he boy or man, will have experienced +breathless enjoyment in this romantic story describing many adventures +in the Rockies and among the Indians.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 53-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>A Jaunt Through Java:</b> The Story of a Journey to the Sacred Mountain. By +<span class="smcap">Edward S. Ellis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>The interest of this story is found in the thrilling adventures of two +cousins, Hermon and Eustace Hadley, on their trip across the island of +Java, from Samarang to the Sacred Mountain. In a land where the Royal +Bengal tiger, the rhinoceros, and other fierce beasts are to be met +with, it is but natural that the heroes of this book should have a +lively experience. There is not a dull page in the book.</p> + +<p><b>The Boy Patriot.</b> A Story of Jack, the Young Friend of Washington. By +<span class="smcap">Edward S. Ellis</span>. 12mo, cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p>“There are adventures of all kinds for the hero and his friends, whose +pluck and ingenuity in extricating themselves from awkward fixes are +always equal to the occasion. It is an excellent story full of honest, +manly, patriotic efforts on the part of the hero. A very vivid +description of the battle of Trenton is also found in this +story.”—Journal of Education.</p> + +<p><b>A Yankee Lad’s Pluck.</b> How Bert Larkin Saved his Father’s Ranch in Porto +Rico. By <span class="smcap">Wm. P. Chipman</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“Bert Larkin, the hero of the story, early excites our admiration, and +is altogether a fine character such as boys will delight in, whilst the +story of his numerous adventures is very graphically told. This will, we +think, prove one of the most popular boys’ books this season.”—Gazette.</p> + +<p><b>A Brave Defense</b>. A Story of the Massacre at Fort Griswold in 1781. By +<span class="smcap">William P. Chipman</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Perhaps no more gallant fight against fearful odds took place during the +Revolutionary War than that at Fort Griswold, Groton Heights, Conn., in +1781. The boys are real boys who were actually on the muster rolls, +either at Fort Trumbull on the New London side, or of Fort Griswold on +the Groton side of the Thames. The youthful reader who follows Halsey +Sanford and Levi Dart and Tom Malleson, and their equally brave +comrades, through their thrilling adventures will be learning something +more than historical facts; they will be imbibing lessons of fidelity, +of bravery, of heroism, and of manliness, which must prove serviceable +in the arena of life.</p> + +<p><b>The Young Minuteman</b>. A Story of the Capture of General Prescott in 1777. +By <span class="smcap">William P. Chipman</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This story is based upon actual events which occurred during the British +occupation of the waters of Narragansett Bay. Darius Wale and William +Northrop belong to “the coast patrol.” The story is a strong one, +dealing only with actual events. There is, however, no lack of thrilling +adventure, and every lad who is fortunate enough to obtain the book will +find not only that his historical knowledge is increased, but that his +own patriotism and love of country are deepened.</p> + +<p><b>For the Temple:</b> A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With +illustrations by S. J. Solomon. 12mo, cloth, olivine edges, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Henty’s graphic prose picture of the hopeless Jewish resistance to +Roman sway adds another leaf to his record of the famous wars of the +world. The book is one of Mr. Henty’s cleverest efforts.”—Graphic.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class="dashed" /> + +<p><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Roy Gilbert’s Search:</b> A Tale of the Great Lakes. By <span class="smcap">Wm. P. Chipman</span>. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>A deep mystery hangs over the parentage of Roy Gilbert. He arranges with +two schoolmates to make a tour of the Great Lakes on a steam launch. The +three boys visit many points of interest on the lakes. Afterwards the +lads rescue an elderly gentleman and a lady from a sinking yacht. Later +on the boys narrowly escape with their lives. The hero is a manly, +self-reliant boy, whose adventures will be followed with interest.</p> + +<p><b>The Slate Picker:</b> The Story of a Boy’s Life in the Coal Mines. By <span class="smcap">Harry +Prentice</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This is a story of a boy’s life in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. Ben +Burton, the hero, had a hard road to travel, but by grit and energy he +advanced step by step until he found himself called upon to fill the +position of chief engineer of the Kohinoor Coal Company. This is a book +of extreme interest to every boy reader.</p> + +<p><b>The Boy Cruisers;</b> or, Paddling in Florida. By <span class="smcap">St. George Rathborne</span>. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>Andrew George and Rowland Carter start on a canoe trip along the Gulf +coast, from Key West to Tampa, Florida. Their first adventure is with a +pair of rascals who steal their boats. Next they run into a gale in the +Gulf. After that they have a lively time with alligators and Andrew gets +into trouble with a band of Seminole Indians. Mr. Rathborne knows just +how to interest the boys, and lads who are in search of a rare treat +will do well to read this entertaining story.</p> + +<p><b>Captured by Zulus:</b> A Story of Trapping in Africa. By <span class="smcap">Harry Prentice</span>. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This story details the adventures of two lads, Dick Elsworth and Bob +Harvey, in the wilds of South Africa. By stratagem the Zulus capture +Dick and Bob and take them to their principal kraal or village. The lads +escape death by digging their way out of the prison hut by night. They +are pursued, but the Zulus finally give up pursuit. Mr. Prentice tells +exactly how wild-beast collectors secure specimens on their native +stamping grounds, and these descriptions make very entertaining reading.</p> + +<p><b>Tom the Ready;</b> or, Up from the Lowest. By <span class="smcap">Randolph Hill</span>. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>This is a dramatic narrative of the unaided rise of a fearless, +ambitious boy from the lowest round of fortune’s ladder to wealth and +the governorship of his native State. Tom Seacomb begins life with a +purpose, and eventually overcomes those who oppose him. How he manages +to win the battle is told by Mr. Hill in a masterful way that thrills +the reader and holds his attention and sympathy to the end.</p> + +<p><b>Captain Kidd’s Gold:</b> The True Story of an Adventurous Sailor Boy. By +<span class="smcap">James Franklin Fitts</span>. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p>There is something fascinating to the average youth in the very idea of +buried treasure. A vision arises before his eyes of swarthy Portuguese +and Spanish rascals, with black beards and gleaming eyes. There were +many famous sea rovers, but none more celebrated than Capt. Kidd. Paul +Jones Garry inherits a document which locates a considerable treasure +buried by two of Kidd’s crew. The hero of this book is an ambitious, +persevering lad, of salt-water New England ancestry, and his efforts to +reach the island and secure the money form one of the most absorbing +tales for our youth that has come from the press.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 23541-h.txt or 23541-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/5/4/23541</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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