diff options
Diffstat (limited to '23541.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 23541.txt | 6397 |
1 files changed, 6397 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/23541.txt b/23541.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2fd194 --- /dev/null +++ b/23541.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6397 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dick, Marjorie and Fidge, by G. E. Farrow, +Illustrated by Allan Wright + + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Dick, Marjorie and Fidge + A Search for the Wonderful Dodo + + +Author: G. E. Farrow + + + +Release Date: November 18, 2007 [eBook #23541] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 23541-h.htm or 23541-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541/23541-h/23541-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541/23541-h.zip) + + + + + +DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE + +A Search for the Wonderful Dodo + +by + +G. E. FARROW + +Author of Adventures in Wallypug Land + +With Many Illustrations by Allan Wright + + + + + + + +[Illustration: 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_.] + + + +A. L. Burt, Publisher, 52-58 Duane Street, New York + + + +TO MY DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +Believe me, +Your affectionate friend, +THE AUTHOR. + + + +CONTENTS. + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I. THE BEGINNING OF A MARVELLOUS JOURNEY 1 + II. THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY 12 + III. THE SAGE IN THE ONION FIELD 24 + IV. STORIES AND TAILS BY THE SAGE 35 + V. THE KING OF THE FISHES 47 + VI. IN THE KING'S PRESENCE 59 + VII. THE HUMAN RACE 68 + VIII. THE DODO AT LAST 80 + IX. AT THE NORTH POLE 92 + X. SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES 102 + XI. THE SKIPPER OF THE "ARGONAUT" 113 + XII. THE ARCHAEOPTERYX 125 + XIII. THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM'S BALLOON 135 + XIV. THE DUFF AND DEM EXECUTIONER 145 + XV. THE EXECUTION OF THE DODO 155 + XVI. THE PREHISTORIC DOCTOR 165 + XVII. WAITING FOR THE TRAIN 175 + XVIII. A NIGHT IN THE TRAIN 185 + XIX. AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE 195 + XX. A DIFFICULTY WITH THE ROUNDABOUT 216 + XXI. THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM AT LAST 217 + XXII. TURNED TO STONE 228 + XXIII. THE DODO'S LITTLE RUSE 236 + XXIV. FIRST CLASS TO LONDON 245 + XXV. THE DODO OBLIGES WITH A SONG 255 + XXVI. THE DODO DEPARTS 263 + + + + + + +DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BEGINNING OF A MARVELOUS JOURNEY. + + +"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. + +"What's up?" he demanded. + +"Hush! don't make a noise. There's such a funny sound down-stairs--I +believe it's burglars. Listen!" + +"Pooh! this time in the morning. What nonsense." + +"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." + +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. + +"Let's go and see what's up!" said Dick promptly. + +"Me too," said a shrill treble voice, and a little curly-headed +apparition came running out of the bedroom, flourishing a wooden spade. + +"No! you cut along into bed again, Fidge," cried Dick. + +"Want to go and see the bur-ge-lers!" declared Fidge, pushing past them, +and racing down the stairs. + +"Come back, you scamp," cried Dick, running after him; but with a saucy +and defiant laugh Fidge sped down to the first landing. + +"Ooh!" he cried, looking over the banisters, "It's all drownded; look, +Dick! quick!" + +Dick and Marjorie hurried down and leaned over the banisters too. + +"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. + +The breakfast-room door stood open, and, wading ankle deep in water, the +children soon reached it. An extraordinary sight met their eyes. + +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 that had made, dashing against the door, +which had awakened Marjorie. + +[Illustration: "The waves were flowing into the room."] + +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. + +"Oh! yes, jolly!" cried Dick, following his example; and in a moment all +three children were comfortably ensconced in the novel craft. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"Look! Dick, look! there's an old turkey on a chair coming along." + +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. + +"Why, the thing has gloves on!" cried Captain Dick. + +"And a blue bow around its neck," chimed in Fidge, his eyes dancing with +excitement. + +"Ship ahoy!" shouted the bird, as it came close up to the table. + +"Good gracious! Why it can talk," said Marjorie. + +"Talk! Of course I can," answered the bird. "Why not, pray?" + +"Well, birds don't generally talk, except parrots," added Marjorie, as +an afterthought. + +"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." + +"What sort of a bird are you, then?" asked Dick. + +"I'm a Dodo," said the creature, with a consequential air. + +"Oh! then you are extinct," said Dick. "I read it in a natural history +book." + +"Yes, I am," admitted the Dodo. "It's lovely being extinct," he added, +complacently. "Have you ever tried it?" + +"Good gracious, no," cried Dick. + +"What does it mean, Dick, dear?" whispered Marjorie, who didn't like to +appear ignorant. + +"Gone out, I think," explained Dick. "Anyhow, they say a volcano is +extinct when it has gone out." + +"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." + +"Are you going to sea on that chair?" cried Marjorie. + +"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 I think of it, though, if +you _do_ 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!" + +"Who do you mean?" called out Dick, as the Dodo floated away on his +chair. + +"The little Panjandrum," was the reply; "you are pretty sure to meet him +sooner or later." + +"Oh, we're going to see the Pan--jan--de--lum," announced Fidge, +capering about in glee. "Hooray!" + +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. + +The children looked up, and a moment afterwards a crowd of the funniest +little people imaginable came to the edge and peered over. + +"What rum little beggars!" cried Dick. "Just look at their eyes!" + +"I do believe they are Brownies, or else Gnomes!" declared Marjorie, who +had read a great many fairy stories. + +"Nonsense!" said Dick, with a superior air; "there are no such things +now-a-days." + +[Illustration: "A rope ladder was let down."] + +"Who says so?" shrieked the little people from the cave. "Come up here, +and we'll soon show you." + +"Oh, yes, do!" cried Marjorie, clapping her hands; "I should love to see +them." + +"I don't see how we are going to get up there," said Dick, dubiously; +"we haven't got a ladder." + +"We have one," shouted the little people. "Shall we let it down?" + +"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. + +"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!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY. + + +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. + +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. + +They spoke in a shrill, clear, bell-like voice, which, although they +were such tiny creatures, could be heard distinctly. + +"So you don't believe in fairies, eh!" they cried, clustering about the +children. + +"I do," declared Marjorie, stoutly. + +"Yes, and me do, too," said Fidge, looking about him delightedly. + +"But," objected Dick, "I've always been told that fairies, and elves, +and gnomes, and things of that sort were merely myths, and existed only +in the imagination of story-tellers." + +"He--he--he," giggled the little people. "The same old story. They told +you that to hide their ignorance, my child." + +"I'm thirteen years old," declared Dick, haughtily, for he did not at +all approve of being called a child. + +"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." + +"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----" + +"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." + +"Do you read Shakespeare?" demanded one of the little folks. + +"Some of it," replied Dick, doubtfully. + +"Have you ever read 'Midsummer Night's Dream?'" + +"Oh, yes! Jolly! Titania, and Oberon, and Puck, and all that lot, you +know; and the jolly little chaps that----" + +"Hullo! I thought you didn't believe in fairies," interrupted some one. + +"Oh, well, that's different, you know; that's Shakespeare, and--and----" + +"And what? I suppose you'll admit that he believed in them?" + +"Well, I suppose so," said Dick, grudgingly; "but I----" + +"But you imagine yourself to be cleverer than Shakespeare." + +"Ha--ha--ha!" laughed a chorus of little people, derisively. + +"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 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." + +[Illustration: "Four extraordinary figures came in sight."] + +The word _little_ was spoken so softly as to be quite indistinct. "The +what!" cried Dick. + +"Sh! the _little_ Panjandrum," said the gnome, speaking the word almost +inaudibly. + +"What do you say it like that for?" asked the children. + +"Well, you see, his Magnificence and Serene Importance is somewhat +sensitive on the subject; there is the GRAND Panjandrum, you know." + +"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?" + +"Sh! sh!" cried the gnomes, looking about them nervously. "You really +mustn't say _little_ as loudly as that. Supposing any one heard you?" + +"Well, what if they did?" asked Dick. + +"O! His Serene Importance would be terribly angry, and perhaps +would----" + +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. + +They were mounted upon ostriches, and one of them, more richly +caparisoned than the others, had a kind of canopy attached to his +trappings, 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. + +[Illustration: "What do you know about the Dodo?"] + +The others of the party, who were evidently his attendants, each carried +a banner emblazoned with mysterious signs and characters. + +The silver bells attached to the head of the ostrich, and on the top of +the canopy over the grandee, tinkled merrily as he came forward. + +"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. + +"His Serene Importance and Most Magnificent Greatness is grievously +distressed." + +The gnomes all brought forth little pocket-handkerchiefs, and began to +cry. + +"The Dodo presented to His Worshipful Gorgeousness by the Grand +Panjandrum himself has escaped!" + +The gnomes all threw up their hands in dismay. + +"Why, we saw it," cried Marjorie, excitedly. "Didn't we, Dick?" + +The little man on the ostrich turned around sharply, and after staring +at the children for a moment, shouted-- + +"Who are you?" + +"I am Dick Verrinder, sir, and this is my sister Marjorie, and our +little brother Fidge," said Dick politely. "We are spending our summer +holiday at Mrs. Lawrence's cottage on the other side of the cliff. The +tide rose very high this morning, and we----" + +"Don't tell me all that nonsense. What do you know about the Dodo?" said +the little man, impatiently. + +"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----" + +"Well?" + +"It was something with a very long name," stammered Dick; "I can't quite +remember what." + +"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." + +"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----" + +"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 Grand +Panjandrum himself to have you subtransexdistricated, so there!" + +"But----" + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"Now then! Know all men by these presents," he began, writing the words +down as he spake them. + +"He's going to give us some presents," whispered Fidge, giving Dick a +nudge. Dick shook his head reprovingly, and the little man continued-- + +"That whereas three children, named respectively--what did you say your +name was?" + +"Richard Greville Verrinder, Sir." + +"Richard Greville Verrinder, and--what's your sister's name?" + +[Illustration: "Dick suddenly shot up to the height of over six feet."] + +"Marjorie Evelyn Verrinder." + +"Marjorie Evelyn Verrinder, and----" + +"Harold Ellis Verrinder," prompted Dick. + +"Who's that?" inquired the Ambassador, sharply. + +"My little brother," was the reply. + +"You said his name was Fidge." + +"Oh, yes, but that's his nickname, you know." + +"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." + +The little man mounted his ostrich, and without saying a word more to +any one, he and his followers rode off in the direction from whence they +had come. + +"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?" + +"I don't know," said Marjorie, dolefully, "it was something very long, +and sounded dreadful." + +"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." + +"Me, too," said Fidge, emphatically. + +"And I should love to float about in the air, I'm sure!" declared +Marjorie. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SAGE IN THE ONION FIELD. + + +"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. + +"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?" + +"Of course not," said Dick, contemptuously. "Why, we just said we wished +to be as tall as the Pater, you know, and it happened." + +"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?" + +"I don't want to be thin, like a walking-stick," said Fidge, in a +dissatisfied voice. + +"No, it's rather horrid," said Dick. "Let's see; we said as tall as the +Pater, didn't we?--not as _big_. I wonder if that makes any difference." + +"I want to be as fat as old Mrs. Mofflet," said Fidge, mischievously. + +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. + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! That's worse than ever!" laughed the children, +while little Fidge waddled about in an absurd way. + +The gnomes were highly amused, and cut the most extraordinary antics in +their glee. + +"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 wi be very +useful by and by to be any size we like, but just now it's rather +awkward." + +"Oh, let's be little, like the gnomes," cried Marjorie. "It will be such +fun." + +"All right," acquiesced Dick; "here goes--I wish I were as little as the +gnomes." + +"So do I," cried Marjorie. + +[Illustration: "He was about twice as wide as he was high."] + +"Me, too!" cried Fidge. + +To their great surprise, nothing happened. They waited a moment or two, +staring at each other expectantly, and then Marjorie cried in a +troubled voice-- + +"Oh, dear! I don't believe it's going to work, and we shall have to stay +like this forever." + +"What nonsense!" cried Dick. + +"I say! I want to be as small as the gnomes," he shouted. + +There was no result, however, and the children remained as they were. + +"Oh! I know," he cried; "I ought to have the paper that the Ambassador +gave me in my hand. Where is it?" + +There was a great whispering amongst the gnomes, and at last one of them +shouted out-- + +"We've taken it away." + +"What for?" demanded Dick. "It was given to us; you had better give it +up at once. What do you mean by it?" + +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. + +Dick stooped down and picked it up, and immediately the children began +to dwindle down till they became as small as the little people +themselves. + +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. + +"Well, you've done it now," said one of them, tauntingly. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Dick. + +"Why, we've got the paper, and you can't grow any bigger until we allow +you to." + +"What a mean trick!" cried Dick, in disgust. + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"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. + +You see, such a lot of very unusual things had happened that she was a +little excited and nervous. + +"Well, we'll think about it," said the gnomes, running away and hiding +among the rocks. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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. + +The children walked on for some time in the 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. + +[Illustration: "A curious little old man with a flowing beard came +toward them."] + +"What funny trees," said Fidge, looking up over his head. + +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. + +"Whatever can they be?" cried Marjorie, in amazement. + +"Onions!" was the reply, spoken by a strange voice. + +The children turned around, and beheld a curious little old man with a +long flowing beard coming toward them. + +"Have you any other questions to ask?" he inquired, pleasantly. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Is there anything else I can tell you? If so, pray ask me. I like it." + +"What a funny man," whispered Marjorie. "Do you think he is quite right +in his head?" + +"Hush!" said Dick. "Perhaps he can direct us to the Little Panjandrum's, +and then we can find the Ambassador easily." + +"Little Panjandrum's, certainly," said the Sage, answering exactly as +though he had been spoken to himself-- + + "'Take the first to the right on Tuesday week, + The second to the left on Monday; + On Friday you'll not have far to seek, + And be sure not to travel on Sunday!' + +"But it's no use going at all till you've found the Dodo," he added. + +"Good gracious! how did you know that we were looking for it," cried +Dick. + +"Oh, I know everything," said the Sage, complacently. "Did you ever know +a Sage who didn't?" + +"I'm afraid I've never known one at all before, Sir," said Dick; "but I +should think it must be very useful to know such a lot, isn't it?" + +"Yes, it isn't bad," admitted the Sage; "would you like to know how I +became so clever?" + +"Oh, yes, please," cried all the children at once. + +Motioning them to a seat on an onion bulb, the little man struck an +attitude, and began-- + + "I was brought up on Verbs of irregular kind, + With a Pronoun or two as a treat, + While a strict course of Logic, to strengthen my mind, + My pastors and masters thought meet. + + I had Lessons for breakfast, and Sums for my tea, + Learnt to play the Arithmetic nicely, + And gained all the prizes at School--don't you see, + For construing Doggerel concisely. + + They were Isms, and Ologies, Science, and Cram, + Quadratic Equations, and Butter, + The _Pons asinorum_, and Strawberry Jam, + And the Cane, did I mumble or mutter." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +STORIES AND TAILS BY THE SAGE. + + +"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?" + +"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." + +"What are Isms and Ologies, if you please, Sir?" asked Marjorie. + +"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." + +"They don't sound very nice," said Marjorie, dubiously, making a wry +face. + +"You don't know anything at all about it, I'm afraid, my dear," said the +little old man, decidedly. "You would probably prefer dolls and +foolishness of that sort!" + +"Yes, I think I should," admitted Marjorie, candidly. + +"Do you know _everything_, please, Mr. Sage?" inquired Fidge, who had +been very silent during this conversation, which he had not in the least +been able to understand. + +"Yes, my dear," said the Sage, smiling affably. + +"Stories?" inquired Fidge, his eyes wide open with excitement and +interest. + +The old man nodded. + +"Oh! do tell us one, please," begged the little boy. "The Three Bears, +or Little Red Riding Hood, or something of that sort." + +"Fidge, Fidge," cried Dick, rebukingly, "you mustn't bother the +gentleman." + +"Oh, I don't mind in the least," said the Sage, pleasantly. "I'll tell +him some stories, if he likes." + +"Oh! thanks, that's jolly!" cried Fidge, clapping his hands, and they +all sat down again, while the old man began as follows:-- + +"It was on a dark winter's night, and the hot sun was pouring down upon +the----" + +"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." + +The Sage frowned severely. + +"Are you telling this story, or am I?" he asked, coldly. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon," said Marjorie, "please go on." + +"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. + +"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 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." + +The Sage paused. + +"Do you like it?" he inquired, anxiously. + +"Not much, I'm afraid," said Dick. "You see, we can't quite understand +what it's all about." + +"Well, neither do I," said the Sage, "because, you know, I'm making it +up as I go along." + +"Then it isn't true?" asked Marjorie. + +"True? Nonsense! You wanted a story, didn't you? This is a real story; +there isn't a particle of truth in it anywhere." + +"Oh, we didn't mean that kind of story," explained Marjorie, "we meant a +tale." + +"What kind of a tale would you like--a Fishes' tale, a Birds' tale, or +an Animals' tale?" + +"A birds' tale, please," said Marjorie, after consulting the others. + +"All right," said the Sage, "this is a lot of birds' tales all tied up +together, and is called a fable----" + +[Illustration: "The gossiping goose."] + +"Is it one of AEsop's?" asked Dick, who thought that it would look grand +for him to have heard of AEsop's fables. + +"No, it isn't," said the Sage, rather crossly; "it's one of my own! Now +then, are you ready? I call it--" + + "THE GOSSIPING GOOSE." + + "A Crested Grebe, a Spoonbill, and a Goose, + I beg to say, + Met one fine day, + And compliments were passed the most profuse. + + 'How very well you look, my dear,' said one, + 'That shade of red + Upon your head, + So sweet; and how _delightfully_ your hair is done.' + + And each had gratifying things to say, + With gushing smile, + Upon the style + Of all the others' holiday array. + + Then Mrs. Goose, with most superior sneer, + Said, 'Have you seen + That dress of green + That Mrs. Peacock's wearing now, my dear? + + 'She looks a perfect guy, and then--her feet + And legs! Oh, lor! + I never saw + A bird so clumsy, or so indiscreet. + + 'I met her at the Concert Hall last week, + A poor affair, + I do declare, + I wonder that the Songsters have such cheek. + + 'Miss Nightingale was singing far too loud; + I never heard + So harsh a bird, + I wonder how she dared to face the crowd. + + 'Miss Thrush had quite a decent voice, I hear, + Some years ago + (A score or so), + But now her voice is giving way, I fear. + + 'She sang as badly as did Mrs. Lark, + Who all agreed, + Had every need + Of lessons, to bring _her_ up to the mark. + + 'Miss Linnet had a really dreadful cough. + As for the rest, + They quite distressed + The company. Well, good-by, dears. I'm off.' + + And, while the Spoonbill and the other bird + Went on their way, + I heard one say, + 'That Mrs. Goose is really most absurd. + + 'She talks about the Peacock's gaudy dress: + If she prefers + That gray of hers, + I don't admire her taste, I must confess. + 'And as for legs and feet--well, I declare, + The pair she's got + Are really not + The kind that I'd be seen with anywhere. + + 'While as for singing, that _she_ should complain + Of other folk + Is past a joke, + I vow I'll not be friends with her again.' + + 'My dear,' the other said, 'remember this: + A critic she + Of high degree, + For though she can't sing well, the goose can _hiss_.'" + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: "They were crying bitterly."] + +"And my wife and family refuse to have anything to do with me," said one +ridiculously tall individual. + +"And I can't squeeze into my own house, anyhow," wept the stout one. + +"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. + +"Certainly not," said Dick; "but who is the Ki-Wi, please?" + +"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." + +"Go and fetch him," he continued. + +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. + +"Let me look at it," said the Sage, holding out his hand for the paper. + +[Illustration: "Produced a large document and began to read."] + +"Why, no wonder it won't act for the gnomes," he exclaimed, when he had +read it. + +"It mentions you all by name--just try it yourselves, will you?" + +Dick took the paper from him, and said loudly, "We wish to be our own +size again." + +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. + +"This is better," said Dick, shaking himself as though he had come out +of the water. + +"Yes, isn't it good to be ourselves once more," said Marjorie. + +While Fidge jumped about delightedly, breaking down several of the onion +plants, and almost treading on the Sage's hut. + +"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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE KING OF THE FISHES. + + +"Um--ah--that is to say--er--notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise +also, and as is herein aforesaid," began the Ki-Wi, in an important +voice. + +"Hold on!" cried Dick. "We can't understand all that, you know. Why +don't you say what you have to say in English?" + +"It is English," declared the Ki-Wi, in an aggrieved voice, "and very +good English too." + +"Of course it is," chimed in the Sage. + +"Well we don't understand it, anyhow," maintained Dick. "It doesn't seem +to mean anything at all." + +"Perhaps, Dick, dear," said Marjorie, "Mr. Sage will explain it to us. +Let's see--it began----" + +"'Notwithstanding, nevertheless, likewise, and as is herein aforesaid,'" +repeated the Ki-Wi. + +"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 _not standing with_ the Ki-Wi. +He is standing, while we are sitting down, you see; then 'nevertheless' +means of course the same as _always-the-greater_, which exactly +describes me. You see, my great learning and cleverness always makes me +greater than the people I am speaking to, and consequently +_never-the-less_. The next word is also descriptive of myself. +'Likewise,' or _like a wise man_, which, I am sure, you will all agree +that I am; and 'herein' means that my brains are all _in here_," said +the Sage, tapping his head. "While 'aforesaid'--the last word--means +that I have a strong head, or a _force-head_, do you see?" + +"Is the rest of the paper all about yourself, too, Sir?" asked Marjorie. + +"Yes," was the complacent reply. "Go on, Ki-Wi." + +"I'm afraid we can't stop," interrupted Dick. + +"You see, we have got to hunt up that wretched Dodo, and perhaps we had +better be going now." + +"Yes, we must be going now," chimed in Fidge, jumping up eagerly, for +all this rigmarole had been very uninteresting to him. + +"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. + +"Oh, immensely!" said the children, politely. + +"Thanks!" said the Sage. "Will you take a few onions with you as a +memento of your visit?" + +"No thank you," said Marjorie, hurriedly. + +"They would remind you of me," suggested the Sage, wistfully; "Sage and +onions you know." + +"No, thanks," said Dick, "I'm sure we shall remember you without." + +"Now that's _very_ 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?" + +"The Equator," said Dick; "but I'm sure we can't go all that way after +him, and get back in a week." + +"You could if you went by sea," said the Sage. + +"What do you mean?" asked Dick. + +"Why, I could give you an introduction to the King of the Fishes, you +know, and he _might_ lend you his dolphins; they travel at a rare pace, +and would get you there in no time." + +"Oh, yes," cried Marjorie, "of course we _can_ 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?" + +"Don't want to be drownded, and get all deaded," objected Fidge. + +"You wouldn't be, dear," said Marjorie. "Brother Dick wouldn't take us +anywhere where we should come to any harm." + +"How should we get there, I wonder?" asked Dick, thoughtfully. + +"I'll show you--come along," said the Sage, getting up and leading the +way. + +The children followed, and the little gnomes, now all reduced to their +proper size, came trooping along after them. + +Presently they reached the edge of the cliff, and the sea, sparkling in +the sunlight, lay at their feet some distance below. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Yes," agreed Dick, reaching out his hand to Fidge, who looked just a +little wee bit frightened. "I wonder what it will be like on the sea." + +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. + +"Oh, look!" cried Fidge, excitedly. "Fishes! Fishes!" and he started off +swimming after them quite naturally. + +"One's got a hat on," he called out. "Look! look! there's another; oh, +let's catch them!" + +"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. + +"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. + +"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, and contented himself with a +quiet "Look! look!" when they passed anything particularly strange or +interesting. + +[Illustration: "The chair was floating just in front of them."] + +They had very nearly reached the bottom of the sea, when they noticed a +singular-looking object floating some distance in front of them. + +"It looks like a chair!" declared Marjorie. "Why, I believe," she +continued, as they drew nearer, "that it's the very one the Dodo was +floating upon when we saw him last." + +"So it is!" cried Dick; "and look, there's a note on it--perhaps it's +for us." + +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. + +He looked at them inquisitively, and then stood a little way at the back +of them, waiting till they should be disengaged. + +"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." + +"Of course it does," agreed Marjorie. "It concerns us very much to find +out where the Dodo is." + +Dick hesitated no longer, but opened the note eagerly. His face fell, +however, when he beheld the contents. + +"_Mind your own business!_" he read, slowly. "What a sell! I believe the +Dodo did write 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." + +"But Dick, dear, remember," said Marjorie, "we shall be--er--you +know--what the Ambassador said--if we don't find him." + +"Oh, ah," said Dick, "I'd forgotten that. Come on, then; let's see what +can be done." + +"Can I be of any assistance?" said the thin fish, coming forward with a +polite bow. "Have you lost anything?" + +"Oh, thanks," said Dick. "We're looking for a Dodo. Do you happen to +have seen one about here?" + +"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?" + +"Oh, he isn't a fish at all," explained Dick; "he is a kind of bird, you +know." + +"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." + +"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. + +"It would be unacceptable to His Majesty were it not so," said the fish. +"Well, now, I _was_ 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." + +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. + +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. + +"Just stay here a moment, please," said he; and the children waited +outside while he went into the Palace. + +[Illustration: "'Bring them forward,' said the king of the fishes."] + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN THE KING'S PRESENCE. + + +"Do you understand fish-language?" whispered the little thin fish, +hurriedly, as he was conducting them into the Presence Chamber. + +"I'm afraid not," replied Dick. + +"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." + +Pushing aside some curtains of brightly-colored seaweed he led them into +the Presence Chamber. + +The King received them very graciously, and held out one fin as they +approached. + +"I expect we ought to kneel on one knee, and kiss it, like they do at +presentations," whispered Marjorie. + +But Dick wasn't going to do anything of that sort, and just touched it +lightly with one hand, 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. + +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. + +Then the little fish solemnly handed His Majesty the Sage's letter, +which the King put on his gold-rimmed glasses to read. + +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. + +His Majesty then opened and shut his mouth very slowly three or four +times, to which all the other fishes replied by swimming backwards +three strokes, and then forward three strokes. Then the audience was at +an end. + +[Illustration: "Some fishes were playing football."] + +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?" + +"I'm afraid not," replied Dick, anxiously. "At least, I might be able to +manage, but I don't know about Marjorie and Fidge." + +"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. + +His Majesty thereupon left the audience chamber, having first graciously +inclined his head towards the children. + +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. + +"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." + +The children passed out after their kind little friend, and followed +him into the gardens of the Palace, which they had to cross in order to +reach the stables. + +Marjorie was enraptured at the sight of the beautifully-arranged +gardens, in which brightly-colored anemones took the place of flowers. + +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. + +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. + +"Doesn't he object?" said Dick, after they had watched this performance +for some time; "I know I should." + +"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; but, come along, we +must be off if you are going to start to-day." + +"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." + +[Illustration: "And now he's quite well, thanks."] + +"What do you mean?" asked the children. + +"Don't you know the story of the bear with a cold?" was the reply. + +"No; do tell us!" they cried. + +[Illustration: "Come on, Marjorie, let's have a race."] + +"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 _was_ cured, and what do you think did it?" + +"What?" inquired the children. + +"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." + +"Thanks!" said the children, "we'll remember." + +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. + +"Here they are!" he announced; "you will find them quite docile. Just +mount them and see how you like their pace." + +The children needed no second invitation, and were soon astride their +strange steeds. + +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. + +"Oh! this is jolly!" cried Dick. + +"Come on, Marjorie, let's have a race." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE HUMAN RACE. + + +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. + +"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. + +"Why, it's a man!" cried Dick, as they drew nearer, and could +distinguish him more clearly. + +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. + +"Poor man," said Marjorie, in a whisper, "how unhappy he looks; perhaps +he has lost something." + +The man glanced up nervously as the children approached, and, clutching +at his bag jealously, he demanded-- + +"Who are you? What do you want?" + +"Nothing, thank you, poor old man," began Marjorie; "we were only----" + +The old man burst into a peal of hoarse laughter. + +"_Poor_ 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. + +"Oh, come away!" cried Marjorie, catching at Dick's arm. "I'm so +frightened." + +"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!" + +"But where do they all come from?" asked Dick. + +"The bottom of the sea is strewn with riches," continued the old man, +"and there is no one to reap the harvest but myself." + +"You must be very happy if you are so rich," said Dick. "It must be +lovely to have all those things." + +"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." + +And the old man shouldered his bag and moved away, muttering +sorrowfully. + +"Poor man, poor man," said Marjorie; "for he is poor, although he has so +much wealth isn't he, Dick?" + +[Illustration: "Filling his bag with all kinds of treasure."] + +"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." + +When they reached them, they found that little friend, the thin fish, +had arrived at last. + +"Hullo!" cried Dick. "What a jolly long while you have been catching us +up. Wherever have you been to all this time?" + +"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. + +"Yes, I suppose so," replied Dick. + +"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." + +"But what _is_ a human race?" inquired Marjorie, as they mounted their +Dolphins. + +"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. + +When they got back to the lawn by the King's Palace, the children were +greatly astonished to 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. + +There was a cheer when the children arrived on their Dolphins, and a +rush was made to assist them to alight. + +"But what are we to do?" they inquired, rather dismayed at these +elaborate preparations. + +"Show us a human race," was the reply. + +"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." + +"What's that?" cried the fishes. + +"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." + +"Very well, manage it your own way," was the reply. "When are you going +to start?" + +"Oh, as soon as you like," said Dick. "Where's the winning-post?" + +"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. + + "One, to make ready, + Two, to be steady, + Three, and--away!" + +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 +children arrived at the winning-post in the same order in which they had +started. + +"Oh, I've won--I've won!" shouted Fidge, delightedly. "Haven't I, Dick?" + +[Illustration: "They were called before the king to receive their +prize."] + +"Of course you have," said Dick, who had purposely been holding back to +give the other two a chance. + +"Shall I get a prize?" whispered the little boy, anxiously. + +"Perhaps," answered Dick; "wait and see." + +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. + +"Oh, I wonder what it will be!" said Marjorie, excitedly. "Fancy, having +a prize from a real King!" + +"He's only a fish," said Dick. + +"Hush, dear, you'll hurt his feelings," whispered Marjorie, warningly. + +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. + +"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." + +"Oh, no, we can't," admitted the fish, quite candidly; "but it's the +proper thing to do, you know, it encourages him so." + +After the speech the children were called before the King to receive +their prize. + +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. + +Of course, they pretended to be highly gratified, though, in reality, +they were greatly disappointed. + +"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. + +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, 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. + +[Illustration: "Whirling round and round in a frantic way."] + +"I suppose this is what is called a fish ball," said Dick, laughing +heartily at the strange antics which the fishes were cutting. + +And just as Marjorie was about to reply a dark shadow passing overhead +caused all of the children to look up. + +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. + +Marjorie seized Dick's arm excitedly. "Look! look!" she exclaimed, +hastily, "the Dodo!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DODO AT LAST. + + +"I really believe it is the Dodo," said Dick. "Only I'm not quite sure +if his feet _were_ webbed." + +"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----" + +"All right," interrupted Dick. "Come on--steady now, so as not to alarm +him." + +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. + +There was immediately a great outcry from above the water. + +"Help! Help! Fire! Police! Thieves!" cried a voice, and the feet began +to kick so violently that the children had quite a difficulty to keep +their hold. + +[Illustration: "The Dodo tried to follow their example."] + +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. + +"What is the matter?" cried several voices at once. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +"What are we to do now?" whispered Marjorie; "we can't drag him +underneath, or he'd be drowned, you know." + +"Oh, let's hang on," cried Dick, "perhaps he will drag us along till we +come to land somewhere. I say," he shouted, "are you the Dodo, or not?" + +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. + +Presently, just as Dick had suggested, some rocks came in sight, and the +children could see that they were being gradually dragged tards the +shore. + +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. + +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-- + +"The Sharks! The Sharks! Here come the Sharks!" + +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. + +"Help! Help!" he screamed, as he struggled with the waves. "Don't you +see that I'm drowning? Oh! Oh! Help! Help!" + +"Swim ashore," cried the children. + +"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. + +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. + +"A pretty figure I shall cut now at the Ichthyosaurus' 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?" + +"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----" + +"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. + +"What's it like?" asked the children, in an awe-stricken whisper. + +"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 _hate_ him!" he said, stamping his claw violently. + +"Who?" inquired the children. + +"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, _we_ are extinct," he said, proudly. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Marjorie, in dismay. "I'm sure we can't do +that! Why, you are as big as we are!" + +"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 _any one_, so there." + +Just then, Fidge, who had been playing on the shore, ran back with the +news that the little thin fish wanted to speak to them. + +"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. + +"Yes; but now we are in another fix," cried the children; "we don't know +how to get the creature home." + +[Illustration: "The Dodo cut a strange figure."] + +"Who are you calling a creature?" said the Dodo, sulkily. + +"Well, what else are you?" demanded Dick. "You're an awful nuisance, +anyhow, and _I_ don't know how we are going to get you away from this +place, I'm sure." + +"There are the Dolphins," suggested the little fish. + +"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. + +"Don't know. Never tried. Daresay I could," answered the bird, sullenly. + +The fish disappeared, and returned a few minutes later with the three +Dolphins in tow. + +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. + +The Dodo cut a strange figure, and looked very nervous at first, as he +clung to the slippery back of his strange steed. + +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. + +"By the bye, have you any idea where we are going to?" remarked the +Dodo, after they had been rushing along for some time. + +"Good gracious, no!" exclaimed Dick. "I thought you were directing us." + +"I haven't the remotest idea where we are," said the Dodo, coolly. + +"Why, then, we're lost!" cried Marjorie, in dismay. + +"Mother told me," said Fidge, solemnly, "that if I ever got lost, I was +to ask a policeman to take me home." + +[Illustration: "At the entrance was a large walrus smoking."] + +"Yes, but I'm afraid there are no policemen about here," laughed the +others. + +"What we had better do," said Dick, "is to push on till we come to land +somewhere, or a ship, and inquire the way back." + +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-- + +"Land on the larboard side!" + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +Dick and the others hurried forward, and bowed politely. + +"_Wie geths?_" 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AT THE NORTH POLE. + + +"What does he mean?" asked Marjorie, staring blankly at her brother. + +"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." + +"_Sprechen sie Deutsch?_" inquired the Walrus, with an encouraging +smile. + +"I can't tell what the chap is talking about," said Dick, turning to the +others in dismay. + +"Dond't you undershtandt German, eh?" said the Walrus. "Ach! dat vos +verry bad," and he shook his head reproachfully. + +"I don't know," argued Dick. "I can't see that it matters much. We are +not likely to go there, you know." + +"Not?" said the Walrus, lifting his eyebrows. "Vell, dere vos some funny +peoples in der vorld. Perhaps you dond't _vant_ to go dere?" + +"Not much," admitted Dick. + +The Walrus shrugged his shoulders, and looked commiseratingly at the +dog, who gave a sniff, and shrugged his shoulders too. + +"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?" + +"Vell, you vas in Germany now," said the Walrus. + +"Germany!" exclaimed the children, in surprise. "Why, we're quite near +to England, then." + +"No," said the Walrus, shaking his head. + +"But we must be," persisted Dick. + +"No," repeated the Walrus. "Dis is not der Germany you mean, but id is +Germany all der same--most of der vorld is Germany." + +"What nonsense!" laughed Dick. "I'm sure it isn't. Why, there's heaps of +places besides Germany. There's--er--Africa, for instance----" + +"Thadt's Germany!" said the Walrus, nodding violently. + +"Africa is?" cried Dick. + +"Yah! das is so," said the Walrus. "Africa, und China, und alle der +blaces--dey is all Germany." + +"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, _can_ you direct us home again, that is the +question?" he asked, aloud. + +"No," said the Walrus, shaking his head. + +"Or to the Equator?" suggested the Dodo, smoothing out his gloves. + +The Walrus stared for a moment, and then, pointing to the Dodo with the +stem of his pipe, inquired, "Vat is dat ting?" + +The Dodo drew himself up to his full height, and gave him a withering +look. "How dare you?" he cried. + +"Vell, vat _is_ id, anyhow?" chuckled the Walrus. "I never saw +somethings like id before, never!" + +"Of course not," said the Dodo, with dignity, "Our family have been +extinct for some time." + +[Illustration: When the children got into the clumsy fur garments, they +found them exceedingly comfortable.--Page 95. _Dick, Marjorie and +Fidge._] + +"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." + +"Come along," said the Dodo, turning to the others; "let's go. I was +never so insulted in all my life." + +"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." + +"Cold at the Equator?" laughed Marjorie. "Why, I always thought that it +was very hot." + +"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. + +Besides the clothes, there were all kinds of stores piled up around the +inside of the hut, and a quantity of snowshoes of various shapes, and +little sleds, like those which Dick remembered having seen in pictures +of Polar expeditions. + +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?" + +"No, thank you," said the Dodo, proudly, settling his necktie and +folding his wings primly. "I have my gloves; they are quite +sufficient." + +"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. + +Next the Walrus took down a rough, hairy coat, with mittens attached to +the sleeves. + +"Gom, put your arms in dis," he said, "and trow avay dose gloves you got +on." + +"What!" cried the Dodo, "take off my gloves? Never!" + +And he wouldn't either; but put his wings (such as he had) into the +coat sleeves with the gloves still on the end of them. + +[Illustration: "'What' cried the Dodo, 'take off my gloves? Never!'"] + +"Now you musdt haf some stores," said the Walrus, going to the cupboard, +and bringing out some tins of sardines, some jam, and other things, +which he carefully tied on to the sled. + +"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. + +"I haven't the least idea where we are going to," said Dick, as they +walked along; "have you?" + +"Not the slightest," said the Dodo. "I don't suppose it matters much, +though, as long as we get somewhere or another." + +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. + +"Here ve are," he said, pointing to the enormous hole, which looked like +the crater of an extinct volcano lined with ice. + +"Whatever is that?" asked Marjorie, peering over the edge curiously. + +"Der North Bole," said the Walrus. "Id vas German, too," he added, +emphatically. + +"The North Pole!" exclaimed the children. "Why, there isn't any pole at +all!" + +"No," said the Walrus, "das is so, id vas meldted all avay." + +[Illustration: "'Well, good-bye,' said Dick."] + +"Good gracious!" cried Dick. + +"Yah! id vas mit der lightning struck, und 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. + +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?" + +But Dick was thinking deeply. + +"Are you sure it went right through to the Equator?" he asked of the +Walrus. + +"Yah!" said that worthy, "for sure." + +"Then if we slid through, we should come out at the other end?" said +Dick. + +"Yah! das is so," said the Walrus, nodding violently. + +"Well, then, I think we'll do it," said Dick, boldly. + +"Oh, Dick!" cried Marjorie, in alarm. + +"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 end, and it's no use stopping +here. Do you know your way from the Equator?" he added, turning to the +Dodo. + +"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. + +"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. + +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-- + +"Gom back! gom back! I forgot to tell you somedings." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SOME NEW ACQUAINTANCES. + + +It was all very well for the Walrus to shout "Come back!" but _that_ 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. + +"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." + +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 not really _quite_ 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?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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 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. + +They had not gone far before they heard a voice crying out in a +peremptory way-- + +"Now then! move on, there!" + +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. + +"Who's that?" he cried, looking about him angrily. + +"Now then, move on! Do you hear?" cried the voice again. + +The children stared to the right and left, in front of them, and behind +them, but no one was in sight. + +"That's very strange!" exclaimed Dick. "Whoever can it be?" + +"_Will_ 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. + +"Bah! it's only a parrot," said the Dodo, in a contemptuous voice. + +"What!" screamed the bird; "only a parrot, indeed. Who are you, I should +like to know?" + +"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. + +"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_ am some one of consequence in these +parts, too. I am a police officer, and regulate the traffic, so move +on, there, and don't block the way." + +"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." + +"I daresay I _could_ if I wanted to," said the parrot, ungraciously, +"but I don't choose. Move on! You are stopping the traffic." + +"What nonsense! you ridiculous bird; there is not any traffic," said +Dick. + +"Oh! isn't there? A lot _you_ know about it," replied the parrot. +"There's a vehicle coming along this way now." + +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. + +"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. + +[Illustration: "The snowshoes seemed to puzzle them somewhat."] + +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 whether to regard them as musical instruments or a +novel form of headgear. + +"Hi! Just you put those clothes down at once!" shouted Dick. "How dare +you interfere with our things!" + +"They're not yours," said one of the monkeys. "Findings keepings. We +found them, and so they are ours." + +"Indeed they are not. Give them back at once!" demanded Dick. + +"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. + +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. + +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 +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. + +[Illustration: "'I shall get very angry in a minute,' said the Dodo."] + +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. + +"Ha! ha! what a funny horse," laughed Fidge. "It is a horse, isn't it, +Dick?" + +"No," said Dick; "I don't think so." + +"Horse! no, indeed," said the Dodo. "It's a kind of camel." + +"I ain't," said the sloth-bear, with a yawn. + +"You shouldn't say 'ain't,'" said the Dodo, rebukingly. "What are you, +then?" + +There was no answer, the creature had gone to sleep. + +"Wake up! wake up!" cried the Dodo, shaking him violently. "The idea of +dropping off to sleep when any one is talking to you!" + +"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." + +"Where are you going to?" asked the Dodo. + +"I don't know," was the reply. "Where are you?" + +"We want to get to the place where the steamers start for England," +explained Marjorie. + +"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. + +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. + +"Now then," said Dick, shaking the reins, "we are ready to start. Go on, +please." + +There was no answer, and it transpired that the creature was asleep +again. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 we are to get to our destination if you waste time in this +manner?" + +The answer was a loud snore from the sloth-bear, who had once more +fallen into a deep sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE SKIPPER OF THE ARGONAUT. + + +"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. + +The sloth-bear blinked his eyes, sleepily, and muttered, "What's up?" + +"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?" + +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. + +"Good gracious! what's to be done?" said Dick, getting down from the +chariot. "It's not the slightest use our trying to go anywhere in this +thing." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Wake him up again, will you, please?" she said, turning to the Dodo. +"Perhaps he will tell us." + +"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!" + +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." + +"What's the matter now, cry-baby?" asked the Dodo. + +"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?" + +"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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Jolly, isn't it?" said Dick, as they floated upwards, leaving the Dodo +gazing after them enviously. + +"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. + +"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." + +"What about the Dodo?" asked Dick. + +"Oh, of course. I'd forgotten him. Let's see, he can't fly, can he?" + +"Judging by the exhibition he made of himself when we first saw him, I +should say not," laughed Dick. + +"Well, perhaps we could carry him between us," suggested Marjorie, "he +doesn't look _very_ heavy." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +The Dodo smiled in a sickly sort of way. "I'm a little out of practise," +he faltered. + +"Well, do you think that if we each took hold of one of +your--ahem--wings, we could get along that way?" + +"You wouldn't crush my gloves?" asked the Dodo, anxiously. + +"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. + +"What!" cried the Dodo, indignantly, "travel without my gloves! Never! +It wouldn't be respectable. I shouldn't think of doing such a thing!" + +"Oh, well, come, on then; let's try this way," 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." + +Slowly, very slowly, the children rose, for the Dodo was rather heavy +after all, as he dangled down clumsily and uncomfortably between them. + +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-- + +"_Now_, then, what are you up to?" + +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. + +"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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"What a disagreeable bird," whispered Marjorie, when they had gone some +little distance. + +"Wretch!" declared the Dodo, rubbing his back. + +"For two pins I'd wring his neck," muttered Dick, angrily. + +"Much obliged, I'm sure," said a mocking voice overhead, and there was +that wretched parrot, looking down from one of the upper branches. + +"Listeners never hear any good of themselves," remarked the Dodo. + +"Pooh!--as though I cared what _you_ 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. + +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. + +"Thank goodness, here's a man at last," said Dick. "Now we shall be +able to find out something as to where we are, and how we are to get +home again." + +"Ship ahoy!" called out the sailor, when he first saw them. + +[Illustration: "'They calls me a skipper,' said he, 'because I skips.'"] + +"How do you do?" said Dick, politely offering his hand. + +"Stop a bit, my hearty," said the sailor. "Salt!" and he began skipping +rather quickly. "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. + +"I'm a Skipper," he panted, in an explanatory tone. + +"A Skipper!" exclaimed the children. + +"Yes, they calls me a Skipper," said he, "because I skips." + +"But I thought a Skipper was a kind of Captain or something," said +Marjorie. + +"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?" + +"Oh, yes, please," said Dick, delightedly; "and perhaps you can tell us +the way to get to England?" + +"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 sailors, +of all ages, sat at spinning wheels, working industriously. + +"Whatever are they doing?" inquired Marjorie, curiously. + +[Illustration: "Each sailor was spinning a yarn."] + +"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." + +The man said, "Aye, aye, Sir," again, and came forward with some coarse +brown worsted. + +"This," said the Skipper, "is the toughest yarn you will find anywhere. +We are celebrated for it here." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE ARCHAEOPTERYX. + + +"But we always thought----" began Marjorie-- + +"That when people spoke of a sailor 'spinning a yarn,' they meant +telling a story," finished Dick. + +"Oh! oh! how _could_ you think such a thing," said the sailors, +indignantly. "Sailors always tell the truth; don't they, Skipper?" + +The Skipper winked at Dick with one eye, and answered, guardedly, "Ahem! +I _have_ heard a sailor speak the truth, certainly, but----" + +"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?" + +"When we get some passengers, it will be," responded the Skipper, +gruffly. "By-the-bye," he added, turning to the children; "_you_ want to +go somewhere or another, don't you?" + +"Yes, to England," said Dick, eagerly. "Do you go there, please?" + +"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." + +"Never heard of England!" exclaimed Dick. + +"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." + +"But don't you find it very awkward?" cried the children; "however do +you know how to go from one place to another?" + +"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." + +"I am afraid we should be a long while reaching England that way," +remarked Dick, dubiously. + +"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 direction +it lies, because, once you get out to sea, there are no roads and +things, so one way is as good as another." + +"But don't you use a compass?" asked Marjorie. + +"What's that, Miss?" asked the Skipper. + +"Why, a little thing that always points to the North," said Marjorie. + +"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?" + +"Not as I knows on," answered the man, sulkily. "We ain't got none of +them newfangled things, and don't want 'em." + +"Dear me, what a very odd ship yours must be," said Dick. "Is it a +steamer, or a sailing vessel, please?" + +"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." + +The children followed him to a kind of rough harbor, where a most +extraordinary craft was 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. + +"What a dear old-fashioned thing," exclaimed Marjorie, directly she saw +it. + +The Skipper looked rather hurt. "It isn't more than a thousand years +old," he remarked. + +"Well, that's an awful long time for a ship to last, isn't it?" said +Marjorie, pleasantly. + +"Our family is much older than that," chimed in the Dodo, +consequentially. "We date back to----" + +"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." + +"What _do_ you mean?" asked the children. + +"Why, when I was a little boy, you know," explained the Skipper, "I used +to skip all the dry 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?" + +"Well, are you going aboard or not?" he added, "because, if so, we ought +to be starting." + +"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." + +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. + +"What are they for?" asked Dick, who, boy-like, always wanted to know +the reason for everything. + +"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." + +"What for?" asked Dick, who certainly remembered having heard the +expression "weighing the anchor" before. + +"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." + +So the anchor was duly weighed, and the exact weight put down in a book, +and the _Argosy_, as the ship was called, slowly moved out of the +harbor. + +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 +_Argosy_ rolled a little. + +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 "forgotten his +pocket-handkerchief," and hurried down into the cabin. + +"Why, I didn't know he had one," said Marjorie, wonderingly. + +[Illustration: "Hope you're feeling better, Sir."] + +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." + +The Dodo didn't come up for a long while and at last the Skipper said +he would go down and see if he wanted anything. + +He found the poor bird looking the picture of misery, lolling limply +against the cushioned seat. + +"Hope you're feeling better, Sir," he said, respectfully, tugging at his +forelock. + +"Oh! oh!" groaned the Dodo. "Do throw me overboard, and let me die." + +"Nonsense," said the Skipper, cheerfully. "You'll be all right in an +hour or two." + +"Oh, no," said the bird; "I shall never be well again. I have never, +never felt so ill in all my life." + +"Lie down, Sir, and I'll cover you up with this rug," said the Skipper, +kindly; "you'll be better presently." + +"Don't tell the others," gasped the bird, faintly. + +"All right, Sir," was the reply, and the Skipper went on deck again. + +The breeze was quite fresh still, and the children had climbed up into +the "lookout," and were pointing eagerly into the distance. + +"Land! over there!" shouted Dick, when he saw the Skipper. + +"Oh! Ah! It's an island," said the Skipper. "I've been there before. The +Archaeopteryx lives there." + +"The what?" cried the children. + +[Illustration: "'Charmed to meet you,' said the Archaeopteryx."] + +"The Archaeopteryx," repeated the Skipper. "It's an awful name, isn't +it?" + +"What is he?" demanded Dick. + +"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." + +The children were all eagerness to see this strange creature, and could +scarcely wait until the ship reached the land. + +The Skipper went down and told the Dodo, who, directly he heard that +they would meet the Archaeopteryx, made a great effort to pull himself +together again. + +"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?" + +These necessary preparations completed, the Dodo staggered up on deck +just as the _Argosy_ reached the shore. + +The Archaeopteryx was waiting for them on the beach, and recognized the +Dodo immediately. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM'S BALLOON. + + +"Delighted to make your acquaintance," said the Archaeopteryx, 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. + +"Both antediluvians," whispered their host, "the Palaeotherium and the +Eteraedarium. Capital chaps, but crotchety." + +Fidge was a little alarmed at first, for they were really very ugly. +They seemed quite amiable, however; and the Palaeotherium--his mouth full +of banana--motioned them to seats at the table, and, turning to the +Dodo, said, "Haven't I seen you before?" + +The Dodo smirked, and, smoothing his gloves, said, in a self-conscious +voice, "Very possibly we _may_ 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?" + +"I'm trying to remember," said the Palaeotherium, "it must have been +several hundreds of years ago now, and my memory is getting so bad----" + +"I once stayed with the Ichthyosaurus," said the Dodo. "It may have been +there." + +"Ah, that must have been it," said the Palaeotherium. "I met a curious +lot of people there--very mixed lot of associates _he_ had, to be sure." + +"Ahem," said the Dodo, indignantly. "I hope you don't mean that I----" + +"My dear Sir," replied the other, "I'm quite sure you are highly +respectable; your gloves alone are a guarantee for that." + +"Thanks," said the Dodo, looking quite happy again. + +"Do you know any riddles?" asked the Eteraedarium, suddenly, addressing +Dick. + +"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?" + +"First of all," said the Archaeopteryx, anxiously, "what is a robin, and +who is a waterbut?" + +"Oh, a robin," explained Marjorie, "is a dear little bird with a red +breast that comes in the winter----" + +"Stop! stop!" said the Palaeotherium, "one thing at a time. What is a +bird?" + +"Oh, I say! You _must_ know what a bird is," expostulated Dick. + +"I don't," said the Palaeotherium, stubbornly. + +"Why--why--the Dodo is a bird," explained Dick. + +"Yes, but nothing like a robin, Dick, dear," added Marjorie; "a robin is +such a sweet, pretty little thing----" + +"Well, I never!" exclaimed the Dodo, "do you mean to say _I'm_ not a +pretty little thing?" + +"Well, you're not _quite_ like a robin, are you?" said Marjorie, getting +out of the difficulty very cleverly. + +"Not _quite_, perhaps," admitted the Dodo; "but I _am_ pretty," he added +decidedly. + +"I don't see what all this has to do with my conundrum," said Dick. + +"Well, let's try again," said the Archaeopteryx. "Why is a robin like a +waterbut?" + +"A robin is a bird that comes in the winter," repeated the Eteraedarium, +"and the waterbut--is that also a bird?" + +"Oh, no," laughed Marjorie; "a waterbut is a tub for holding water." + +"Can it fly?" asked the Eteraedarium. + +"Of course not!" said Dick; "who ever heard of such a thing?" + +"Well, _is_ it like a robin? That's the point," said the Palaeotherium. + +"Not in appearance," admitted Dick. "Will you give it up?" he added, +looking around the table. + +"Give what up?" asked the creatures. + +"The conundrum," replied Dick. + +"I haven't got it," declared the Dodo. + +"Nor have I." "Nor I." "Nor I," said the others. + +"No, no! I mean, will you give the answer up?" said Dick, losing +patience. + +"But we haven't it," said the Archaeopteryx. + +"Look here, I'll tell you what we'll do," said the Palaeotherium, +generously: "I'll give up the robin, and my friend here will give up the +waterbut. There!" + +"Now _that's_ settled," said the Dodo, conclusively, "_I'll_ ask you a +conundrum. 'If your wife's aunt is----'" + +"Stop! stop!" said the Palaeotherium, "I haven't got a wife, you know." + +"No," said the Eteraedarium, "he hasn't, and, if he had, she very likely +would not have an aunt. Make it my wife's aunt." + +"All right," said the Dodo. "If _your_ wife's aunt is my brother's son, +what relation is Dick to Tom?" + +"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?'" + +"I wish you wouldn't interfere," said the Dodo. "I tell you the +question is right as I asked it." + +"But your wife's aunt couldn't be anybody's son," said Marjorie, who was +trying to puzzle it out. + +"Who said she _was_?" 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." + +"Well, let's work it out," said the Eteraedarium, 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----" + +"Who is the other finger?" interrupted the Dodo, anxiously. + +"Me," said the Palaeotherium, solemnly and ungrammatically. + +"It isn't," declared the other. + +"It is," repeated the Palaeotherium. + +"Oh, very well! let it be so," cried the Archaeopteryx, impatiently. +"What's the answer, anyhow?" + +[Illustration: "'Who is the other finger?' interrupted the Dodo, +anxiously."] + +"I don't know," said the Eteraedarium, staring at his fingers stupidly. +"I don't see what relation those two fingers are to the other two. Well, +what relation _is_ Dick to Tom?" he asked, turning to the Dodo. + +"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 table, quite disregarding the +fact that the others had not finished. + +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. + +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 Eteraedarium took his turn. He got along capitally, and the +children laughed heartily at the queer capers which he cut. + +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?" + +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. + +"It's all red," cried Marjorie, whose eyesight was very keen. + +"What!" exclaimed the Dodo, trembling. "Red! Are you sure?" he +inquired, anxiously. + +"Certain," said Marjorie. + +"Yes," said Dick, "I can see it now; it's quite red--a bright scarlet, +in fact." + +[Illustration: "The Eteraedarium took his turn."] + +"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 +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. + +Meanwhile the state balloon belonging to His Importance the Little +Panjandrum rapidly drew near. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DUFF AND DEM EXECUTIONER. + + +"Can you see who's in it?" asked the Dodo, anxiously, when the balloon +had drawn a little nearer. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +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." + +Dick politely ran forward and hung on to one rope, while Marjorie and +Fidge took the other. + +[Illustration: "The Court Glover arrives."] + +The occupants of the balloon then lowered some wooden steps, and gravely +descended, the Lord High Executioner leading the way. + +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 Archaeopteryx 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. + +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?" + +"Who do you mean, Sir?" asked Dick. + +"The Dodo," was the response. + +"Oh! the Dodo! Why, he was here just now. I expect he has gone off with +the Archaeopteryx and the others," said Dick. + +"The what!" exclaimed the Court Glover. + +"The er--Archaeopteryx," said Dick, hesitatingly, fearing that he might +have mispronounced the name. + +"H'm! You see," said the Court Glover, addressing the Executioner, "to +what depths this misguided bird has fallen, to actually associate with +an animal bearing a name of _that_ description. I suppose it _is_ an +animal, by-the-bye," he added, turning to the children. + +"Well," laughed Marjorie, "we are not quite sure. The Dodo says it's a +kind of lizard-like bird, or bird-like lizard." + +"It's got feathers," chimed in Fidge. + +"Ough! The miserable creature doesn't even know what it is _itself_, I +expect," said the Court Glover, in tones of disgust. + +"The others," said Dick reflectively, "are evidently animals--the +Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, you know." + +"Look here," interrupted the Court Glover, severely, "you really must +_not_ use such disgraceful language. I am not accustomed to it." + +"Why, they are only names," explained Dick, smilingly. + +"Very well, then. Call the creatures _thingummybobs_; 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?" + +"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. + +"Is your--er--chopper ready?" said the Court Glover, turning to the +executioner. + +"He--he--he--ye--es!" giggled that worthy. + +"Oh! If you please," pleaded Marjorie, "I do hope you are not going to +execute the poor Dodo. I'm sure he's _very_ sorry that he took the +Little Panjandrum's gloves, and he will give them back, I know. Please, +_please_, forgive him." + +"He--he--he!" giggled the Executioner again. + +"Do be quiet," shouted the Court Glover. + +"Yes, I don't see anything to laugh at," said Marjorie indignantly. + +"Oh, he's _always_ 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?" + +"I should think so, indeed," cried Marjorie, in a horrified voice; +"perfectly disgraceful, I call it." + +"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.'" + +"I don't understand," said Marjorie, who was dreadfully puzzled. "How +_could_ he say all that after he was executed?" + +"Why not?" asked the Court Glover, composedly. + +"Why, people can't talk when they are killed, you know," said Marjorie. + +"He--he--he!" sniggered the Executioner, putting his hand up to his +mouth under his mask. + +The Court Glover frowned at him. "Bless you, they aren't _killed_!" he +said. + +"Not killed, when they are executed!" cried Marjorie. + +The Executioner giggled louder than ever, and shook his head. + +"What do you mean?" asked Marjorie. + +"Don't ask me, I'm duff and dem," said the Executioner. + +"He means dem and duff," explained the Court Glover, considerately. + +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 _can_ be the case, +for he must have heard me, because he answered my question, you know." + +"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. + +Marjorie was quite bewildered; but there was no time for further +argument, for, just then, Dick and the Archaeopteryx returned, supporting +the Dodo (who appeared half dead with fright), and followed by the +Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, walking arm in arm. + +"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. + +The Dodo prostrated himself before them, the tears streaming from his +eyes, and the offending gloves thrown on the ground in front of him. + +"Miserable fowl!" began the Court Glover. + +The Dodo winced. + +"To what degraded depths have you sunken! I find you here hob-a-nobbing +with _thingummybobs_ and _what's-his-names_." + +"Here, I say, hold on!" interrupted the Archaeopteryx. "If you mean us, +you know, we are----" + +"_Thingummybobs_ and _what's-his-names_," repeated the Court Glover, +waving his hand contemptuously. "Was it to create an impression amongst +such creatures as _these_ 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 _too_ much!" + +"How much too much?" inquired the Palaeotherium, kindly taking out his +purse. + +The Court Glover waved him aside with an impatient scowl. + +"The vanity of the bird!" he went 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." + +[Illustration: "'Bear up, old man,' said the Archaeopteryx."] + +"Of course, there's nothing to be done," continued the Court Glover, +after an impressive pause, "but to execute you." + +The Dodo sobbed; and Marjorie, who was greatly concerned, began: "Oh, +please----" + +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. + +"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. + +"Bear up, old man," said the Archaeopteryx, sympathetically, fanning him +with his tail. + +"When did he say?" inquired the Dodo, faintly. + +"In an hour's time," said Dick, sadly. + +The Dodo shuddered. + +"Stop!" said the Eteraedarium, suddenly. "I think I have found a way out +of the difficulty." + +"Oh! what is it? What is it?" cried the Dodo, eagerly; while the others +all crowded round to hear what the Eteraedarium had to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE EXECUTION OF THE DODO. + + +"Let us pretend," suggested the Palaeotherium, "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." + +"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. + +"Bother!" remarked the Palaeotherium; "now I shall have to invent some +other way." + +"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." + +"Well, how would you like it yourself?" asked the Dodo, indignantly. + +"I shouldn't mind in the least," remarked the Executioner, coolly. + +"Not mind being killed!" shuddered the children. + +[Illustration: "I never kill anybody when I chop their heads off."] + +"Oh, _that's_ another question entirely," said the Executioner. "I never +kill anybody when I chop their heads off. It would be so cruel; +besides, that old-fashioned way is so ordinary. I am the Executioner +Extraordinary, you know." + +"Well, how on earth do you execute people, then, if you don't kill +them?" demanded Dick. + +"Oh, by a new method, which I have invented myself," declared the +Executioner. "I call it execution by proxy. I just make an effigy." + +"What's that?" inquired Marjorie. + +"Don't interrupt," said Dick. "Guy Fawkes is an effigy, you know--an old +stuffed thing, with a mask on. Go on, please." + +"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." + +He looked around at the company, and smiled triumphantly. + +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 about his person, the +tears which trickled slowly down his great beak. + +"What's the matter, poor goosey, goosey, gander?" said Fidge, +sympathetically. + +"Don't!" snapped the Dodo, crossly. "I'm _not_ a goose." + +"Well, what _is_ 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." + +"I d--don't want to--to be--e m--made a guy of," sobbed the Dodo. + +"What _do_ you mean?" asked the Executioner. + +"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. + +"Well, never mind," said the Archaeopteryx, sympathetically; "you have +the consolation that they couldn't make you a bigger guy than you are." + +Strangely enough, the Dodo seemed to derive a considerable amount of +comfort from this 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"H'm! I shouldn't have thought you had any to spare for moulting +purposes," said the Archaeopteryx. + +"Don't be unkind," retorted the Dodo; "_you_ haven't many to boast of." + +"I've more than you have, anyhow," said the Archaeopteryx. + +"Oh, for goodness' sake leave off quarreling. What on earth does it +matter how many feathers you have?" said Dick. + +"Not to a _boy_, I suppose," remarked the Dodo, somewhat insolently; +"but no respectable bird would care to be seen about with less than +five; though, undoubtedly, too many are vulgar"--this with a scornful +glance at the Archaeopteryx's tail, which was decorated with quite a +number of curious flat feathers. + +I don't know how much longer this wrangling would have gone on, had not +the Court Glover just then made his appearance. + +"Time's up!" he announced, sternly. "Are you prepared for execution, +Dodo?" + +"Not quite," answered the Executioner, who was putting the finishing +touches to the effigy; "his head keeps tumbling off." + +"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. + +"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 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. LONG LIVE THE PANJANDRUM!'" + +[Illustration: "'Alas! Alas!' murmured the Court Glover."] + +"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. + +"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. + +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. + +"_Fiat Justitia_!" said the Court Glover, solemnly; and then, turning to +the Dodo, he inquired anxiously, "Well, how did you like it?" + +"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." + +"Well, we always like to manage these little things as pleasantly as +possible, you know," said the Court Glover, deprecatingly. + +"Oh! I quite enjoyed it!" said the Dodo. "That's a _very_ nice +Executioner you have." + +"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?" + +"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. + +"H'm! I'm afraid not," said the Court Glover, reflectively. "You see, it +only holds two comfortably." + +"Where do you want to go to?" asked the Archaeopteryx. + +"England!" said the children, all together. + +"Oh! _that's_ all right. I'll tell you the way to get _there_," said the +Palaeotherium. + +And the Court Glover and the Executioner began to undo the cords which +held the balloon to the palm tree. + +"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, reliable Executioner is a handy thing to have in the +house." + +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. + +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. + +"Whatever is the matter?" inquired Dick. "Why are you carrying on in +that absurd way?" + +The Dodo fumbled beneath one wing, and drew forth a little paper +package. + +"Ha! ha! ha! _They went away without the gloves after all_!" he +shrieked, and began to roll about on the ground in an uncontrollable fit +of laughter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE PREHISTORIC DOCTOR. + + +"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." + +"They look so respectable," explained the Dodo, "and give one such an +air. You have _never_ 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. + +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 Archaeopteryx, 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 as big as +the biggest giant that ever lived," and immediately became so tall that +the Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, who were standing near, fled in +dismay, while Marjorie and Fidge looked up with the greatest of +admiration to their now big--big brother. + +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 _feet_ long as it had formerly been _inches_, and with buttons +almost as big as dinner plates. + +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 +Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, who had been trembling and quaking +behind a clump of trees, and looking with the greatest disquietude at +these extraordinary proceedings. + +"This is fine growing weather, Sir," remarked the Palaeotherium, +respectfully, as he came forward and stood by Dick beside the enormous +glove. + +[Illustration: "'Is that it?' asked Dick."] + +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. + +"What's the matter?" inquired Dick, solicitously. + +"Er--have any of you seen a white kid glove lying about?" said the Dodo, +anxiously. + +"Is that it?" asked Dick, pointing to the enormous object lying at his +feet. + +The Dodo gave a start. + +"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 _is_ my +glove. Why, whatever has happened to it?" + +"It certainly looks rather large for you," remarked the Palaeotherium. + +"Large! why it's prodigious!" exclaimed the Dodo. + +"What size do you wear?" asked Marjorie, who was enjoying the fun. + +The Dodo undid the glove which he had on and looked inside. + +"Sevens," he remarked. + +"And this," said Dick, kicking the enormous glove open, "is marked +ninety-nines!" + +"I don't believe I _could_ wear that size," said the bird, +disconsolately. "Whatever is to be done?" + +"I should get inside it altogether, if I were you," suggested Dick. + +"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!" + +"Oh!" cried Marjorie, "I'm sure _we_ wear gloves when we are at home, +don't we, Dick?" + +"Of course," said he. + +"And me, too," declared Fidge; "me wears goves." + +"I don't believe it," sobbed the Dodo; "and if I did, I wouldn't, so +there!" + +"I think you are an awful cry-baby," said Dick; "I should be ashamed, if +I were you, to be always sniveling about nothing." + +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 lace handkerchief was wringing +wet with his tears. + +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. + +This, however, Dick positively refused to do for the present, and the +Dodo becoming worse instead of better, the Archaeopteryx said he should +go and fetch a doctor. + +"Oh, do!" cried the Dodo, sitting up, and becoming interested at once. +"I _love_ doctors, they give you such nice stuff to take." + +"Ough!" shuddered Marjorie. + +"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. + +"No; I certainly don't," was the reply, as the Archaeopteryx, followed by +a funny-looking little old man, came running back. + +The Prehistoric Doctor--for so the children 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. + +[Illustration: "'Tut, tut, this is serious,' said the Doctor."] + +"Ah!--h'm! and _how_ are we feeling this morning?" he said, kindly, +going up to the Dodo. + +The bird turned up his eyes pathetically and gave a sigh. + +"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. + +"Ah! How is the pulse?" continued the Doctor, in a soothing voice. + +The Dodo gravely extended the pinion with the glove on it. + +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. + +This operation over, he shook his head gravely, and demanded to see the +Dodo's tongue. + +"Oh! I couldn't!" simpered the bird; "I really couldn't; it's so rude to +put out one's tongue, you know." + +A little persuasion, however, on the part of the Doctor prevailed upon +him to open his enormous beak, and the examination was proceeded with. + +[Illustration: "They hurried to the station."] + +"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 Palace +would suit you admirably. There is an excursion starting to-day. I +should certainly go by that if I were you." + +"The Crystal Palace! Why, that's near London!" cried Marjorie, +excitedly. "Can't we go by the excursion, too?" + +"Of course you can," chimed in the Palaeotherium; "we'll all go, and make +up a nice little family party." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +WAITING FOR THE TRAIN. + + +They found, on reaching the station, which was a very primitive affair +with a thatched roof, that the booking-office was closed. + +"Clerk be goned away for 'ees 'oliday," explained the Porter, with a +grin. + +"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. + +"He may be back before the train comes in," said the Archaeopteryx; +"there doesn't seem to be one in sight, and we often have to wait weeks +and weeks for a train here, you know." + +"But what was he ringing the bell for, then?" inquired Dick, "if the +train isn't coming in." + +"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." + +"Then we have had this long run for nothing," complained the Dodo, +breathlessly. + +"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." + +"But isn't there a time-table?" asked Dick, "so that we can tell when to +expect it." + +"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." + +By this time the platform was crowded with a number of other animals, +who had apparently come to join the excursion. + +"We had better get our tents before they are all gone," whispered the +Palaeotherium. + +"Ah, yes, of course," said the Eteraedarium. "Er--Porter, just bring us +some tents, will you?" + +"Tents?" exclaimed the children. + +"Yes; if we are to stay here till the train starts we shall find it very +awkward at night without tents, you know." + +"Oh, yes, tents by all means," said the Archaeopteryx. "I think five will +be sufficient," he added. + +[Illustration: "The Dodo contented himself with fussing about and giving +directions."] + +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. + +The Dodo excused himself from assisting, on the plea that he might soil +his gloves, and contented himself with fussing about and giving +directions in a loud voice. + +While the tents were being erected, the children amused themselves by +exploring their surroundings. + +"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. + +"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. + +Dick felt in his pocket, and was delighted to find that he had a +two-shilling-piece tucked away in a corner. + +"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." + +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 _you_ want?" + +Dick was startled by her sudden appearance, and stammered a little. + +"Er--er--a----" he began. + +"A glass bun and a bath of milk, please," prompted the Dodo. + +"No; he means a bath bun and a glass of milk," laughed Marjorie, smiling +up at the lady's face. + +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." + +"Er--how much is the bun, please?" inquired Dick. + +"Shilling," snapped the waitress. + +"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." + +"Well, I never!" said the waitress, tossing her head scornfully, and +shaking back her little 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. + +"Perhaps we had better try the chocolate," suggested Marjorie. "Can you +tell us, please, how many pieces there are in the box?" she asked. + +"No, I can't!" was the ungracious reply. "It's half-a-crown," she added. + +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-- + +"I can't think what people want to come bothering for refreshments for, +when I am busy reading; some folks have _no_ consideration for others." +And she disappeared as mysteriously as she had arrived. + +A little further down the platform, to their great delight, they +discovered an automatic machine, but were greatly disappointed to find +that it only professed to supply "furniture polish," "tin tacks," and +"postage stamps." + +"And as we have no post-office here at all," said the Archaeopteryx, who +had by this time joined them, "the stamps are of no use whatever. +Fortunately," he went on, "the Palaeotherium 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." + +The children very gratefully accepted the invitation, and were delighted +on entering the tent to find that the Eteraedarium and the Palaeotherium +had arranged quite a dainty little repast with the sandwiches, some +fresh fruit, and cocoanut milk, which was served in the shell. + +While the feast was progressing it began to grow quite dark, and the +Dodo suggested asking the Porter for a light. + +"There's only one candle," grumbled that individual, "and I be obligated +to use that for the signal." + +So there was nothing to be done but to hurry over the supper as soon as +possible, and go to rest. + +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. + +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. + +"What's up!" called out Dick, as the Porter approached. + +There was no answer, and the great bell was plied more vigorously than +ever. + +"Oh! _do_ leave off!" screamed the Dodo. "What's the bell for?" + +"To keep you awake," shouted the Porter. "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." + +"But the noise will drive us mad," expostulated the Dodo. + +[Illustration: "'Oh! Do leave off!' screamed the Dodo."] + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A NIGHT IN THE TRAIN. + + +"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, _they're_ gone!" + +"I think," said Dick, looking about him curiously, "that it must be what +is called a sleeping car." + +"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. + +"I'll have the one above it," announced the Palaeotherium, climbing up to +the upper berth, and clumsily treading on the Prehistoric Doctor's hand +as he did so. + +"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." + +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. + +"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 +_somewhere_ in this train, aren't we, Dick?" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"There's a window up here, and I have just looked out," said Dick, "it's +all pitch dark." + +"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." + +"Good-night." + +"Nighty, nighty!" shouted Fidge. + +"Good-night, Fidge, dear," was his sister's reply, in a very tired +voice. + +A moment afterwards the train gave a lurch, and there was a crash and a +loud cry from one of the lower berths. + +Dick hastily scrambled down to ascertain what was the matter, and found +that the Dodo had tumbled out of bed. + +"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?" + +"Have you hurt yourself much?" inquired Dick, kindly. + +"No; I don't think so," said the Dodo, carefully feeling himself all +over to see if any bones were broken. + +"How do you like my nightcap?" he inquired, suddenly and inconsequently. +"Does it suit me?" + +"Oh, it's all right, I suppose," said Dick, laughing in spite of himself +at the bird's vanity. "Where did you get it?" + +"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." + +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. + +"Oh, Dick! what is it?" called Marjorie, putting her head outside the +curtains. + +"I can't think," said Dick, in a puzzled voice. + +"Where have I heard that sound before?" exclaimed the Dodo, putting one +finger of the glove to his forehead, and striking a thoughtful attitude. + +"Ah! I have it," he cried. "Of course, it's a prehistoric snore--the +Doctor is asleep." + +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. + +"What a frightful row," cried Dick, indignantly. "We can't go to sleep +with all that noise going on. Let's wake him up." + +"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." + +"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. + +"Oh! Dick!" he cried, pointing to the further corner of the berth, +"Look! Look! A snake!" + +"What?" cried Marjorie, from below, with a little scream. + +"A snake!" repeated Fidge. "Look, look, Dick!" he cried, pointing. + +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. + +"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. + +Dick seized the umbrella, and, grasping it with both hands, aimed a +mighty blow at what he took to be the snake. + +An agonized scream from the next berth, and a hasty withdrawal of the +_snake_, was followed by the appearance of the Palaeotherium's head over +the top of the partition. + +"Who did that?" he demanded, with tears in his eyes. + +"It was a snake!" cried Dick, excitedly, "and I was trying to kill it." + +"Snake, indeed!" said the Palaeotherium, wrathfully. "It was my tail." + +"Oh! I'm _so_ sorry," exclaimed Dick, "I really _thought_ it was a +snake, you know. I beg your pardon. I _do_ hope I haven't hurt you very +much." + +"H'm! Well, I can't say that it was very pleasant," said the +Palaeotherium, "but if you are really sorry I'll forgive you--only you +mustn't let it happen again." + +"Shouldn't have a tail like a snake," said Fidge, half crying, "and +shouldn't let it come over in our bed." + +The Palaeotherium muttered something that neither of the children could +understand, and retired, and, except for the Prehistoric Doctor's +snoring, all was quiet again. + +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. + +"Wake up! Wake up, Marjorie," he cried, "it's morning." + +"I'm velly hungry," announced Fidge, sitting up and rubbing his eyes +sleepily. + +"Yes, so am I," admitted Dick; "we must see what we can do to get some +food." + +"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." + +Dick and Fidge scrambled down, and, accompanied by Marjorie, determined +to explore. + +None of the other creatures were apparently awake, and most of the +curtains were drawn. + +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. + +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 _beautiful_?" + +[Illustration: The Greedy Eteraedarium.] + +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--"BREAKFAST CAR"; and as it was the easiest matter in the world +to step from one carriage to the other, they were soon at the door. + +As soon as they opened it they beheld a curious sight. + +There were a number of little tables in the carriage, on each of which +were basins of steaming hot bread-and-milk. + +The Eteraedarium 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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. + + +The bread-and-milk was very good, and the children enjoyed it immensely. + +They would have taken a second basinful had the Eteraedarium 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 Eteraedarium finish up the remaining basins. + +"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. + +"You see," he said, with a sort of half attempt at an apology, "I was +afraid the poor, dear Dodo, 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." + +"But what about the others?" asked Dick. + +"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 Eteraedarium 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. + +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. + +"Ah! bread-and-milk--capital!" exclaimed the Doctor, rubbing his hands, +and looking at the children's basins. "I think our patient could manage +a small basinful, eh?" + +The Dodo, with a great affectation of weakness, feebly nodded his head. + +"I think I _could_ manage a small basinful, Doctor--er--er--not _too_ +small, you know. A _very_ small quantity never agrees with me." + +"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." + +"It's all gone!" said the Eteraedarium, suddenly and emphatically. + +"Gone!" screamed the Dodo, in a loud voice, quite forgetting his +supposed weakness. "Do you mean to say there is _none_ left?" + +The Eteraedarium shook his head. + +"But where's it all gone to?" asked the Doctor. + +The Eteraedarium solemnly pointed to the children. + +"Pigs!" declared the Dodo, wrathfully. + +"Here, who are you calling pigs?" demanded Dick, getting up angrily. + +"Well, I must say that it was exceedingly greedy of you to devour all of +the breakfast," said the Doctor, reprovingly. + +"But we didn't," said Dick. "It was the Eteraedarium; he had ever so many +basinsful. We only had one each, didn't we, Marjorie?" + +"No," said Marjorie; "and mine was a very small one." + +"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." + +"Well, where are the other basins, then, if you say the Eteraedarium had +such a lot?" demanded the Dodo. + +"He threw them out of the window," declared the children. + +"Oh! Oh! Well, I _never_--whatever will they say next?" cried the +Eteraedarium, throwing up his hands and turning his eyes up to the +ceiling. + +"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." + +"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." + +[Illustration: The arrival at the Crystal Palace.] + +"Rubbish!" exclaimed the Dodo, "you are only making matters worse by +your lame excuses. I always had my suspicions that you were a greedy +lot, like all the rest of the human creatures." + +"Ahem!" coughed the Doctor, looking pained. + +"Oh, you're prehistoric--that doesn't count," said the Dodo, and the +Doctor brightened up again. + +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!" + +"Oh! here we are, at last," cried the children, hurrying on to the +platform where the animals were all turning out. + +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 +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. + +"Oh--o--o--a--aah!" the children heard him cry, and then he fled, as his +companion had done, leaving the barrier free. + +"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. + +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 Archaeopteryx whispered, impressively, +were "antediluvians." + +[Illustration: "'Sh'sh! A Missionary,' whispered the Dodo, excitedly."] + +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. + +"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 _delicious_! +Let us be friendly to him; he is, no doubt, a very excellent man. + +"My dear Sir," he continued, waddling up to the Missionary, "delighted +to see you looking so well." + +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-- + +"I'm afraid, Sir, you've made a mistake. I--er--I--er--don't remember +your face." + +"Oh, well, it is some time since we met, certainly; but perhaps you know +my friend?" said the Dodo, introducing the Eteraedarium, who came forward +with an engaging grin. + +The poor Missionary gave him a hasty glance through his glasses, and +then, nervously clutching his guide book and umbrella, muttered +something about "an important engagement," and fled in the direction of +the big clock. + +"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." + +[Illustration: "The Dodo was a muff at rowing."] + +So, having met with the Palaeotherium, they all three got into a boat. + +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 into the water; but the +Palaeotherium, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A DIFFICULTY WITH THE ROUNDABOUT. + + +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. + +At the roundabout the steam was up, but there was apparently nobody in +charge. + +"What a pity," said Dick, "I should have liked very much to have gone +around on the horses, wouldn't you, Marjorie?" + +"I should," chimed in Fidge. + +"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." + +"Well, my dear," said the Doctor, when consulted on the subject, "I +don't know much about machinery, but I'll try, if you like." + +"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. + +"Why, we are just discussing the question of setting this roundabout +going," explained the Doctor. + +"Pooh! the easiest thing in the world," said the Dodo. "You just get on, +and I'll soon start you off." + +"All right," cried the Doctor, getting astride one of the horses. + +"Hold on!" cried the Palaeotherium; "let us get on, too." + +And he and several of the others clambered up to their places. + +"I think," whispered Marjorie, nervously, "that we had better wait and +see how they get on, before trying ourselves." + +"That's just like a girl," cried Dick--"afraid of everything." + +"I'm not," replied Marjorie, indignantly; "I'm quite ready to go on, if +you want to--only I thought----" + +"All aboard!" interrupted the Dodo, pulling the lever. + +"Stop! Stop!" shouted Dick; "we want to get on." + +"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. + +"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." + +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-- + +"Oh! Oh! Stop them! They're running away?" + +"Pooh! Nonsense!" cried the Dodo; "don't be a baby." + +"Stop them! Stop them! Help! Help!" screamed the other poor creatures, +as the horses whirled around faster and faster. + +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. + +"Gracious!" cried Marjorie, wringing her hands, "whatever _is_ 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. + +Every now and then the poor Palaeotherium might be heard screaming above +the others, who were all calling out in their fright and alarm. + +The Dodo left the engine, and came and stared at them. + +"H'm!" he ejaculated. "_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." + +"Shoot them!" exclaimed Dick, in a horrified voice. + +"Well, what else is to be done, I should like to know? We can't leave +them here whirling around like that forever." + +"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." + +"Ah! happy thought," said the Dodo, and with all possible speed they set +to work to carry out Dick's suggestion. + +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. + +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. + +The Doctor, weak though he was, was furious. + +"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." + +"I couldn't help it," whimpered the Dodo. "I couldn't, really." + +[Illustration: "'Not any higher, please,' gasped the Dodo."] + +"Bah! I've a great mind never to speak to you again," said the Doctor, +disgustedly. + +The other creatures now came up, and began to abuse the Dodo, too. + +Fortunately, just in time to prevent a general squabble, the +Eteraedarium, 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. + +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 Eteraedarium had hard work to secure a swing for +themselves. + +"Shall I give you a push?" asked the Doctor, kindly, though with a +curious gleam in his eye. + +"Yes, please," said the Dodo, gratefully. + +"All right," said the Doctor. "Hold tight!" And he gave a mighty shove, +sending the swing high above all the others. + +"It's very--very nice," gasped the Dodo, "but don't push any higher, +please." + +"Hold tight," said the Doctor, relentlessly, giving another shove, +harder than before. + +"Oh! please--please d--don't, or we shall be upset," implored the Dodo, +nervously, as the swing shot up into the air. + +"I'll teach you to twizzle me on the roundabout," cried the Doctor, +vindictively. "Will you ever do it again?" + +[Illustration: "Fidge was delighted."] + +"Oh! no, n--no, never!" promised the Dodo. + +"Well, one good one for the last, then," cried the Doctor, giving a +final push, and then leaving the poor Dodo to his fate. + +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 +Palaeotherium in a journey on the switchback. + +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. + +The poor Palaeotherium, 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. + +He had scarcely got out into the grounds again, when he met the +Archaeopteryx, who was carrying a strange-looking object, which he held +up for the Palaeotherium's inspection. + +"Your tail, I believe," he said. + +The Palaeotherium gave a hasty glance at his back, and then said, in +rather a shamefaced way-- + +[Illustration: "Does this belong to you?"] + +"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. + +"Our family," he whispered, "have no tails 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." + +"All right," promised the Archaeopteryx, kindly; "I won't, if you don't +wish me to; but I----" + +"Hist! hist!" interrupted a voice, and the Dodo, with a very scared +face, peeped from behind a tree. "Who _do_ you think is here?" he +gasped. + +"Who?" inquired the others, curiously. + +"The Little Panjandrum himself," declared the Dodo. "I have just caught +sight of him up by the Palace, and he looks _so_ angry about +something." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE LITTLE PANJANDRUM AT LAST. + + +"The Little Panjandrum!" exclaimed Marjorie, "I _shall_ be glad to see +him at last. What is he like?" + +"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." + +"Don't you, indeed?" remarked a voice, sarcastically. "Well, His +Importance is particularly anxious to see _you_ again, anyhow." + +The Dodo gasped, and the children turning around beheld the Little +Panjandrum's Ambassador. + +"Hullo! you here, too?" he continued, when he recognized them. "Well, I +must say, you have been long enough bringing this wretched bird along." + +"I think you ought to be very grateful to us for having done so at all," +said Dick, boldly. "What are you going to do with him now you have got +him?" + +"H'm! that remains to be seen," said the Ambassador, pursing his lips up +tightly, and staring at the Dodo severely. + +[Illustration: "'Come along,' said the Ambassador."] + +"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. + +"Come along, and see your friend the Little Panjandrum." + +"Leave go!" screamed the Dodo, "you hurt." + +"Rubbish!" exclaimed the Ambassador, dragging him along, "it doesn't +hurt _me_!" + +"Oh! oh! I've dropped one of my gloves," cried the Dodo, pathetically. + +"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." + +"They make me look so respectable," whispered the Dodo. + +"Respectable!" said the Ambassador, contemptuously; "nothing would make +_you_ respectable--you ridiculous object, you." + +"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." + +"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. + +The children all eagerness to see the Little 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. + +The sound of the drum drew nearer, and the children could distinguish +another sound mingling with it. + +The Ambassador smiled blandly, while he kept time with his foot. + +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. + +"Obbly--bobblee--wallee--bobbel--ob," said the Ambassador, bowing three +times, and dragging the Dodo's head down with him each time. + +"Flop!" replied the Little Panjandrum, and the two musicians fell on +their faces. + +"Um--sopelee--gumbos--galapaloo--glab," remarked the Ambassador. + +"Ploff!" said the Little Panjandrum, and the black slave at the back +jigged the State Umbrella up and down several times very violently. + +[Illustration: The Panjandrum and suite passed along.] + +"What a funny language," whispered Marjorie. "I wonder what they are +talking about?" + +"Semlifee--dobbel--bingle--bingle--boff," cried the Ambassador, lifting +up one leg, while the Dodo painfully followed his example. + +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. + +The children were highly interested in this proceeding, when the +Ambassador, without speaking, motioned them to stand on one leg each, +too. + +"Come on, let's do it," said Dick, "and see what they are going to do." + +So the three children solemnly hopped upon one foot, too. + +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. + +"Ough!" said the Ambassador, in a disgusted voice. "Of course, _you_ +must needs spoil it all. Most disrespectful behavior to the Little +Panjandrum, I call it." + +"I couldn't help it," gasped the Dodo, apologetically. + +"Oh, of course not," said the Ambassador. "A bad excuse is better than +none." + +"Well, _I_ couldn't have kept it up much longer," declared Marjorie; +"could you, Dick?" + +"No," said Dick; "I can't think what we are doing it at all for." + +"Court etiquette demands it," said the Ambassador, importantly. "Hush! +His Importance is about to speak." + +"Gobloblee! grabluff!" said the Little Panjandrum. + +"Go on, Dodo," said the Ambassador. "_Gobloblee, grabluff_, at once when +His Importance tells you." + +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. + +"Again," said the Ambassador. + +The Dodo, looking very dejected, gave the Umbrella another twirl. This +time it stopped at the words "Hard labor." + +The Dodo groaned. + +"Once more!" shouted the Ambassador. + +For the third time the unlucky bird spun the Umbrella round, and this +time it stopped at "Fine." + +"How much, your Importance?" asked the Ambassador of the Little +Panjandrum. + +"_Cablofechee!_" was the reply. + +"Your gloves are forfeited," declared the Ambassador. + +The Dodo gave a despairing glance at the children, and began to remove +his one glove. + +"What's he being tried for?" asked Dick, in a whisper. + +"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." + +"Dumflopety--golopegee--gal--popo--sum--delopotomex," remarked the +Little Panjandrum, as he walked away, escorted by his retinue. + +"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." + +The Ambassador followed after the Little Panjandrum, and the children +gathered around the poor Dodo, full of sympathy for his misfortunes. + +[Illustration: "'Go it, Dodo!' cried the Palaeotherium."] + +"Have they gone?" whispered the Prehistoric Doctor, coming forward from +behind a bush, behind which he had been hiding. + +"Yes," said Marjorie. "Isn't it a shame the poor Dodo should always be +getting into hot water?" + +"Never mind," said the Doctor; "I've found something that will make him +happy. Look here!" + +The Dodo raised himself up from the ground, and gave an inquiring glance +at the Doctor who held out a pair of boxing-gloves. + +"Oh! what beauties!" said the Dodo. "How fat they are! Are they for me?" + +"Yes, if you would like them," said the Doctor. "I have a pair, too. +Let's try a round together--shall we?" + +"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. + +The Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, 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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +TURNED TO STONE. + + +"Good gracious! what's that?" inquired the Dodo, as the screams +continued. + +"We'd better go and see," said Dick, practically running off in the +direction of the lake, followed by the others. + +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. + +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. + +They were looking at the Little Panjandrum with a mild surprise, and +seemed quite at a loss to know what all the hullabaloo was about. + +[Illustration: The Little Panjandrum and suite are alarmed.] + +"Gulla--hubly--olla--bolee!" shouted the Little Panjandrum, pointing to +the animals with his umbrella. + +"Oh, they're all right, your Importance," said the Dodo; "they are +friends of mine." + +"Friends, indeed!" exclaimed the Ambassador, coming from where he had +been hiding behind a tree. "Pretty friends! What do you call the +creatures?" + +"Oh, there's the Archaeopteryx, you know, and the Eteraedarium, and the +Palaeo----" + +"Stop! stop!" interrupted the Ambassador, as each of the animals +mentioned bowed gravely. "I absolutely decline to know creatures with +names like _those_. 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 _them_ 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. + +"You didn't tell me you had all these hideous objects with you," +continued the Ambassador, addressing the Dodo. + +"I thought you knew," stammered the unlucky bird; "they are prehistoric, +you know," he added, apologetically. + +[Illustrastion: There was some consolation, he was allowed to wear his +gloves.] + +"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 frightened them +away, that's what it is. And you're to blame as much as anybody for +bringing them here." + +"I didn't!" gasped the Dodo. + +"You did," said the Ambassador, emphatically. "You said they were your +friends; so they _must_ 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. + +The poor Dodo looked the picture of misery as the Umbrella was put into +his hand. + +"M--may I have m--my gloves?" he whimpered. + +The Ambassador, after considering a minute, gave his consent, on the +score that it _might_ improve his appearance, and caused the black +attendant to hunt for the missing one, which had been thrown down on +the ground near to the roundabout. + +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. + +"I'll go now and settle the others," declared the Ambassador. "What did +you say their names were?" he inquired, sternly, of the Dodo. + +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. + +"Go and see what he does to them," whispered the Dodo, referring to the +Ambassador and the creatures. + +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. + +[Illustration: "In the name of the Panjandrum, I command you."] + +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. + +"All you Palaeotheriums, Eteraedariums, Archaeopteryx, Megatheriums, +Pleisiosauruses, Ichthyosauruses, and other prehistoric wretches, in the +name of the Panjandrum, I command you--_be turned into stone_." + +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. + +The children were very much alarmed, and ran back to the Dodo, and in a +hurried whisper informed him of what had occurred. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE DODO'S LITTLE RUSE. + + +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. + +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-- + +"Olla--balloo--calle--gablob?" + +There was not the slightest movement on the part of the bird, and just +then the Ambassador returned. + +"Hullo! What's the trouble?" he cried, staring at the Dodo. + +"Gablobbee--balloo--olla--wobble!" said the Little Panjandrum, +excitedly. + +"What!" exclaimed the Ambassador, "something gone wrong with the Dodo? +Here, what's the matter with you?" he continued, giving the bird a +shake. + +The Dodo didn't budge an inch, but continued in the same position, his +eyes fixed in a stony stare. + +"I can't think what's wrong with him," declared the Ambassador, with a +puzzled expression on his face. + +"Perhaps he's turned into stone, like the others," suggested Dick, +mischievously. + +"Ah!" said the Ambassador, clapping his hand to his forehead in a +dramatic manner; "_that's_ what it is, depend upon it. Good gracious! +_how_ unfortunate. Let's see, what did I say when pronouncing the +spell?" + +"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." + +"H'm! Then _he_ 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. + +"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. + +[Illustration: The Dodo was rigid, motionless.] + +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. + +"As he is turned into stone," said he, "we have only to find a pedestal +to put him on, and there we are." + +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. + +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. + +"There must be an inscription," said the Ambassador, and, rummaging +about in his pockets, he brought forth a piece of black crayon. "THE +DODO, NOW FORTUNATELY EXTINCT," he wrote in large letters, and then +stood back to admire the effect. + +[Illustrastion: The Dodo's Monument.] + +The Little Panjandrum beamed approval, and calling together his suite, +the Black Attendant 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 cortege 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. + +Turning around, they beheld the Dodo holding his hands to his sides, and +shaking with suppressed laughter. + +"Ho! ho! ho!" he laughed, dancing about on the pedestal, "haven't I +tricked them beautifully? _Turned to stone! The Dodo, now fortunately +extinct!_ Ha! ha! ha! he! he! _what_ 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. + +"I think I've got the best of them _this_ time," he continued, +triumphantly. + +"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." + +"But, I say, what are we going to do for money?" said Dick. "One can't +get to London without that, you know." + +"Oh, we'll find a way somehow," said the Dodo, hopefully. "Come along." + +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. + +"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-- + +"Here we are again, you see!" + +The Missionary started nervously, and peered at the Dodo through his +glasses. + +"Oh--er--how do you do?" he cried, hurriedly, giving a rather startled +glance all round him. "Are your other friends with you?" + +[Illustration:"'You're very good,' said the Dodo."] + +"Oh, you mean the Eteraedarium, and the Palaeotherium. No--they--er, +they've met with a rather nasty accident. They've been turned into +stone." + +"Bless me!" exclaimed the Missionary, looking greatly concerned. "You +don't say so! What an extraordinary thing to happen. I had no idea that +there were any petrifying waters hereabouts." + +"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." + +"My dear Sir," said the Missionary, generously taking out his purse, +"can I be of any assistance to you?" + +"It's very kind of you," said the Dodo. + +"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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FIRST CLASS TO LONDON. + + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +"What does he mean?" asked Dick. + +"What class you're in at school, I suppose," said the Dodo, doubtfully. + +"Why, I'm in the fourth form," said Dick; "but I don't see what he wants +to know _that_ 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 +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." + +So the Dodo went back to the booking-office again and inquired, "Do +birds travel half-price?" + +"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?" + +"Oh, there's only one," said the Dodo. + +"Take it in the carriage with you, no charge," said the Clerk. + +"Thanks! It's awfully kind of you," said the Dodo. "I'll take three +half-tickets for London, then, please." + +"First class?" inquired the Clerk. + +"No! Fourth form, please," said the Dodo. + +"You mean fourth _class_, I suppose," said the Clerk, laughing; "but +there _is_ no fourth class, you know. First, second, or third." + +"Oh! then I'll have third; I suppose that's the best?" cried the Dodo. + +[Illustration: "You can't take that into the carriage with you."] + +"No," explained the Clerk, "first class is best." + +"What a funny arrangement," said the Dodo. "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?" + +"There's one due in directly," said the Clerk. "Down the steps on the +right." + +And the Dodo, collecting his change, and grasping his tickets, marched +off towards the barrier. + +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. + +"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. + +Meanwhile the Dodo and the children, finding no one at the barrier to +obstruct them, went down to the platform, and a moment later the train +came dashing into the station. + +"First class in the middle of the train," shouted Dick, grasping Fidge's +hand, and hurrying down the platform. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Parrot, indeed!" shouted the bird, indignantly. "Perhaps you haven't +noticed my gloves and necktie?" + +The Guard smiled indulgently. "Talks well, Sir," he said to Dick, "but +you can't take _that_ into the carriage with you, you know. Better put +him in the van." + +[Illustration: All crowded around, anxious to catch a glimpse.] + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +They all crowded round to look at the pictures, and presently the Dodo +exclaimed, excitedly-- + +"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 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. + +"But do you know how to do typewriting?" asked Dick, dubiously. + +"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." + +"How much do you think the salary will be?" asked Marjorie. + +"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." + +"But how are we to get to Norfolk Street, Strand?" persisted Marjorie. +"We don't know where it is." + +"Father said, that if we were ever lost, we were to jump into a cab, and +ask to be driven to wherever we wanted to go," suggested Dick, +practically. + +[Illustration: "Kept the cabby highly amused."] + +"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 situation, +till at last the train stopped, and the Porter shouted out, "Victoria!" + +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. + +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. + +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 naive 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE DODO OBLIGES WITH A SONG. + + +"Hold hard! Stop! Here we are!" cried the Dodo, soon after they had +reached Charing Cross. "There's A. B. C." + +"We haven't got to Norfolk Street yet," said the cabby. + +"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. + +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, 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. + +"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. + +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. + +"Are you A. B. C.?" demanded the Dodo, posing in what he evidently took +to be a dignified attitude. + +"N--no--second floor!" gasped the astonished attendant. + +"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." + +"Oh!" said the man, "you'd better go up; there are several applicants +already." + +"Bless me!" cried the Dodo, in alarm. "I'd better hurry then." + +"Will you go up in the lift--er--Sir?" asked the attendant. + +"What's that?" demanded the Dodo. + +"Oh, get in, and you'll see," said the man, unceremoniously, pushing the +bird into the lift, and getting in after him. + +He pulled the rope, and up they went, the Dodo sinking to the ground +with a ridiculous sprawl as the lift ascended. + +"Oh! Oh! Stop!" he screamed, shrilly. + +But the lift went till the second floor was reached, when the attendant +opened the door, and bundled the bird out into the passage. + +"Second door on the left," he called out, and, pulling the string, was +soon out of sight again. + +"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." + +The second door on the left was soon found, and the Dodo knocked with +his beak. + +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!" + +"No," said the Dodo, with dignity, "not a lark--your education must have +been sadly neglected, my good boy--I'm a Dodo, or _the_ Dodo, in fact." + +"Well, I never!" said the boy, "if it isn't talking!" + +"Of course. Why not?" demanded the Dodo. + +"Oh! oh! this is too good! What may your business be, Mr.--er--Dodo?" + +"I've come about the situation," said the bird, smoothing his gloves +consequentially. + +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. + +"Who is it, Perkins?" said one of the gentlemen. + +"Some one about the situation, Sir," said Perkins, stuffing his +handkerchief into his mouth to prevent himself laughing aloud. + +The gentlemen all turned around and stared at the Dodo. + +"Why, it's a bird!" cried one. + +"Of course it is; what else did you expect I was?" said the Dodo. "Are +you A. B. C.?" + +"No--no," stammered the man. "I'm the Head Clerk, though, and--I----" + +"I've no time to waste with Head Clerks," said the Dodo. "Just go and +tell A. B. C. I'm here, will you?" + +"But er----" + +At this moment an inner door opened, and another gentleman stepped into +the room. + +"Whatever is all this noise----" he began, when he caught sight of the +Dodo. + +[Illustration: "Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e"] + +"Are you A. B. C.?" said the bird, pouncing upon him at once. + +"Well--really," said the gentleman, "I----" + +"Don't beat about the bush. Are you A. B. C., or are you not?" demanded +the Dodo. + +"Yes, I am, but----" + +"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." + +"But," said the gentleman, with an amused smile, "I must see some of +your work first. Perkins, bring the typewriter!" + +The boy brought the instrument, and placed it on a small table. + +"Now, then," said the gentleman, motioning the Dodo towards it. + +"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-- + +"_Do--o--o not--a--for--r--r--get m--e--e--e_!" banging on the keys at +the same time with both pinions. + +"Here! Stop! Stop!" called out the gentleman; "you'll break it! _That's_ +not the way to do typewriting." + +"No?" said the Dodo, innocently. "I thought it was a kind of piano. I +was singing to you, you know." + +"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?" + +The Dodo, who during the first part of the speech looked very +crestfallen, brightened up considerably. + +"Yes, I should think that would do," he said; "I'll just go and ask the +others." + +"What others?" demanded the gentleman. + +And the Dodo explained about Marjorie, and Dick, and Fidge, who had been +waiting in the cab all this time. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE DODO DEPARTS. + + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 father and mother +know that you are here. I expect they must be very anxious about you by +this time." + +[Illustration: "'Oh, Papa! Papa!' cried Marjorie."] + +"Dear me!" exclaimed Dick, looking greatly troubled, "that's another +thing we never thought of, Marjorie." + +"I want to see my Daddy!" announced Fidge, suddenly and decidedly. + +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. + +In the middle of the day some luncheon was brought in for them from a +neighboring restaurant, and soon afterwards the clothes arrived. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: The Dodo was moved to tears.] + +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 the gentleman's arms, crying +excitedly, "Oh, Papa! Papa!" just as she had done. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed the children's father, drawing back in +dismay, and gazing at the clumsy bird. "What on earth is this?" + +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. + +It had been decided, despite the children's pleading, that the Dodo had +better _not_ 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 children had gone I have +never been able quite to find out. + +It _is_ 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. + +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, on the island of the lake at the Crystal Palace, _all the curious +animals which the Ambassador is said to have turned into stone, are +really there_--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 Palaeotherium's tail really looks as if it were +broken off, about four or five inches from the end; and decidedly as +though he _might_ have worn a false one while he was alive. + + +THE END. + + + + * * * * * * + + + +A. L. Burt's Catalogue of Books for Young People by Popular Writers, +52-58 Duane Street, New York + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Joe's Luck: A Boy's Adventures in California. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Tom the Bootblack; or, The Road to Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Dan the Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + + 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. + +Tony the Hero: A Brave Boy's Adventure with a Tramp. By Horatio Alger, +Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Tom Temple's Career. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00. + + 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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Tom Thatcher's Fortune. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Train Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + + 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. + +Mark Mason's Victory. The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +A Debt of Honor. The Story of Gerald Lane's Success in the Far West. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Ben Bruce. Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Castaways; or, On the Florida Reefs. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Wrecked on Spider Island; or, How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Search for the Silver City: A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +A Runaway Brig; or, An Accidental Cruise. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Treasure Finders: A Boy's Adventures in Nicaragua. By James Otis. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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." + +Jack, the Hunchback. A Story of the Coast of Maine. By James Otis. Price +$1.00. + + 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. + +With Washington at Monmouth: A Story of Three Philadelphia Boys. By +James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price +$1.50. + + 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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +With Lafayette at Yorktown: A Story of How Two Boys Joined the +Continental Army. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, +illustrated, price $1.50. + + 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. + +At the Siege of Havana. Being the Experiences of Three Boys Serving +under Israel Putnam in 1762. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, +olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + + "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. + + 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. + +The Defense of Fort Henry. A Story of Wheeling Creek in 1777. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + + 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. + +The Capture of the Laughing Mary. A Story of Three New York Boys in +1776. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. + + "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. + +With Warren at Bunker Hill. A Story of the Siege of Boston. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + + "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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +With the Swamp Fox. The Story of General Marion's Spies. By James Otis. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +On the Kentucky Frontier. A Story of the Fighting Pioneers of the West. +By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1. + + 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. + +Sarah Dillard's Ride. A Story of South Carolina in 1780. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +A Tory Plot. A Story of the Attempt to Kill General Washington. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "'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. + +A Traitor's Escape. A Story of the Attempt to Seize Benedict Arnold. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +A Cruise with Paul Jones. A Story of Naval Warfare in 1776. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Corporal Lige's Recruit. A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +Morgan, the Jersey Spy. A Story of the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. By +James Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +The Young Scout: The Story of a West Point Lieutenant. By Edward S. +Ellis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Adrift in the Wilds: The Adventures of Two Shipwrecked Boys. By Edward +S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +A Young Hero; or, Fighting to Win. By Edward S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Lost in the Rockies. A Story of Adventure in the Rocky Mountains. By +Edward S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1. + + 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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 53-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +A Jaunt Through Java: The Story of a Journey to the Sacred Mountain. By +Edward S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Boy Patriot. A Story of Jack, the Young Friend of Washington. By +Edward S. Ellis. 12mo, cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + + "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. + +A Yankee Lad's Pluck. How Bert Larkin Saved his Father's Ranch in Porto +Rico. By Wm. P. Chipman. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + "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. + +A Brave Defense. A Story of the Massacre at Fort Griswold in 1781. By +William P. Chipman. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Young Minuteman. A Story of the Capture of General Prescott in 1777. +By William P. Chipman. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +For the Temple: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. By G. A. Henty. With +illustrations by S. J. Solomon. 12mo, cloth, olivine edges, price $1.00. + + "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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + * * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Roy Gilbert's Search: A Tale of the Great Lakes. By Wm. P. Chipman. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Slate Picker: The Story of a Boy's Life in the Coal Mines. By Harry +Prentice. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +The Boy Cruisers; or, Paddling in Florida. By St. George Rathborne. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Captured by Zulus: A Story of Trapping in Africa. By Harry Prentice. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Tom the Ready; or, Up from the Lowest. By Randolph Hill. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +Captain Kidd's Gold: The True Story of an Adventurous Sailor Boy. By +James Franklin Fitts. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + + 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. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE*** + + +******* This file should be named 23541.txt or 23541.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/5/4/23541 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |