United States or Curaçao ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"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.
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.
I don't think that it could have been a very dreadful one, however, for a few minutes later he had joined the three children and the Palæotherium in a journey on the switchback. 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.
So, when the Dodo, having put on one glove, strutted away to show off before the Archæopteryx, leaving the other one behind him, Dick quickly picked it up and put it on himself, then calling to aid the power which the Panjandrum's Ambassador had given him of being able to make himself whatever size he wished, he cried, "I wish to be as big as the biggest giant that ever lived," and immediately became so tall that the Palæotherium and the Eterædarium, who were standing near, fled in dismay, while Marjorie and Fidge looked up with the greatest of admiration to their now big big brother.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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!"
Word Of The Day