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-8859-1 ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK, MARJORIE AND FIDGE*** E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) 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 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 A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER, 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK LINK TO TITLE PAGE IMAGE 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 I. The Beginning of a Marvelous 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 Archæopteryx. 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. 206 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. "The waves were flowing into the room." "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. 1 2 3 4 5 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.” "A rope ladder was let down." "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.” 6 7 8 9 10 11 “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 ιMidsummer 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.” "Four extraordinary figures came in sight." "Four extraordinary figures came in sight." 12 13 14 15 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. "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 16 17 18 19 20 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. "Dick suddenly shot up to the height of over six feet." “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?” “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. 21 22 23 24 “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 will 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. "He was about twice as wide as he was high." "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. 25 26 27 28 29 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. "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, 30 31 32 33 34 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 35 36 37 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——” "The gossiping goose." "The gossiping goose." “Is it one of Æsop’s?” asked Dick, who thought that it would look grand for him to have heard of Æsop’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, 38 39 40 41 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. "They were crying bitterly." "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. "Produced a large document and began to read." "Produced a large document and began to read." 42 43 44 45 “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?” 46 47 48 49 “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. "The chair was floating just in front of them." "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.” 50 51 52 53 54 “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. "'Bring them forward,' said the king of the fishes." "'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 55 56 57 58 59 60