Dick, Marjorie and Fidge: A Search for the Wonderful Dodo

in as loud a whisper as she dared, fearing lest she should awaken the rest of the household. There was a scuf

up?" he

s such a funny sound down-stairs-

in the morning.

yhow, and hark, there's something keeps bangi

mysterious noise going on below,-a dull banging at regular intervals, and a cu

e what's up!" sa

ittle curly-headed apparition came running ou

into bed again, F

rs!" declared Fidge, pushing past

g after him; but with a saucy and defiant

r the banisters, "It's all d

ried down and leaned

h tide, and the house is flooded. Come on, this is rippin

ng ankle deep in water, the children soon rea

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 comp

re flowing in

en Fidge, with a delighted exclamation cried, "I want a ride

example; and in a moment all three children

used as a punting pole, and soon had the tab

made a capital upper deck, and Marjorie settled herself very comfortably upon it, after Dick had rigged up what he was

taking a part in the management of the craft, and so Dick made him

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

re's an old turkey on

eed, any bird with which they were familiar, but a most curious-looking creature. It

as gloves on!" cr

eck," chimed in Fidge, his e

the bird, as it came

Why it can talk,

an," answered the bi

talk, except parrots," added

f the chair; "I hate 'em-nasty, showy, pretentious, ill-bred cr

bird are you, th

the creature, with

," said Dick. "I read it

s lovely being extinct," he added, c

ious, no,"

r?" whispered Marjorie, who d

ick. "Anyhow, they say a volcano

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 o

sea on that chai

Ichthyosaurus at the Equator at noon, so I must be off. Good-by. Oh! while I think of it, though, if you do come

d out Dick, as the Dodo

he reply; "you are pretty sure

-jan-de-lum," announced Fidge,

hildren 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,

ards a crowd of the funniest little people

ars!" cried Dick. "Ju

else Gnomes!" declared Marjorie, who

a superior air; "there are

adder was

le people from the cave. "Come u

rie, clapping her hands; "

get up there," said Dick, dubio

d the little people.

afterwards a rope ladder was let down, and one or tw

next, repeating over and over, with a delighted chuckle, "We are goi