While the King had been talking, the children had crept behind the cloud curtain to try and see the Dog Star. Bobtail had leaned out so far that he lost his balance, and would have surely gone to join Sneezer, had not one of the King’s footmen grabbed him by his short tail.
As it was now late, the Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Gray-Squirrels, after thanking the King for his kindness, said good-by, and the cloud curtain being drawn back, the King of the Moon gazed down once more upon the sleeping earth.
The Island of Mars
Chapter VI
Early next morning, as soon as the sun had risen and the King of the Moon had gone to bed, the Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Gray-Squirrels went on board the airship, and sailed off toward the Island of Mars. The children begged Captain Hawk to stop at the Dog Star and see Sneezer, but neither Mr. Bunnikins nor Mr. Gray-Squirrel was willing to, as they were both very much afraid of dogs.
After several days of cloud fogs and contrary winds, they arrived at the great Island of Mars. As they came near the shore, they were astonished to see two squatty little men walking about on their heads with their heels in the air. No sooner had Bobtail and Ruddy Squirrel landed, than they scampered off to look at the funny men. When they came near them, however, they were walking on their feet. They told Bobtail that they could walk as easily on one end as the other, and so by changing they never were tired.
