And with his beak once more buried in his book the bird from the west moved slowly upward toward the roof to finally disappear at that point where the pole passed through to the skies.
“What an odd individual,” said Puma. “I wish he had talked more. I warrant he could tell a lot of fine stories.”
“And we didn’t even learn his name!” exclaimed Emu.
“We must ask the Pretty Lady about him,” said Lion.
“Isn’t it fine that she’s coming to-morrow,” cried Zebra. “Perhaps she will tell us another story.”
“No doubt she will,” put in Diggeldy Dan. “But now our twilight’s last moments have come so we will bid one another farewell till to-morrow. And at the sign of the Petal Watch we will gather again to be ready to greet our golden-haired guest when she comes with her prancing steed from out of the west.”
CHAPTER XVIII
IN WHICH THE PRETTY LADY CARRIES A PASSENGER INTO THE WIDE WIDE WORLD
“Come come, now!” cried Lion, as he hurried about with all the bustle and importance of the grand marshal of some holiday parade, “into line with you! No, no; not that way—in two lines. Just as we do when we play at London Bridge. There! That’s more like it.”
It was on the evening following that which had brought the message from the Pretty Lady with the Blue-Blue Eyes and the great menagerie tent was agog with excitement. Under the guidance of Lion all the animals of Spangleland were placing themselves in a manner befitting the approach of the expected guest. Thus the greater part of them were arranged in two long, parallel rows; though there were others who grouped themselves at the head and the foot of the line. These included Giraffe and his family who were stationed at the top; Monkey and his folks who stood at the end of it; and—Diggeldy Dan.
Meantime Lion continued to give instructions, and just as he had finished there came the sound of a neigh through the twilight, followed by a silvery laugh of a voice well remembered. Next the canvas wall gave a billowing bulge and then opened and closed quite like the curtains in a Punch and Judy theater. And there, standing before them, was the White-White Horse carrying the one for whom they all waited.