“Hold on a moment,” said the Kangaroo. “It’s his turn to pull, you know.”
“Of course, of course,” said the Ape, getting into the vehicle; “put him in the shafts!”
“What do you mean?” I expostulated.
“Your turn to pull the rickshaw, you know; we always take turns, and as I have been dragging it for some time it’s your turn now.”
“But I’m not going to pull that thing with you two animals in it. I never heard of such a thing,” I declared.
“Who are you calling an animal?” demanded the Kangaroo, sulkily. “You’re one yourself, aren’t you?”
“Well, I suppose I am,” I admitted. “But I’m not going to draw that thing, all the same.”
“Oh, get in, get in; don’t make a fuss. I suppose I shall have to take a turn myself,” said Oom Hi, grasping the handles, and the Kangaroo and myself having taken our seats we were soon traveling down the road. The Kangaroo turned out to be a very pleasant companion after all, and when he found out that I came from England told me all about his brother, who was a professional boxer, and had been to London and made his fortune as the Boxing Kangaroo. He was quite delighted when I told him that I had seen notices of his performance in the papers. We soon came in sight of a walled city, which Oom Hi, turning around, informed me was Why. And on reaching the gate he gave the rickshaw in charge of an old turtle, who came waddling up, and each of the animals taking one of my arms, I was led in triumph through the city gates to the Wallypug’s palace, several creatures, including a motherly-looking goose and a little gosling, taking a lively interest in my progress, while a giraffe in a very high collar craned his neck through a port-hole to try and get a glimpse of us as we passed under the portcullis.