CHAPTER XV.
THE EXECUTION OF THE DODO.
“Let us pretend,” suggested the Palæotherium, “that the Dodo is dead. They will readily imagine that the shock has been too much for him, and, of course, being dead, there will be no necessity to execute him.”
“He—he—he! Very nice indeed. A capital arrangement!” giggled a voice over the children’s shoulder; and, turning round, they beheld the Executioner, who had apparently overheard everything that had been said.
“Bother!” remarked the Palæotherium; “now I shall have to invent some other way.”
“I can’t think,” said the Executioner, who had removed his mask, and who the children discovered to be a very amiable-looking gentleman—“I can’t think why you are making all this fuss about the execution.”
“Well, how would you like it yourself?” asked the Dodo, indignantly.
“I shouldn’t mind in the least,” remarked the Executioner, coolly.
“Not mind being killed!” shuddered the children.