“Oh, stop that noise,” said the Ambassador, giving the Dodo’s wool a twist; “I’m ashamed of you. Ah, here comes His Importance,” he continued, as the sound of a drum was heard in the distance.
The children all eagerness to see the Little Panjandrum, stood in a line by the side of the pathway, while the Ambassador, keeping a firm hold on the Dodo, remained by their side.
The sound of the drum drew nearer, and the children could distinguish another sound mingling with it.
The Ambassador smiled blandly, while he kept time with his foot.
Presently the children caught sight of a curious procession approaching. The Little Panjandrum, a little fat man in Oriental costume, was preceded by two attendants—one playing a kind of drum, and the other a jew’s harp, while a third attendant held an enormous umbrella over His Importance’s head. On the top of the umbrella were a number of curious signs, of which the children could not possibly imagine the meaning.
“Obbly—bobblee—wallee—bobbel—ob,” said the Ambassador, bowing three times, and dragging the Dodo’s head down with him each time.
“Flop!” replied the Little Panjandrum, and the two musicians fell on their faces.
“Um—sopelee—gumbos—galapaloo—glab,” remarked the Ambassador.
“Ploff!” said the Little Panjandrum, and the black slave at the back jigged the State Umbrella up and down several times very violently.