On the opposite side of the path stood a few of the prehistoric creatures which accompanied the children on their excursion to the Crystal Palace.
They were looking at the Little Panjandrum with a mild surprise, and seemed quite at a loss to know what all the hullabaloo was about.
The Little Panjandrum and suite are alarmed.
“Gulla—hubly—olla—bolee!” shouted the Little Panjandrum, pointing to the animals with his umbrella.
“Oh, they’re all right, your Importance,” said the Dodo; “they are friends of mine.”
“Friends, indeed!” exclaimed the Ambassador, coming from where he had been hiding behind a tree. “Pretty friends! What do you call the creatures?”
“Oh, there’s the Archæopteryx, you know, and the Eterædarium, and the Palæo——”
“Stop! stop!” interrupted the Ambassador, as each of the animals mentioned bowed gravely. “I absolutely decline to know creatures with names like those. I’m sure they are not respectable, and I’m not at all sure, even now, that they are not dangerous; however, I shall know how to deal with them presently. The penalty for alarming the Little Panjandrum is a very severe one.” And he frowned very sternly at the creatures, who looked rather uncomfortable, and waddled off in the direction of the lake, whispering together in a decidedly scared way.