“All you Palæotheriums, Eterædariums, Archæopteryx, Megatheriums, Pleisiosauruses, Ichthyosauruses, and other prehistoric wretches, in the name of the Panjandrum, I command you—be turned into stone.”
When the Ambassador uttered these terrible words a most singular thing happened. In whatever attitude the creatures were they remained so; and gradually each assumed a stony and lifeless expression, and the spell or incantation which the Ambassador had pronounced had evidently taken effect.
The children were very much alarmed, and ran back to the Dodo, and in a hurried whisper informed him of what had occurred.
“Turned all the prehistoric animals into stone, has he?” said the bird, gleefully; “then I can see a splendid way out of my troubles. Wait till the Ambassador returns, and you will see some capital fun.” And the Dodo struck a rigid attitude, and remained in that position, totally disregarding the questions with which the children plied him.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE DODO”S LITTLE RUSE.
The State Umbrella, which the Dodo had been carrying, fell to the ground with a crash, and so startled the Little Panjandrum that he jumped to his feet and nervously tried to run away. The chains, however, by which the Dodo was attached to his girdle, prevented him from doing so.
The bird, with his beak in the air, and his gloves extended in a most grotesque attitude, was immovable and rigid as stone. Not a muscle moved, and the Little Panjandrum, after staring at him a moment, called out, angrily—