This was rather puzzling, and Girlie had to think some time before replying; at last, however, she said decidedly, “Oh, I know; of course there will be a chest washed ashore presently, with all kinds of tools and guns in it, and another one with ship’s biscuits and tinned meats; that is what always happens in the story books. I expect we shall find them here when we’ve done exploring the island. Come along.” And Girlie led the way through the bushes and trees, which grew so close together that they had some difficulty in getting along, especially the Bathing-machine Woman, who, as you will remember, was rather stout. At last, however, they came to an opening and could see a sandy desert stretching before them apparently for miles, for they could only just catch a faint glimpse of the sea sparkling in the sunlight on the further side of the island.
“Well, this is a rum-looking place to come to,” said the Ancient Mariner as he viewed the scene.
“H’m! there don’t seem to be many shops about,” said the Bathing-machine Woman, “and I hate a place without shops, it’s so dull. I don’t think I shall stop here,” she said (though she didn’t say how she was going to get away).
“I wonder what that thing over there is?” said Girlie, shading her eyes and looking at what seemed to be a very curiously-shaped rock about half a mile away.
“Let’s go and see, your Majesty,” suggested the Wallypug.
This seemed to be the only thing to do, so they all set out through the sand, which was most uncomfortable for walking in. On drawing nearer to it, they could see that the curiously-shaped rock was really a Sphinx carved out of stone. To Girlie’s great surprise, the Crow, to whom she had lent her pocket-handkerchief, was perched up beside it reading a newspaper, stuck up in front of him.
“Well, I never, if it isn’t the Pig,” he said, turning his head and staring at her through his spectacles, “and the Wallypug, I do declare. Why, I’ve just been reading about you both in The Daily Whyer; look here,” and he held out the paper for them to see.
“PERCHED UP BESIDE IT READING A NEWSPAPER.”
Girlie took it from him and read in large letters, “Mysterious disappearance of the Wallypug and the Human Noun, last seen making mud pies on the sea shore.”