“Why don’t you go back by sea?” inquired the Crow of the Ancient Mariner and the Bathing-machine Woman.
“I only wish we could,” replied the Ancient Mariner; “only we have lost our horse.”
“Why, he swam ashore soon after you all landed; I saw him,” said the Crow. “I daresay he is somewhere over by the cart now.”
They decided that the best thing to do would be to hunt for him, and so they all got out of the balloon and went over to where they had left the cart. They soon found the old horse quietly grazing on the grass under the trees. He seemed quite pleased to see his master again and neighed delightedly when they fastened him into the shafts.
The sea had become quite calm once more, and Girlie almost wished that she was going back with them in the cart, which they watched floating away on the water, the Bathing-machine Woman waving her handkerchief till they were out of sight. The Royal Microscopist, the Wallypug and Girlie then hurried back to the balloon and, climbing up into the car, they succeeded in getting the anchor loose, and were soon rising rapidly up into the air, the Crow perching in the ropes over their heads.
CHAPTER XIII
WHAT HAPPENED AT WHY.
“OH! this is lovely!” cried Girlie, as the Balloon rose higher and higher, till the island with the solitary Sphinx on it looked a mere speck in the sea below them. “Will it take us long to get home?” she asked, after they had been floating along for some time.
“Oh no, not long,” replied the Royal Microscopist. “What shall we do to pass away the time?”