Coppertop flew nearer. “Is it asleep, or only pretending?” she muttered, and breaking off a large twig, she threw it at the monster. But he never stirred.
Then she came to the ground, and, picking up a large stone, she flew up with it and dropped it on to his forehead. But still he never moved an eyelid.
Perhaps he was only pretending, and would snap at her suddenly, as soon as she was within reach. But in spite of her fears she flew down and touched him with a trembling finger.
Nothing happened.
Growing bolder, she crept up and placed her ear against his side, and listened.
As she did so she heard a small voice say, “Wake up! Wake up, Kiddi! Something has happened! I can’t hear the old chap’s heart beating at all! And we’ve come to a full stop!”
“’Es, so we must have!” she heard Kiddiwee say, sleepily.
“Isn’t he simply too dear for words?” she cried out, forgetting the crocodile in her excitement. “I shall almost squeedge him to nothing when I see him. But how shall I let them know I’m here?”
With a trembling hand, she tapped three times on the side of the crusty, carnivorous crocodile. And, to her joy, she heard a faint tap, tap, tap, in reply.
“But that’s not much use unless they can find a way out, is it?” thought Coppertop.