Between my fuzzy humps,
And try to step most softly o’er
The lumpy, bumpy-bumps.”
“Oh, I do believe that’s our camel!” cried Mary, in delight.
“I’m sure it is,” said Tommy.
“And I’m glad it is,” added Johnny, for now he was as hungry as his brother, and wanted to get home to supper.
“Avast and belay there!” called the sailor, in his jolly voice. “Are you the camel which the kind elephant was to send to take the Trippertrots and me back home?”
“I am that very self-same individual and particular camel,” was the answer, for, you see, the camel could talk just like the elephant, only not so much through his nose. And then he came closer, and my! how big and tall he was! and what a long, funny curve there was to his neck. But what the children liked best of all was to see on his back, between his humps, a little house, with long, soft, warm red curtains all around it, and inside a red lamp was burning, and it looked just as nice and warm and cosy as it could be.
“Oh, won’t we have fun going home in that!” cried Tommy.
“Won’t we just, though!” said Johnny, jumping up and down.