| [CHAPTER II.] See Fishy-Winkle drive in state Across the shining sand; With Yama-Guchi yoked in front, A Twin on either hand! But soon each weary back is humped, And bowed each jetty pate; For Fishy, though he looks so small, Is not a feather-weight! |
| At last they reach a cavern cool, And sit down in a bunch, Declaring they won’t budge an inch, Till they have had some lunch. The food-stuffs are a trifle mixed, From joggling in the cart; There’s jam spread on the slim sardine, Salt on the pumpkin tart! |
| Right in the middle there appears An unexpected guest; Who kindly makes himself at home, And feeds upon the best. The children look at him with awe, And whisper: “Who is that?” “Why, don’t you know?” says Fishy-Wink, “That is the HADDOCK-CAT!” |
| The Haddock-Cat is very kind, And when the meal is done Cries: “Get upon my back, you four, I’ll take you for a run.” He crouches down upon the sand, And up the children jump; Then he gets up—contrairy wise, The children fall down flump!! |
| But nothing daunted, up they get, And cling with might and main; I fear they must have caused that Cat Con-si-der-able pain! They joggled for a mile or more, Then gasped out: “Th-that’s enough: We th-thank you kindly—now let’s have A game of Blind Man’s Buff.” |
