So the Unwiseman waited and an hour later he and Mollie and Whistlebinkie boarded a gondola in charge of a very handsome and smiling gondolier who said his name was Giuseppe Zocco.
"Soako is a good name for a cab-driver in this town," said the Unwiseman, after he had inspected the gondola and ascertained that it was seaworthy. "I guess I'll talk to him."
"You-do-know-Eye-talian," laughed Whistlebinkie.
"It's one of the languages I do know," returned the Unwiseman. "I buy all my bananas and my peanuts from an Eye-talian at home and for two or three years I have been able to talk to him very easily."
He turned to the gondolier.
"Gooda da morn, Soako," he observed very politely. "You havea da prett-da-boat."
"Si, Signor," returned the smiling gondolier, who was not wholly unfamiliar with English.
"See what?" asked the Unwiseman puzzled, but looking about carefully to see what there was to be seen.
"He says we're at sea," laughed Whistlebinkie.