He went home by way of the village. He did not go by way of the lake. As he walked down the village street, the people stared at him.
"And where are you going, John O'Day?" called one boy.
"Sure, I'm not going," answered the little lad. "I'm after coming back from where I was!"
He marched along. They all stood with staring eyes and watched him.
He came to the cottage of his parents, and when they saw him they were delighted.
Of course, John told his mother and father everything.
He tried to tell it all before he went to bed. But the evening was too short and his tale too long. He was fairly bursting with the great trip he had had.
He even had a tale of wonder for his wee sister. He held her on his knee while he told about the big zoo in Dublin.
"Sure, and there's every kind of animal there," he went on, his eyes flashing. "Sure, I was after seeing a terrible, big creature. 'Twas an elephant they called it. And 'tis a square animal with a tail in front of it and a tail behind it!"