Chapter 17
Meeting The Runaway Country
Everything was mixed up, indeed. Moving toward the little party of rescuers was a huge jagged piece of land, running along on ten tremendous feet and feeling its way with its long wiggly peninsula. The feet raised it several yards above the ground.
“If we crouch down maybe it will run over us,” panted Pompa, sliding down Kabumpo’s trunk.
“I don’t want to be run over,” shrilled Wag, beginning to hop in a frenzied circle.
“Stop!” cried the Land in a loud voice, as Wag and Kabumpo started to run.
“Better stop,” puffed Kabumpo, his eyes rolling wildly, “or it’ll probably fall on us.” Trembling in spite of themselves, they stood still and waited for the Land to approach.
“I’ve often heard of sailors hailing land with joy,” gulped Wag, “but this—well, how did it get this way?”
As the Runaway Country drew nearer, its peninsula fairly quivered with excitement and as it reached them it pulled up its front feet and tilted forward to get a better view. Its eyes were two small blue lakes and its mouth a broad bubbling river.