They cross the calm of tropic heat,
In solitude the most complete,
Where the mirage in strange surprise
Makes Elsie open wondering eyes.
And now they stand on India's strand,
This young and dauntless pair,
To beard the leopard, as they thought,
And tiger in his lair.
For Elsie said, "No beast can face
An opened parasol,
And Arthur in the surest place
Can make a bullet-hole."
But soon the children thought it best
To put to sea once more;
And Elsie steered still further west,
As she had steered before,
While Arthur opened out his chest
By tugging at the oar.
A sudden wind arose at last;
The walnut shell before the blast
Across the tropics flew;
But Arthur, till the simoom passed
(That wind of course he knew)
And daring Elsie held on fast,
When safe on Afric's coast were cast
The walnut shell and crew.
And when the little folks were bent
To cross the black man's continent,
"The ostriches shall find us legs,"
Cried Arthur; "they can run."
Said Elsie, "Yes; and lay us eggs;
I'll fry them in the sun."
They travelled through the desert land,
And yet were brisk and merry,
Though Arthur's eyes were full of sand,
And Elsie's little face was tanned
As brown as autumn berry.
From crocodiles which had not dined
Bold Arthur never shrinks,
While Elsie tries to call to mind
Some riddles for the Sphinx.
And journeying onward safe and sound
With never pause nor hitch,
Their way through the Canal they found,
With wonderment so rich.
They saw big vessels outward-bound
(That only sometimes ran aground)
Go steaming through the ditch.
