"Yes, I suppose so," replied d.i.c.k.

"That's right," said the fish. "Come on, the King is most anxious for the race to begin at once, and I promised to bring you back with me immediately."

"But what _is_ a human race?" inquired Marjorie, as they mounted their Dolphins.

"Oh, you'll see when we get back," was the reply, and, the little fish hanging on to one of the Dolphins' tails they were soon flying through the water at a rare rate.

When they got back to the lawn by the King's Palace, the children were greatly astonished to see a big crowd of fishes drawn up in two lines, with a wide path between them. The King, on a sh.e.l.l throne, surrounded by his courtiers, was at one end, and several important-looking fishes were fussing about at the other, making a straight line with some little lumps of white chalk.

There was a cheer when the children arrived on their Dolphins, and a rush was made to a.s.sist them to alight.

"But what are we to do?" they inquired, rather dismayed at these elaborate preparations.

"Show us a human race," was the reply.

"Well, a human race is just like any other kind of race, I suppose,"

said d.i.c.k, "the one who reaches the goal first wins. If we are going to race, though, we shall have to be handicapped."

"What's that?" cried the fishes.

"Why, you see," explained d.i.c.k, "it wouldn't be fair for us all to start from the same line, for Fidge, of course, cannot run as quickly as Marjorie or me; and Marjorie, too, being only a girl, will have to have a start allowed her, and this is called handicapping."

"Very well, manage it your own way," was the reply. "When are you going to start?"

"Oh, as soon as you like," said d.i.c.k. "Where's the winning-post?"

"That white line up by the King's throne," said one of the fishes. And d.i.c.k, having given Fidge a very long start, and Marjorie a slight advantage, declared himself ready to begin.

"One, to make ready, Two, to be steady, Three, and--away!"

shouted one of the princ.i.p.al fishes, and off they scrambled. I say scrambled, because if you have ever tried to run under water you will know that it is a very difficult thing to do--the weight of the water prevents you from getting along at all quickly. The fishes watching the race became very excited, and, in their eagerness to urge them on, kept getting in the children's way, swimming about in front of them, and getting mixed up with their arms and legs in a most confusing manner. At length, however, this extraordinary race came to an end, and the children arrived at the winning-post in the same order in which they had started.

"Oh, I've won--I've won!" shouted Fidge, delightedly. "Haven't I, d.i.c.k?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "They were called before the king to receive their prize."]

"Of course you have," said d.i.c.k, who had purposely been holding back to give the other two a chance.

"Shall I get a prize?" whispered the little boy, anxiously.

"Perhaps," answered d.i.c.k; "wait and see."

Their little friend, the thin fish, had gone up to the King, and was talking very earnestly to him, and presently returning said that His Majesty had decided to give them all a prize.

"Oh, I wonder what it will be!" said Marjorie, excitedly. "Fancy, having a prize from a real King!"

"He's only a fish," said d.i.c.k.

"Hush, dear, you'll hurt his feelings," whispered Marjorie, warningly.

Just then the thin fish put on his top hat--he was the only one allowed to wear one in the King's presence--and began a long speech. He spoke so very softly, though, that no one could hear a word that he said; but, at regular intervals, all the other fishes clapped their fins, and called out, "Hear, hear!" most enthusiastically.

"Whatever do you do that for?" inquired d.i.c.k, of one of them; "I'm sure you cannot hear a word of what he is saying."

"Oh, no, we can't," admitted the fish, quite candidly; "but it's the proper thing to do, you know, it encourages him so."

After the speech the children were called before the King to receive their prize.

His Majesty did not speak to them, but motioned majestically to a large branch of pink coral near the throne, and they were thus given to understand that it was intended for them as a prize.

Of course, they pretended to be highly gratified, though, in reality, they were greatly disappointed.

"Stupid old thing! it's not a bit of use, even if we could carry it,"

muttered d.i.c.k; and Fidge, too, was so cross that he nearly quarreled outright with a perky little fish who had been standing, hat in hand, near him, and who now came and sat down so close to him that his sharp scales scratched the little fellow's bare legs.

A moment afterwards, however, they had all forgotten their ill-humor in their amus.e.m.e.nt at what was happening, for the King having withdrawn, the rest of the fishes each took a partner, and began whirling round and round in a frantic way in a mad kind of dance, to the strains of some weird music, provided by one or two of their number blowing through some long sh.e.l.ls, whilst others used some smaller flat ones as castanets.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Whirling round and round in a frantic way."]

"I suppose this is what is called a fish ball," said d.i.c.k, laughing heartily at the strange antics which the fishes were cutting.

And just as Marjorie was about to reply a dark shadow pa.s.sing overhead caused all of the children to look up.

A pair of large webbed feet were seen slowly paddling above them, and beyond them the outline of a bird's body could be traced.

Marjorie seized d.i.c.k's arm excitedly. "Look! look!" she exclaimed, hastily, "the Dodo!"

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DODO AT LAST.

"I really believe it is the Dodo," said d.i.c.k. "Only I'm not quite sure if his feet _were_ webbed."

"Oh, I don't think they were," declared Marjorie. "Now don't you think,"

she continued, excitedly, "that it would be best for us just to swim quietly up to him, and catch hold of his legs; you see, he couldn't possibly get away then, and----"

"All right," interrupted d.i.c.k. "Come on--steady now, so as not to alarm him."

The feet above them were paddling leisurely along, and the children had no difficulty in quickly catching up to the bird, and, with a triumphant shout, d.i.c.k clutched hold of one leg, while Marjorie and Fidge hung on to the other.

There was immediately a great outcry from above the water.

"Help! Help! Fire! Police! Thieves!" cried a voice, and the feet began to kick so violently that the children had quite a difficulty to keep their hold.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "The Dodo tried to follow their example."]