CHAPTER II.

See Fishy-Winkle drive in state

Across the shining sand;

With Yama-Guchi yoked in front,

A Twin on either hand!

But soon each weary back is humped,

And bowed each jetty pate;

For Fishy, though he looks so small,

Is not a feather-weight!

At last they reach a cavern cool,

And sit down in a bunch,

Declaring they won’t budge an inch,

Till they have had some lunch.

The food-stuffs are a trifle mixed,

From joggling in the cart;

There’s jam spread on the slim sardine,

Salt on the pumpkin tart!

Right in the middle there appears

An unexpected guest;

Who kindly makes himself at home,

And feeds upon the best.

The children look at him with awe,

And whisper: “Who is that?”

“Why, don’t you know?” says Fishy-Wink,

“That is the HADDOCK-CAT!”

The Haddock-Cat is very kind,

And when the meal is done

Cries: “Get upon my back, you four,

I’ll take you for a run.”

He crouches down upon the sand,

And up the children jump;

Then he gets up—contrairy wise,

The children fall down flump!!

But nothing daunted, up they get,

And cling with might and main;

I fear they must have caused that Cat

Con-si-der-able pain!

They joggled for a mile or more,

Then gasped out: “Th-that’s enough:

We th-thank you kindly—now let’s have

A game of Blind Man’s Buff.”

That was a game, the children shrieked

And laughed until