Page:The Zankiwank & the Bletherwitch (IA zankiwankblether00fitziala).pdf/169

 to poets and children. But do come along, or the bicycles will start without us, and we have an appointment to keep.”

Now, how could one even try to tell such an eccentric creature as the Zankiwank that he was all wrong and talking fables and fibs and tarradiddles? Neither of them attempted to correct these erroneous ideas, but wondering where they were going next, Maude and Willie mounted the bicycles that came as if by magic, and rode off at a terrific rate, though they had never ridden a machine before.

They were almost out of breath when the Zankiwank called out “stop,” and away went the bicycles, and they found themselves standing in front of an immense edifice with a sign-board swinging from the gambrel roof, on which was painted in large golden letters—

There was no opportunity to ascertain what the sign meant, for all at once there darted out of