“She’ll grow to any size we want her, I believe,” said Coppertop. “Ough!” exclaimed Kiddiwee; “I’d like her as big as a real one, I would!” “Hush!” warned his sister; “don’t let her hear you say that! She IS a real one, or, at least, she thinks she is. And she’d be terrifikly angry and hurt if she thought that you thought that she wasn’t--see?” “’Es, but IS she?” whispered Kiddiwee. “Yes--perhaps,” she whispered back. “I’d like her as big as this old Pyramid,” she added, aloud. “And then she would go at a simply huge rate!” CHAPTER XVII. THE STRANGEST RIDE THAT EVER WAS “Well, do let’s decide what size she is going to be,” cried Coppertop, “and then we can make a start.” “I don’t believe it can alter its size,” said Tibbs. “It’s impossible.” “Nothing’s impossible!” retorted Coppertop; “Mr. Atom said so.” “I’d like him like a real one,” repeated Kiddiwee. “It isn’t a ‘_him_,’ it’s a ‘_she_’!” said his sister. “Do be careful, we don’t want to offend it.” “Yes, I think we’ll have her a proper camel size, to begin with,” she added. “I don’t believe----” began Tibbs. But ere he could finish a sentence, Coppertop’s hand was forced open by the swiftly-growing camel, which, with a joyful cry, she put on the ground. There the animal continued to grow rapidly. “Good morning!” said Miss Smiler, the camel, as soon as she was large enough to have a voice at all. “She talks!” exclaimed Coppertop. “Frequently,” said the Camel; “did you ever know a girl who didn’t?” “She’s still growing!” cried Tibbs, scarcely able to believe his eyes. “I usually grow faster than this,” said the Camel, “but one of you three didn’t believe I could.” By this time she was as large as an ordinary camel, and in every way like one, except that she had no hump, and she wore a large silk bow upon her forehead, and another one upon her tail. “You’d better climb up while I’m a comfortable size,” said Miss Smiler. “One of you wants me to be as big as this pyramid. I feel it in my bones. So hop on, I’m still growing!” The children did not need another warning, and tried their best to reach the Camel’s back. But in spite of their efforts, they found that she was already too large. “I shall have to kneel,” remarked Miss Smiler. “It’s a bit of a bore, but I can say my prayer at the same time.” “Whatever is your prayer?” asked Coppertop. “Oh, I just say-- Please keep the horrid Hump away, And let me smile from day to day. Try it, my dear, three times a day, after meals.” By this time Miss Smiler was down on her knees, and without very much trouble the children clambered upon her broad back. Immediately they had done so, the Camel rose to her feet, and continued to grow rapidly. But what was the strangest thing of all, the children on her back felt themselves growing, too!