THE DODO AT LAST. "I really believe it is the Dodo," said Dick. "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 Dick. "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, Dick 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. [Illustration: "The Dodo tried to follow their example."] In response to the cries a number of other birds came flying to the rescue, and "splush," "splash," sounded on all sides as they settled down on the water. "What is the matter?" cried several voices at once. "Oh!" cried the bird which the children had captured, beating his wings about violently, and creating a terrible confusion, "a crab or something has caught hold of my legs, and I am being killed--help!--save me!--save me!" A confused sound of voices followed, and presently one or two heads appeared below the water; they were hastily withdrawn, however, and with an alarmed cry of "Sharks!" the other birds all flew away, leaving their luckless companion to his fate. The bird, when he found himself deserted by his friends, made more frantic efforts than ever to escape; and the beating of his wings upon the water caused the whole party to move slowly along. "What are we to do now?" whispered Marjorie; "we can't drag him underneath, or he'd be drowned, you know." "Oh, let's hang on," cried Dick, "perhaps he will drag us along till we come to land somewhere. I say," he shouted, "are you the Dodo, or not?" His voice could evidently not be heard above the water, for there was no reply from the bird, which continued making a terrific outcry, using every effort to get away from them. Presently, just as Dick had suggested, some rocks came in sight, and the children could see that they were being gradually dragged tards the shore. In a few minutes they had the satisfaction of being able to scramble out of the water, when they discovered, to their great dismay, that their captive was not the Dodo at all, but a great wild goose, who, when they hurriedly released his legs waddled awkwardly ashore, and gazed at them with reproachful eyes. A little way inland the Dodo himself could be seen standing, surrounded by an excited group of birds, who, when they caught sight of the children emerging from the water, immediately took to flight, screaming in horrified tones-- "The Sharks! The Sharks! Here come the Sharks!"