"Ahem!" coughed the Doctor, looking pained. "Oh, you're prehistoric--that doesn't count," said the Dodo, and the Doctor brightened up again. Fortunately, at this moment, something occurred to prevent the argument from continuing, or goodness knows where it might have led to, for the children were naturally indignant at being so greatly misjudged. Dick was particularly wroth. Their attention was diverted, however, by the train dashing into a station, and coming to a somewhat abrupt stop, causing the passengers to pitch forward, while a porter called in a loud voice, "Crystal Palace! Crystal Palace! All change here!" "Oh! here we are, at last," cried the children, hurrying on to the platform where the animals were all turning out. The porter had given one horrified glance at the strange creatures, and then, with a howl of fear, had fled up the steps at the end of the platform. The children could see that he was explaining something or other to the ticket collector, for that worthy came to the barrier and peeped over. "Oh--o--o--a--aah!" the children heard him cry, and then he fled, as his companion had done, leaving the barrier free. "Come," laughed Dick, "that simplifies matters considerably, for we shall not have to bother about our tickets now." And the children hurried up the stairs, while the Dodo remained behind to adjust his gloves, complaining loudly that notice ought to have been given that they were nearing the station, so that he might have made himself presentable before alighting. On turning back, while on the steps, the children could see that, besides their own party, the train had contained a number of other strange animals, some of whom, the Archaeopteryx whispered, impressively, were "antediluvians." [Illustration: "'Sh'sh! A Missionary,' whispered the Dodo, excitedly."] The whole party having alighted, with a great deal of noise and confusion, they proceeded at once to the Palace. Everywhere their appearance was the signal for a wild stampede of other visitors, and by the time they had reached the great hall no one at all was in sight, except one old gentleman in glasses, who was consulting a guide book while he stood before a group of wooden Hottentots. "Sh!" whispered the Dodo, "a Missionary! I have seen them before, when abroad. In some places they are greatly admired by the natives, some of whom have described them enthusiastically as being simply _delicious_! Let us be friendly to him; he is, no doubt, a very excellent man. "My dear Sir," he continued, waddling up to the Missionary, "delighted to see you looking so well." The Missionary, who was very short-sighted, beamed kindly, and grasped the Dodo's glove, while he peered up into his face through his glasses. On catching sight of his beak, however, he gave a gasp of astonishment, and stammered-- "I'm afraid, Sir, you've made a mistake. I--er--I--er--don't remember your face."