The Dodo, looking very dejected, gave the Umbrella another twirl. This time it stopped at the words "Hard labor." The Dodo groaned. "Once more!" shouted the Ambassador. For the third time the unlucky bird spun the Umbrella round, and this time it stopped at "Fine." "How much, your Importance?" asked the Ambassador of the Little Panjandrum. "_Cablofechee!_" was the reply. "Your gloves are forfeited," declared the Ambassador. The Dodo gave a despairing glance at the children, and began to remove his one glove. "What's he being tried for?" asked Dick, in a whisper. "Contempt of Panjandrumosity," said the Ambassador. "It's a dreadful offence. All trials are conducted by means of the State Umbrella; it saves all the bother of judges and juries, you know. But, look out! the Little Panjandrum is off again." "Dumflopety--golopegee--gal--popo--sum--delopotomex," remarked the Little Panjandrum, as he walked away, escorted by his retinue. "He says that your 'hard labor' sentence is, to carry the State Umbrella in future, and that you are to commence your duties in one hour from now; in the meantime you may consider yourself at liberty till then." The Ambassador followed after the Little Panjandrum, and the children gathered around the poor Dodo, full of sympathy for his misfortunes. [Illustration: "'Go it, Dodo!' cried the Palaeotherium."] "Have they gone?" whispered the Prehistoric Doctor, coming forward from behind a bush, behind which he had been hiding. "Yes," said Marjorie. "Isn't it a shame the poor Dodo should always be getting into hot water?" "Never mind," said the Doctor; "I've found something that will make him happy. Look here!" The Dodo raised himself up from the ground, and gave an inquiring glance at the Doctor who held out a pair of boxing-gloves. "Oh! what beauties!" said the Dodo. "How fat they are! Are they for me?" "Yes, if you would like them," said the Doctor. "I have a pair, too. Let's try a round together--shall we?" "All right!" shouted the Dodo, getting up excitedly, and hastily fastening on the gloves. "Now then--guard!" And he went for the Doctor furiously. The Doctor squared up, and was soon boxing as skilfully as the Dodo. The Palaeotherium and the Eteraedarium, hearing the noise, came forward and joined the crowd of creatures, which by this time had collected in a ring. And amid shouts of "Go it, Dodo!" "Three cheers for the Dodo!" the first round concluded, the ungainly bird winning a decided victory. They were just about to begin again, when they heard a succession of piercing screams from the direction in which the lake was situated. CHAPTER XXII. TURNED TO STONE. "Good gracious! what's that?" inquired the Dodo, as the screams continued. "We'd better go and see," said Dick, practically running off in the direction of the lake, followed by the others.