The serpent was actually being stuffed when a
bomb dropped by a Zeppelin blew it into infinitesimal smithereens,
to the profound disappointment of the Professor and my daughter
Anna, who has never been quite the same woman since. Permit me to
subscribe myself
Yours faithfully,
ALEXANDER NIAS.
_Steep Hill, Cramlington._
DEAR SIR,--There is nothing surprising in the story of a halibut
devouring a cormorant. As you will see from consulting _Murray_,
halibut means "holy-butt" (or flat-fish), and holy fishes are
possessed of magical powers. When I lived on the coast of Florida
I had a tame tarpon, which could swallow anything--croquet balls,
door scrapers--and once ate an entire cottage pianoforte in
half-an-hour. Here I may add that in my travels in Turkestan I was
attacked by a boa-constrictor, and, though I escaped with my life,
it proceeded to swallow the Bactrian camel on which I was riding.
On the following day, however, when the boa was still in a
comatose condition, I killed it with a boomerang, rescued the
camel and continued my journey without further mishap.
I am, Sir, Yours veraciously,
ANDREW MERRIMAN.
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Lady Driver (just joined)_. "OH, SERGEANT, I HOPE I
SHAN'T UPSET MY FIRST PASSENGER!"
_Sergeant (A.S.C., M.T.)._ "PASSENGER, MISS! DON'T LET THAT WORRY YOU.
PLENTY MORE PASSENGERS!"]
* * * * *
THE SIX-HOUR DAY.
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