p in flannel.

[Illustration: THE COCKALORUM IS ILL.]

It seemed to be night, but the place was lighted up by a large
chandelier that hung from the branches of a tree, and Davy saw that a
number of odd-looking birds were roosting on the chandelier among the
lights, gazing down upon the poor Cockalorum with a melancholy interest.
As Sham-Sham made his appearance, with Davy at his heels, there was a
sudden commotion among the birds, and they all cried out together,
"Here's the doctor!" but before Davy could reply the Hole-keeper
suddenly made his appearance, with his great book, and, hurriedly
turning over the leaves, said, pointing to Davy, "_He_ isn't a doctor.
His name is Gloopitch." At these words there arose a long, wailing cry,
the lights disappeared, and Davy found himself on a broad path in the
forest, with the Hole-keeper walking quietly beside him.

CHAPTER VIII.

SINDBAD THE SAILOR'S HOUSE.

"You had no right to tell those birds my name was Gloopitch!" said Davy,
angrily. "That's the second time you've got it wrong."

"Well, it's of no consequence," said the Hole-keeper, complacently.
"I'll make it something else the next time. I suppose you know they've
caught Gobobbles?"

"I'm glad of it!" said Davy, heartily. "He's worse than the Cockalorum,
ten times over. What did they do with him?"

"Cooked him," said the Hole-keeper,--"roasted him, fried him, pickled
him, and boiled him."

"Gracious!" exclaimed Davy; "I shouldn't think he'd be good for much
after all that."

"He isn't," replied the Hole-keeper, calmly. "They're going to keep him
to rub out pencil-marks with."

This was such a ridiculous idea that Davy threw back his head, and
laughed long and loud.

"Do that again," said the Hole-keeper, stopping short in his walk and
gazing at him earnestly; and Davy burst into another fit of laughter.

"Do it again," persisted the Hole-keeper, staring at him still more
solemnly.

This was somewhat tiresome; and, after a rather feeble attempt at a
third laugh, Davy said, "I don't feel like it any more."

"If _I_ could do that," said the Hole-keeper, earnestly, "I'd never
stop. The fact is," he continued, gravely shaking his head, "I've never
laughed in my life. Does it hurt much?"

"It doesn't hurt at all," said Davy, beginning to laugh again.

"Well, there, there!" said the Hole-keeper, peevishly, resuming his walk
again; "don't keep it up _forever._ By the way, you're not the postman,
ar