Early next morning, as soon as the sun had risen and the King of the Moon had gone to bed, the Bunnikins-Bunnies and the Gray-Squirrels went on board the airship, and sailed off toward the Island of Mars. The children begged Captain Hawk to stop at the Dog Star and seeSneezer, but neither Mr. Bunnikins nor Mr. Gray-Squirrel was willing to, as they were both very much afraid of dogs.
Bunny and squirrel holding hands
After several days of cloud fogs and contrary winds, they arrived at the great Island of Mars. As they came near the shore, they were astonished to see two squatty little men walking about on their heads with their heels in the air. No sooner had Bobtail and Ruddy Squirrel landed, than they scampered off to look at the funny men. When theycame near them, however, they were walking on their feet. They told Bobtail that they could walk as easily on one end as the other, and so by changing they never were tired.
Bunnies talking to a boy
When Mr. Bunnikins-Bunny asked the way to the nearest town, the little men offered to go with them, as it was not far off. The village looked very pretty as they approached, surrounded by fruit trees and gardens of flowers, but the houses seemed most peculiar. The doors were at the top of the houses, the chimneyssmoked close to the ground, and the people went into their homes by an outside staircase. One of the little men told Mr. Gray-Squirrel that all the houses in Mars were built that way, and he had never seen any other kind.
Upside-down house
When they arrived at the hotel, they were escorted to the front door by the landlord, who hopped up the outside staircase before them on his head. They went into a big hall at the top of the house, from which a broad staircase led downstairs to the upstairs rooms.
Bunny on stairs