human
I'm going South too! he cried.
gpt
And if you've no objection we'll travel together.
human
I shall be glad to go with you--if my wife doesn't object,
gpt
Oh! She won't mind, said Major Monkey.
human
She can go with us. We'll make up a party.... She'll be lucky to go anywhere with such a famous traveller as I am.
gpt
Of course, we always fly when we go South.
human
I don't know how to fly, he faltered.
gpt
But if you'll fly low, and slowly enough, perhaps I can run through the tree-tops fast enough to keep up with you. I hope it isn't a long trip,
human
It's about a thousand miles,
gpt
I never can run a thousand miles through the tree-tops, Major Monkey told Jolly Robin in a tone of great disappointment.
human
I don't see how I can spend the winter in the South; and I certainly don't want to stay here, if it's as cold as you say.
gpt
Can't you get a ride?
human
I could ride a horse, if I had one,
gpt
That's not a bad idea, Jolly Robin said.
human
But I'm afraid you'd have trouble finding a horse. Farmer Green would scarcely care to spare one of his horses for so long a trip.
gpt
Well, I could ride a dog, said Major Monkey.
human
There's that dog at the farmhouse--old Spot, as you call him. Surely Farmer Green wouldn't mind if I rode _him_ away, for he's nothing but a nuisance.
gpt
Why don't you ask Farmer Green?
human
No! he said.
gpt
No! I don't want to do that yet. Before I speak to Farmer Green I prefer to make sure that old dog Spot is _easy to ride on_.