human
Here we are, boys! splendid place this! Trees all around, and the ground carpeted with beautiful soft moss.
gpt
All but the soft, growled Richard, jumping up, and making a variety of wry faces.
human
Only look what a great thorn I have sat down upon. I'm half killed. I wonder what thorns were made for?
gpt
For four-legged gentlemen, with very long ears, answered Arthur.
human
They are perfectly devoted to them. I think it's very odd you should be so fond of thorns, as you are not a donkey.
gpt
Fond--fiddlesticks! Let a fellow alone, can't you?
human
Don't tease him, Arthur, cried Charlie.
gpt
Here, I say, all of you, guess this: Mr. Martingale has ten fine horses, and there are only twenty-four feet among them all.
human
Twenty four feet! said Harry;
gpt
Perhaps, said little George,
human
Goodness! how absurd! exclaimed Arthur.
gpt
I have heard of Mr. Barnum's woolly horse, and a saw-horse, and a chestnut horse, and a horse-chestnut; and a flying-horse, and a horse-fly; and a clothes-horse, and a horse-cloth; and a rocking-horse. But a snake-horse is something new.
human
Give it up? said Charlie.
gpt
Suppose you alter the spelling a little.
human
Oh! I have it! shouted Arthur.
gpt
The horses had twenty _fore_ feet, and they also had twenty _hind_ feet. That's the best catch I ever heard. Just see, fellows, what comes of being head-boy in spelling-class. I'm the boy for learning! I dare say Dr. Addup is crying his eyes out, because it is vacation, and he won't see me for a month.
human
I've got twenty-four appetites, said Richard;
gpt
The fish for the first course, and here they are,
human
But I don't like raw fish, said George;
gpt
Don't be in a hurry, said the captain.
human
I'll fix that in a minute; I know all about it--read it in a book; all you have to do, is, to find two sticks, and rub them together, and there's your fire right off.