._]

HARE. Well, are you ready?

HEDGEHOG. I am ready.

HARE. One, two, three, go!

[_The Hare runs swiftly. The Hedgehog sits. The Hare reaches the other
end of his furrow. The Wife puts up her head._]

[Illustration]

WIFE. I am already here.

HARE. What is this?

WIFE. I am already here.

HARE. We will try again! Are you ready?

WIFE. I am ready.

HARE. One, two, three, go!

[_The Hare runs swiftly. The Wife sits. The Hare reaches the other end
of his furrow. Mr. Hedgehog puts up his head._]

HEDGEHOG. I am already here.

HARE. I cannot understand this.

HEDGEHOG. I am already here.

HARE. We will try again! Are you ready?

HEDGEHOG. I am ready.

HARE. One, two, three, go!

[_The Hare runs swiftly. Mr. Hedgehog sits. The Hare reaches the other
end of his furrow. Mrs. Hedgehog puts up her head._]

WIFE. I am already here.

HARE. I cannot believe it!

WIFE. I am already here.

HARE. We will try again! Do you hear? We will try again.

WIFE. I am ready.

HARE. One, two, three, go!

[_The Hare runs swiftly. The Wife sits. The Hare reaches the other end
of his furrow. Mr. Hedgehog puts up his head._]

HEDGEHOG. I am already here.

HARE. This is very, very strange!

HEDGEHOG. Shall we run again?

HARE. No, no! The race is yours, Neighbor Hedgehog. And will you please
to call some day? I should be glad to see you.

HEDGEHOG. I shall be glad to come.

[_The Hare goes off wondering._]

WIFE (_running to meet Mr. Hedgehog_). You may be short on legs, my
dear, but you are very, very long on brains.

FISHING ON DRY LAND

TIME: _long ago._
PLACE: _before the King's palace._

* * * * *

KING.
PRINCE.
QUEEN.
LADIES.
FARMER NIX.
FARMER KNAVE.
MANY OTHER FARMERS.

* * * * *

[FARMER NIX, FARMER KNAVE, _and the other_ FARMERS _have come with their
wagons, for it is market day. Some of the wagons are drawn by horses and
some by oxen._]

NIX. Have you seen my colt, sir?

A FARMER. I saw a colt run by not long ago.

SECOND FARMER. There is a colt with Farmer Knave's oxen.

NIX. I do not see him.

THIRD FARMER. He is lying down between them.

NIX. Ah, I see him now.

(_He goes to Farmer Knave._)

I have come for my colt, Farmer Knave.

KNAVE. Your colt?

NIX. Yes. There he is between your oxen.

KNAVE. He is my colt, sir.

NIX. How can he be your colt when he is mine?

KNAVE. I ask the same