and they saw all sorts
of queer things as they went. In a retired corner the Hippopotamus was
shaving himself with a razor-backed Hog, much to the displeasure of the
Hog, who kept up a perpetual snorting and grunting. Near by an old
mother Pig was putting her little Pigs' tails up in curl-papers for the
night. Further along the Armadillo, the Turtles, the Hedgehog, and the
Porcupine, squatted on the floor together, were playing dominoes. A
Leopardlike creature sat near by watching the game, looking very much
disappointed and mournful.

[Illustration: "THEY WON'T LET HIM PLAY BECAUSE HE'S A CHEETAH."]

"They won't let him play," volunteered the Gopher, "because he's a
Cheetah."

All this time there was much bustle and preparation going on in the
middle of the hall. The Monkey tribe, of which there must have been a
hundred, were bringing up tables and stools and benches from down below
somewhere, and were stretching these out the entire length of the big
room. They made a banqueting board much longer than Tommy had ever seen
before, and then they laid plates and mugs along the edges, enough to
accommodate all. The Monkeys made first-rate waiters, and the big
Gorillas bossed them around, and kept them working "just like real
waiters in a restaurant," thought Tommy.

"There's the Sheep!" shouted the ex-Pirate, suddenly, and he pointed out
their old friend sitting on a bench about a third of the way down from
the head of the long table. They hastened toward him, followed by the
Gopher, who was doubtless afraid of being crowded out, for the animals
were taking seats rapidly.

The Sheep was overjoyed when the ex-Pirate sat down beside him, and he
moved up closer to his neighbor on the other side so as to make room for
Tommy and the Gopher. The little boy sat on the bench with the ex-Pirate
on his left, and the Gopher on a high stool at his right. The Lion and
Lioness occupied the head of the table, some distance away, and the Bull
sat at the foot.

"I have been looking all over for you," began the Sheep, "but you were
so well concealed I could not find you. Where did you pick up that
Gopher?"

"Oh, he's all right," answered the ex-Pirate. "He's got his ticket
inside."

The Gopher almost fell off his stool. He whispered to Tommy, "Tell him
not to talk about my ticket."

But before Tommy could deliver the message, the Monkeys began bringing
the soup in on trays, and placed a plate full in front of each one at
table.