WIFE.  Ha, ha!  He will think that I am you.

HEDGEHOG.  Exactly.

WIFE.  Ha, ha, ha!  I go, Mr. Hedgehog!  I go!  You may be short on legs, my dear, but you are long on brains.

[She runs to other end of furrow.  Mr. Hedgehog goes to his end.]

[The HARE enters.]

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.