HODGE.  And would not pay for it!

PODGE (looking off).  He is coming now!  He is on the hill!

SCRODGE.  He has his soldiers with him!

NODGE.  He must not see us!  Come!

[They run off.  Enter the KING and SOLDIERS.]

KING.  To think that I—­a king—­should have to walk!

FIRST SOLDIER.  Shall I bring the horses up, your Majesty?

KING.  Of what use?  Look how the road from here is filled with trees!

SECOND SOLDIER.  Just as it was back there!

KING.  I know!  It was done to keep me out of Gotham!  I know!

(To Third Soldier.)

Here, you!

THIRD SOLDIER (saluting).  Yes, your Majesty.

KING.  Get to Gotham, if you have to crawl.

THIRD SOLDIER.  Yes, your Majesty.

KING.  Tell these men of Gotham I shall come again.

THIRD SOLDIER.  Yes, your Majesty.

KING.  And when I do—­and when I do—­[He stops.]

THIRD SOLDIER.  Yes, your Majesty?

KING.  And when I do, I’ll have their noses!

THIRD SOLDIER.  Yes, your Majesty.

KING.  I’ll have the Gotham nose of every Gotham man cut off his Gotham face!

THIRD SOLDIER.  Yes, your Majesty.

KING.  Go, now, and tell them that!

THIRD SOLDIER (saluting). Yes, your Majesty.

[He goes.]

KING.  We will now return the way we came. (He shakes his finger toward
Gotham,)

I’ll have your noses, that I will!

[He goes with his soldiers.]

SCENE II

TIME:  one month later.
PLACE:  a field near Gotham.

* * * * *

HODGE. 
PODGE. 
NODGE. 
SCRODGE. 
KING. 
SOLDIERS. 
OLD MEN OF GOTHAM. 
YOUNG MEN OF GOTHAM. 
PETER AND OTHER GOTHAM BOYS. 
POLLIE AND OTHER GOTHAM GIRLS.

* * * * *

[The OLD MEN, the YOUNG MEN, and the CHILDREN are in the field.]

AN OLD MAN.  Well, the king’s men have taken all the trees away.

A YOUNG MAN.  A good month’s work it made them, too!

ANOTHER OLD MAN.  And now the king will come again!

PETER.  And we shall lose our noses!

POLLIE.  I do not wish to lose my nose!

[Enter SCRODGE, running.]

SCRODGE.  The king is coming!

[Enter HODGE, running.]

[Illustration:  “QUICK, NOW—­BEFORE THE KING COMES”]

HODGE.  The king is coming!

[Enter PODGE and NODGE, running.]

PODGE and NODGE.  The king is coming!

PETER.  And we shall lose our noses!

POLLIE.  Oh dear!  Oh dear!  I’ll lose my nose!