THE girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain,
Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!"
The man on the hill, that couldn't stand still,
Went hobble, hobble, hobble!
"Goodness me!" exclaimed Puss, Junior, as he mounted the bicycle which
the kind owner of the Willow Tree Inn had lent him, "I can't understand
a word the girl says. I asked her if she had seen my Good Gray Horse and
she answers, 'Gobble, gobble, gobble!'" And then little Puss gave a
great sigh, for it's pretty hard luck to have your horse stolen while
asleep in a strange inn, although it's mighty lucky to have the
innkeeper lend you his bicycle.
Well, after a while and many a mile, the road began to wind up a hill,
so Puss got off and pushed his wheel ahead until by and by he met a
little old man. He held a stick in both hands, on which he leaned as he
hobbled along.
"Did you see a runaway horse?" asked Puss.
"I did, indeed, my good Sir Cat," answered the hobble-hobble man. "He
went by but a few minutes ago. There were fairies on his back. I
thought at first I must be dreaming, till I remembered once before in my
life seeing a swarm of fairies, if I might use the word, from yonder
forest in hot pursuit for a bold robber who had waylaid a traveler."
[Illustration]
"Thank you," said Puss. "I must catch up with them, for the horse
belongs to me, and this bicycle is a poor substitute."
"Yes, I should think as much," replied the hobble-hobble man. "But how
are you going to catch him? Those forest fairies are mischievous, and
you will need to pedal fast and furious to overtake them."
"Never fear," replied Puss, stoutly. "I have a good pair of legs." And,
jumping on his bicycle, he went up the hill at a great rate. On reaching
the top he was delighted to see his Good Gray Horse going down the road
to the valley.
"Here's where I overtake them," cried Puss, placing his feet on the
coasters. "My bicycle can go downhill faster than a horse. In a few
moments I'll again be astride my faithful steed."
The dust flew out in a cloud behind him as he swiftly coasted down the
steep road. Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling! went his bell as he came nearer
and nearer. "Gid-ap!" cried the fairies, but the Good Gray Horse was
tired. He had gone many miles at a gallop.
"Whoa!" cried Puss.
"Gid-ap!" cried the fairies.
But Puss was now close to them. Standing up on the bicycle seat, he made
a wonderful jump and landed squarely on the saddle of his Good Gray
Horse. And then, with a scream of dismay, the fairies flew away.