  But now All the Beasts were HUNGRIER STILL. They sat in a circle round the tree and thought a while. Then they said, “Let us send Pinky Pig to King Leo to ask the name of the tree. But Pinky Pig, DO NOT FORGET IT!” “LET US SEND PINKY PIG” ROWING UP THE RIVER Pinky Pig trotted away home— trip trap, trip trap, trip trap. He put on his best blue coat and buttoned it up, though it squeezed him a little. Then he trotted—trip trap, trip trap, trip trap—down to his little rowboat and took his oars to row up the big river. All the day and all the day he rowed and he rowed up the big river. KING LEO ON THE BANK And the Great Red Sun dropped behind the trees. Then he found King Leo on the bank, all ready to receive visitors. His crown was a little crooked because he had put it on in a hurry when he saw Pinky Pig coming. He smiled politely but he did not invite Pinky Pig to stay to supper. Pinky Pig showed him the fruit that looked like an APPLEORANGEPEARPLUMBANANA and smelled like a BANANAPLUMPEARORANGEAPPLE, and said, “Please, King Leo, we must know the name of this tree or we cannot eat the fruit. Please be so kind as to tell us.” Then King Leo said,
“WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?” H-R-R-R-UMPH! Pinky Pig trotted back to his rowboat—trip trap, trip trap, trip trap. All the night and all the night he rowed—he rowed—and he ro-o-owed until the oars—dropped—from—his—hands—and the big river took the boat down itself. Pinky Pig curled up under the seat. And this is the sound that came from the boat: H-r-r-r-umph THE ARRIVAL OF PINKY PIG In the morning Pinky Pig sat up and rubbed his eyes. He was at home. All the Beasts stood on the river bank looking at him. “What is it, Pinky Pig? Tell us the name!” they whistled and snarled and squealed and shrieked and whined and grunted and howled and roared, each in his own PARTICULAR voice. “I know it,” said Pinky Pig. Then he yawned. “I knew it last night,” he said, “but—ah—ah—I—must—have—been—asleep, and—ah—for—got—ten it.” That is the way he talked when he was yawning. They PLUNGED about and SQue-e-e-e-e-e-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-AL! He ran home with the water running off him and making little puddles here and there. Nobody heard a word more from him that day. |
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