“I thought you said，” began the Bear， but Shift interrupted. “Anyone can go in，” he said. “But， one at a time. Who‘ll o first？ He didn’t say he was feeling very kind. He‘s been cking his lips a lot since he swallowed up the wicked ing the other night. He’s been growling a good deal this orning. I wouldn‘t much like to go into that stable myself onight. But just as you please. Who’d like to go in first？ on‘t blame me if he swallows you whole or blasts you intoa cinder with the mere terror of his eyes. That’s your affair. Now then！ Who‘s first？ What about one of you Dwarfs？”
“Dilly， dilly， come and be killed！” sneered Griffle. “How dowe know what you’ve got in there？”
“Ho.ho！” cried the Ape. “So you‘re beginning to think there’s something there， eh？ Well， all you Beasts were making noise enough a minute ago. What‘s struck you all dumb？ Who’s going in first？”
But the Beasts all stood looking at one another and began backing away from the stable. Very few tails were wagging now. The Ape waddled to and fro jeering at them. “Ho.ho. ho！” he chuckled. “I thought you were all so eager to see Tashlan face to face！ Changed your mind， eh？”
