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The travelers looked at the beast, and then they looked across the ditch at
the level plain beyond. On the other side the grass had grown tall, and the
sun had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay that only needed to be cut
and stacked.
"
Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked the beast.
I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf; "straw is much more
"
delicious, to my notion, and it's more scarce in this neighborhood, too. Also I
must confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my body is too heavy and
clumsy for me to jump the distance. I can stretch my neck across, though,
and you will notice that I've nibbled the hay on the farther edge--not
because I liked it, but because one must eat, and if one can't get the sort of
food he desires, he must take what is offered or go hungry."
"
Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the Scarecrow.
No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply.
"
Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She danced close to him and
said:
"If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why not help us over? We can
sit on your big head, one at a time, and then you can lift us across."
"
Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I refuse to do it. Unless--"
he added, and stopped short.
"Unless what?" asked Polychrome.
"Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with which the Scarecrow is
stuffed."
"No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high a price to pay. Our
friend's straw is nice and fresh, for he was restuffed only a little while ago."
"I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I want it. If it was old, musty
straw, I wouldn't care for it."
"Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome.
"No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my generous offer, I can be as
stubborn as you are."
After that they were all silent for a time, but then the Scarecrow said
bravely:
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