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"Hungry!" exclaimed all the Dragons, in a reproachful chorus; and then the
great one said chidingly: "Tut-tut, my son! You've no reason to be hungry at
this time."
"
Why not?" asked the little Dragon. "I haven't eaten anything in eleven
years."
"
Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon, sleepily opening and
closing his eyes; "I haven't feasted for eighty-seven years, and I dare not get
hungry for a dozen or so years to come. Children who eat between meals
should be broken of the habit."
"All I had, eleven years ago, was a rhinoceros, and that's not a full meal at
all," grumbled the young one. "And, before that, I had waited sixty-two years
to be fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry."
"
How old are you now?" asked Woot, forgetting his own dangerous position
in his interest in the conversation.
"
"
Why, I'm--I'm--How old am I, Father?" asked the little Dragon.
Goodness gracious! what a child to ask questions. Do you want to keep me
thinking all the time? Don't you know that thinking is very bad for
Dragons?" returned the big one, impatiently.
"
"
"
How old am I, Father?" persisted the small Dragon.
About six hundred and thirty, I believe. Ask your mother."
No; don't!" said an old Dragon in the background; "haven't I enough
worries, what with being wakened in the middle of a nap, without being
obliged to keep track of my children's ages?"
"
"
You've been fast asleep for over sixty years, Mother," said the child Dragon.
How long a nap do you wish?"
"
I should have slept forty years longer. And this strange little green beast
should be punished for falling into our cavern and disturbing us."
"
I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know I was going to fall in,"
explained Woot.
"Nevertheless, here you are," said the great Dragon, "and you have carelessly
wakened our entire tribe; so it stands to reason you must be punished."
"In what way?" inquired the Green Monkey, trembling a little.
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