It seems the safest way."
"Very well, dear father." just as you say, replied the smiling Jack, who had
been in no wise confused by his tumble.
Tip sat down again. Presently the Pumpkinhead asked:
"What is that thing you are sitting on?"
"Oh, this is a horse," replied the boy, carelessly.
"What is a horse?" demanded Jack.
"A horse? Why, there are two kinds of horses," returned Tip, slightly
puzzled how to explain. "One kind of horse is alive, and has four legs and a
head and a tail. And people ride upon its back."
"I understand," said Jack, cheerfully "That's the kind of horse you are now
sitting on."
"No, it isn't," answered Tip, promptly.
"Why not? That one has four legs, and a head, and a tail." Tip looked at the
saw-horse more carefully, and found that the Pumpkinhead was right. The body
42
had been formed from a tree-trunk, and a branch had been left sticking up at
one end that looked very much like a tail. In the other end were two big
knots that resembled eyes, and a place had been chopped away that might
easily be mistaken for the horse's mouth. As for the legs, they were four
straight limbs cut from trees and stuck fast into the body, being spread
wide apart so that the saw-horse would stand firmly when a log was laid
across it to be sawed.
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