I m _good_ enough, the King said, only I m not strong enough. You
see, a minute goes by so fearfully quick. You might as well try to stop
a Bandersnatch!
Alice had no more breath for talking, so they trotted on in silence,
till they came in sight of a great crowd, in the middle of which the
Lion and Unicorn were fighting. They were in such a cloud of dust, that
at first Alice could not make out which was which: but she soon managed
to distinguish the Unicorn by his horn.
They placed themselves close to where Hatta, the other messenger, was
standing watching the fight, with a cup of tea in one hand and a piece
of bread-and-butter in the other.
He s only just out of prison, and he hadn t finished his tea when he
was sent in, Haigha whispered to Alice: and they only give them
oyster-shells in there so you see he s very hungry and thirsty. How are
you, dear child? he went on, putting his arm affectionately round
Hatta s neck.
Hatta looked round and nodded, and went on with his bread and butter.
Were you happy in prison, dear child? said Haigha.
Hatta looked round once more, and this time a tear or two trickled down
his cheek: but not a word would he say.
Speak, can t you! Haigha cried impatiently. But Hatta only munched
away, and drank some more tea.
Speak, won t you! cried the King. How are they getting on with the
fight?
Hatta made a desperate effort, and swallowed a large piece of
bread-and-butter. They re getting on very well, he said in a choking
voice: each of them has been down about eighty-seven times.
Then I suppose they ll soon bring the white bread and the brown?
Alice ventured to remark.
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