L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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to the boy to observe him more fully.
It was really comical to see the creature walk; for it moved the legs
on its right side together, and those on its left side together, as a
pacing horse does; and that made its body rock sidewise, like a cradle.
Tip patted it upon the head, and said "Good boy! Good Boy!" in a
coaxing tone; and the Saw-Horse pranced away to examine with its bulging
eyes the form of Jack Pumpkinhead.
"I must find a halter for him," said Tip; and having made a search in
his pocket he produced a roll of strong cord. Unwinding this, he
approached the Saw-Horse and tied the cord around its neck, afterward
fastening the other end to a large tree. The Saw-Horse, not understanding
the action, stepped backward and snapped the string easily; but it made no
attempt to run away.
"He's stronger than I thought," said the boy, "and rather obstinate,
too."
"Why don't you make him some ears?" asked Jack. "Then you can tell
him what to do."
"That's a splendid idea!" said Tip. "How did you happen to think of
it?"
"Why, I didn't think of it," answered the Pumpkinhead; "I didn't need
to, for it's the simplest and easiest thing to do."
So Tip got out his knife and fashioned some ears out of the bark of a
small tree.
"I mustn't make them too big," he said, as he whittled, "or our horse
would become a donkey."
"How is that?" inquired Jack, from the roadside.
"Why, a horse has bigger ears than a man; and a donkey has bigger
ears than a horse," explained Tip.
"Then, if my ears were longer, would I be a horse?" asked Jack.
"My friend," said Tip, gravely, "you'll never be anything but a
Pumpkinhead, no matter how big your ears are."
"Oh," returned Jack, nodding; "I think I understand."