`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.
`It's waiting for 'em now,' said Hatta: `this is a bit of it as I'm
eating.'
There was a pause in the fight just then, and the Lion and the
Unicorn sat down, panting, while the King called out `Ten minutes
allowed for refreshments!' Haigha and Hatta set to work at once,
carrying rough trays of white and brown bread. Alice took a piece to
taste, but it was VERY dry.
`I don't think they'll fight any more to-day,' the King said to
Hatta: `go and order the drums to begin.' And Hatta went bounding
away like a grasshopper.
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