Hanging on to the fence with one paw it waved the other backward and forward as it chanted:
"How many ties in Rith Metic?
Tell me that and tell me quick!
But if you can't it's not my fault,
So simply turn a wintersault!"
The head of the Cottabus disappeared.
"Now isn't that provoking," gulped the Prince. "After it promised to help us, too!"
"I meant summersault," wheezed the Cottabus, reappearing suddenly—
"And if you can't it's not your fault,
So simply turn a summersault!"
it recited dolefully, and losing its balance fell off the fence and landed with a thud on the ground below.
"Here! Hurry along!" scolded Count It Up, prodding Kabumpo with a sharp pencil. "The next is a nice little problem in fractions."
"I wonder if it meant anything?" mused Pompadore, as Kabumpo approached the new problem. "'If you can't it's not your fault, so simply turn a summersault.' Anyway it wouldn't hurt to try. Stop a minute, Kabumpo!"
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