But I had the misfortune to tumble out of the
Zodiac some time ago. My name is Cancer, but I'm not a disease.
Those who examine the heavens in these days, alas! can find no
Cancer there."
"Yes we can, sir, Mister Cancer!" said the parrot with a chuckle.
"Once," remarked Cap'n Bill, "I sawr a picter of you in an almanac."
"Ah, the almanacs always did us full justice," the crab replied,
"but I'm told they're not fashionable now."
"If you don't mind, we'd like to pass on," said Button-Bright.
"No, I don't mind, but be careful not to step on my legs. They're
rheumatic, it's so moist here."
They climbed over some of the huge legs and walked around others.
Soon they had left the creature far behind. "Aren't you rather
slow?" asked the frog when once more they came up to him.
"It isn't that," said Trot. "You are rather swift, I guess." The
frog chuckled and leaped again. They noticed that the fog had caught
a soft rose tint and was lighter and less dense than before, for
which reason the sailor remarked that they must be getting near to
the Pink Country.
On this jump they saw nothing but a monstrous turtle, which lay
asleep with its head and legs drawn into its shell. It was not in
their way, so they hurried on and rejoined the frog, which said to
them, "I'm sorry, but I'm due at the King's Court in a few minutes,
and I can't wait for your short, weak legs to make the journey to
the Pink Country.
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