“Suppose they are horns,” the Bison sniffed. “They grow too queerly to please me. As for his feet; look at them. Do any but turtles have feet like those?”
“But he has horns and two of them,” the Mammoth insisted. “You said so and all can see that you spoke the truth. And now, Moo Hoo with the loud voice, be warned. Use well-chosen words when you speak of the Rhinoceros. He fights silently, but one thrust is usually enough; and if he needs help, I stand beside him.”
No answer. The Mammoth gazed about him with the air of one whose manner of argument is beyond dispute.
“Good; we have heard all that is to be said. The Woolly Rhinoceros can consider himself a full-fledged Moo Hoo from nose to tail. With his help, I intend to preserve order and keep the peace. From now on, quarrelsome and other objectionable characters will be severely dealt with.” He glanced meaningly at the Moose and Bison.
The two trouble-makers thus designated, put their heads together for a moment; then the Bison turned and faced the Mammoth. His eyes sparkled as with the thought of sweet revenge soon to be meted out to his detested rivals.
“So say all of us,” he bawled loudly: “Objectionable characters must be punished. Is it not so?”
He glanced from one face to another amid low murmurs of approval. The Mammoth hesitated before this sudden outburst. In the other’s sneering manner, he sensed mischief directed against the Rhinoceros and himself.
“Quite so,” he cautiously admitted. “To what or whom do you refer? It will be duly considered by one and all of us.”
“We demand action, not mere words,” the Bison roared. “Our leaders and fighters must play the part of their own choosing. I insist that the Mammoth and Rhinoceros do their duty or be cast out into the snow as cowards and braggarts.”
On hearing himself thus fiercely arraigned, Wulli lurched forward and squealed angrily: