“‘Because you began in the middle.’
“‘How could any one begin in the middle? The place where you begin is the beginning!’
“‘Well, what made you go through there, anyway?’ asked the Captain. (He wasn’t quite sure whether the beginning was the middle or the end or the other end, he felt so tangled up.)
“‘I didn’t go through,’ insisted the Skipper. ‘Didn’t I just tell you?’
“‘Then, will you tell me what you did do?’
“‘I starrted to go.’
“‘Why?’
“‘Why does a hen run across the road?’ asked the Skipper.
“‘To get to the other side,’ answered the Captain; and, ‘Because she can’t go ’round it,’ said Taffy.
“‘Which is it?’ asked the Captain.