Dot and Tot followed more slowly, for the Captain who escorted them was exceedingly small and walked stiffly, having no joints in his knees. As they trudged along Tot asked the Captain:
"Why do the horses go on wheels?"
"Because they're made that way, I suppose," was the reply.
"Why don't they make 'em to walk on their legs?" continued the boy.
"It would tire them too much," answered the Captain. "Being on platforms, the horses never get tired, you see, for the wheels do all the work."
"Oh!" said Tot, "I see." Then, after a pause, he asked:
"What do you feed 'em?"
"Cotton," answered the Captain. "We keep them quite full of it all the time. That's what makes them look so plump and healthy. What do they feed horses on in your country?"
"Hay," said Tot.
"We tried stuffing ours with hay once," remarked the Captain; "but it made their skins look lumpy, it was so coarse; so now we use cotton altogether."