While thus engaged they came to the edge of a wood, and the boy sat down to rest upon an old saw-horse that some woodcutter had left there.
"Why don't you sit down?" he asked the Pumpkinhead.
"Won't it strain my joints?" inquired the other.
"Of course not. It'll rest them," declared the boy.
So Jack tried to sit down; but as soon as he bent his joints farther than usual they gave way altogether, and he came clattering to the ground with such a crash that Tip feared he was entirely ruined.
He rushed to the man, lifted him to his feet, straightened his arms and legs, and felt of his head to see if by chance it had become cracked. But Jack seemed to be in pretty good shape, after all, and Tip said to him:
"I guess you'd better remain standing, hereafter. It seems the safest way."
"Very well, dear father; just as you say," replied the smiling Jack, who had been in no wise confused by his tumble.