The motorman and the conductor started forward, but the Equine Ox lowered his horns.
“Never mind that now,” he said to them. “I will give you due notice of my next movements, and on the whole I don’t think I will go at all. I don’t think the Equator will come this way, at all events.”
The conductor and the motorman still advanced, but Billy said:
“I think the Equine Ox is speaking the truth. His eyes look honest.”
“My eyes are honest,” said the Equine Ox. “They never deceived me in my life. But as I was saying, why are you so sorry that you’re small?”
“Because,” said Billy, “I can’t be of any help when things happen.”
“Listen,” said the Equine Ox, and throwing back his head he sang:
THE MELANCHOLY STAR
“A foolish little star I knew, quite petulant and peevish grew,
And all because he thought he was