THE ANIMALS ROARED WITH LAUGHTER AT THE GOPHER'S JOKE.
The animals fairly roared and shrieked with laughter. They bellowed and howled and pounded on the table, and the Gopher became so much affected with appreciation of his own wit that he fell over backwards, and almost stunned a Newfoundland puppy who was trying to get his nose above the table to see what it was all about. Tommy had never realized before what the expression "to roar with laughter" really signified, and he concluded he never wanted to experience such a realization again. The noise was so great that he had to put his fingers to his ears. When the merriment had partially subsided, the little boy leaned over to the ex-Pirate and said:
"I have heard that joke before; haven't you?"
"Indeed I have," answered the ex-Pirate, "many a time."
"It's an awfully old one, isn't it?"
"I always suspected it was first gotten off in the Ark," said the ex-Pirate, shaking his head knowingly; "but I did not know the Gopher was responsible for it."
By this time the animals had recovered themselves, and some were shouting to the Gopher for more jokes. He got up and protested that he did not know any more; and then, suddenly pointing to the ex-Pirate, he exclaimed:
"He's a funny one. He can recite things!"
Thereupon the animals all gazed at the ex-Pirate, and the Lion said, "Recite things."