This more or less feeble joke served to put the three travelers in good humor again. Jimmieboy smiled over it; the sprite snickered, and the major threw himself down on the grass in a perfect paroxysm of laughter. When he had finished he got up again and said: "Well, what are we going to do about it? I propose we attack Fortyforefoot unawares and tie his hands behind his back. Then Jimmieboy will be safe." "You are a wonderfully wise person," retorted the sprite. "How on earth is Fortyforefoot to show his tricks if we tie his hands?" "By means of his tricks," returned the major. "If he is any kind of a magician he'll get his hands free in less than a minute." "Then why tie them at all?" asked the sprite. "I'm not good at conundrums," said the major. "Why?" "I'm sure I don't know," returned the sprite, impatiently. "Then why waste time asking riddles to which you don't know the answer?" roared the major. "You'll have me mad in a minute, and when I'm mad woe be unto him which I'm angry at." "Don't quarrel," said Jimmieboy, stepping between his two friends, with whom it seemed to be impossible to keep peace for any length of time. "If you quarrel I shall leave you both and go back to my company." "Very well," returned the major. "I accept the sprite's apology. But he mustn't do it again. Now as you have chosen to reject my plan of attacking Fortyforefoot and tying his hands, suppose you suggest something better, Mr. Sprite." "I think the safe thing would be for Jimmieboy to wear this invisible coat of mine when in the giant's presence. If Fortyforefoot can't see him he is safe," said the sprite. "I don't see any invisible coat anywhere," said the major. "Where is it?" "Nobody can see it, of course," said the sprite, scornfully. "Do you know what invisible means?" "Yes, I do," retorted the major. "I only pretended I didn't so that I could make you ask the question, which enables me to say that something invisible is something you can't see, like your jokes." "I can make a better joke than you can with my hands tied behind my back," snapped the sprite. "I can't make jokes with your hands tied behind your back, but I can make one with my own hands tied behind my back that Jimmieboy here can see with his eyes shut," said the major, scornfully. "What is it? I like jokes," said Jimmieboy. "Why--er--let me see; why--er--when is a sunbeam sharp?" asked the major, who did not expect to be taken up so quickly. "I don't know; when?" asked Jimmieboy. "When it's a ray, sir. See? Ray, sir--razor. Ha! ha! Pretty good, eh?" laughed the major. "Bad as can be," said the sprite, his nose turned up until it interfered with his eyesight. "Now hear mine, Jimmieboy. When is a joke not a joke?" "Haven't the slightest idea," observed Jimmieboy, after scratching his head and trying to think for a minute or two. "When it's one of the major's," roared the sprite, whereat the woods rang with his laughter.