Childrens Classics in Dramatic Form | Page 8

crabs over there! It makes me
hungry just to see them! Now if I could only swim! Or if I could walk
on water! Or if I had a little canoe!
[Enter the CAMEL. _The Jackal whispers to himself._]
Aha! Now I know the way to get across.
(_To the Camel._)
Such news as I have for you, dear friend!
CAMEL. Must I guess?
JACKAL. No, I'll tell you this time. Listen: I know a spot where the
sugar-cane grows thick.
CAMEL. Tell me! I cannot wait! Tell me!
JACKAL. I cannot. I'll have to show you. It is on the other side of the
river.
CAMEL. Why, then, I'll swim across and take you on my back.

JACKAL. Just the very thing!
CAMEL. Come, then! It makes me hungry just to hear of sugar-cane.
[_He kneels for the Jackal to get upon his back._]
SCENE II
TIME: _a little later._ PLACE: _the sugar-cane field._
* * * * *
THE JACKAL. THE CAMEL. FARMER. BOYS.
* * * * *
[The CAMEL _eats the sugar-cane. The_ JACKAL _comes running
into the field._]
CAMEL. What! Have you finished your crabs?
JACKAL. I cannot eat another one! Are you not ready to go?
CAMEL. Ready! Why, I have just begun.
JACKAL. I'll wait for you outside the field, then.
[_The Camel nods and disappears among the cane._]
Now I do not wish to wait for him. I am in a hurry to get home, I am.
So I'll sing a little song I know. The farmer then will come and drive
the camel out.
[_He goes. Soon he is heard singing in the distance. Enter the_
FARMER and the BOYS _with clubs._]
FARMER. I see no jackal here!
A BOY. I am sure I heard him singing!

ANOTHER BOY. I heard him, too!
FARMER. We must look for him and drive him out.
[The CAMEL _enters, eating cane._]
FIRST BOY. Look, look! A camel!
SECOND BOY. Look, father! A camel!
FARMER (_to Camel_). So it was you who was singing, was it? Drive
him out, boys! Quick! Beat him with your clubs!
[_They rush upon the Camel and beat him as he runs from the field._]
SCENE III
TIME: _a little later._ PLACE: _the west bank of the river._
* * * * *
THE JACKAL. THE CAMEL.
* * * * *
[The CAMEL _lies on the bank half dead from his beating. Enter the_
JACKAL.]
JACKAL. Are you ready to go now, friend?
CAMEL. Don't say "friend" to me!
JACKAL. Why do you speak so strangely?
CAMEL. Why did you sing so strangely?
[Illustration]
JACKAL. Oh, I don't know why! I always sing after dinner.

CAMEL. Ah! Well, let us go.
[_He kneels. The Jackal gets on his back. The Camel rises and enters
the river. He swims to the middle of the river and stops._]
JACKAL. Why do you stop?
CAMEL. I have such a strange, strange feeling.
JACKAL. Well, swim on. You need not stop!
CAMEL. I feel as if I must roll over.
JACKAL. Roll over! If you do, I shall be drowned!
CAMEL. Exactly. But still I have that feeling.
JACKAL. Now that is nonsense! Why should you roll over?
CAMEL. Oh, I don't know why! I always roll over after dinner.
[_He rolls over._]

THE ENDLESS TALE
TIME: _a long time ago._ PLACE: _the King's palace._
* * * * *
KING. PRINCESS. FIRST STORY-TELLER. SECOND
STORY-TELLER. LORDS AND LADIES. GUARDS.
* * * * *
[The KING _sits on a cushion in the great hall. The_ PRINCESS _sits
on a cushion by him. In front of them sits the_ FIRST
STORY-TELLER. The LORDS and LADIES _sit near by._]

STORY-TELLER. "Then the prince married the princess and they were
happy forever and ever."
[_There is a pause._]
KING. Go on!
(_The Story-Teller hangs his head._)
Go on, I say!
STORY-TELLER. That is all, your Majesty.
KING. All!
STORY-TELLER. The prince married the princess. There is nothing
more to tell.
KING. I cannot bear so short a story!
PRINCESS. Why, father; for three months we have listened to it!
KING. 'Tis short, I say! I bid you make it longer, sir!
STORY-TELLER. I cannot, Sire. The prince married the princess.
There is nothing--
KING. Throw him out of the palace, guards! Cut off his head!
[_Guards seize the Story-Teller._]
PRINCESS. Father!
LORDS. Your Majesty!
LADIES. Sire!
PRINCESS. Spare his life!

STORY-TELLER. Let me keep my head, Sire!
KING. Why should you keep it? You do not use it.
STORY-TELLER. For three months I have used it, Sire!
KING. Your story is too short, I say! Away with him, guards! Away!
(_Guards take out the First Story-Teller._)
Bid another Story-Teller come!
(A guard admits the SECOND STORY-TELLER, _who bows before
the King and Princess._)
Sir, hear me. You must tell