ling be-gins with a T!" said the King. "Do you take me
for a dunce? Go on!"

"I'm a poor man," the Hat-ter went on, "and most things twink-led af-ter
that--but the March Hare said--"

"I didn't," said the March Hare in great haste.

"You did," said the Hat-ter.

"I de-ny it," said the March Hare.

"He de-nies it," said the King: "leave out that part."

"Well, I'm sure the Dor-mouse said--" the Hat-ter went on, with a look
at the Dor-mouse to see if he would de-ny it too, but he was fast
a-sleep.

"Then I cut some more bread and--"

"But what did the Dor-mouse say?" asked one of the ju-ry.

"That I can't tell," said the Hat-ter.

"You must tell or I'll have your head off," said the King.

The wretch-ed Hat-ter dropped his cup and bread, and went down on one
knee.

"I'm a poor man," he be-gan.

"You're a poor speak-er," said the King.

Here one of the guin-ea pigs cheered, and one of the men seized him,
thrust him in-to a bag which tied up with strings, and then sat up-on
it.

"If that's all you know, you may stand down," the King said.

"I'm as low as I can get now," said the Hat-ter; "I'm on the floor as it
is."

"Then you may sit down," the King said.

"I'd like to get through with my tea first," said the Hat-ter with a
look at the Queen who still read the list in her hand.

"You may go," said the King, and the Hat-ter left the court in such
haste that he did not e-ven wait to put his shoes on.

"And just take his head off out-side," the Queen add-ed to one of the
sol-diers, but the Hat-ter was out of sight be-fore the man could get to
the door.

"Call the next wit-ness," said the King.

The next to come was the Duch-ess' cook, and Al-ice guessed who it was
by the way the peo-ple near the door sneezed all at once.

[Illustration]

"Tell what you know of this case," said the King.

"Shan't," said the cook.

The King looked at the White Rab-bit, who said in a low voice, "Your
ma-jes-ty must make her tell."

"Well, if I must, I must," said the King with a sad look. He fold-ed his
arms and frowned at the cook till his eyes were al-most out of sight,
then asked in a stern voice, "What are tarts made of?"

"Pep-per, most-ly," said the cook.

"Sug-ar," said a weak voice near her.

"Catch that Dor-mouse," the Queen shrieked out. "Off with his head! Turn
him out of court! Pinch him! Off with his head!"

The whole court ran here and there, get-ting the Dor-mouse turned out,
and by the t