chattering gaily to each other; Mr. Stuckup marched on very pompously;
Ole Man Pumpkin bumped along just in front; the two Corn Soldiers
marched by his side; and a lot of others pricked him from behind with
their sharp, cruel spears.

What were they going to do with him? _That_ was the question.

He was soon to know, for they had reached the edge of the Pond.

"Duck him!" shouted the Little Red Apples in glee.

And the Tall Corn Soldiers seized Jehosophat by the hair on the top of
his head, and shoved him under the water, way under, oh, way, way
under.

"Give me a bite!" said the first Little Red Apple, snapping at their
prisoner's face when he came to the surface again.

"Me, too!" shouted the second.

"A big one for me!" yelled the third, and they all rolled in the water
and bobbed around, bumping up against his face and trying their best
to take a nip out of his cheeks.

He never had known before that apples had teeth, but, sure enough, he
felt them now--there was actually a little piece gone from each side
of his face.

"Great fun, Hallowe'en!" they called to one another as they bobbed
about, still snapping at his cheeks.