"Laugh at their poor joke and tell 'em it's pretty good for a Horner.

Then they won't dare say you have less understanding, because you understand as much as they do." The Hoppers looked at one another questioningly and blinked their eyes and tried to think what it all meant; but they couldn't figure it out.
"What do you think, Champion ?" asked one of them.
"I think it is dangerous to think of this thing any more than we can help," he replied.

"Let us do as this girl says and laugh with the Horners, so as to make them believe we see the joke.

Then there will be peace again and no need to fight." They readily agreed to this and returned to the fence laughing as loud and as hard as they could, although they didn't feel like laughing a bit.

The Horners were much surprised.
"That's a fine joke--for a Horner--and we are much pleased with it," said the Champion, speaking between the pickets.