Cow Island

'Which makes 17 across?' 'Rope!' sighed Horace. 'It is!' mooed Captain Bill. 'This is brilliant! I don't know why I didn't think of this before. It's sooooo much better than noughts and crosses.' 'But all the answers are the same.' 'So far!' replied Captain Bill. 'But we're only halfway through.' 'But it's your crossword,' said Horace. 'It's your crossword, in your magazine. You compiled it! You must know all the answers.' 'It was a while ago,' replied Captain Bill. 'There might be a surprise or two along the way. Now, 21 down...' 'It's rope!' said Horace. 'I've not even read the clue out yet!' exclaimed Captain Bill. '4 letters?' 'Rope!' muttered Horace. 'Rhymes with dope but with one of the letters replaced by an 'r'.' 'Rope!' said Horace. '..........................................

'Just a couple of games?' suggested Captain Bill. 'No thanks,' replied Horace. 'You could be noughts this time,' continued Captain Bill, 'I wouldn't mind.' 'No really,' replied Horace, 'I'm fine.' 'Soooooooooooooooooo, what are you writing?' 'It's a poem,' replied Horace. 'It's the same one that I was writing 10 minutes ago...when you last asked me.' 'Not finished it yet then?' asked Captain Bill. 'No!' replied Horace. '..................................................................................................Need any help?' 'I'm fine!' 'Sure?' 'Yes!' '...........................................What's it about?' 'The futility of the individual's struggle against inevitable death,' replied Horace. 'Right,' mooed Captain Bill. '...................................You don't ...