16 THE MAGIC OAK TREE

the top, Hurly-Burly and the nurse saw at
the same moment that the bank sloped
down on the other side, and that immediately
beyond it was a pond and a quantity of
marshy ground around it, which was just tte
sort of place for an honest frog to delight
in. As soon as they saw it, the little frogs,
whose instinct had clearly told them where
this place was, all gave a croak of pleasure,
and hopped merrily down the bank towards
the water, whilst little Hurly-Burly and the
nurse stood upon the top of the bank watch-
ing their proceedings. With a hop, jump,
and splash each frog leaped into the water
and all began to croak with delight as if
they had been used to it all their lives, and
desired nothing better than their present
condition. There were plenty more frogs
there, so exactly like the new-comers, that
it was impossible to tell the difference, and
both Hurly-Burly and his nurse soon left off
trying to do so;. they stood still for some
time, gazing on the water before them, until
the nurse, feeling rather tired after her long
walk, thought it would be a pleasant thing
to sit down, and observing a heap of dry
leaves near some rushes which grew on the