26 . LHE MAGIC OAK TREE

like best. Promise me that, and I will do
‘ what I can for you, and trust to your honour
for my payment.’

Hurly-Burly hastened to assure his new
friend that he should certainly be liberally
rewarded in the way of milk for his services,
and again asked him whether he had any
more instructions to give as to his behaviour
when in the forest. The hedgehog looked
at the boy very gravely for a full minute
before he made any answer, and at length
he spoke, very slowly and earnestly : ‘ Under
the third lump of rushes from the spot on
which you now stand,’ he said, ‘you will
find a toad sitting upon a bed of moss.
Take him boldly in your hand. He is
long past spitting, which is the only danger
to be feared from these animals. Moreover,
he is not an ordinary toad, as you will soon
find out. Wrap him up carefully in moss,
and carry him in the pocket of your jacket
until you reach the forest. Then, if you
should be in any difficulty, gently squeeze
him, take him in your right hand, and he
will answer any questions you may wish to
ask him. This is all I have to tell you,
excepting that you must on no account turn