186 The Toad-Boy.

hop,” round and round the stone. When he had
been round ten times and was just ready for the
final jump, the wicked Snake, who had been
watching, suddenly seized him by the leg, and
held him fast. The poor Toad cried with pain
and disappointment; but the next day he came
again, having made up his mind to try once more.
So he began, “‘hop-i-ty, hop-i-ty, hop,” till he had
been round ten times. It took longer this time,
as his poor little leg was lame. Just as he was
about to make the final jump on the stone, out
sprang the Snake again and seized him by the
other leg.

“You are very unkind,” said the poor Toad,
but the Snake only laughed and wriggled away.
The Toad sat there, crying bitterly.

‘“What is the matter?” said a friend who lived
near, and he listened ere to the
story.

‘‘Make one more trial,” he advised, “and I
will help you.”

So on the following morning the Toad com-
ing to the flat stone, began, for the third time, his