He had scarcely finished speaking when he had a great fright. For Mr. Cricket Frog did not answer him. Instead he leaped suddenly into the air. And Chirpy Cricket feared that he would fall into the water and be drowned. But when Mr. Cricket Frog came down again he landed squarely upon another lily-pad.
“I caught him,” he said pleasantly.
Chirpy Cricket had no idea what he was talking about.
“Whom did you catch?” he asked.
“The fly!” Mr. Cricket Frog replied.
“Don’t you think you took a great risk, leaping above the water like that?” Chirpy inquired. “Aren’t you worried for fear you’ll fall into the pond some day, if you jump for flies in that careless fashion?”
Mr. Cricket Frog tried not to smile.
“Bless you!” he exclaimed. “I spend half my time in the water. Please don’t think I’m boasting when I say I’m a fine swimmer. You’ll understand why when you look at my feet.” And he held up a foot so that Chirpy Cricket might see it.
Chirpy noticed that there were webs between Mr. Cricket Frog’s toes. And everybody knows that webbed feet are the best for swimming.
Mr. Cricket Frog wanted to be agreeable. “Would you like to see me swim?” he asked.