"I began holding my breath right after sunset," he said, "and it was so easy that I fell asleep. And I never breathed once all night long, until I awoke at day-break."
The news delighted Mr. Frog.
"Good!" he cried. "And now there's one more thing you must do before you take a mud bath. You must learn to breathe through your skin. . . . Just try right now," he urged his companion.
So Long Bill tried to breathe through his skin, while holding his breath at the same time.
And soon he began to sputter and choke.
"I'm afraid I can't do it," he faltered at last.
Mr. Frog looked somewhat glum—for a moment.
He pondered in silence. And at length he declared that without doubt there must be something wrong with Long Bill's skin!
"How long have you worn it?" he inquired.
"All my life!" Long Bill told him.