Black Tales for White Children

by C. H. Stigand; Nancy Yulee Stigand

So he said, "That water you brought me smelt of frogs. I want water from a lake in which there are no frogs."

So she took a water jar, and putting it on her head went forth, and he, taking his sword and putting it over his shoulder, went after her, and followed at a distance to see what she would do.

And she travelled on and on till she came to a big lake and said to herself, "Perhaps this water will do." So she sang—

"My husband has sent me out to draw
Water no frog has touched with his claw."

And the frogs answered, "K—r—r—r, K—r—r—r."

So she took her water jar and travelled on and on till she came to another big lake and sang again—

"My husband has sent me out to draw
Water no frog has touched with his claw."

"K—r—r—r, K—r—r—r."

So she travelled on and on, and her husband followed, watching from behind, and every lake she came to and sang the frogs only answered, "K—r—r—r, K—r—r—r."

At last she came to a great lake, and there she sang—