“Climb up, my grandson,” said Mr. Elephant.
And just then they came toward home.
He put his trunk down for a ladder, and Mr. Frog climbed up. They had not gone very far when Mr. Frog hopped up close to Mr. Elephant’s ear, and he said:
“I am going to fall, grandfather. Give me some small cords from the roadside that I may bind your mouth, and hold myself upon your back.”
“I will, grandson,” said Mr. Elephant.
So Mr. Elephant stripped some small cords from a birch tree by the roadside, and handed them to Mr. Frog. Then Mr. Frog bound Mr. Elephant’s mouth, and they went on a little farther. It was not long, though, before Mr. Frog spoke again to Mr. Elephant.
“Grandfather,” he said, “find me a small, green twig that I may fan the mosquitoes from your ears.”
“I will, grandson,” said Mr. Elephant, so he broke a small, green twig from the birch tree, and reached it up to Mr. Frog; and just then they came toward home.
“See Mr. Elephant,” cried Mr. Hare.