The Natterjack now led them, faster and faster as the song grew louder, hippy-hoppy, hurry-scurry, bumping against the snails and spiders, starting the flies and beetles, and rousing every sleeper in the grass.
Small wonder that they soon encountered trouble.
They wakened the King Toad.
Since you last knew him, the King Toad has grown. His waist is fourteen inches. His mouth could welcome three small toads abreast.
The fire-toads crouched in front of him (the mouth seemed very wide); even the Natterjack hung back, and waited to be spoken to.
Ten minutes passed, and then the King Toad spoke, in slow, imperial-measured tones.
"Who are you?" said he, and fixed his royal eye on Bombinator.
Bombinator's mouth was flattened to the ground, and his reply was indistinct.
"Speak louder," said the King Toad.
But Bombinator kept his head. If he spoke louder he must move, and, if he moved, he might be swallowed.