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If you know so much," she retorted, "why don't you know where your dishpan

is instead of chasing around the country after it?"

Presently," he answered, "I am going where it is, but just now I am traveling

and have had no breakfast. Therefore I honor you by asking you for

something to eat."

Oho! The Great Frogman is hungry as any tramp, is he? Then pick up these

sticks and help me to build the fire," said the woman contemptuously.

Me! The Great Frogman pick up sticks?" he exclaimed in horror. "In the Yip

Country where I am more honored and powerful than any King could be,

people weep with joy when I ask them to feed me."

Then that's the place to go for your breakfast," declared the woman.

I fear you do not realize my importance," urged the Frogman. "Exceeding

wisdom renders me superior to menial duties."

It's a great wonder to me," remarked the woman, carrying her sticks to the

house, "that your wisdom doesn't inform you that you'll get no breakfast

here." And she went in and slammed the door behind her.

The Frogman felt he had been insulted, so he gave a loud croak of indignation

and turned away. After going a short distance, he came upon a faint path

which led across a meadow in the direction of a grove of pretty trees, and

thinking this circle of evergreens must surround a house where perhaps he

would be kindly received, he decided to follow the path. And by and by he

came to the trees, which were set close together, and pushing aside some

branches he found no house inside the circle, but instead a very beautiful

pond of clear water.

Now the Frogman, although he was so big and well educated and now aped

the ways and customs of human beings, was still a frog. As he gazed at this

solitary, deserted pond, his love for water returned to him with irresistible

force. "If I cannot get a breakfast, I may at least have a fine swim," said he,

and pushing his way between the trees, he reached the bank. There he took

off his fine clothing, laying his shiny purple hat and his gold-headed cane

beside it. A moment later, he sprang with one leap into the water and dived to

the very bottom of the pond.

The water was deliciously cool and grateful to his thick, rough skin, and the

Frogman swam around the pond several times before he stopped to rest. Then

The Lost Princess of Oz