“In the water,” answered Mr. Rana, “I take in air through my skin. It is very porous. My skin I mean. It is really a pleasure to tell you things. Now to get back to the beginning, being a tadpole, or, I should say, an egg. Looking at me now, could you imagine that I was once a tiny egg? It’s a fact, though. My mother laid her eggs near some water rushes, and, as I said, these eggs were but tiny specks, black specks enclosed in a gluey case, which the water made swell, until it looked like a mass of jelly. I came from one of those specks, and I tell you I was a lively fellow when I was first hatched. Some people say tadpoles are all head and tail, but there were other parts to me—places for legs, and I know I had two eyes and a mouth. Of course I made the most of life. A whole pond to circle in seemed a mighty big world to me, and I was soon swimming about with a lot of other tads, slapping tails, and having all kinds of fun. Indeed, we were always lively, especially when we were trying to get away from those who wanted us for dinner. There were lots of them too.” “Ugh!” said Ruth, screwing up her face. This displeased Mr. Rana. “A tadpole is very delicate eating,” he said. “You have never tasted one, so you cannot judge; but let that pass. _I_ was not eaten, as you can see for yourself.” “I am glad you were not,” said Ruth as Mr. Rana stopped to swallow some air, “because then I shouldn’t have known you.” [Illustration: “‘I WAS SOON SWIMMING ABOUT WITH A LOT OF OTHER TADS, SLAPPING TAILS, AND HAVING ALL KINDS OF FUN’”] “Well, that’s a fact. Now let me see what comes next. Oh, yes—my legs. Legs, you must know, are very important affairs to a tadpole, because when he gets them he isn’t a tadpole any more; so you may be sure I was happy when I saw mine beginning to grow. At the same time, my tail became shorter and shorter, until at last I had none at all. I was really and truly a frog. After this I was not obliged to stay in the water all the time. I had lungs and could breathe air.” [Illustration: “A LOUD SPLASH AND MR. RANA’S LONG LEGS DISAPPEARED IN THE BROOK”] “But you do go in sometimes,” said Ruth. “I’ve seen you.” “Of course I do,” agreed Mr. Rana. “I must keep my skin wet, and that reminds me it’s pretty dry now, so I will have to leave you. Good-by for the present.” And before Ruth could say a word there was a loud splash and Mr. Rana’s long legs disappeared in the brook. [Illustration: “‘I’M RIGHT OVER HERE IN THE SHADE’”] “Oh, dear, he’s gone!” sighed Ruth. “Yes, and good riddance,” croaked a voice that was not Mr. Rana’s. Ruth looked around quickly. “It’s nice having things talk to you,” she said, “but it keeps you jumping.” “Use your eyes, and you wouldn’t have to jump,” went on the same voice. “I’m right over here in the shade. My blood’s cold, and I can’t stand the hot sun.”