Thefrogsighedinfrustrationandsattosulkintherushes.Suddenly,hespottedtwobigeyesstaringathimfromthewater.Thegiantlog-shapedanimalopeneditsmouthandaskedhim,"What are you doing, Frog? Surely there are enough flies right there for a meal."
Thefrogcroakedinsurpriseandleapedawayfromthecrocodile.Thatcreaturecouldswallowhimwholeinamomentwithoutthinkingaboutit!Oncehewasasatisfiedthathewasasafedistanceaway,heanswered."I'm tired of living in swampy waters, and I want to travel to the other side of the river. But if I swim across, the snakes will eat me."
Thecrocodileharrumphedinagreementandsat,thinking,forawhile."Well, if you're afraid of the snakes, I could give you a ride across,"hesuggested.
"Oh no, I don't think so,"Frogansweredquickly."You'd eat me on the way over, or go underwater so the snakes could get me!"
"Now why would I let the snakes get you? I think they're a terrible nuisance with all their hissing and slithering! The river would be much better off without them altogether! Anyway, if you're so worried that I might eat you, you can ride on my tail."
"Okay, it sounds like a good plan to me. Turn around so I can hop on your tail."
Thecrocodilefloppedhistailintothemarshymudandletthefrogclimbon,thenhewaddledouttotheriver.Buthecouldn'tstickhistailintothewaterasarudderbecausethefrogwasonit--andifheputhistailinthewater,thesnakeswouldeatthefrog.Theyclumsilyfloateddownstreamforaways,untilthecrocodilesaid,"Hop onto my back so I can steer straight with my tail."Thefrogmoved,andthejourneysmoothedout.
Fromwherehewassitting,thefrogcouldn'tseemuchexceptthebackofCrocodile'shead."Why don't you hop up on my head so you can see everything around us?"Crocodileinvited.`)