VI TIRED TIM DOES A FAVOR

 In spite of all Ferdinand Frog's teasing, Tired Tim Beaver¹ refused to explain how he happened to know Mr. Frog's secret.

 

To tell the truth, he had guessed the reason why Mr. Frog did not attend the Cedar² Swamp singing-parties. But he hoped that Ferdinand Frog would think that some of the musical Frog family had been talking to him. And he even hinted to Mr. Frog that maybe it would be possible to get him an invitation to the singing-parties.

 

"Do you think you could do that?" Ferdinand Frog asked him with, great eagerness.

 

"I might be able to; but it wouldn't be an easy matter," Tired Tim replied. "And I'd expect you to do something for me, if I went to so much trouble on your account."

 

"I'll do anything for you, in return for an invitation to the Cedar Swamp singing-parties," Ferdinand Frog declared.

 

"Very well!" Tired Tim told him. "I'll go right over to the swamp now. And when I tell 'em a few things, I know they'll want you to join 'em."

 

Ferdinand Frog felt so gay that he stood on his head and waved his feet in the air.

 

"Let's meet here to-morrow night," he suggested.

 

But Tired Tim objected to that plan.

 

"You would be hanging about this place—and singing—for four-and-twenty hours," he grumbled⁴. "It will be a great deal better if we meet on the edge of the swamp."

 

"Just as you wish!" Ferdinand Frog exclaimed. "And since you're going to Cedar Swamp, I'll hop³ along with you, to keep you company."

 

"You forget——" said Tired Tim Beaver——"you forget that you haven't been invited yet."

 

"Have you?" Mr. Frog inquired.

 

"Certainly!" said Tired Tim. And grinning over his shoulder, he swam away.

 

Mr. Frog watched his friend from the shore.

 

"He can't fool me," he muttered. "Tired Tim invited himself. And I've been stupid not to do likewise."

 

On the following night Ferdinand Frog went to the edge of Cedar Swamp, where he waited somewhat impatiently on a log until Tired Tim Beaver joined him.

 

"Well!" Mr. Frog cried. "I'm glad to see you and I hope you've brought my invitation."

 

But Tired Tim wouldn't say yes or no.

 

"If I succeed in getting you into the Cedar Swamp singing-parties will you promise me that you won't sing any more around the lake, or near our pond, either?" he demanded.

 

Ferdinand Frog gave his solemn promise.

 

"Very well, then!" Tired Tim said. "Go along over to the swamp. They're expecting you."

 

When he heard the good news Ferdinand Frog was so delighted that he leaped into the air and kicked his heels together.

 

And then forgetting his solemn promise, he began to bellow⁵ at the top of his voice:

 

"To Cedar Swamp I'll haste away;

Though first I'll sing a song.

My voice I must not waste to-day,

So I'll not keep you long.

I simply want to let you know

I'm much obliged, before I go."

"Don't mention it!" said Tired Tim.

 

"Don't interrupt me, please!" said Ferdinand Frog. "I haven't finished thanking you yet. That's only the first verse."

 

"How many more are there?" Tired Tim inquired with a yawn.

 

"Ninety-nine!" Mr. Frog answered. And he was somewhat surprised—and puzzled—when Tired Tim left him suddenly and plunged⁶ into the underbrush.

 

1 beaver   

n.海狸，河狸

参考例句：

• The hat is made of beaver.这顶帽子是海狸毛皮制的。
• A beaver is an animals with big front teeth.海狸是一种长着大门牙的动物。

2 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

3 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

4 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

5 bellow   

v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道

参考例句：

• The music is so loud that we have to bellow at each other to be heard.音乐的声音实在太大，我们只有彼此大声喊叫才能把话听清。
• After a while,the bull began to bellow in pain.过了一会儿公牛开始痛苦地吼叫。

6 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。