"Didn't I tell you so?" said the old frog. "If this place had moved, we
would have known it."
This served to open the conversation. While talking, Rabbit held the
glass so the frogs could see themselves. He told them it was a
soul-drawing machine, and that by looking into it the soul would come
out of the body and go behind the glass.
"Do you know," said Rabbit, "why Mr. Snake swallows so many of you? It
is simply to get your souls. As the soul is in the body, he must
swallow the body, also. Let him see that the soul is out of the body,
and he will no longer bother the body, but go after the soul. If the
soul is behind the glass, he can't get it. So you see, gentlemen, every
frog should have a glass. All he has to do is to carry the glass with
him, and, when Mr. Snake comes, just hold it up so as to see himself.
Mr. Snake, seeing the soul out of his reach, will scamper off."
All agreed with Rabbit, but wanted to know where glasses sufficient for
all could be had.
"Ah," said Rabbit, "that is my business here. I have come to build a
factory for making them. All you have to do is to turn the wheel I will
make. This wheel will turn the mill and out will come the glasses. There
will be no charges."
The frogs agreed to turn the wheel as long as needed. Then Rabbit built
a watermill for grinding wheat and corn, and put the wheel above the
water. The frogs knew no better.
"In order to turn the wheel," said Mr. Rabbit, "you frogs must be
divided into as many bands as there are paddles to the wheel. The first
band must jump upon a paddle and force it down, then jump into the water
and swim to shore ready for the next turn. Each band must do so in turn,
and the wheel will go round. There are several things you must do. You
must not be seen until I give the signal. Then you must come, start the
wheel, and keep it going until I tell you to stop. At the second signal
you must bellow as loudly as you can, or your souls will be so long in
getting behind the glass that Mr. Snake will catch them. On the third
signal you must dance as you come around, or the glass will be easily
broken."
All agreed, and said there should not be a single hitch in the
programme.
Then Rabbit sent for his father-in-law to come, and bring his wheat with
him. He did so; but laughed at Rabbit's mill-wheel.
"The wheat will be ground," said Rabbit, approaching the water and
giving the signal agreed upon with the frogs.
At the first signal the frogs came by hundreds and sent the wheel over
and over again in great haste. At the second signal they began to
bellow; and, at the third, to dance. This procedure was continued, and
in a short time the wheat was all ground.
"Now," said Mr. Rabbit, "I am not a member of the family as yet, but see
what a means of income I am. How will it be further on? By the way, my
father-in-law-to-be, how do you like the wedding-march my slaves are
playing for me?"
"Very well, my son Rabbit, very well," said the old gentleman. "Come,
let us have the ceremony." They then proceeded to the magistrate, when
Mr. Rabbit and the young lady were duly wedded.
What became of the mill? Mr. Rabbit cared nothing for a cheap affair
like that when he had succeeded in securing a pretty wife and rich
father-in-law.
What about the frogs?
There is no telling how long they turned the wheel, bellowed, and
danced; or how they got the glasses from between the millstones.