river. He swam under water to the other side and there spat out the fire on pieces of wood.
Poor Frog! He suffered in the struggle. Never since that day has his tail grown again. Then, too, the brand burned away one of his vocal chords, so that he no longer rivals the birds as he once did. That is why he dislikes fire and even to this day keeps far away from it.
From that time fire has dwelt in wood, and by rubbing two twigs together the animals can always get enough to make themselves comfortable.
"Oh, what a good frog!" exclaimed Juanita.
"Yes, he 's a brave fellow," assented Antonio. "But can you always get fire out of wood by rubbing two sticks together, Wantasson? If I should rub these two pieces of wood, would I get fire?" and he picked up two pieces of firewood.
"You probably would not. But my people start all their fires by twirling wood. Some day I may show you how. But now I see your Señor Padre coming, and I must ask him about this work. You go to that woman Tecla."
As they went off, Juanita exclaimed: "I don't care if frogs don't have tails. And I don't think their voices are so bad. Pobrecito, to have his vocal chord burned away! How it must have hurt!"
