Page:Poor Cecco - 1925.djvu/28

20 humping his back and waving his long tail from side to side while he admired his shadow on the ground. But just as he was nicely balanced on tiptoe, making the last and most beautiful camel of all, Poor Cecco wriggled out from behind the flower-pot, took a flying jump and landed, with all his joints rattling, right on Murrum’s nose!

Murrum gave one terrible yowl and flew off down the garden path and over the wall, with his tail as big as a saucepan handle.

Poor Cecco lay on the ground and laughed, all his four legs sprawling and one ear still cocked up.

“Where did you come from?” asked the Toad, rubbing his head, which Poor Cecco had narrowly escaped kicking.

“Hinksman!” said Poor Cecco, which means: “I won’t tell you!”

“I suppose you think that’s clever!” said the Toad, still rubbing his head, for he was quite annoyed, and moreover his spectacles had nearly dropped off with fright. “Respectable people hop on the ground, and don’t go dropping out of the skies like that. If you think you’re an airplane say so at once, and then at least one is warned!”

And he turned his back and began to shuffle away along the edge of the flower-border.

“Don’t be in such a hurry!” said Poor Cecco.