Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/88

80 And the last thing they chatted of was about calling at each other's homes and entertaining one another.

Then said the wild-hog, "Now come, you shall visit me first, for I'm the senior." "Yes," said the frog, "that's all right, and not to be gainsaid, for yon are acknowledged to be the elder, and father and mother." So away the pair went, and they came to the wild-hog's dwelling; the meal was ready, and they ate to repletion.

And after a while the time came to go to the frog's dwelling-place. But when they came there and the food was served, there was so little of it that the wild-hog was by no means satisfied. So he grumbled; and after a little while he was angry, for he could not support life with such a meal. Then he spoke thus: "You have been impertinent and insolent to me, you fellow; when you came to visit me I gave you to eat to repletion. But when I come to see you you give me a dog's meal. You want to put me to the test and to defy me, you fellow; so come, let us fight, although we have agreed to share the difficult and the bitter" (for they had made a blood-covenant).

Then said the frog, "Well, if yon so wish, it is all the same to me; I am not in the least afraid, and I will not ask for breathing-time, although I should feel hurt."

Then said the wild-hog, "Come then, let us make an appointment." The frog replied, "All right, just whenever you please, for nobody is to be backward about that." So the wild-hog said, "Come then, let us first try our wind, and strength, and endurance." "Agreed," said the frog.

So the two agreed together that they would race to the top of a high hill. But just as the wild-hog commenced to run, the frog leaped upon his neck; and the wild-hog knew nothing about it, for he did not feel him at all because he was big in the neck, while the frog was so light that his weight did not ruffle a hair. So the wild-hog ran, and raced, and galloped, and fumed; and just when he had arrived at the goal, the frog leaped off, but the wild-hog did not see him get off and come to the place, so he was forced to say, "Why, you fellow, you have done it."