something quite different.'

'Well, suppose you say that I said that she said something quite
different, I don't see that it makes any difference; because if
she said what you said I said she said, it's just the same as if
I said what she said she said. On the other hand, if you think
she said that you were to uncoil me with a scoop, instead of
pawing me into drops with a shell, I can't help that, can I?'

'But you said you wanted to be scooped out of your shell with my
paw,' said Painted Jaguar.

'If you'll think again you'll find that I didn't say anything of
the kind. I said that your mother said that you were to scoop me
out of my shell,' said Slow-and-Solid.

'What will happen if I do?' said the Jaguar most sniffily and
most cautious.

'I don't know, because I've never been scooped out of my shell
before; but I tell you truly, if you want to see me swim away
you've only got to drop me into the water.

'I don't believe it,' said Painted Jaguar. 'You've mixed up all
the things my mother told me to do with the things that you asked
me whether I was sure that she didn't say, till I don't know
whether I'm on my head or my painted tail; and now you come and
tell me something I can understand, and it makes me more mixy
than before. My mother told me that I was to drop one of you two
into the water, and as you seem so anxious to be dropped I think