the water once again and I'll practice that side-stroke which you
say is so easy.' And so Stickly-Prickly practiced, and Slow-Solid
swam alongside.

'Excellent!' said Slow-and-Solid. 'A little more practice will
make you a regular whale. Now, if I may trouble you to unlace my
back and front plates two holes more, I'll try that fascinating
bend that you say is so easy. Won't Painted Jaguar be surprised!'

'Excellent!' said Stickly-Prickly, all wet from the turbid
Amazon. 'I declare, I shouldn't know you from one of my own
family. Two holes, I think, you said? A little more expression,
please, and don't grunt quite so much, or Painted Jaguar may hear
us. When you've finished, I want to try that long dive which you
say is so easy. Won't Painted Jaguar be surprised!'

And so Stickly-Prickly dived, and Slow-and-Solid dived alongside.

'Excellent!' said Slow-and-Solid. 'A leetle more attention to
holding your breath and you will be able to keep house at the
bottom of the turbid Amazon. Now I'll try that exercise of
putting my hind legs round my ears which you say is so peculiarly
comfortable. Won't Painted Jaguar be surprised!'

'Excellent!' said Stickly-Prickly. 'But it's straining your
back-plates a little. They are all overlapping now, instead of
lying side by side.'

'Oh, that's the result of exercise,' said Slow-and-Solid. 'I've
noticed that your prickles seem to be melting into one another,