The night was cold and dark.

“Listen to the wind in the trees,” said Frog. “What a fine time for a ghost story.”

Toad sat deeper into his chair.

“Toad,” asked Frog, “do you like to be scared? Do you like to feel the shivers?”

“I am not too sure,” said Toad.

Frog made some tea. He sat down and began a story.

“When I was little,” said Frog, “my mother and father and I went out for a picnic.

On the way home we lost our way. My mother was worried.

‘We must get home,’ she said. ‘We do not want to meet the Old Dark Frog.’

‘Who is that?’ I asked.

‘A terrible ghost,’ said my father. ‘He comes at night and eats little frog children for supper.’”

Toad drank his tea.

“Frog,” he asked, “did this really happen?”

“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.

“My mother and father went to look for a path,” said Frog. “They told me to wait until they came back. I sat under a tree and waited. The woods became dark. I was afraid. Then I saw two big eyes. It was the Old Dark Frog. He stood near me.”

“Frog,” asked Toad, “did this really happen?”

“Maybe it did and maybe it did not,” said Frog.

Frog went on with his story. “The Dark Frog pulled a jump rope out of his pocket.

‘I am not hungry now,’ said the Dark Frog. ‘I ate too many tasty frog children. But after I jump rope one hundred times, I will be hungry again. Then I will eat YOU!’

The Dark Frog tied one end of the rope to a tree.

‘Turn for me!’ he shouted.

I turned the rope for the Dark Frog.

He jumped twenty times.

‘I am beginning to get hungry,’ said the Dark Frog.

He jumped fifty times.

‘I am hungrier now,’ said the Dark Frog.

He jumped ninety times.

‘I am very hungry now!’ said the Dark Frog.”

“What happened then?” asked Toad.

“I had to save my life,” said Frog. “I ran around and around the tree with the rope. I tied the Old Dark Frog. Then I ran away fast. I found my mother and father. We went home.”

“Frog,” asked Toad, “was it a true story?”

“Maybe it was and maybe it was not,” said Frog.

Frog and Toad sat by the fire. They were afraid. They had the shivers. It was a good, warm feeling.