PECULIARITIES OF FRENCH TOADS. 61 



" Well, then," I said, " I will open its mouth, and 

 show you that it has none." 



But before I could touch it I was again dragged 

 away. 



" Teeth come when the toads are fifty years old," 

 was the explanation that was given ; but still the 

 death-sentence had passed in every mind, and I 

 knew that when I moved the poor toad would be 

 killed. 



Just then, some one remarked that tobacco killed 

 toads, if put on their backs. So I took advantage of 

 the assertion, and made a compromise that, on my 

 part, I would not handle the toad ; and that, on 

 theirs, the only mode by which they might kill it was 

 by putting tobacco on it. 



The terms being thus arranged, plenty of tobacco 

 was produced — and very bad tobacco, too, as is 

 generally the case in France ; and, as no one but 

 myself dared come so near, I put about half-an- 

 ounce of the weed on the back of the toad, as it sat 

 in a rut. For a minute or more, the creature sat 

 quite still, and all the party began to exclaim : — 



" See ! the toad is quite dead ! " 



" Ah ! the nasty animal ! " 



" Monsieur Ool ! — (no one ever made a better 

 shot at my name than Ool) — Monsieur Ool ! the 

 toad is dead ! " 



However, the toad rose, shook off all the tobacco, 

 and recommenced his march along the road. The 



