I am half a fairy , ' replied the frog ; ` but , although I have certain magic gifts , I am not able to do all I wish . And if the Lion Fairy were to know of my presence in her kingdom she would hasten to kill me . ' ` But if you are a fairy , how was it that you were so nearly slain by the crow ? ' said the queen , wrinkling her forehead . ` Because the secret of my power lies in my little cap that is made of rose leaves ; but I had laid it aside for the moment , when that horrible crow pounced upon me . Once it is on my head I fear nothing . But let me repeat ; had it not been for you I could not have escaped death , and if I can do anything to help you , or soften your hard fate , you have only to tell me . ' ` Alas , ' sighed the queen , ' I have been commanded by the Lion Fairy to make her a pasty out of the stings of bees , and , as far as I can discover , there are none here ; as how should there be , seeing there are no flowers for them to feed on ? And , even if there were , how could I catch them ? ' ` Leave it to me , ' said the frog , ' I will manage it for you . ' And , uttering a strange noise , she struck the ground thrice with her foot . In an instant six thousand frogs appeared before her , one of them bearing a little cap . ` Cover yourselves with honey , and hop round by the beehives , ' commanded the frog , putting on the cap which her friend was holding in her mouth . And turning to the queen , he added : ` The Lion Fairy keeps a store of bees in a secret place near to the bottom of the ten thousand steps leading into the upper world . Not that she wants them for herself , but they are sometimes useful to her in punishing her victims . However , this time we will get the better of her . ' Just as she had finished speaking the six thousand frogs returned , looking so strange with bees sticking to every part of them that , sad as she felt , the poor queen could not help laughing . The bees were all so stupefied with what they had eaten that it was possible to draw their stings without hunting them . So , with the help of her friend , the queen soon made ready her pasty and carried it to the Lion Fairy . ` Not enough pepper , ' said the giantess , gulping down large morsels , in order the hide the surprise she felt .
` Well , you have XXXXX this time , and I am glad to find I have got a companion a little more intelligent than the others I have tried .
carried catch commanded escaped feed felt manage replied seeing tell