Such hoots and howls , whistles and roars , never woke the echoes of the lonely marsh before , or scared the portly frog who resided there in calm seclusion . He hardly expected any reply but the astonished `` Caw ! '' of the crow , who sat upon a fence watching him with gloomy interest ; and when a cheerful `` Hullo , there ! '' sounded from the lane , he was so grateful that tears of joy rolled down his fat cheeks . `` Come on ! I 'm in the ma ` sh . Lend a hand and get me out ! '' bawled Sam , anxiously waiting for his deliverer to appear , for he could only see a hat bobbing along behind the hazel-bushes that fringed the lane . Steps crashed through the bushes , and then over the wall came an active figure , at the sight of which Sam was almost ready to dive out of sight , for , of all possible boys , who should it be but Ben , the last person in the world whom he would like to have see him in his present pitiful plight . `` Is it you , Sam ? Well , you are in a nice fix ! '' and Ben 's eyes began to twinkle with mischievous merriment , as well they might , for Sam certainly was a spectacle to convulse the soberest person . Perched unsteadily on the gnarled stump , with his muddy legs drawn up , his dismal face splashed with mud , and the whole lower half of his body as black as if he had been dipped in an inkstand , he presented such a comically doleful object that Ben danced about , laughing like a naughty will-o ' - the-wisp who , having led a traveller astray then fell to jeering at him . `` Stop that , or I 'll knock your head off ! '' roared Sam , in a rage . `` Come on and do it ; I give you leave , '' answered Ben , sparring away derisively as the other tottered on his perch , and was forced to hold tight lest he should tumble off . `` Do n't laugh , there 's a good chap , but fish me out somehow , or I shall get my death sitting here all wet and cold , '' whined Sam , changing his tune , and feeling bitterly that Ben had the upper hand now . Ben felt it also ; and , though a very good-natured boy , could not resist the temptation to enjoy this advantage for a moment at least . `` I wo n't laugh if I can help it ; only you do look so like a fat , speckled frog , I may not be able to hold in . I 'll pull you out pretty soon ; but first I 'm going to talk to you , Sam , '' said Ben , sobering down as he took a seat on the little point of land nearest the stranded Samuel .
`` Hurry up , then ; I 'm as stiff as a board now , and it 's no fun XXXXX here on this knotty old thing , '' growled Sam , with a discontented squirm .
Come Do Is bawled crashed leave scared see sitting splashed