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Africa. He meant spots on your skin.'

'What's the use of that?' said the Leopard.

'Think of Giraffe,' said the Ethiopian. 'Or if you prefer
stripes, think of Zebra. They find their spots and stripes give
them per-feet satisfaction.'

'Umm,' said the Leopard. 'I wouldn't look like Zebra--not for
ever so.'

'Well, make up your mind,' said the Ethiopian, 'because I'd hate
to go hunting without you, but I must if you insist on looking
like a sun-flower against a tarred fence.'

'I'll take spots, then,' said the Leopard; 'but don't make 'em
too vulgar-big. I wouldn't look like Giraffe--not for ever so.'

'I'll make 'em with the tips of my fingers,' said the Ethiopian.
'There's plenty of black left on my skin still. Stand over!'

Then the Ethiopian put his five fingers close together (there was
plenty of black left on his new skin still) and pressed them all
over the Leopard, and wherever the five fingers touched they left
five little black marks, all close together. You can see them
on any Leopard's skin you like, Best Beloved. Sometimes the
fingers slipped and the marks got a little blurred; but if you
look closely at any Leopard now you will see that there are
always five spots--off five fat black finger-tips.

'Now you are a beauty!' said the Ethiopian. 'You can lie out on
the bare ground and look like a heap of pebbles. You can lie out
on the naked rocks and look like a piece of pudding-stone. You
can lie out on a leafy branch and look like sunshine sifting
through the leaves; and you can lie right across the centre of a
path and look like nothing in particular. Think of that and
purr!'

'But if I'm all this,' said the Leopard, 'why didn't you go
spotty too?'

'Oh, plain black's best for a nigger,' said the Ethiopian. 'Now
come along and we'll see if we can't get even with Mr. One-Two-
Three-Where's-your-Breakfast!'

So they went away and lived happily ever afterward, Best Beloved.
That is all.

Oh, now and then you will hear grown-ups say, 'Can the Ethiopian
change his skin or the Leopard his spots?' I don't think even
grown-ups would keep on saying such a silly thing if the Leopard
and the Ethiopian hadn't done it once--do you? But they will
never do it again, Best Beloved. They are quite contented as
they are.


I AM the Most Wise Baviaan, saying in most wise tones,
'Let us melt into the landscape--just us two by our lones.'
People have come--in a carriage--calling. But Mummy is there....
Yes, I can go if you take me--Nurse says she don't care.
Let's go up to the pig-sties and sit on the farmyard rails!
Let's say things to the bunnies, and watch 'em skitter their tails!
Let's--oh, anything, daddy, so long as it's you and me,
And going truly exploring, and not being in till tea!
Here's your boots (I've brought 'em), and here's your cap and stick,
And here's your pipe and tobacco.

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