could fly. If I
could, I wouldn't spend all my time flying around the way Flitter
does. I'd go on long journeys and see the Great World. I'd fly way,
way up in the blue, blue sky, the way Ol' Mistah Buzzard does, where I
could look down and see all that is going on in the Green Forest and
on the Green Meadows. And I'd fly in the daytime, because there is
more going on then. I wonder, now, why it is that Flitter never comes
out until after jolly, round, red Mr. Sun has gone to bed behind the
Purple Hills. I never see him in the daytime, and I don't even know
where he keeps himself. I never thought of it before, but I wonder why
it is that he flies only at night. I believe I'll ask Grandfather Frog
the very next time I see him."

Now you know that once Peter Rabbit's curiosity is aroused, it just
has to be satisfied. No sooner did he begin to wonder about Flitter
the Bat than he could think of nothing else. So he watched until the
way was clear, and then he started for the Smiling Pool as fast as he
could go, lipperty-lipperty-lip. He hoped he would find Grandfather
Frog sitting as usual on his big green lily-pad, and that he would be
good-natured. If he wasn't feeling good-natured, it would be of no use
to ask him for a story.

When Peter reached the Smiling Pool he was disappointed, terribly
disappointed. The big green lily-pad was there, but there was no one
sitting on it. Somehow the Smiling Pool didn't seem quite like itself
without Grandfather Frog sitting there watching for foolish green
flies. Peter's face showed just how disappointed he felt. He was just
going to turn away when a great, deep voice said:

"Chug-a-rum! Where are your manners, Peter Rabbit, that you forget to
speak to your elders?"

Peter stared eagerly into the Smiling Pool, and presently he saw two
great, goggly eyes and the top of a green head, way out almost in the
middle of the Smiling Pool. It was Grandfather Frog himself, having
his morning swim.

"Oh, Grandfather Frog, I didn't see you at all!" cried Peter, "If I
had, of course I would have spoken. The fact is, I--I--"

"You want a story," finished Grandfather Frog for him. "You can't fool
me, Peter Rabbit. You came over here just to ask me for a story. I
know you, Peter! I know you! Well, what is it this time?"

"If you please," replied Peter politely and happily, for he saw that
Grandfather Frog was feeling good-natured, "why is it that Flitter
the Bat flies only at night?"

Gr