Legger Snake

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by Ernest Thompson Seton

The Legger Snake and the Googly Frog

The Legger Snake is composed of a score of small boys of graded sizes in close formation, each grasping the belt before him. The first is small, the second the biggest, after which they get smaller to the tail.

The head boy is better with a mask like a Snake, the tail boy with a rattle of gourds or boxes with pebbles tied to his tail. When the Snake's head is to be raised, the second boy lifts the first astride his neck.

The Googly Frog is a very big, fat boy. His face is painted with two huge goggle eyes, and an enormous mouth around under his ears. He hops on all fours.

Setting. Across the stage at 7 or 8 foot intervals lay 3 logs (or more) or benches, each about 2 feet high. Alternate them with bars about 3 feet clear above ground. In foreground have some slight hiding place for the Frog.

When the Snake evolutes he goes in and out among the logs and bars, then over and under the long way, also skinning the snake, and doing any other maneuvers that may prove effective.

Enter Frog with a bombastic manner and thus addresses the spectators:

"I'm the Googly Bull-frog,

The biggest of the Band.

There is no living thing I fear

Upon the sea or land."

I don't know how to be afraid

I ..............

(The Snake appears in the distance, the Frog wilts, changes tone, and cries:

"Oh dear, the Legger Snake!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Hide me--save me!"

(He hides in the brushwood in front to one side.)

(Enter Snake. Raising his head he says:

"I'm the hungry Legger Snake--

So hungry that I'm mad

For when I do get hungry

I get it awful bad.

I have so many stomachs

There's no food I despise.

But the choicest morsel I know

Is a Frog with googly eyes.

(The Frog groans and shivers.)

So now to help my hunter luck

And win a better chance

I stop before I hunting go

And dance the Hunger Dance."

(Here the Snake does all kinds of evolutions while the Frog looks on in terror.)

"Now off I go a-hunting

Across the grassy bog;

I'll take most anything that comes

But want a Googly Frog."

(Then with head erect the Snake moves and peers cautiously around. After once or twice around he spies the trembling Frog, and giving a great hiss, springs at him. He hops out screeching. The Snake pursues him, then after one or two rounds, seizes and rapidly coils around him. The Frog's cries cease. The rattle tail goes up and shakes vigorously. The Snake slowly uncoils and now the Frog has become simply a big link in the middle of the Snake.)

(The Snake head rises up and says:)

"And now my hunger's over

I'm sleepy as a log.

I'm feeling quite contented

'Cause I got that Googly Frog.

In vain he tried to dodge me,

To stop me, or escape.

I downed him whole, and he's the lump

You notice in my shape."

(Snake breaks up, and all run to their seats.)