They could not run away , and so Stickly-Prickly curled himself up into a ball , because he was a Hedgehog , and Slow-Solid Tortoise drew in his head and feet into his shell as far as they would go , because he was a Tortoise ; and so that was all right , Best Beloved . Do you see ? ` Now attend to me , ' said Painted Jaguar , ` because this is very important . My mother said that when I meet a Hedgehog I am to drop him into the water and then he will uncoil , and when I meet a Tortoise I am to scoop him out of his shell with my paw . Now which of you is Hedgehog and which is Tortoise ? because , to save my spots , I ca n't tell . ' ` Are you sure of what your Mummy told you ? ' said Stickly-Prickly Hedgehog . ` Are you quite sure ? Perhaps she said that when you uncoil a Tortoise you must shell him out the water with a scoop , and when you paw a Hedgehog you must drop him on the shell . ' ` Are you sure of what your Mummy told you ? ' said Slow-and-Solid Tortoise . ` Are you quite sure ? Perhaps she said that when you water a Hedgehog you must drop him into your paw , and when you meet a Tortoise you must shell him till he uncoils . ' ' I do n't think it was at all like that , ' said Painted Jaguar , but he felt a little puzzled ; ` but , please , say it again more distinctly . ' ` When you scoop water with your paw you uncoil it with a Hedgehog , ' said Stickly-Prickly . ` Remember that , because it 's important . ' ` But , ' said the Tortoise , ` when you paw your meat you drop it into a Tortoise with a scoop . Why ca n't you understand ? ' ` You are making my spots ache , ' said Painted Jaguar ; ` and besides , I did n't want your advice at all .
I only wanted to know which of you is XXXXX and which is Tortoise . ' '
Hedgehog Jaguar Mummy Stickly-Prickly Tortoise advice feet head right spots