Why is an elephant long nose? Elephant-Child (Elephant) - the Fairy Tale of Kipiling Reddiard Joseph. Where did the elephant have a long trunk

Rudyard Joseph Kipling

Baby elephant

Tale R. Kipling translated by K. I. Chukovsky. Poems translated by S. Ya. Marshak. Pictures of V. Duvidov.

This is just now, my dear boy, the elephant has a trunk. And before, a long time ago, there was no trunk at an elephant. There was only a nose, sort of like a cashemat, black and magnitude with a shoe. This nose dangled in all directions, but still did not suit anywhere: is it possible to raise something from the ground with such a nose?

But at that time, a long time ago, one such an elephant lived, or, it was better to say, the elephant, who was scary curious, and whom he could see, to everyone sticks with questioning. He lived in Africa, and he praised all Africa with questionings.

He pester to Ostrichich, his long-grade aunt, and asked her, why her on the tail feathers are growing so, and not so, and leaning aunt of Ostrich gave him for that tumak his solid-repatrudal foot.

He pester to his long-legged Uncle Giraf and asked him, why he had a spot on his skins, and the long-legged uncle Giraff gave him to his tumak his solid-pre-final hoof.

And he asked his thick aunt Hipmedy, why she had such red eyes, and a thick aunt Hipmedotic gave him for that tumak his thick-prestable hoof.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

He asked his hairless Uncle Pavian, why all the melons are so sweet, and the hairy uncle Babian gave him the cuff for his shaggy, hairy paw.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

Whatever he saw, whatever he heard, whatever he understood, to anything liked, he immediately asked about everything and immediately received tumaki from all his uncle and aunt.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

And it happened so that one beautiful morning, shortly before the equinox, this very elephant was annoyed and barely, asked about one such thing he had never asked about. He asked:

What does the crocodile go for dinner?

Everything frightened and loudly shouted:

TS-S-S-C!

And immediately, without distant words, Tumaki began to pour on him.

Beyond him for a long time, without a breather, but when they finished beat, he now ran to the bird of a koloiso, sitting in a barbed thorns, and said:

My father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and all my aunt pound me, and all my uncle pounded me for my curiosity, and still I would like to know what a crocodile go for dinner?

And the bird was said to bellolo sad and loud voice:

Go to the shores of the sleepy, flicker, muddy-green river Limpopo; Its coast covered with trees that are cattone on all fever. There you will know everything.

The next morning, when nothing left of the equinox is left, this curious elephant scored bananas - whole hundred pounds! - And sugar cane is also a hundred pounds! - And seventeen greenish melons, from those that crunch on the teeth, wrapped all this on the shoulders and, wishing their cute rations to stay happily, went on the road.

Farewell! He said to them. - I am going to the sleepy, fetid, mute river Limpopo; The shores are covered with trees, which are cattone on all the fever, and there I will know for anything that the crocodile eats at lunch.

And Raigue once again switched his farewell, although he was extremely parting asking them not to worry.

And he left them, slightly swept, but not very surprised. A ate on the road melon, and threw the crusts to the ground, as he had nothing to pick up these crusts. From the city of Graham, he went to Kimberley, from Kimberlaya to Hamu's land, from Hamova land to the east and north and all the way treated with melons, and finally did not come to the sleepy, fetid, mute-green river Limpopo, surrounded by such trees, o What a bird's bird spoken him.

And you need to know, my cute boy, that before that very week, until the very day, until the very hour, before that very minute, our curious elephant never seemed a crocodile and did not even know what it was. Imagine his curiosity!

The first thing that rushed to him in the eye was a two-color python, a rocky snake, wrapped around some kind of rock.

Excuse me, please! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - Have you ever met a crocodile somewhere nearby? It's so easy to get lost here.

Didn't the crocodile met? - disruputely asked two-color python, rocky snakes. - I found about what to ask!

Excuse me, please! - continued the elephant. - Can you not tell me that I eat a crocodile at dinner?

There is a two-color python, a rocky snake, could not resist more, quickly turned around and a huge tail gave an elephant tumak. And his tail was like a thunder and all covered with scales.

Here is miracles! - said Iplenok. - Not only that my father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and my uncle broke me, and my aunt pounds me, and the other my uncle, Babian, pounded me, and my other aunt, Hippo, broke me, and all As it is killed me for a terrible curiosity, - here, as I see, the same story begins.

And he very expectedly said goodbye to the two-color python, a rocky snake, helped him again wrap around the rock and went further; His order was fighting, but he did not really divided this, and again took up the melons and again threw the crusts to the ground - because, I repeat, what would he be raised to raise them? - and soon recreed for some kind of log, which was breathed at the very shores of the sleepy, flicker, mute-green river Limpopo, surrounded by trees, catching at all fever.

But in fact, my cute boy, it was not a log, it was a crocodile. And crocodile winked with one eye - like this!

Excuse me, please! - I was extremely partitioned to it. - Did you happen to meet somewhere nearby in these places of crocodile?

The crocodile has winking with another eye and dried half his tail from the water. Elephant (again, very taking care!) He retreated back, because he did not want to get a new tumak.

Come here, my baby! - said Crocodile. - You, actually, why is it necessary?

Excuse me, please! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - My father pounded me, and my mother broke me, my leaning aunt of Ostrich pounded me, and my long-legged uncle giraffe kicked me, my other aunt, fatugee, pounded me, and my other uncle, a shaggy baboon, kided me, and python Two-meadow, rocky snakes, that's just kicked me hurt, and now - not in the anger whether you are said - I would not want to be killed again.

Come here, my baby, "the crocodile said," because I am a crocodile. "

And he began to shed crocodile tears to show that he was really a crocodile.

Elephant was terribly delighted. He captured the Spirit, he fell on his knees and shouted:

You need you! I wanted you so much days! Tell me, please, rather, do you eat at dinner?

Come closer, I whisper on your ear.

The elephant hit the head close-close to the toothy, cannonous crocodile pasta, and the crocodile grabbed him for a little spout, which is before this very week, before that day, before that hour, before this very minute was no more shoe.

It seems to me, "the crocodile said, and said through his teeth, like this, it seems to me that today I will have elephant on the first dish.

Elephant, my cute boy, didn't like it terribly, and he said through his nose:

Pusdide trouble, dare to beat the Britain! (Let me, I really hurt!)

Here a two-color python, a rocky snake, approached him and said:

If you, about my young friend, you will not immediately eat back, how much your power is enough, then my opinion is such that you do not have time to say "times, two, three!", As a result of your conversation with this leather bag (so He melded the crocodile) you will go there, in that transparent water jet ...

Two-color pythons, rocky snakes, always say so.

Ilonian sat on the rear legs and began to pull back. He pulled, and pulled, and pulled, and his nose began to pull out. And the crocodile stepped away into the water, foamed it, like a bitten cream, heavy tails blows, and also pulled, and pulled, and pulled.

And the nose at the elephant pulled out, and the elephant spread all four legs, such tiny elephant legs, and pulled, and pulled, and pulled, and his nose was pulled out. And the crocodile beat the tail, as an oars, and also pulled, and pulled, and the more he pulled, the longer his nose was pulled out of a misunderstand, and it hurts this nose y, ff-jas-but!

And suddenly the elephant felt that his legs slipped around the ground, and he cried out through his nose, which he became almost five feet in length:

Congue! Castle! I'm more de God!

Hearing this, a two-color python, a rocky snake, rushed down from the cliff, wrapped a double knot around the hind legs of a walker and said:

About inexperienced and frivolous traveler! We must watch how much how much it is possible, for my impression is that this warship with a living screw and an armored deck, "he blews a crocodile, - Wants to ruin your future ...

Two-color pythons, rocky snakes are always expressed like that.

And I pull the snakes, pulls the elephant, but pulls and the crocodile. It pulls, pulls, but since the elephant and a two-color python, rocky snakes, pulls stronger, then the crocodile will eventually have a mischievous nose, and the crocodile will fly back with this splash, which is heard throughout the Limpopo.

And the elephant, as stood, and sat down and hurt himself, but still managed to say a two-color python, a rocky snake, thank you, and then he began to care for his elongated nose: he wrapped it with cold leaves of bananas and lowered a sleepy, turbid-green river into the water Limpopo so that he cooled a little.

What are you doing this? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes.

Sorry, please, - Elephant said, - I lost my former look, and I am waiting for him to be short.

You will have to wait for a long time, "said a two-color python, rocky snakes. - It is surprising, to which other people do not understand their own benefit!

The elephant she promoted over the water three days and everything was waiting for everything, he would not be shorter. However, the nose did not become shorter, and - moreover, because of this nose, the elephant's eyes became a little oblique.

Because, my cute boy, you hope you have already guessed that the crocodile pulled the nose in the very fake trunk - exactly what everyone's current elephants are.

By the end of the third day, some fly flew and stroked the elephant in the shoulder, and he himself, not noticing what he was doing, raised a trunk and slammed his fly.

Here you and the first benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - Well, reason why myself: Could you do something like your former pin nose? By the way, do you want to eat?

And the elephant, he himself is not knowing how it came out of him, stretched the trunk to the ground, threw a good bunch of grass, slapped them about the front legs to shook the dust from him, and immediately put himself in his mouth.

So you and the second benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your former pin nose! By the way, did you notice that the sun became too sealed?

Perhaps so! - said Iplenok.

And, without knowing how he came out, he threw his trunk from the sleepy, silent, mild-green river Limpopo a little Ilu and slammed him on his head; Wet Il got sick into the cake, and behind the ears, the elephant water flows were flowed.

Here is the third benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your former pin nose! And, by the way, what are you now thinking about Tumakov?

Sorry, please, - said elephant, - but I, right, I do not like Tumakov.

And bloat someone else? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes.

This is me with joy! - said Iplenok.

You still do not know your nose! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - It's just a treasure, not nose. Swells anyone.

Thank you, "the elephant said," I will take this note. " And now I have to go home. I will go to Mile Raisters and check my nose.

And walked elephant in Africa, amusing and waving a trunk.

He wants fruit to him - he breaks them straight from the tree, and not standing and does not expect, as before, so that they fell to the ground. He will want her herbs - he tears her straight from the ground, and does not scatter on his knees, as happened. Flies do it - he will break the branch from the tree and waves it like a fan. It takes up the sun - he will lower his trunk into the river, and here he has a cold, wet baggage. It's boring to him alone without a business in Africa - he plays a trunk of a song, and a trunk of him where the casual hundred copper pipes.

He deliberately rolled off the road to find a hippopoty hat (she was not even his relative), to break her well and check it, whether he told him a two-color python, a rocky snake, about his new nose. Having climbed the Hippo, he went on the same road and picked up with the Earth those melon peels that scattered along the way to Limpopo, because he was a chop-blooded.

It was already dark when he came home to his cute relatives. He turned the trunk in the ring and said:

Hello! How are you?

They were terribly delighted and now they said in one voice:

Look, come here, here we will give you Tumakov for the irresistible curiosity!

Eh, you! - said Iplenok. - You are a lot of sense in Tumakov! So I understand this business. Want, show?

And he turned his trunk, and immediately two of his cute brother flew up from him upside down.

Swear bananas! They shouted. - Where did you hurt so much and what's your nose?

I have a new nose, and gave me his crocodile on a sleepy, flicker, muddy green river Limpopo, "the elephant said. "I started a conversation with him that he eats at dinner, and he gave me a new nose for memory.

Non-shaped nose! - said hairy, shaggy uncle Pavian.

Perhaps, "the elephant said. - But useful!

And he grabbed the hairless Uncle Pavian for her hairy feet and, swinging, threw a nest into an aspen.

And so this unknown elephant was separated, which was allocated to one of his lovely relatives. He beat them, beat, so it was hot, and they looked at him with amazement. He pulled out an ostrich in a lad gun almost all of her tail feathers; He grasped a long-legged Uncle Giraffe for his back leg and his tops on the prickly throat bushes; He woke up a loud cry his thick aunt Hipmedotic when she slept after dinner, and began to let her go straight into the ear bubble, but did not allow anyone to offend the Bird Bellolo.

It came to the point that all his parents - who earlier, who later went to the sleepy, flicker, mild-green river Limpopo, surrounded by trees that hit the fever to and prevented the crocodile in the same nose.

Returning, no one no longer gave Tumakov to anyone, and since that time, my boy, in all the elephants, which you will ever see, and those whom you will never see, everyone is completely such a trunk, like this Curious elephant.

^ I have a seven servants,

Prompt, removed,

And all that I see around, -

I know everything from them.

They are my sign

Are in need.

Name them: how and why

Who is that when and where.

I am in the seas and forests

Chasing faithful servants.

Then I work myself,

And I give leisure.

I'm in the morning when I get up

Always take care of work

And I give them freedom -

Let eat and drink.

But I have a cute friend,

Party of young years.

She serve hundreds of thousands of servants -

And there is no rest.

She chases dogs,

In bad weather, rain and darkness

Five thousand where, seven thousand how,

One hundred thousand why!

In remote times, my lovely, the elephant had no trunk. He had only a blacknous thick nose, a magnitude with his boot, which was shot from the side to the side, and could not raise them the elephant. But one elephant, a young elephant, an elephant, who was distinguished by restless curiosity, appeared in the world, who was restlessly asked any questions. He lived in Africa and overwhelmed all Africa with his curiosity. He asked his high uncle of Ostrich, why his feathers are growing on the tail; High uncle Ostrich for it beat it with its solid-cutter paw. He asked his high aunt Giraf, why her skin was spotted; High aunt Giraffe for this beat him with his hard-turning hoof. Nevertheless, curiosity did not get it!

He asked his thick uncle of the Hippopotam, why he had red eyes; Thick uncle Hippopotes for it beat him with his wide-reproach hoof. He asked his hairless Uncle Babian, why melons have such, and not a different taste; Hairy uncle Pavian for it beat him with his shaggy-premunted hand. Nevertheless, curiosity did not get it! He asked questions about everything that he saw, I heard, I tried, Nyukhal, suck, and all uncle and aunt for that beat him. Nevertheless, curiosity did not get it!

One beautiful morning before the Spring Equinox, the restless elephant asked a new strange question. He asked:

What is the crocodile for lunch?

Everything loudly shouted "Shhch" and began to strike him for a long time.

When she finally left him alone, the elephant saw the bird of a column, sitting on a black bush, and said:

Father beat me, mother beat me, uncle and auntie beat me for "restless curiosity", and I still want to know that the crocodile happens for lunch!

Bird Kolo-Cole grimly painted him in response:

Go to the shore of a big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees of fever grow, and look at himself!

The next morning, when the equinox has already ended, the restless elephant took one hundred pounds of bananas (small with red skin), one hundred pounds of sugar cane (long with a dark crust) and seventeen melons (green, crunchy) and stated to his pretty parents:

Farewell! I go to the big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees of fever grow to find out that the crocodile happens for lunch.

He left, a little hot, but not at all surprised. On the road, he ate melon, and threw the peel, because he could not pick them up.

He walked, she walked to the northeast and ate melons until he came to the shore of a big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees are growing to the devils, as a bird Kolo-Kolo said.

It is necessary to tell you, my lovely, that before that very week, until the very day, before the hour, before that very minute, the restless elephant never seemed a crocodile and did not even know how he looks like.

The first who came to the elephant on the eyes, was a two-color Python (a huge snake), which was gratifying around a rocky block.

Sorry, "Elephant said politely," did you see the crocodile in these edges?

Did I see the crocodile? - Angrily exclaimed Python. - What a question?

Sorry, - repeated the elephant, - but can you tell me that the crocodile happens for lunch?

Two-color Python instantly turned around and began to beat the elephant with his heavy-charming tail.

Strange! - noticed elephant. - Father and mother, native uncle and native aunt, not to mention another uncle Hippopotamus and the third uncle Pavian, all beat me for "restless curiosity." Probably, and now it gets me for it.

He politely said goodbye to Python, helped him wander around the rocky blister and went further, a little hot, but not at all surprised. On the road, he ate melon, and threw the peel, because he could not pick them up. At the very shore of the big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, he stepped on something that seemed to him a log.

However, in reality it was a crocodile. Yes, my lovely. And the crocodile winked the eye - like this.

Sorry, "Elephant said politely," did you happen in these parts to meet a crocodile?

Then the crocodile narrowed another eye and the tail was half the tail of Tina. Ilonenok politely backed up; He did not want to beat him again.

Come here, baby, "the crocodile said.

Why are you asking about this?

Sorry, "Elephant replied politely," But my father beat me, my mother beat me, not to mention the uncle of Ostrich and Tete Girafe, who hesitated the same hurt, like uncle Hippo and Uncle Pavian. I even beat me here on the shores of a two-color python, and he brings it with his heavy-charming tail more than all of them. If you don't care, then, please, at least you do not beat me.

This is just now, my dear boy, the elephant has a trunk. And before, long ago, long ago, there was no trunk at the elephant. There was only a nose, sort of like a cashemat, black and magnitude with a shoe. This nose dangled in all directions, but still did not suit anywhere: is it possible to raise something from the ground with such a nose?

But at that time, a long time ago, one such an elephant lived. - Or it is better to say: the elephant, which was scary curious, and who happened, would see, to everyone sticks to everyone. He lived in Africa, and he praised all Africa with questionings.

He pester to Ostrichich, his long-grade aunt, and asked her, why her on the tail feathers are growing so, and not otherwise, leaning aunt of Ostrich gave him for this Tumak his solid-repatrudal foot.

He pester to his long-legged guy of Giraf and asked him why he had a spot on his skins, and the long-legged uncle Giraff gave him to his tumak his solid-pre-final hoof.

And he asked his thick aunt Hipmedotic, why she had such red eyes, and a thick aunt Hipmedotic gave him a tumak with her thick-prestable hoof.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

He asked his hairless uncle Pavian, why all the melons are so sweet, and the hairy uncle Pavian gave him the tumak of his shaggy, hairy paw.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

Whatever he saw, whatever he heard, whatever he understood, however, he would have touched - he immediately asked about everything and immediately received a tumak from all his uncle and aunt.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

And it happened so that one beautiful morning, shortly before the equinox, this very elephant was getting bored and backed - asked about one such thing, which no one ever asked about. He asked:

What does the crocodile go for dinner?

All shouted on it:

TS-S-S-C!

And immediately, without distant words, began to reward him with cumsions. They beat him for a long time, without a respite, but when they finished beat, he now ran to the thorns and said the bird of his bell:

My father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and all my aunt pounds me, and all my units kicked me for a loose curiosity, and yet I would like to know what could eat crocodile for me?

elephant-Dity.

And the bird cololon said, sadly and loudly sobbing:

Go to the wide river Limpopo. It is dirty, muddy-green, and the poisonous trees grow above it, which cattons for fever. There you will know everything.

The next day, when nothing remains from the equinox, the elephant scored bananas - whole hundred pounds! - And sugar cane is also a hundred pounds! - And seventeen green crispy melons, wrapped all this on the shoulders and, wishing their cute relatives to stay happily, went on the road.

Farewell! He said to them. - I go to the dirty, muddy green river Limpopo; Trees grow there, they catch the fever, and I recognize that it eats crocodile at lunch.

And relatives once again took advantage of the opportunity and perfectly swallowed him for a farewell, although he extremely kindly asked them to worry.

It was not in Dicks, and he left them, a little bittered, but not very surprised. Ate on the road melon, and the minks threw on the ground, since he had nothing to pick these crusts.

From the city of Graham, he went to Kimberley, from Kimberlaya to Hamov Earth, from Hamova Estay to the East and north and all the way I was treated with melons, as long as I did not come to the dirty, mute-green wide Limpopo River, surrounded by such trees, As the bird spoke is a bellolo.

And you need to know, my cute boy, that until that very week, until the very day, before the hour, before that very minute, our curious elephant has never seen a crocodile and did not even know that it was actually. Imagine his curiosity!

The first thing that rushed into his eyes was a two-color python, a rocky snake, wrapped around Rock.

Please forgive me! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - Have you ever met a crocodile somewhere nearby? It's so easy to get lost here.

Didn't the crocodile met? - with a heart asked snakes. - I found about what to ask!

Please forgive me! - continued the elephant. - Can you not tell me that I eat a crocodile at dinner?

Here the two-color python could not resist more, quickly turned around and a huge tail gave an elephant tumak. And his tail was like a thunder and all covered with scales.

Here is miracles! - said Iplenok. - Not only that my father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and my uncle pounded me, and my aunt pounds me, and my other uncle, Babian, pounded me, and my other aunt, Hippo, broke me, and all As it is killed me for a terrible curiosity, - here, as I see, the same story begins.

And he very expectedly said goodbye to the two-color python, helped him to wrap around the rock and went further; Although his order was fighting, he was not very divided into this, and again took up the melons and again threw the crusts to the ground, because, I repeat, what would he be raised to raise them? - And soon I climbed to some kind of log, which was breathed at the very shores of the dirty, turbid-green river Limpopo, surrounded by trees camping fever.

But in fact, my cute boy, it was not a log in at all - it was a crocodile. And the crocodile flashed with one eye - like this.

Please forgive me! - I was extremely partitioned to it. - Did you happen to meet somewhere nearby in these places of crocodile?

The crocodile has winking with another eye and dried half his tail from the water. Elephant (Again, very taking care!) He retreated back, because his new tumaki did not attract him at all.

Come here, my baby! - said Crocodile. - You, actually, why is it necessary?

Please forgive me! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - My father broke me, and my mother broke me, my leaning aunt of Ostrich pounded me, and my long-legged uncle giraffe broke me, my other aunt, fatugee, pounded me, and my other uncle, shaggy baboon, killed me, and python Two-color, rocky snakes just that, quite recently, rushing me terribly hurt, and now - not in the anger be told you - I would not want to beat me again.

Come here, my baby, "the crocodile said," because I am a crocodile. "

In confirmation of his words, he groaned a large crocodile tear from the right eye.

Elephant was terribly delighted; He captured the Spirit, he fell on his knees and shouted:

Oh my God! You need you! I wanted you so much days! Tell me, please, quickly, what do you eat at dinner?

Come closer, Baby, I whisper to you on the ear.

The elephant immediately kept his ear to the toothy, jerky crocodile pasta, and the crocodile grabbed him for a little nose, which is before this very week, before this day, before that hour, before this very minute was no longer more than the shoe.

From this day, the crocodile said through his teeth, "from the present day I will eat young wondering.

I didn't like the elephant, and he spoke through his nose:

Pusdide trouble, dare to beat the Britain! (Let me hurt me very much).

Here a two-color python, a rocky snake rushed from the cliff and said:

If you, oh, my young friend, immediately do not eat back, how much your power is enough, then my opinion is such that you do not have time to say ours "Father", as due to your conversation with this leather bag (so he melded a crocodile ) You will go there, in that transparent jet ...

Two-color pythons, rocky snakes are always expressing academic. Elephant obedient, sat down on the hind legs and began to reach back.

He stretched, and stretched, and stretched, and his nose began to stretch. And the crocodile retreated away to the water, foamed and mowed it all the blows of his tail, and also pulled, and pulled, and pulled.

And the nose at the elephant pulled out, and the elephant spread all four legs, such tiny elephant legs, and stretched, and stretched, and stretched, and his nose was pulled out. And the crocodile beat the tail, like a paddle, and pulled, and drove, and the more he pulled, the longer the nose was pulled out at the misunderstand, and it hurts this nose of Yu-Jr.

And suddenly the elephant felt that his legs slipped around the ground, and he cried out through his nose, which he became almost five feet in length:

Castle! Congue! Castle!

Hearing this, a two-color python, rocky snakes rushed down the rock, wrapped a double knot around the elephant's back and told his solemn voice:

Oh, inexperienced and frivolous traveler! We must keep up with how much it is possible, for my opinion is so, that this live armor with an armored deck (so he made the crocodile) wants to spoil your future career ...

Double-color pythons, rocky snakes are always expressed so. And I pull the snakes, pulls the elephant, but pulls and the crocodile.

It pulls, pulls, but since the elephant and a two-color python, the rocky snakes pulls stronger, then the crocodile, in the end, should release the nose of the miscurrent, - he departs back with this splash, which heard across the entire Limpopo.

I stood hoonled, and I sat down with a scope and very hurts, but I still managed to say a two-year Python, a rocky snake thank you, though, right, he was not before: it was necessary to quickly engage in an elongated nose - wrap it with wet leaves of bananas and Lower the Limpopo river into the cold turntive water so that he is a little cold.

What is it for you? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. "Excuse me, please," the elephant said, "I lost my old look, and I'm waiting for him to be short."

You will have to wait for a long time, "said a two-color python, rocky snakes. - That is, it is surprising, what other things do not understand their own benefit!

Elephant stood over the water three days and three nights and everything was waiting, if his nose will decrease. But the nose did not decrease and - moreover, because of this nose, the elephant's eyes became a little oblique.

Because, my cute boy, you hope you have already guessed that the crocodile pulled out the nose in the most fake trunk - exactly what the current elephants come.

By the end of the third day, some fly flew and stroked the elephant in the shoulder, and he himself not noticing what he did, raised the trunk, slapped the trunk of Muhu - and she fell dead.

Here you and the first benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - Well, reason why myself: Could you do something like your former pin nose? By the way, do not want to eat?

And the elephant, he himself is not knowing how it came out of it, reached out the trunk to the ground and threw a kind bundle of herbs, fucked his clay from him about the front legs and immediately he himself in his mouth.

So you and the second benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your old nose! By the way, did you notice that the sun became too sealed?

Perhaps so! - said Iplenok. "And not knowing himself, as it came out of him, he threw his trunk from the dirty, muddy-green river Limpopo a little Ilu and slammed him on his head: Il snapped with a wet cake, and behind the ears of the elephant flowed water flows.

Here is the third benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your former pin nose! And by the way, what are you now thinking about Tumakov?

Sorry, please, - said Ilonenok, - But I, right, I do not like Tumakov.

And bloat someone else? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes.

This is me ready! - said Iplenok.

You still do not know your nose! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - It's just a treasure, not nose.

Thank you, "the elephant said," I will take this note. " And now I have to go home; I will go to my cute relatives and check my nose on my home.

And walked elephant in Africa, amusing and waving a trunk. He wants fruits to him - he breaks them straight from the tree, and not standing and does not wait for them, as before, so that they fell to the ground.

He will want her herbs - he tears her right from the ground, and not falling on his knees, as happened until that time.

Flies do it - he breaks the branch from the tree and waves her as a fan. It takes up the sun - he will immediately lower his trunk into the river, - and here he has a cold, wet baggage. It's boring to him alone without a business in Africa - he plays a trunk of songs, and a trunk of his call hundreds of copper pipes.

He deliberately turned off the road to find a hippochih, to break her and check it and test it, whether he told him a two-color python about his new nose. Hipmedihu's tricking, he went on the same road and picked up with the Earth those melon crusts, which scattered along the way to Limpopo, because it was chopped in thick-row.

It was already dark when one fine evening he came home to his cute relatives. He turned the trunk in the ring and said:

Hello! How are you?

They were terribly delighted and now they said in one voice:

Look, come here, we will give you Tumakov for your unrestained curiosity.

Eh, you! - said Iplenok. - Many you meaning in tumakov! So I understand this business. Want, show?

And he turned his trunk, and immediately two of his cute brother flew up from him upside down.

I swear by bananas, - they shouted, - where did you hurt so much and what you are with your nose?

I have this nose and gave me his crocodile - on the dirty, mute-green river Limpopo, "the elephant said. "I started a conversation with him that he eats at dinner, and he gave me a new nose for memory.

Non-shaped nose! - said hairy, shaggy uncle Pavian. "Perhaps," the elephant said, "but useful!"

And he grabbed the hairy feet of the hairy uncle of Pavian and, Razzhav, threw him into an aspen nest.

And so this nasty misunderstanding was separated, which was dug all his lovely relatives. Those let her eyes from amazement. He pulled out an ostrich in a lad gun almost all of her tail feathers; He grabbed a long-legged Giraffe's uncle for his back leg and his tops on the thorns bushes; With Gicani, he began to start bubbles right in the ear of his thick aunt Hippothea, when she dreamed in water after lunch, but did not allow anyone to offend the bird of his bellolo.

It came to the point that all his relatives - who earlier, who later went to the dirty, turbid-green river of the Limpopo, surrounded by trees, hitting the fever, so that the crocodile was presented in the same nose.

Returning, relatives no longer fought, and since that time, my boy, all the elephants you ever see, and those whom you will never see, everyone has such a trunk, like this curious elephant.

Translation of Kornea Chukovsky.

One beautiful morning before the Spring Equinox * the restless misconception was asked a new strange question. He asked:

- What does the crocodile happen for lunch?

Everything loudly shouted "Sh-sh" and began to hit him for a long time.

When she finally left him alone, the elephant saw the bird of a column, sitting on a black bush, and said:

"Father beat me, mother beat me, Uncle and aunty beat me for" restless curiosity ", and I still want to know that the crocodile happens for lunch!

* Equinox is a time when the day is equal to the night. It is spring and autumn. Spring is falling on March 20-21, and autumn on September 23.

Bird Kolo-Cole grimly painted him in response:

- Go to the shore of the big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees of fever grow, and look at himself!

The next morning, when the equinox was already over, the restless elephant took a hundred pounds * bananas (small with red skin), one hundred pounds of sugar cane (long with dark crust) and seventeen melons (green, crunchy) and stated to his pretty parents:

- Farewell! I go to the big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees of fever grow to find out that the crocodile happens for lunch.

He left, a little hot, but not at all surprised. On the road, he ate melon, and threw the peel, because he could not pick them up.

He walked, she walked to the northeast and ate melons until he came to the shore of a big gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where the trees are growing to the devils, as a bird Kolo-Kolo said.

* The pound is approximately 454 g, it means that the elephant took with him more than 45 kg of bananas and more than 45 kg of sugar cane.

The first who came to the elephant on the eyes, was a two-color Python (a huge snake), which was gratifying around a rocky block.

"Sorry," Elephant said politely, "did you see the crocodile in these edges?"

- Did I see the crocodile? - Angrily exclaimed Python. - What a question?

"Sorry," I repeated Elephant, "but can't you tell me that the crocodile happens for lunch?"

Two-color Python instantly turned around and began to beat the elephant with his heavy-charming tail.

- Strange! - noticed elephant. - Father and mother, native uncle and native aunt, not to mention another uncle Hippopotamus and third uncle Pavian, all beat me for "restless curiosity." Probably, and now it gets me for it.

In this picture depicts elephant, which crocodile pulls behind the nose. He is very amazed and stunned. He hurts him, and he speaks into his nose:

- Do not! Stick!

He pulls in his side, and the crocodile in his. Two-color Python hastily sails to the help of the elephant. A black spot on the right depicts the shore of a large gray-green muddy river Limpopo - it is not allowed to paint the picture. Plant with chain roots and eight leaves are one of the fever trees that grow here.

Under the picture, the shadows of African animals are depicted, which are sent to African Noah the Ark *. You see two lions, two ostrichs, two bulls, two camels, two rams and a couple of animals, similar to rats, but I think it is rabbits, I placed them so-so, for beauty. They would look even more beautiful if I enable them to paint.

* In the Bible it tells that God, having accepted people for their bad behavior, decided to send a flood to Earth, he spared only one family - the righteous of Noah, who, at the order of God, built a large wooden ship - Ark - and, taking with him a pair All animals closed in it. Forty days and nights lil rain. The whole earth was flooded. Then the rain stopped, and all the inhabitants of the ark came to the land. From them they went new generations of people and animals.

However, in reality it was a crocodile. Yes, my lovely. And the crocodile winked the eye - like this.

"Sorry," Elephant said politely, "did you happen in these parts to meet a crocodile?"

Then the crocodile narrowed another eye and the tail was half the tail of Tina. Ilonenok politely backed up; He did not want to beat him again.

"Come here, baby," said Crocodile.

- Why are you asking about this?

"Sorry," Elephant answered politely, "but my father beat me, my mother beat me, not to mention the uncle of ostrich and a tete of the Girafe, which hesitantly hurts, like uncle Hippo and Uncle Pavian. I even beat me here on the shores of a two-color python, and he brings it with his heavy-charming tail more than all of them. If you don't care, then, please, at least you do not beat me.

"Come here, baby," the monster repeated. - I am a crocodile.

And in the proof, he flooded crocodile tears.

The elephant from joy even the spirit captured. He became knees and said:

- You are the one I'm looking for many days. Be kind, tell me what happens to you for lunch?

"Come here, baby," Crocodile replied, "I'll tell you the ear."

Elephant squeezed his head to the toothy, crooking crocodile. And the crocodile grabbed him for the nose, which in the elephant before the day and the hour was no more boot, although much more useful.

"It seems today," the crocodile said through his teeth, like this, it seems, today I will have elephant for lunch.

This did not like the elephant, cute mine, and he said in his nose, like this:

- Do not! Stick!

Then the two-color python from his rocky blocks came:

"My young friend, if you do not need to pull out of all your might now, then I can assure you that your acquaintance with a big leather bag (he meant the crocodile) will suffer for you.

Elephant sat down on the shore and began to pull, pull, pull, and his nose was pulled out. Crocodile floundered in water, whipping white foam tail, and he pulled, pulled, pulled.

The nose of the elephant continued to stretch. Elephant rested by all four legs and pulled, pulled, pulled, and his nose continued to pull out. The crocodile rushed the tail of the tail, as if weighed, and the elephant pulled, pulled, pulled. Every minute his nose was stretched - and how he was hurt, oh-oh!

Elephant felt that his legs slide, and said through the nose, which Arshri now stretched out on two:

- You know, it is already too much!

Then the two-color python came to the rescue. He was walked by a double ring around the hind legs of the elephant and said:

- Reckless and rampant Yunets! We must now fit well, otherwise that warrior in lats ** (he meant the crocodile, my lovely) will spoil you all the future.

He pulled, and the elephant pulled, and the crocodile pulled.

But the elephant and two-color python pulled stronger. Finally, the crocodile released a nose of an elephant with such a burst, which was heard along the entire river Limpopo.

Elephant fell on his back. However, he did not forget now to thank the two-color python, and then began to care for his poor elongated nose: he wrapped it with fresh banana leaves and immersed in a large gray-green muddy river Limpopo.

* One Arshin is approximately 71 cm; So, the nose length of the elephant has become almost one and a half meters.

** Two-color Python called the crocodile because it is covered by thick, places of burned leather, which protects the crocodile, as the warrior metal lats were protected in ancient.

- What are you doing? - asked two-color Python.

"Sorry," Eleonen said, "but my nose completely lost his shape, and I'm waiting for him to cringe."

"Well, you will have to wait for a long time," said Two-color Python. - It's amazing how others do not understand their own good.

Three days of the elephant sat and waited for his nose to crush. And the nose was not allocharged at all and even made him the socks. You understand, my lovely, that the crocodile pulled him a real trunk, - what the elephants now happen now.

At the end of the third day, some fly bit the elephant in the shoulder. Himself without giving himself a report, he raised a trunk and put to death to the fly.

- Benefit the first! - said two-color Python. - That you could not make a simple nose. Well, now he is a little!

Himself without giving himself a report, Elephant handed the trunk, pulled out a huge bunch of herbs, trampled her about his front legs and sent to his mouth.

- Second advantage! - said two-color Python. - That you could not make a simple nose. Do you find you that here the sun blends hard?

"True," answered Elephant.

He himself without giving himself a report, he scored Tina from a large gray-green muddy river Limpopo and threw himself on his head. It turned out a mud cap, which rake behind the ears.

- The top one's advantage! - said two-color Python. - That you could not make a simple nose. Do you want to be broken?

"Sorry me," Elephant replied, "I don't want at all."

- Well, do you want to beat someone yourself? - continued two-color python. "I really want," said Elephant.

- Okay. You will see how your new nose is useful for this, - explained the two-color python.

"Thank you," said Elephant. - I will last your advice. Now I will go to my and try on them.

In this picture you see the elephant, breaking the bananas from a high tree with its beautiful new long trunk. I know that this picture is not very successful, but I can't do anything: it is very difficult to draw bananas and elephants. The black band behind the elephant depicts a wild marsh terrain somewhere in the wilderness of Africa. Elephant did myself mud caps of Tina, which I found there. I think it will be thumbightly, if you paint a banana tree into a green color, and the elephant is in red.

Elephant went home through the whole of Africa, turning and believing with his trunk. When he wanted to enjoy the fruits, he disappeared them from the tree, and did not wait for them, as before they fell. When he wanted herb, he, not bend, pulled her trunk, and did not crawl on his knees, as before. When the flies were biting him, he laid out his branch and failed her. And when the Sun straightened, he did a new cool cap of Tina. When it was bored to go, he purred a song, and through a trunk she sounded louder of copper pipes. He deliberately turned off the road to find some thick hypopotam (not a relative) and suck him well. I wanted to make sure whether the two-color python was right about his new trunk. All the time he picked up the crusts of Melon, who dispersed on the road to Limpopo: he was distinguished.

In one Dark Evening, he returned to his and, holding a trunk ring, said:

- Hello!

He was very happy and answered:

- Go here, we will beat you for "restless curiosity."

- Ba! - said Elephant. - You do not know how to beat. But see how I tend.

He turned his trunk and struck her two brothers, that they rolled the battlefield.

- Oh oh oh! They exclaimed. - Where did you learn to such things? .. Wait, what's on your nose?

"I received a new nose from the crocodile on the shore of a big gray-green muddy river Limpopo," Elephant said. "I asked what happens for lunch, and he gave me this."

"Ugly," said the hairy uncle Babian.

"True," the elephant replied, "but it is very convenient."

With these words, he grabbed his hairless Uncle Pavian for a shaggy hand and put him in the nest of Sherne.

Then the elephant began to beat other relatives. They very worried and were very surprised. Elephant picked up the tail feathers from his high uncle. Grabbing his high aunt Giraf for his back leg, it is a wire through the blacks of a black. Elephant shouted on his thick uncle of the hypopotam and blinked him bubbles in his ear, when he slept after dinner in the water. But he did not allow anyone to offend the Bird Kolocol.

The relationships were so aggravated that all the births, one by one, hurried to the shore of a large gray-green muddy river Limpopo, where fever trees grow to get new noses from crocodile. When they returned back, no one no longer fought. Since then, cute mine, all the elephants that you will see, and even those you will not see, have the same trunks like a restless elephant.

But at that time, a long time ago, one such elephant lived, or, it was better to say, the elephant, who was scary curious, and whom, had ever seen, to everyone sticks to everyone. He lived in Africa, and he praised all Africa with questionings.

He pester to Ostrichich, his long-grade aunt, and asked her, why her on the tail feathers are growing so, and not so, and leaning aunt of Ostrich gave him for that tumak his solid-repatrudal foot. He pester to his long-legged Uncle Giraf and asked him, why he had a spot on his skins, and the long-legged uncle Giraff gave him to his tumak his solid-pre-final hoof.

And he asked his thick aunt Hipmedotic, why she had such red eyes, and a thick aunt Hipmedotic gave him a tumak with his thick-prestitious hoof.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

He asked his hairless Uncle Pavian, why all the melons are so sweet, and the hairy uncle Babian gave him the cuff for his shaggy, hairy paw.

But it did not beat off his curiosity.

Whatever he saw, whatever he heard, whatever he understood, to anything liked, he immediately asked about everything and immediately received tumaki from all his uncle and aunt.

But it did not beat his curiosity.

And it happened so that one beautiful morning, shortly before the equinox, this very elephant was annoyed and barely, asked about one such thing he had never asked about. He asked:

- What does the crocodile go for dinner?

Everything frightened and loudly shouted:

- TS-S-S-C!

And immediately, without distant words, Tumaki began to pour on him.

He beat him for a long time, without a breather, but when they finished beat, he now ran to the bird of his bell, sitting in a barbed thorns, and said:

"My father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and all my aunt pound me, and all my uncle pounded me for a loose curiosity, and yet I would like to know what a crocodile go for dinner?

And the bird was said to bellolo sad and loud voice:

- go to the shores of the sleepy, flicker, muddy-green river Limpopo; Its coast covered with trees that are cattone on all fever. There you will know everything.

The next morning, when nothing remains from the equinox, this curious elephant scored bananas - whole hundred pounds! - And sugar cane is also a hundred pounds! - And seventeen greenish melons, from those that crunch on the teeth, wrapped all this on the shoulders and, wishing their cute rations to stay happily, went on the road.

- Farewell! He said to them. - I am going to the sleepy, fetid, mute river Limpopo; The shores are covered with trees, which are cattone on all the fever, and there I will know for anything that the crocodile eats at lunch.

And Raigue once again switched his farewell, although he was extremely parting asking them not to worry.

The first thing that rushed into his eyes was a two-color python, a rocky snake, who was wound around some kind of rock.

- Excuse me, please! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - Have you ever met a crocodile somewhere nearby? So easy to get lost!

- Didn't the crocodile met me? - disruputely asked two-color python, rocky snakes. - I found about what to ask!

- Excuse me, please! - continued the elephant. - Can you not tell me that I eat a crocodile at dinner?

There is a two-color python, a rocky snake, could not resist more, quickly turned around and a huge tail gave an elephant tumak. And his tail was like a thunder and all covered with scales.

- That wonders! - said Iplenok. - Not only that my father pound me, and my mother pounds me, and my uncle pounded me, and my other uncle, Babian, pounded me, and my aunt pounds me, and my other aunt, Hippo, broke me, and all As it is killed me for a terrible curiosity, - here, as I see, the same story begins.

But in fact, my cute boy, it was not a log, it was a crocodile. And crocodile winked with one eye - like this!

- Excuse me, please! - I was extremely partitioned to it. - Did you happen to meet somewhere nearby in these places of crocodile?

The crocodile has winking with another eye and dried half his tail from the water. Elephant (again, very taking care!) He retreated back, because he did not want to get a new tumak.

- Come here, my baby! - said Crocodile. - You, actually, why is it necessary?

- Excuse me, please! - Elephant said extremely courteous. - My father pounded me, and my mother broke me, my leaning aunt of Ostrich pounded me, and my long-legged uncle giraffe kicked me, my other aunt, fatugee, pounded me, and my other uncle, a shaggy baboon, kided me, and python Two-meadow, rocky snakes, that's just kicked me hurt, and now - not in the anger whether you are said - I would not want to be killed again.

"Come here, my baby," the crocodile said, "because I am a crocodile."

And he began to shed crocodile tears to show that he was really a crocodile.

Elephant was terribly delighted. He captured the Spirit, he fell on his knees and shouted:

- I need me! I wanted you so much days! Tell me, please, rather, do you eat at dinner?

"Come closer, I whisper to your ear."

"It seems to me that" the crocodile said, and said through his teeth, like this, "it seems to me that today I will have elephant on the first dish.

Elephant, my cute boy, didn't like it terribly, and he said through his nose:

- Pusdide Pojda, BDA Prowing Britain! (Let me, I really hurt!)

Here a two-color python, a rocky snake, approached him and said:

- If you, about my young friend, immediately do not go back, how much you have enough of your strength, then my opinion is such that you do not have time to say "times, two three!", As a result of your conversation with this leather bag (so He melded the crocodile) you will go there, in that transparent water jet ...

Two-color pythons, rocky snakes, always say so.

And the nose at the elephant pulled out, and the elephant spread all four legs, such tiny elephant legs, and pulled, and pulled, and pulled, and his nose was pulled out. And the crocodile beat the tail, like a paddle, and also pulled, and drove, and the more he pulled, the longer the nose was pulled out of a misunderstand, and it hurts this nose already-zhas!

And suddenly the elephant felt that his legs slipped around the ground, and he cried out through his nose, which he became almost five feet in length:

- Savito! Castle! I'm more de God! (Pretty! Leave! I can no longer!)

Hearing this, a two-color python, a rocky snake, rushed down from the cliff, wrapped a double knot around the hind legs of a walker and said:

- Oh inexperienced and frivolous traveler! We must keep up with how much it is possible, for my impression is that this warship with a living screw and an armored deck (so he blews a crocodile) wants to ruin your future ...

Two-color pythons, rocky snakes are always expressed like that.

- What are you doing? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes.

- Excuse me, please! - said Iplenok. - I lost my nose, and I am waiting for him to be short.

"You will have to wait for a long time," said a two-color python, rocky snakes. - That is, it is surprising, what other things do not understand their own benefits!

The elephant she spent three days over the water and everything was waiting for him whether his nose would be shorter. However, the nose did not become shorter, and - moreover, because of this nose, the elephant's eyes became a little oblique.

Because, my cute boy, I hope, has already guessed that the crocodile pulled out the nose in the most fascinated trunk - exactly what everyone has the current elephants.

By the end of the third day, some fly flew and stroked the elephant in the shoulder, and he himself, not noticing what he was doing, raised a trunk and slammed his fly.

- So the first benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - Well, reason why myself: Could you do something like your former pin nose? By the way, do you want to eat?

And the elephant, he himself is not knowing how he came out with a trunk to the ground, threw a kind bundle of herbs, slapped them about the front legs to shook the dust from him, and immediately put himself in his mouth.

- Here you and the second benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your former pin nose! By the way, did you notice that the sun became too sealed?

- Perhaps that so! - said Iplenok.

- Here is the third benefit! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - I would try to do it with your former pin nose! And, by the way, what are you now thinking about Tumakov?

"Sorry, please," the elephant said, "but I, right, I do not like Tumakov."

- And to bloom someone else? - said the two-color python, rocky snakes.

- This is me with joy! - said Iplenok.

- You still do not know your nose! - said the two-color python, rocky snakes. - It's just a treasure, not nose. Swells anyone.

"Thank you," said elephant, "I will take this note." And now I have to go home. I will go to Mile Raisters and check my nose.

And walked elephant in Africa, amusing and waving a trunk.

It was already dark when he came home to his cute relatives. He turned the trunk in the ring and said:

- Hello! How are you?

They were terribly delighted and now they said in one voice:

- Look, come here, here we will give you Tumakov for a vibrant curiosity!

- Eh you! - said Iplenok. - You are a lot of sense in Tumakov! So I understand something in this matter. Want, show?

And he turned his trunk, and immediately two of his cute brother flew up from him upside down.

- swear by bananas! They shouted. - Where did you hurt so much and what's your nose?

"This nose I have a new one, and gave me his crocodile on a sleepy, flicker, muddy-green river Limpopo," the elephant said. "I started a conversation with him that he eats at dinner, and he gave me a new nose for memory.

- Ugly nose! - said hairy, shaggy uncle Pavian.

"Perhaps," the elephant said. - But useful!

And he grabbed the hairless Uncle Pavian for her hairy feet and, swinging, threw a nest into an aspen.

And so this angry elephant was divided, which was allocated to one of his lovely relatives. He beat them, beat, so it was hot, and they looked at him with amazement. He pulled out of the tail from the lad gun of ostrich, almost all of her feathers; He grasped a long-legged Uncle Giraffe for his back leg and his tops on the prickly throat bushes; He woke up a loud cry his thick aunt Hipmedotic when she slept after dinner, and began to let her go straight into the ear bubble, but did not allow anyone to offend the Bird Bellolo.