--- title: The Beginning of the Armadillos — Just so stories · full text with trees description: The Beginning of the Armadillos, «Just so stories» by Rudyard Kipling: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: THIS, O Best Beloved, is another story of the High and Far-Off Times. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Just so stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/) / The Beginning of the Armadillos # The Beginning of the Armadillos The Beginning of the Armadillos of «Just so stories» by Rudyard Kipling: the whole text, 167 sentences and 2778 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 4 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/1/) — THIS, O Best Beloved, is another story of the High and Far-Off Times. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/2/) — In the very middle of those times was a Stickly-Prickly Hedgehog, and he lived on the banks of the turbid Amazon, eating shelly snails and things. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/3/) — And he had a friend, a Slow-Solid Tortoise, who lived on the banks of the turbid Amazon, eating green lettuces and things. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/4/) — And so that was all right, Best Beloved. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/5/) — Do you see? - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/6/) — But also, and at the same time, in those High and Far-Off Times, there was a Painted Jaguar, and he lived on the banks of the turbid Amazon too; and he ate everything that he could catch. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/7/) — When he could not catch deer or monkeys he would eat frogs and beetles; and when he could not catch frogs and beetles he went to his Mother Jaguar, and she told him how to eat hedgehogs and tortoises. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/8/) — She said to him ever so many times, graciously waving her tail, ‘My son, when you find a Hedgehog you must drop him into the water and then he will uncoil, and when you catch a Tortoise you must scoop him out of his shell with your paw.’ - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/9/) — And so that was all right, Best Beloved. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/10/) — One beautiful night on the banks of the turbid Amazon, Painted Jaguar found Stickly-Prickly Hedgehog and Slow-Solid Tortoise sitting under the trunk of a fallen tree. — checked by a teacher - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/11/) — 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. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/12/) — Do you see? - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/13/) — ‘Now attend to me,’ said Painted Jaguar, ‘because this is very important. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/14/) — 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. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/15/) — Now which of you is Hedgehog and which is Tortoise? because, to save my spots, I can’t tell.’ - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/16/) — ‘Are you sure of what your Mummy told you?’ said Stickly-Prickly Hedgehog. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/17/) — ‘Are you quite sure? - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/18/) — 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.’ - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/19/) — ‘Are you sure of what your Mummy told you?’ said Slow-and-Solid Tortoise. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/20/) — ‘Are you quite sure? - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/21/) — 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.’ - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/22/) — ‘I don’t think it was at all like that,’ said Painted Jaguar, but he felt a little puzzled; ‘but, please, say it again more distinctly.’ - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/23/) — ‘When you scoop water with your paw you uncoil it with a Hedgehog,’ said Stickly-Prickly. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/24/) — ‘Remember that, because it’s important.’ - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/25/) — ‘But,’ said the Tortoise, ‘when you paw your meat you drop it into a Tortoise with a scoop. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/26/) — Why can’t you understand?’ - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/27/) — ‘You are making my spots ache,’ said Painted Jaguar; ‘and besides, I didn’t want your advice at all. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/28/) — I only wanted to know which of you is Hedgehog and which is Tortoise.’ - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/29/) — ‘I shan’t tell you,’ said Stickly-Prickly, ‘but you can scoop me out of my shell if you like.’ - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/30/) — ‘Aha!’ said Painted Jaguar. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/31/) — ‘Now I know you’re Tortoise. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/32/) — You thought I wouldn’t! - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/33/) — Now I will.’ - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/34/) — Painted Jaguar darted out his paddy-paw just as Stickly-Prickly curled himself up, and of course Jaguar’s paddy-paw was just filled with prickles. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/35/) — Worse than that, he knocked Stickly-Prickly away and away into the woods and the bushes, where it was too dark to find him. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/36/) — Then he put his paddy-paw into his mouth, and of course the prickles hurt him worse than ever. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/37/) — As soon as he could speak he said, ‘Now I know he isn’t Tortoise at all. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/38/) — But’--and then he scratched his head with his un-prickly paw--‘how do I know that this other is Tortoise?’ - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/39/) — ‘But I am Tortoise,’ said Slow-and-Solid. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/40/) — Your mother was quite right. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/41/) — She said that you were to scoop me out of my shell with your paw. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/42/) — Begin.’ - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/43/) — ‘You didn’t say she said that a minute ago, said Painted Jaguar, sucking the prickles out of his paddy-paw. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/44/) — ‘You said she said something quite different.’ - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/45/) — ‘Well, suppose you say that I said that she said something quite different, I don’t see that it makes any difference; because if she said what you said I said she said, it’s just the same as if I said what she said she said. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/46/) — On the other hand, if you think she said that you were to uncoil me with a scoop, instead of pawing me into drops with a shell, I can’t help that, can I?’ - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/47/) — ‘But you said you wanted to be scooped out of your shell with my paw,’ said Painted Jaguar. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/48/) — ‘If you’ll think again you’ll find that I didn’t say anything of the kind. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/49/) — I said that your mother said that you were to scoop me out of my shell,’ said Slow-and-Solid. — checked by a teacher - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/50/) — ‘What will happen if I do?’ said the Jaguar most sniffily and most cautious. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/51/) — ‘I don’t know, because I’ve never been scooped out of my shell before; but I tell you truly, if you want to see me swim away you’ve only got to drop me into the water. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/52/) — ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Painted Jaguar. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/53/) — ‘You’ve mixed up all the things my mother told me to do with the things that you asked me whether I was sure that she didn’t say, till I don’t know whether I’m on my head or my painted tail; and now you come and tell me something I can understand, and it makes me more mixy than before. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/54/) — My mother told me that I was to drop one of you two into the water, and as you seem so anxious to be dropped I think you don’t want to be dropped. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/55/) — So jump into the turbid Amazon and be quick about it.’ - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/56/) — ‘I warn you that your Mummy won’t be pleased. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/57/) — Don’t tell her I didn’t tell you,’ said Slow-Solid. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/58/) — ‘If you say another word about what my mother said--’ the Jaguar answered, but he had not finished the sentence before Slow-and-Solid quietly dived into the turbid Amazon, swam under water for a long way, and came out on the bank where Stickly-Prickly was waiting for him. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/59/) — ‘That was a very narrow escape,’ said Stickly-Prickly. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/60/) — ‘I don’t rib Painted Jaguar. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/61/) — What did you tell him that you were?’ - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/62/) — ‘I told him truthfully that I was a truthful Tortoise, but he wouldn’t believe it, and he made me jump into the river to see if I was, and I was, and he is surprised. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/63/) — Now he’s gone to tell his Mummy. — checked by a teacher - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/64/) — Listen to him!’ - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/65/) — They could hear Painted Jaguar roaring up and down among the trees and the bushes by the side of the turbid Amazon, till his Mummy came. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/66/) — ‘Son, son!’ said his mother ever so many times, graciously waving her tail, ‘what have you been doing that you shouldn’t have done?’ - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/67/) — ‘I tried to scoop something that said it wanted to be scooped out of its shell with my paw, and my paw is full of per-ickles,’ said Painted Jaguar. - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/68/) — ‘Son, son!’ said his mother ever so many times, graciously waving her tail, ‘by the prickles in your paddy-paw I see that that must have been a Hedgehog. - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/69/) — You should have dropped him into the water. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/70/) — ‘I did that to the other thing; and he said he was a Tortoise, and I didn’t believe him, and it was quite true, and he has dived under the turbid Amazon, and he won’t come up again, and I haven’t anything at all to eat, and I think we had better find lodgings somewhere else. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/71/) — They are too clever on the turbid Amazon for poor me!’ - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/72/) — ‘Son, son!’ said his mother ever so many times, graciously waving her tail, ‘now attend to me and remember what I say. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/73/) — A Hedgehog curls himself up into a ball and his prickles stick out every which way at once. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/74/) — By this you may know the Hedgehog.’ - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/75/) — ‘I don’t like this old lady one little bit,’ said Stickly-Prickly, under the shadow of a large leaf. - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/76/) — ‘I wonder what else she knows?’ - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/77/) — ‘A Tortoise can’t curl himself up,’ Mother Jaguar went on, ever so many times, graciously waving her tail. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/78/) — ‘He only draws his head and legs into his shell. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/79/) — By this you may know the tortoise.’ - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/80/) — ‘I don’t like this old lady at all--at all,’ said Slow-and-Solid Tortoise. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/81/) — ‘Even Painted Jaguar can’t forget those directions. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/82/) — It’s a great pity that you can’t swim, Stickly-Prickly.’ - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/83/) — ‘Don’t talk to me,’ said Stickly-Prickly. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/84/) — ‘Just think how much better it would be if you could curl up. - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/85/) — This is a mess! - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/86/) — Listen to Painted Jaguar.’ - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/87/) — Painted Jaguar was sitting on the banks of the turbid Amazon sucking prickles out of his Paws and saying to himself-- - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/88/) — ‘Can’t curl, but can swim-- Slow-Solid, that’s him! - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/89/) — Curls up, but can’t swim-- Stickly-Prickly, that’s him!’ - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/90/) — ‘He’ll never forget that this month of Sundays,’ said Stickly-Prickly. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/91/) — ‘Hold up my chin, Slow-and-Solid. - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/92/) — I’m going to try to learn to swim. - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/93/) — It may be useful.’ - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/94/) — ‘Excellent!’ said Slow-and-Solid; and he held up Stickly-Prickly’s chin, while Stickly-Prickly kicked in the waters of the turbid Amazon. - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/95/) — ‘You’ll make a fine swimmer yet,’ said Slow-and-Solid. - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/96/) — ‘Now, if you can unlace my back-plates a little, I’ll see what I can do towards curling up. - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/97/) — It may be useful.’ - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/98/) — Stickly-Prickly helped to unlace Tortoise’s back-plates, so that by twisting and straining Slow-and-Solid actually managed to curl up a tiddy wee bit. - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/99/) — ‘Excellent!’ said Stickly-Prickly; ‘but I shouldn’t do any more just now. - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/100/) — It’s making you black in the face. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/8/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Sing-song of Old Man Kangaroo](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/7/) - next →: [How the First Letter Was Written](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/9/) - ↑ back to [Just so stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg2781/)