Because Jim Smiley was a man addicted to gambling, and we knew he would accept. Jim turned his frog, Dan’l Webster, into a pet. He wanted to bet that his frog could jump higher than any other frog. However, while Jim wasn't looking the stranger filled Dan’l Webster with quail shot, and Smiley lost the bet.
In Twain's "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," Simon Wheeler was eager for Jim Smiley to bet on his frog because he knew that he would cheat his win into winning.
They placed a bet that Wheeler's frog, Dan’l Webster, could jump higher than any other. However, when Smiley was not looking, Wheeler filled his frog with quail shot, making him win the bet.
