THE STORY SO FAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 267, 10 November 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE STORY SO FAR.

Those who missed the first part of our serial should read this first: — Harold Pipkins leads a party of his toys on an exploring (rip to find the long-lost Magic World. After travelling through an underground passnere they come to the shores of the great Lemonade Sea. After ninny adventures they while sittiiiK at the mouth of their cnvc in the cliffside, a Strange movement on the waters of the Lemonade Sea. A misty and cloudy-looking object was floating down from the direction of the lagoon. Slowly *it carno on toward the silvery path of moonlight. Aβ. It drew nearer it could be seen to resemble a ehip. Harold and hie friends crowded to the verandah rail at the mouth, of the cavo to look at it. "Doesn't it look pretty T" said Brer Kabbit. "Whatever can it be ?" asked Elephant. "How stately it looke gliding through the water." "It's a g-g-g-ghost ship," ehouted Pete wildly "Don't look at it boys." And away he rushed to put his head under the blankets. The. others laughed at poor, frightened Pete Golliwog, but ae the cloud upon the waters got nearer they began to think he was right, for out of the misty mass bulging sails and tall masts began t<> appear. As it drew closer still the ship lit up as if by magic, its transparent colours being plainly seen. Tho toys stood spellbound. Rippling white foam played round the gliding bow of the strange ship and tho blazonry on its sails and the cordage sloping up to its mastheads stood out quite clearly. Presently they could make out figures on its deck. Some were hauling ropes, others seemed to be carrying buckets. One or two were just looking over the bulwarks, while on the high, poop deck moved five tall figures. The bow of the ship touched the moonlight and immediately, every thing sprang into clearness. From their cliffeide home Harold and hie friende could see quite plainly then. One of the five on the poop deck tolled a bell and the sound floated across the water. All five assembled at the rail and gazed intently in the direction of the cave. Harold thought he could see tho lace on their coats, their curly hair and their plumed hats. He even thought he could see them smiling.

When the ship reached the middle of the moonlight the five at the rail sprang back and stood in a line at attention just like soldiers. A little gun in the bow went "pop," a puff of white smoke drifted away and slowly a golden Hag with red flowers on it climbed to the masthead. "They must be saluting us," gasped Harold. Tho five figures took off their hats and bowed low in the direction of the cave. "Wave your hats, boys," shouted Harold, and although everyone felt ra.ther scared, they waved away at their leader's command. The five officers of the ancient ship went back to the rail again and waved in return, as the boat sailed slowly out of tho moonlight. Farther and farther away she glided, Harold and his friends gazing after her until, in the far distance, she finally disappeared from sight. Almost the last they saw of her was a tiny speck of white 'kerchief waving through the mist. "Don't wonderful things happen here ?" cried Elephant. "They do!" agreed the others most heartily. By this time the fire had burnt low, so tho explorers decided to turn in, and beneath the blankets continued to discuss the strange, phantom ship. "She was strangely like the old galleon wo discovered in the lagoon," said Brer Eabbit. Harold had been pondering over the matter for some time. "What I think," said he, "is that this afternoon when we boarded that old galleon we broke a spell that has lain upon her for years and now the spirits of those old adventurers are free to sail their ship to the happy land where live tho spirits of bravo »nd true heroes."' "Will they go to Heaven?" asked Brer. "I think so," answered Harold. "And we wish them a good voyage." • * * • And now let us forget tho story for just a little while. Let's pretend we're- invisible, shall we ? and away over the house tops and green fields we'll fly to where Harold and his friends are busily at work building their gallant new ship. Doesn't the air rush by one up here? Hold your feet up higher Leslie, or you'll knock that mountain top. Mind that

,~.-.--. — 5 Isn't It Just splendid to visit Harold in his magic world. We'll ■; J continue our adventures next week, and hear more about the tiny } 5 ship builders, too. Don't miss the next chapter. J

factory chimney, Joan. Oh, look down there! It's the Sahara Desert, I think; anyway I can see an old Arab with a long gun riding on his camel. There it is! There it is! That's the Magic Beach. I can see the cliffs and the pretty green trees. Why! there's Harold, too! He's hammering a nail into the ship. Isn't it simply wonderful here? How warm is the sunshine! We'll sit in these treetops and watch them at work, shall we? Bobby and Ralph, you can have that one over there. Joyce and Betty can take the other one. Here come a lot more invisible children, but we've got our seats and there are plenty more trees left for them. Now then! What can we sec? Here come Elephant and Teddy Bear. They are carrying something. Whatever can it be? Elephant is walking at one end and Teddy at tho other. It's long and narrow, whatever it is. I know! It's a plank tree. Yes, that's it. They have readied the ship now and have stacked it on a pile of others. They are staying to talk to Harold for a while. Off they go again for another load. Surely that must be Billikins over there, but he's got his coat and helmet olf and his sleeves are rolled up. He's taken the saw from the tool box and is going over to the pile of plank trees. "Whee-e-e-e O-o-o-o-o- Wliec-e-e-e O-o-o-o-o." There goes the saw. He is cutting the ends off the plank trees. Well I do declare! There's old Brer. I hadn't noticed him before. He's on the other side of the ship and has got his piecart there, too. He is stoking up his stove with chips and shavings. He surely must bo cooking something for lunch. Harold is just fitting another plank into place. "Tap—tap— tapety tap," goes his hammer. I do wish we could see Pete. Whcra arc you, Pete? Can anyone see, Pete? Eric says he's over there in a clearing. Which direction, Eric? Oh yes, there ho is! Why didn't we notice him before? He's chopping down plank trees. What a terrific swing he gives his axe. "Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop!" The tree will soon fall. Look out, Pete; it's swaying. Silly old Pete, he's too busy trying to swing his axe with twirling flourishes. Ker wallop! I just thought so. Oh Pete, why didn't you look what you were doing? It's knocked Pete over. He has turned three complete somersaults and bumped his head against another tree. "Boo! Hoo! Hoo! Ow! Yow! Wow!" Pete is crying nnd making such an awful noise. Tho others have all stopped work and are running to see what is the matter. Never mind Pete, it's not really so bad after all. It's only a little bump on your head. You'll have to be more careful next time. Pete is showing them the lump on his head. Brer Kabbit is going back to his pio cart. What is that we hear!