SAVED BY A CLOC K-WORK TOY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 7

SAVED BY A CLOC K-WORK TOY

A scone resembling the one in which Petor Pan puts tho pirates to flight with his alarum-clock was enacted in the (kmgo district a few weeks' aco. An English expedition was in a territory where iron bars were the currency, and, when the chief of the district learnt that the 'travellerfe’ stock of iron was nearly exhausted, he had their fowls stolen, as a casus belli, after which he intended to attack and kill the whole party. Fortunately, one of the lesser chief* warned. the English of his intentions. Mr Torbay* their lender, replied coolly: ,f We arc not at all afraid; if you want war you shall * have it. We shall destroy all your people with our elephant." Then tne clock-work toy was duly wound up and it walked oyer some boxes in the tent. The chief, seeing the uncanny beast, wanted to rush off. hut Mr Torday detained him. insisting that he should have another look.but the.terrifi d native bolted, shouting, f 'l am z”>ing to look for the stoPn -chickens"* Th:u the Englishmen made the most of their v:ctorv by threatening to fight everybody snd desboy everything, and even burnt some whiskv to illustrate their powers. Barrie’s Admirable Crichton and his Peter pan. rolled into one magnetic and interesting stage, personally could have hardly turned their wits to belter account than did the*e Englishmen with their Continental reputation ior slodgiuess aud phlegm J