THE HILL PEOPLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 77

THE HILL PEOPLE

By Ruth Hertslet. (Copyright.—For the Otago Witness.) .The Wild Boar swears by his Beautiful Tusks, By the speed of his Legs, the Hare; And Bun-Tub swears by the Little While Flag That he gallantly waves In the air. The-Wallaby swears by the Spring of his Tail, The Opossum—the Gloss of his Coat. The Ram, he swears by his Twisted Horn, By his Beard, the Black and White Goat The Wild Bull swears by his Powerful Neck, The Deer by his Antlers High, And Slinker the Stoat by his Cruel Teeth And the power of his Evil Eye. The Wild Horse arches bis glossy neck

And carries his head with grace, And swears by the Quivering Nostrils fine That speak of the pride of his race.

THE MUSIC. MAN.

CHAPTER VIII.—THE DEFEAT OF THE FIRE FIEND. Umgee and Oogli Poogli sat on the rocks in front of their cave, watching the dving grandeur of day, with all its crimson and golden glory. No longer were their faces evil; indeed, they seemed to have caught some of the peaeful calm of the sunset. There they sat until the crimson and gold faded from the skies, and Twilight came, and Darkness. One by one the stare winked in the skies, the stare, the “ forget-me-nots of the Angels.” “ They have been so good to us, these Hill People,” said Oogli Poogli. “ I wish we could do something for them,” and Umgee, gazing at the starlit K ky, was silent. As he gazed, the white winking light of a star caught his eye, so white it was, so winking. Bigger and bigger it grew, until Umgee stared in vender. Verily it was twinking at him. Then of a sudden, the star fell, sweeping across the jewelled heavens, until it disappeared behind the tussocky hills. Startled, Umgee followed its shining descent, until his eyes rested on the distant tussocky hills. “ Look,” said he hoarsely, grasping ' the arm of Oogli Poogli, 11 our chance has come to help the Hill People.”

Now, when the Music Man threw the brown beans into the fire, he saw the flames leap and glow. But he did not see the (Fire Fiend, nor hear him laugh in impish glee. Crickle, crickle, crackle, went the brown beans, and “ Ho! ho! hoi” laughed the Fire Fiend, as he devoured them hungrily.. .Higher and higher leaped the flames, and the Fire Fiend laughed in impish glee. "For weeks and weeks,” cried he, “ I’ve tried to leap up this tall, dark chimney, but never have I had sufficient strength. And now, Ho! ho! ho! up 1 go,” laughed he. No one in the cosy room of the little log hut saw the Fire Fiend leap up the chimney. No one heard his laugh of impish glee as he leapt out into the cool air. “Oh warm wind, west wind,” cried he gaily, “carry me on your broad back.” “ Come along then,” said the west wind good-naturedly.- ‘‘ I hope you are not in a hurry, because I am feeling lazy to-day.” The Fire Fiend sat cosily on the broad back of the warm, west wind ; so cosily in fact, that he fell into a drowsy sleep. When he waked, he found that the west wind -had left him on a tussocky hillside. “Ho! ho! ho!” cried the Fire Fiend, and laughed in impish glee. “I am hungry, and tussocks are good eating.’’ Then, greedily he devoured the tussocks, until the fire spread and the smoke curled up to the heavens. It was then, that Umgee saw the white, winking light of the star. He did not know, of course, that this particular star, was the peephole through which his Guardian Angel looked down from heaven. He would

never know, of course, that the falling star was sent to warn him. All he knew, was that the smoke, curling up to the heavens meant that the hills were on fire. Off they went, Umgee and Oogli Poogli, with a swiftness that would have done credit to Tempest, the Wild Horse, and, in a short time, arrived at the tussocky hillside. Here an alarming sight met their eyes, for the fire was spreading and spreading. “Ho! ho ! ho ! ” cried the Fire Fiend, and laughed in impish glee. Old Man Boar was there, and his piggy eyes were full of fear. ** Mother Pig and her long-nosed babies will be burnt to death,” cried he in despair. “ The long-nosed babies are paralysed with fear, and Mother Pig will not leave them.” Then Umgee and Oogli Poogli set to work and fought the flames, fought them back inch by inch, from the big rock ■where Mother Pig stood watch beside her long-nosed babies. Frantically they beat the.fire, beat it with sticks, and trampled it with their feet. Further and further

the flames drew- back from Mother Pig, but “Ho! ho! ho!” cried the Fire Fiend, and laughed in impish glee, as he devoured the tussocks on the far side. Bravely they fought, Umgee and Oogli Poogli, their clothes blackened, their bodies burnt, but the fire had grown too big. They could not hope to control it. “We can at least die fighting,” said Oogli Poogli doggedly, and the Guardian Angel from above, sent a tiny prayer to mighty Zeus who rules in High Olympus. And Zeus, seeing the valiant fight, took pity, and sent the mighty south wind to their aid.

Umgee threw up his head at first breath of the wind. “ We’re saved,” cried he thankfully, “We’re saved.” Then swiftly he ran to the place where the fire was gaining rapidly, swiftly he lit a fire some twenty yards in front. Swiftly the south wind fanned the blaze, .nd blew the flames to meet the devouring Fire Fiend. They met, and the Fire Fiend thrusting out a hungry tongue, could not reach the dry tussocks beyond the burnt patch. And so, for want of food, the Fire Fiend grew weaker and weaker, and at last flickered out and died.

Then, and then only, did Umgee realise that Oogli Poogli had fainted from his burns. Umgee limped slowly up to him.

“What shall I do?” said he wearily, “ I am too weak to carry him home.” “Up came Old Man Boar. “ Hold him on my back,” said he, “ and I will carry him to the limestone cliffs, gently as an ambulance car.”

So down the hill they went together. Umgee and Old Man Boar, and on the back of Old Man Boar was the unconscious fcrin of Oogli Poogli, on whom he had once vowed such bitter vengeance.

(To be continued.)