THE HILL PEOPLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3913, 12 March 1929, Page 78

THE HILL PEOPLE

By Ruth Hertslet. X 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 White Flag That he gallantly waves In the air. The Wallaby swears by the Spring of Lis Tail, The Opossumv—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 his 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 IX.—THE SURPRISE PARTY. Umgee and Oogli rough had saved the hills from fire —the most dreaded enemy of the Hill People. All the Hill People knew of it, knew too that Oogli Poogli was but slowly recovering from his burns. All the Hill People spoke of , spoke of the courage of Oogli Poogh and Umgee and their cleverness in defeating the Fire Fiend. ’Tis an event we must cele brate,” said Toreaddr, the Wild Bull, even though his sides were still suffering from their wounds. “ Verily, verily, you speak truly,” said Old Man Boar, even though Runt, his littlest piglet, lay dead. bo. had not Umgee and ..Oogli Poogli saved Mother Pig and her long-nosed babies from the dread Fire Fiend! ‘‘The question is, How shall we celebrate it? “ 1 have it! ” cried Wobble excitedly. “ Let’s take a surprise party to the cave and ” Here her voice sank to a whisper, and the animals, clustering round, nodded their heads in quick ap proval. “ A splendid idea, Wobble,” they cried. “ Let’s ask the Sun Woman to help us.” So down the hill to the little log hut went the Hill People, and the Sun Woman, hearing their plan, smiled with delight. “Of course, I’ll help,” said she. “ You Wobble, must arrange the details of the dinner party, and I’ll have the other things ready to-night ” —and she smiled mysteriously. Then, with Jill’s assistance, the Sun Worn n set to work, while Wobble, like a good housewife, set about arranging details for the dinner party. Wee Wun promised to end honey, the Black and White Goat would provide the milk and butter, and Old Man Boar knew where to find the sweetest kumaras.

At length everything was arranged, and, punctually at 6 o’clock, the Hill People met outside the cave in the limestone cliffs. “ Rat-a-tat-tat,” went Old Man Boar, and Umgee, opening the door, stared in amazement at the host of visitors. “ We’ve just called to ask how you were feeling after the fire,” said Old Man Boar. “ That’s very kind of you,” stammered Umgee, ‘‘won’t you come in? I’m afraid,” he added nervously, glancing at the little table set for two, “ that we haven’t enough dinner for you all.” “That’s all right ” said Toreador cheerily. “ we’ve brought our dinner with us, and a table as well.”

In he came with two long trestles, which, to the astonishment of Umgee and Oogli Poogli, were soon laden with a sumptuous meal. Someone produced a pile of camp stools, and the Hill People arranged themselves around the table, Umgee and Oogli Poogli at one end and the Music Man and the Sun Woman at the other. Jill sat between Toreador and Wobble, while Jack managed to get next to the beautiful Wild Horse.

What a dinner party it was! How everyone ate, and how everyone talked and laughed! The long-nosed babies of Mother Pig, assisted by Hoppit and the little Bun Tubs, acted as waitresses. Hoppit, forgetting to walk quietly, gave a great spring, and spilled a plate of soup over the white flag of a little Bun Tub. However, the Ram with the Twisted Horn kindly dried the young Bun Tub with his silken ’kerchief, and all went well until someone called for the honey. Then to her horror, Mother Pig discovered her long-nosed babies with a pot of honey on the floor—and even their tails were sticky. “ Greedy little pigs.’’ said she, but Umgee laughed kindly. “ Let them have it. Mother Pig,” said he. “ Here’s another pot of honey.” . Somehow, it did not seem strange to Jack and Jill that they should be back in the cave that had once been their prison eating jellies and trifles with the Hill People. How Toreador, with his great bulk, managed to sit on a camp

stool Jill could not imagine, but there he was, sitting as comfortably as though he had been used to it all his life.

At last the Music Alan stood up, and the Hill People smiled mysteriously. “Ladies and gentlemen,” said he, “I have been asked by the Hill Peop’le to perform a pleasing little ceremonv this evening.” Again the Hill People smiled mysteriously. “A couple of nights ago,” ,he continued, “ the hills, as you* know, were on the verge of being destroyed by fire. It was owing to the courage and wisdom of our two new friends, Umgee and Oogli Poogh, that the Fire Fiend was vanquished. With no thought of their own safety, they fought and beat him, though not before they themselves had suffered sorely ” and here he glanced at Oogli Poogli with his arm still in a sling. “ The Hill People are desirous of honouring these two brave persons who fought and beat our dreaded enemy. Therefore, we have decided to form a fire brigade, of which Umgee and Oogli Poogli shall be the Great Chiefs. Come forth, 0 Great Chiefs of the Fire Brigade, and receive your new uniforms.” Smiling, the Sun Woman presented each with a parcel. “ Put them on,” she whispered, “ it will please the Hill People so.” Then Umgee and Oogli Poogli ’onned their new suits, smart red jackets ith gold braid and beautiful brass beliefs —and truly resplendent did they look. “ Now,” cried the Music Man, “ charge our glasses and drink to the very good health of Umgee and Oogli Poogli, the Great Chiefs of the Fire Brigade.” The hearts of Umgee and Oogli Poogli were truly glad, for they knew that verily ‘he Hill People had forgiven their previous misdoings, verily the Hill People had taken them to their hearts; And into the hearts of Umgee and Oogli Poogli came a great love and a great understanding, and with it a resolve that the Hill People should have cause to value tL services of their new friends. So was peace and harmony restored to the hills, and the hearts o‘f the Music Man and the Sun Woman rejoiced, for they k.iew that the sufferings of the Hill People were over

Some weeks later Jack and Jill stood before a calendar hanging on a wall in their cosy town home. Jack, pencil in han_, ticked off another day. “ Two months, two weeks, and two days, Jill,” said he, “ then we'll have another wonderful holiday on the hills with Umgee and Oogli Poogli and the Hill People.” And the Sun Woman and the Music Man,” added Jill softly. (To be continued.)