ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 22 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

Richard and Ted were on the threshold of a really big adventure, though of i course they did not realise it. They were out for a ramble. Neither Gwen nor ' "J" Polly is very keen on walking, so the two decided to go alone. ; 1 “Well turn into the. woods,” said. Ted, It seems quite a time since w eXP ‘‘No^a t bad idea,” agreed Richard. “Perhaps we shall have some excitement. ’

As it happened Ted and Richard were to have plenty of excitement. recently, in a dell, 1 they saw the quaintest little figure imaginable. He wa on part of a tree trunk, making the strangest noises. animals and ever y“It sounds to me as if he is trying to imitate birds, and animats, ana every 1 thing,” said Richard. < . „ “Uh I” said Ted, “I-believe you are right. • “Let’s go and talk to him,” Richard suggested.

Ted and Richard were not long in reaching the little stranger. . ’ “Hullo! Hullo! Hullo!” he cried. “What have we here ? Mortals, upon «we heard you whistling," said Richard, “so we thought wed come and introduce ourselves.” z “Pleasure, I assure you,” said the little man. I suppose you are Jost . “Oh, no, sir,” replied Richard. “We (know where we are.” v “Ohl no you don’t,” laughdd.the little man.

Richard and Ted were gstonished to be told that they did not know where they were. , “We’re in the wood,” argued Richard. “Of course you are,” agreed the little man, “but what part of the wood? . Ted and Richard hesitated at that. ‘ . “Ah! Ah!” laughed the little man. “You see you dont know where you “What impertinence,” thought Richard.

• \ Richard was not going to be told that he didn’t know where he was without spying something.' . . • • “Oh, don’t we!” he cried, “we’re in the woods, and weve been listening td your funny noises.” ' 1 , “What?” yelled the little “funny noises! I’ll have you know, Im the music master of the woods. I train all the birds and the beasts, and I see that they all sing the right songs.” /• “I don’t believe you,” said Richard, who was very much annoyed.

When Richard told the little man that he did not believe him he received a shock. For. the stranger turned pale with wrath—in fact, he turned so pale ■'•that he faded right away, , n ■ . r “My word!” cried Richard. Hes gone. “So he has,” said Ted. “Gracious! We must be careful.” “Why?” asked Richard. & “We must be in the. enchanted part of the wood,” said Ted. “I do hope someone will not come and turn us into something.” *'■ Quietly they stole away. But they were not out of the wood^yet!