...and the Boomerang came back.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 291, 8 December 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

...and the Boomerang came back.

••You think you know everything, Richard." said Gwendoline one day. “What » a ‘’““"Richard was busy Irving to catch fish. Polly was very interested watching hi. efforts, while Gwendoline was reading a book. She had been puzzling over it tor some time, when fhe suddenly asked Richard if he knew what a boomerang was. “What did you say?” said Richard, looking around.

“I want to know what a boomerang is.” said Gwendoline. Nothing pleases Richard so much as an opportunity to display his knowledge. He doesn’t know very much, really, but he fancies he knows quite a lot! “A boomerang,” he said, very importantly, “surely you know what that is. “I've never heard of it before,’ said Gwen. ‘‘ls it something to eat? ’ “My word!” cried Richard, “what ignorance. A boomerang is a wooden missile that the natives of Australia throw.. It goes as far as they can throw it and then oomes back to them.” “Don’t be silly.” said Gwen. '•Silly,” cried Richard, “I’m not silly. a--.! I can prove it.”

Now Richard knew that in the hall along with some spears and an old shield, there fiung a boomerang and he hastened with Polly and Gwendoline to show them just what it looked like. “There,” said Richard, “that’s a boomerang, and when you throw it, it comes back to “How can it come back?” asked Gwendoline, doubtfully. The chums had been told that they must never touch anything hanging in the hall, but suddenly Richard made up his mind that he would disobey. Climbing up, he unhooked the boomerang. “My!” cried Polly, "now there will be trouble.” “Come on,” cried Richard, ‘Til show you how it comes back.”

The chums knew they were doing something very wrong when they took the boomerang ©ff its hooks, and they stole out of the house feeling very guilty. Richard tried to hide the weapon behind him, and look unconcerned, but he did not manage it very successfully. “We shall have to find a nice wide space to throw it,” said Richard, ‘'would you like to have a go, Gwendoline?” “No, thank you,,” said Gwen, “I’m not going to touch it.” ‘Nor am I,” said Polly, “I’m sure there will be trouble over this.” “How can there be?” said Richard, “we’ll put it back before anyone knows it has gone.”

The three ehums managed lo find a lovely dear place in which to throw the boomerang. Richard had never thrown such a thing in his life, but of course he was not going to allow, Gwendoline and Polly to think he knew nothing about it. “Stand clear,” he erred, “or you might get hit when it comes back. You have to know how to handle a weapon of this kind.” “Really, Richard,” said Polly, “you are clever.” of course, pleased Richard very much.. With a good hearty swing, he sent the boomerang flying in the air. “Splendid,” cried Polly. “Watch it come back,” cried Richard.

. oof Richard! His exhibitions usually recoil upon his own head. This one came hack with a nasty bump! I p went the boomerang and back it came, flying! (n fortunately Richard was not skilful enough either to catch it or dodge it, and so he caught the full force and saw stars and stripes and all sorts of things. “It certainly came back,” said Gwen. J “Bravo! Richard, splendid, but why did you stop it with your head. Is that the right way?” giggled Polly. But Richard was too annoyed to discuss the matter. Possibly he realised it was the punishment for being disobedient! 1 wonder!