FRECKLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 23 (Supplement)

FRECKLES

A JUNGLE STORY For many hours there had been no peace from the streaming rain that swept across the face of the rocks and hills, crashing against the trees of the jungle, cleansing them from dust and insects, and shaking them to their roots in its furious onslaught. Like a victorious army, beating its enemy into submission, the storm marched forward. No living soul, man or beast, was to be seen—nor could be seen at any distance through the thick sheet of grey rain that walled the countryside. Freckles, the tiger cub, stretched himself in his den and began licking his coat. “Something like rain,” he yawned at last to a brother lying near him. I wonder how long this is going on. Hope it will be fine to-morrow.” "You are what father calls an optimistic cuh,” answered the other “This is the beginning of the Rains, and the Rains rain rain for six months, and there isn’t must hunting till they are over.” “Dull I cull it,” said Freckles. “Might as well be no jungle to play in. 1 vote we gc out a little and search tor adventure, even if we do get wet. What about youi coming with 1 * me now that the others are asleep, just as far as the stream that comes out of the rock.” And away Freckles started without even looking round to see if he was being followed by his brother, who. as a matter of fact, was trotting along not very far behind. The rain was still coming down in torrents as they plunged ahead. The jungle was pretty thick, and tintrees and ferns gave a certain amount of shelter, but in spite of this, in about two minutes they were soaked through

and through till their fur clung to them, giving them funny little slim bodies, rather like a dog looks when you wash him. The stream that comes out of the rock lay in one particular direction, which they really knew quite well; but, somehow or other, partly because of the blinding effect of the rain, they started off on the wrong path, and after trotting along for about half an hour they suddenly saw a thing they had never seen before. It was a square building with a roof of dried coconut leaves, and a little window, and a door. There was a sound faintly coming from the inside, but the rain was making such a noise that they could not hear much till they crept quite close, and put their ears against the side of the walls. Then they heard a Human’s, voice singing these words: There’s a little breeze a’risin’: There’s thunder far away. And the rice is bendin’, bendin’ to and fro, So before the coluds have broken, and the cornin’ storm has woken. Little darkey shiney honey let us go. There’s a wooden hut a-waltin’ Not very far away. Where safe huddled, cuddled i> your Mammy’s arms, You can watch the raindrops splasliin’, as the mighty storm comes crash in’ And can hear the water beatin’ on the palms. . And the lizards will be hidin’ The snakes will creep away, And the dust upon the roads be still at last. When the rain comes helter skelter. even crocodiles seek shelter Underneath the sea because it rains so fast. “1 think that’s pretty. I must try to make a little song, too, when 1 get home,” said Freckles, who always wanted to do everything that anybody else did. “I should like to see Human. 1 wonder what they look like, and 1 wonder if the ones in there are the funny kind that make tiger skin rugs.” Then he saw that by going round to the other side of the hut, and by standing on his hind paws, he could just see in at the window. Inside were several people, big ones and little ones. Most of them were lying about on the floor, and one oj them was singing. He had a good look at them all, and then got his brother to climb up and look, too. But as he did so there was a sudden scream and a moment later the door of the hut opened and a big man came ou’ with a big stick. He was black, and hadn’t many clothes on. “I expect he wants a rug to make a skin for his body,” said Freckles. ‘Better run for your life,” and away he crept—scuttling into the wet under growth of the jungle, followed by ins brother, who was much the mon* frightened of the two, and who, whei: out of sight of the man, who did nr.i seem to be following them, lay crouched in the ground shivering all over with alarm. “Pull yourself together, and laugh like I do,” said Freckles. “That was an adventure, and, after all, that is what we set out to find.” “I’ll never go there any more,” said Freckles’s brother, beginning to recover a little, “never as long as I live.” “Won’t you? Well I shall. 1 shall remember this track through the jungle, and when I am quite big i shall hunt this way. But come alonu home This rain gets wetter every minute. Let’s get back and dry ourselves. . . . Funny song that Human sang, about the rain, and lizards, and crocodiles. Perhaps they’ll have a song about tigers now,” Anf they both turned toward their home through the jungle, about the wettest living things in the world. But Freckles was exhilarated and happy, and as he went he sang these words to his brother who trotted at his side: When the rain comes helter skelter, even crocodiles seek shelter Underneath the sea because it rains so fast. WHEN BLUE SKY SMILES. When blue sky smiles and birds come back | And little flowers are springing , | l feel inside all shiny warm I Like dancing and like singing!