ey ran in fear and excitement, hearing the angry roaring of the
Great Red Enemy behind them, feeling his hot breath scorching them as it
writhed and twisted through the trees in reddish-black billows. Some of
his millions of angry, red searching eyes flew or drifted past them, but
they never stopped for a moment. And now they had left the trees behind
them and were running over clear ground, and before long they reached
the edge of the swamp, lying dark and cool before them.

In their haste and fear they all plunged in headlong and found the water
so fresh and cool and delightful after their heat and hurry, that they
burrowed deeper into it, only leaving their little black heads sticking
out.

All that night they lay and watched the Great Red Enemy in his wrath
worrying and tearing their poor trees to pieces, and all next day and
the next it lasted, and then nothing was left of their beautiful bush
but a few black, ugly stumps and a great grey waste of ashes.

And from the ashes rose the smoking dense breath of the Red Enemy, and
every now and then he flashed an angry red eye. The Piccaninnies who had
lived in that part of the bush could never again return to the cool
green shades of the forest, never slide down a fern leaf, or swing on
the branches, or pick puriri berries, or pelt the morepork in the
daytime.

What could they do? Where could they go? Poor, poor little Piccaninnies!

Well, this is what they did. Having no home to go to, and finding the
water very delightful they decided to make their home in it. At first
they would only stay timidly near the edges where the water was not
deep, but by-and-by through living entirely in the water they grew
webbed-toes (you try it!) and became as much at home in the swamp as any
other water-creature. Some of them even grew elegant little tails
(believe me or not, as you choose!) and they became known in the swamp
as the Teenywiggles, and some day you may hear something more of the
doings of the Teenywiggles.

* * * * *

Charming Booklets by Isabel Maud Peacocke (illustrated by Trevor Lloyd)

Piccaninnies

a bewitchingly fanciful and humorous fairy story in a setting of New
Zealand plant and bird life. 1/6

Bonny Books of Humorous Verse

These two booklets of amusing verses on topics peculiar to childhood
will delight both young and old. 1/6

Miss Peacocke's quaint humour is delightfully engaging, and Mr. Lloyd's
drawings