the edge of the chatty, and Little
Black Mingo pushed the chatty out into the water, and then she clambered
into it and paddled with her two hands as hard as she could, and the big
chatty just sailed beautifully.

So they got across safely, and Little Black Mingo filled the chatty
half full of water and took it on her head, and they went up the bank
together.

[Illustration]

But when the Mugger came back, and found only empty egg-shells he was
fearfully angry. He roared and he raged, and he howled and he yelled,
till the whole island shook, and his tears ran down his cheeks and
pattered on the sand like rain.

[Illustration]

So he started to chase Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose, and he swam
across the river as fast as ever he could, and when he was half way
across he saw them landing, and as he landed they hurried over the
first ridge.

[Illustration]

So he raced after them, but they ran, and just before he caught them
they got into the house, and banged the door in his face. Then they shut
all the windows, so he could not get in anywhere.

"All right," said he, "you will have to come out some time, and then I
will catch you both, and eat you up."

So he hid behind the back of the house and waited.

[Illustration]

Now Black Noggy was just coming home from the bazaar with a tin of
kerosene on her head, and a box of matches in her hand. And when he
saw her the Mugger rushed out and gobbled her up, kerosene tin, matches
and all!!!

[Illustration]

When Black Noggy found herself in the Mugger's dark inside, she wanted
to see where she was, so she felt for the match-box and took out a match
and lit it. But the Mugger's teeth had made holes in the kerosene tin,
so that the flame of the match caught the kerosene, and

BANG!!

[Illustration]

the kerosene exploded, and blew the old Mugger and Black Noggy into
little bits.

[Illustration]

At the fearful noise Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose came running
out, and there they found Black Noggy and the old Mugger all blown to
bits.

So Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose got the nice little house for
their very own, and there they lived happy ever after. And Little Black
Mingo got the Mugger's head for her seat, and the Mongoose got Black
Noggy's handkerchief for his. But he was so wee he used to put it on
the Mugger's nose, and there they sat, and had their tea every evening.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Little Black