taken of his objections, and as soon as he was turned safely
upside down, Bill and Sam ran straight at the puddin'-thieves and
commenced sparring up at them with the greatest activity.

"Put 'em up, ye puddin'-snatchers," shouted Bill. "Don't keep us
sparrin' up here all day. Come out an' take your gruel while
you've got the chance."

The Possum wished to turn the matter off by saying, "I see the
price of eggs has gone up again," but Bill gave him a punch on the
snout that bent it like a carrot, and Sam caught the Wombat such a
flip with his flapper that he gave in at once.

"I shan't be able to fight any more this afternoon," said the
Wombat, "as I've got sore feet." The Possum said hurriedly, "We
shall be late for that appointment," and they took their grindstone
and off they went.

But when they were a safe distance away the Possum sang out:
"You'll repent this conduct. You'll repent bending a man's snout
so that he can hardly see over it, let alone breathe through it
with comfort," and the Wombat added, "For shame, flapping a man
with sore feet."

"We laugh with scorn at threats," said Bill, and he added as a
warning--

"I don't repent a snout that's bent,
And if again I tap it,
Oh, with a clout I'll bend that snout