so swiftly, and, though he managed to scramble out of the fire in
time to save his bacon, he was considerably singed down the back.

"What a murderous attack!" he exclaimed. "O, what a brutal
attempt to burn a man alive!" and as some hot cinders had got
down his back he gave a sharp yell and ran off, singeing and
smoking. Bill, distracted with rage, ran after the Possum, then
changed his mind and ran after the Wombat, so that, what with
running first after one and then after the other, they both had
time to get clean away, and disappeared over the skyline.

"I see it all," shouted Bill, casting himself down in despair.
"Them low puddin'-thieves has borrowed a fireman's helmet, collared
a hose, an' set fire to a cowshed in order to lure us away from
the Puddin'."

"The whole thing's a low put-up job on our noble credulity," said
Sam, casting himself down beside Bill.

"It's one of the most frightful things that's ever happened," said
Bill.

"It's worse than treading on tacks with bare feet," said Sam.


"It's worse than bein' caught stealin' fowls," said Bill.

"It's worse than bein' stood on by cows," said Sam.

"It's almost as bad as havin' an uncle called