direction of Watkin Wombat's summer residence."

"The very man we're after," shouted Bill, and bolted off down the
road, followed by the others, without taking any notice of the
Rooster's request to wait a minute and be introduced to the wife.

"His wife may be all right," said Bill as they ran, "but what
I say is, blow meetin' a bloomin' old Rooster's wife when you
haven't got a year to waste listenin' to a bloomin' old Rooster."

They followed the Rooster's directions with the utmost rapidity,
and came to a large hollow tree with a door in the side and a
noticeboard nailed up which said, "Watkin Wombat, Esq., Summer
Residence."

The door was locked, but it was clear that the puddin'-thieves were
inside, because they heard the Possum say peevishly, "You're
eating too much, and here's me, most severely singed, not getting
sufficient," and the Wombat was heard to say "What you want is
soap," but the Possum said angrily, "What I need is immense
quantities of puddin'."

The avengers drew aside to hold a consultation.

" What's to be done?" said Bill. " It's no use knockin', because
they'd look through the keyhole and refuse to come out, and, not
bein' burglars, we can't bust the door in. It seems to me that
there's nothin' for it but to give way to despair."

"Never give way to despair while whiskers can be made from dry