flap flouting, that what with being punched and pounded, and
clipped and clapped, they had only enough breath left to give two
shrieks of despair while scrambling back into Watkin Wombat's
Summer Residence, and banging the door behind them. The three
friends had Puddin' secured in no time, and shook hands all round,
congratulating Bunyip Bluegum on the success of his plan.

"Your noble actin'," said Bill, "has saved our Puddin's life."

"Them Puddin'-thieves," said Sam, "was children in your hands."

"We hear you," sang out the Possum, and the Wombat added, "Oh,
what deceit! "

"Enough of you two," shouted Bill. "If we catch you sneakin'
after our Puddin' again, you'll get such a beltin' that you'll
wish you was vegetarians. And now," said he, "for a glorious
reunion round the camp fire."

And a glorious reunion they had, tucking into hot steak-and-kidney
puddin' and boiled jam roll, which, after the exertions of the
day, went down, as Bill said, "Grand."

"If them Puddin'-thieves ain't sufferin' the agonies of despair
at this very moment, I'll eat my hat along with the Puddin',"
said Bill, exultantly.

"Indeed," said Bunyip Bluegum, "the consciousness that our
enemies are deservedly the victims of acute mental and physical
anguish, imparts, it must be admitted, an additional flavour to