Blinky Bill Read online

  “You’re treading on my toes,” whimpered Bobbin.

  Blinky looked down at her paws quite alarmed.

  “Your toe-nails are too long,” he said rudely.

  “They’re not!” Bobbin replied indignantly. “How could I dig burrows with short toe-nails?”

  “I forgot,” said Blinky politely. “But look out, here comes Madam Hare, and I’m going to pull her tail again.”

  Bobbin began to giggle, as she did not like Madam Hare a bit. She “showed off” such a lot.

  As the dancers neared Blinky he cautiously grabbed Madam Hare’s tail and gave it a very hard pull, so hard in fact that a pawful of fur flew into the air.

  Before Madam Hare knew what she was doing, she boxed Brer Rabbit’s ears. He was astonished, and looked very pained.

  “Did you pull my tail?” Madam Hare demanded in an angry voice.

  “Did you pull my tail?” Madam Hare demanded.

  “Certainly not!” Brer Rabbit replied. “And I’m not going to dance any longer with you.”

  That was the end of everything for Madam Hare. She hopped right into the middle of the floor and kicked everyone as they passed in their dance. It was the beginning of a wild fight. Fur flew through the air, teeth gnashed. And, oh, the savage kicks! Everyone kicked, and the dust began to make them sneeze and cough. The orchestra made a gallant attempt to soothe the ruffled dancers, and dinned louder than ever; but the scuffle grew worse.

  Bobbin thought it time to tell her father who it really was that had caused all the trouble. When Brer Rabbit heard her story he at once made for the culprit.

  Blinky saw him coming and tried to hide; but Brer Rabbit never moved his eyes from that young bear. Tapping another big rabbit on the shoulder he asked for his assistance and together they grabbed Blinky, firmly holding his front paws. Blinky kicked with his hind legs as hard as he could, but he was handicapped.

  “Let go!” he screamed. “You’re hurting me.”

  “You young trouble maker!” Brer Rabbit cried, as he gave Blinky’s arm a pinch. “Out you go!”

  By this time all the other rabbits had ceased fighting and stood watching the excitement. The orchestra kept playing and an angry note crept into their drumming.

  “I’ve a good mind to take the young bounder to old Mother Ferrit,” Brer Rabbit exclaimed.

  “No, don’t do that,” called out Madam Hare. “Let me punish the young rascal.”

  Blinky shivered with fear. Madam Hare had such big feet and could give a very big kick. How he wished he had a tail round his hind parts. Scowling and showing her teeth Madam Hare pounced on Blinky.

  “You little wretch!” she screamed, “you’ve ruined my tail, and it’s moulting time. I’ll have none for a long time now.”

  “You’re a bully, and I’m glad I did it,” roared Blinky trying to kick her.

  “Hold his arms!” Madam Hare commanded, as she turned her back to Blinky; then quickly looking over her shoulder she measured her distance.

  Blinky waited for the kick. His eyes screwed up tightly and he tried to tuck in the part where his tail should have been.

  “Thud! Thud! Thud!” Madam Hare certainly forgot to be shy.

  “Oh! Oh!” wailed Blinky, “Stop! Stop!”

  Roars of laughter came from all the rabbits.

  “Throw him out! Throw him out!” they called loudly.

  Blinky was pushed towards the opening of the cave and Madam Hare gave him a parting kick as he shot through the doorway.

  He landed on his paws quite ten feet away. But thank goodness he was safe from the angry rabbits and Madam Hare.

  He shook himself and gently patted the place where the kicks had struck.

  “Savage animal!” he called at the top of his voice; and at once a head appeared in the opening.

  Madam Hare gave him a parting kick as he shot through the doorway.

  “Chase him! Chase him!” the rabbits cried; but Blinky did not wait to be chased. He was running as fast as he could, colliding with corners, bumping his head and snubbing his nose.

  Panting, he reached the entrance of the burrow; but oh! horror of horrors, Madam Hare’s large feet came thudding behind him.

  “I’ll catch you; I’ll catch you!” she called. “And off to Mrs Ferrit you’ll go!”

  Blinky nearly fainted with fright. He felt quite giddy, and his breath seemed to catch in his throat.

  His heart pounded and thumped and his legs would not go fast enough.

  Out into the moonlight he raced, crying and whimpering, stopping just a moment to look behind to see where that Madam Hare was.

  Now her head came through the burrow and on she raced.

  “Save me! Save me!” Blinky called at the top of his voice; but he hadn’t the faintest idea who could rescue him.

  Suddenly the branches cracked and a brown form came hurriedly hopping through the undergrowth. It was Angelina Wallaby.

  “Quick! Quick! Angelina,” Blinky called. “Madam Hare’s going to take me to Mrs Ferrit.”

  “Is she? Well, she’s not,” said Angelina in a determined voice. “Here! hop on my back as quickly as you can. Hurry up. She’s coming!”

  Blinky scrambled on to Angelina’s back as quick as winking, and before he’d settled down safely she gave a hop and away they went.

  Madam Hare was stupid enough to think she could hop as quickly as Angelina and she plunged through the bushes calling wildly; but Angelina’s hops were too long for her, and very soon Madam Hare gave up the chase.

  She looked a sorry sight with her stumpy tail showing bone, where only a few hours ago a beautiful white tuft reposed, her whiskers were bent and broken, and her ears hung limply sideways. Her coat, that had taken hours to polish and brush, was covered with dust and tiny twigs, and her eyes were blood-shot.

  She flung herself on the ground and kicked the dust in temper. If only she could have seen Blinky at that moment, she would have eaten anything that chanced to pass her by, for he was having a beautiful ride, flying along on Angelina’s back — not caring tuppence for Madam Hare and her tail.

  “Lucky for you, Master Blinky, I happened to be out looking for supper,” said Angelina in between hops.

  “I’m so glad, dear Angelina, you came along. That Madam Hare has a very nasty temper.”

  “And what about your mother’s when you arrive home?” chuckled Angelina.

  “Do you think she’ll be very angry?” Blinky inquired, quite frightened at the thought of it now.

  “She’s ramping,” exclaimed Angelina, “and so is Mrs Grunty.”

  “What will I do?” asked Blinky in a whisper.

  “Oh, tell the truth!” said Angelina. “If she spanks you, well — you know you really deserve it.”

  Things must be pretty bad at home thought Blinky when Angelina speaks like that. However, if he was to have a spanking, the sooner it was over the better. Very soon Angelina hopped to the bottom of the tree where Blinky lived. The moon had sunk behind the hill, and the first kookaburra’s chuckle could be heard. A galah screeched in the tree as she looked at Blinky and Angelina.

  “Stop that noise!” Blinky grunted as he shook his paw at her.

  Everything was extraordinarily still. No Mrs Koala was to be seen, no Mrs Grunty and no Snubby.

  “They must be asleep!” Angelina whispered in a low voice. “Climb up to your bed quickly and don’t make a noise.”

  “All right, Angelina,” Blinky replied. “Good night, and thank you for saving me.”

  “Good night,” Angelina purred. “Keep sitting if your mother spanks you.” After giving this good advice she hopped away into the bush.

  Blinky climbed quietly — ever so quietly up the tree.

  He peeped over the branch where his mother usually slept. There she was, and Mrs Grunty with Snubby too, all curled up together, sound asleep, with their noses snugly tucked down on their tummies.

  Up past them Blinky climbed, hardly daring to breathe, and he kept climbing until
he reached the highest branch, then, too tired to think any more about a spanking, he fell asleep.

  Mrs Koala awoke when the sun peeped over the hill. “Oh, dear,” she sighed, “that naughty Blinky! I wonder where he is. Now I’ll have to start hunting for him, and when I do find the young cub he’ll know all about it.” Peering up among the branches to see if any leaves would tempt her for breakfast, she was astonished to see a furry body that looked very much like her son.

  “Blinky!” she called in a stern voice, “is that you?” “Yes, mother,” came a meek little reply.

  “Come down here!” she ordered.

  Blinky thought it wise to do as he was told, so slowly climbed down to his mother.

  “Where have you been?” Mrs Koala demanded.

  “Looking for some leaves,” Blinky replied, his nose quivering with fright.

  “Now, no stories, my son, where have you been?” Blinky had never seen his mother look so angry, so he decided to tell the truth.

  By this time Mrs Grunty and Snubby were awake and sat staring with eyes of amazement.

  “Smack him!” Mrs Grunty exclaimed.

  “Wait till I hear his story,” Mrs Koala replied, and she felt rather annoyed with Mrs Grunty, as it was not her business to tell her what to do with her own son.

  “Not Mrs Spotty’s?” Blinky asked in a frightened voice.

  Blinky told his story, keeping several parts to himself, about pushing Mrs Spotty in the pool, and grabbing Madam Hare’s tail.

  “Very well, Blinky,” Mrs Koala said when he had finished his tale, “you are going to boarding-school after this.”

  “Not Mrs Spotty’s?” Blinky asked in a frightened voice.

  “No!” Mrs Koala replied, “you’ll go to Mrs Magpie’s!”

  “Come down here!” Mrs Koala ordered.

  Blinky Bill Grows Up

  CHAPTER 6

  Binky Runs Away

  rs Koala and Mrs Grunty had talked matters over for nearly a whole night, and towards the dawn had decided upon a plan.

  “You know, my dear,” said Mrs Grunty, “Blinky needs a firm hand over him now that he has grown up; and who could you find better than Mrs Magpie to give him just the discipline that all young bears require?”

  Mrs Grunty used all her powers of persuasion. She secretly longed to give Blinky a good smack occasionally, and at times found her right paw fairly itching to be used hard on that naughty bear’s pants.

  “And you know, Mrs Koala,” she continued, “Snubby is a different child since Blinky came here. He was always so good and obedient before, but now —” and she sighed deeply, right down in her bear tummy.

  “Well,” replied Mrs Koala, “I wouldn’t change Blinky for fifteen Snubbies.” And she gave a decided sniff.

  “Of course not! I quite see your side of the question,”

  Mrs Grunty answered. “But this everlasting mending of pants and cleaning of ears, while all the time wondering when I’ll get a hit on the nose again with a gum-nut. — Well, it’s too much for any mother bear.”

  “But think of all the lovely gum-tips Blinky has brought you to eat,” said Mrs Koala, bristling with indignation. “All the same, I must admit he has been very trying lately, I sometimes think it is the new pair of knickerbockers that is to blame, because he’s been twice as naughty ever since the day he first put them on,”

  “Then take them off again,” growled Mrs Grunty. “They’re always hanging half-way down his legs, never fastened as they should be. If there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s knickerbockers half-mast,”

  “Oh, I don’t mind that so much,” Mrs Koala replied. “Every real bear at that age seems to wear them that way; but he loses the buttons, and I can’t find any at all now.”

  “We don’t seem to be any further ahead in our discussion,” said Mrs Grunty coldly.

  “If I send Blinky to Mrs Magpie’s school for a month, perhaps he’ll return a little quieter,” Mrs Koala said sorrowfully. “But you’ll never make a man of Snubby!”

  “What did you say?” Mrs Grunty exclaimed snappily.

  “You’ll never make a man of Snubby!” and Mrs Koala glared as she repeated her remark.

  “Gome, come, my dear, we must not quarrel over our children,” said Mrs Grunty kindly. “After all it will do Blinky no harm and give you a good rest.”

  So it was decided. Blinky was to be packed off to Mrs Magpie’s school the next evening and the two mother bears became friends again.

  Up in the gum-tree snuggled together, two little bears had listened to all this with big ears opened wide.

  “Did you hear that, Snubby?” Blinky asked with wide open eyes. “I’m to be sent to Mrs Magpie’s!”

  “How dreadful! She’ll peck you ever so hard,” Snubby whispered.

  “She won’t, ‘cause I won’t go!” Blinky boldly replied.

  “You’ll have to. Your mother will make you,” Snubby answered.

  “I’m nearly as big as she is; and besides I’m grown up now. Look at my bockers!” And Blinky proudly pulled them a little farther down his short stubby legs.

  “I wish my mother would make me a pair of bockers,” signed Snubby.

  “I’ll leave you mine, ‘cause I won’t be wearing them again,” Blinky replied.

  “Oh, you can’t go to school undressed!” And Snubby looked very shocked.

  “I tell you, I’m not going to school, now or never. I’m going to run away; but I think I’ll take my bockers with me as you’d look silly in them.” With that Blinky puffed out his tummy till a few stitches gave way.

  “Where are you going?” Snubby inquired in a frightened voice.

  “Oh, just away, over there.” And Blinky waved a little paw in all directions.

  “That’s where the men are!” Snubby whispered, holding his breath.

  “And adventures, too,” Blinky replied excitedly.

  “I tell you, I’m not going to school, now or never.”

  “I know where Mr Smifkins’s farm is and I know where Mr Willie Wagtail lives, and where the flying squirrel plays, and lots of other things, and best of all where the lyrebird dances. I’ll go and see all these things, while you’re up here in the gum-tree just eating leaves all night long and listening to old Mrs Grunty growling.”

  “I know where the flying squirrel plays.”

  Snubby longed to go too, but he was such a good little bear. When he thought of all that Blinky said, his heart went pita-pat so loudly that he became frightened at the very thought of running away. Much better to be safe in a tree even if his mother did growl sometimes. But he knew he would miss his playmate and tears slowly trickled down his little face.

  “How could you wear bockers when you’re crying?” said Blinky scornfully.

  Snubby brushed the tears away with his paw.

  “I don’t think I’m crying,” he said bravely, “Mother’s eyes go like that when she has lost her glasses.

  “What will you eat while you’re away, and where will you sleep?”

  “There are juicy plants to find and I’ll sleep in a tree; but if I get to Mr Smifkins’s place I’ll find a cosy corner in his house. But I can’t tell you any more just now — it’s wasting time. The sun will be up soon and I must hide before mother finds I’m gone. Just watch how quickly I slide down this tree.”

  The naughty bear climbed down past Mrs Koala and Mrs Grunty, who were snoozing in a corner. Quickly and silently he slid to the ground leaving a patch of his bockers on the last branch as he went. He looked very funny, pattering over the ground, one leg of his bockers torn and draggled. But he didn’t care a fig — anything was better than Mrs Magpie’s school.

  “The old pecker!” he mumbled to himself as he trotted along. “And it’s all through Mrs Grunty. I wish I’d hidden her glasses before I left!”

  The sun peeped through the bush warming the leaves on Blinky’s pathway, and shy little lizards poked their heads out from under the stones, surprised to find a bear wandering through
their bushland.

  Blinky began to stumble, and his knickerbockers caught in every bramble and twig on the way. At last, feeling so tired, he decided to find a suitable tree for a sleep.

  A large gum stood straight in his pathway, just the kind made for bears. Smooth and tall, protecting branches high up from the ground, and hundreds of leaves to shelter a little chap like himself. Struggling along he reached the foot of the tree and began to climb. He was an expert climber, much stronger now than when we first knew him, and his claws were longer so that his grip on the trunk of the tree was very sure and strong. Up and up he climbed and had almost reached the top when he heard a great commotion.

  “Goodness! What’s that?” he exclaimed. “Sounds like Mrs Grunty again,” and pausing just under a branch he peeped round the bough to see what all the noise was about.

  Feathers were flying in all directions, pecks and squawks disturbed the morning air and the leaves of the tree trembled with fright. Strangest of all, rows and rows of little dead birds hung from the twigs. It looked like a jeweller’s shop. The sun caught the bright colours of beautiful feathers on the breasts and wings of tiny feathered folk. Little heads hung down with dull eyes that had glistened only a short time before, and teeny claws curled up — gripping nothing. Tears came to Blinky’s eyes. Something terrible had happened. The bush he knew was so kind, everything was alive and sparkling, rustling with life and twittering with gladness; but here everything was still and songless, except for the dreadful fight that was in progress. Two butcher-birds were fighting savagely, each trying to knock the other out of the tree. At last Blinky could not bear to look on any longer.

  “Here, you two birds,” he shouted, “stop fighting and pecking one another.”

  He really felt terribly brave, but was surprised to hear his own voice sounding so loud.

  “Oh, it’s funny nose!” called out one of the butcherbirds.

  “What do you think you’re doing in our tree?”

  Blinky thought very quickly for a moment, then, summoning up all his courage, replied: