riverside; or maybe it is one of the
great hairy Gunga-mulgars whose country our father Seelem told me lies
five days' journey towards the daybreak. Whicheversoever, Mulla-mulgars,
we will hobble on and discover."

Thimble dropped lightly, and rested on all-fours a moment. His eyes
squinted a little, for he greatly feared the drumming they had heard.

But Thumb, moving softly, edged watchfully on, and Thimble and Nod
followed as he led along the reedy bank of the river. Ever and again
they heard the drumming repeated, but it seemed no less distant, so they
squatted down to eat while there was light enough in the sky to find
the way from fingers to mouth. They sat down under a twisted
B[=o][=o]bab-tree, opened their bundles, and took out the frosted nuts
and fruits which they had lately gathered for their supper. But it was
so bitterly cold by the waterside Nod could scarcely crack his shells
between his chattering teeth. And now the waning moon was beginning to
silver river and forest. From the farther bank rose the cries of Munza's
beasts come down to drink, mournful, lean, and fierce from hunger and
cold. Soon the long-billed river-birds began their night-talk across the
water. And while the Mulgars were sitting silently munching, out of the
shadow before their faces came on her soundless pads a young
she-leopard, and with catlike face stood regarding them.

Thumb and Thimble dropped softly their hands, and very slowly stooped
their stiff-haired heads. But the leopard, after regarding them awhile,
and seeing them to be three together and Mulgars-royal, drew back her
head, yawned, and leapt lightly back into the shadowy grasses from which
she had stolen out. "One Roses brings many," said Thumb sourly; "let us
hobble on, Mulla-mulgars, until we find a quieter sleeping-place."

But it was now so dark beside the river that the Mulgars had to stop and
walk on the knuckles of their hands, as do all the Munza-mulgars. And
while they walked heedfully forward, they heard the trump-billed
river-birds calling their secrets one to another:

"I see Mulgars, one, two, three,
Creeping, crawling, one, two, three."

Once Thumb trod on a forest-pig that was lying half dead with cold under
a root of Samarak. But the pig was too weak to squeal. Nod stooped and
gave him three Ukka-nuts and a pepper-pod. "There, pig," he said, "tell
your brothers who stole my bundle that Nod Nizza-neela gave you these
when you were frozen."