He even suffered a few of the very smallest of
the brown troop to take liberties with him, and pull his beard.

One brown mite in particular--a female baby of the smallest conceivable
dimensions, and the wildest possible spirit--became an immense favourite
with him. Her name was Lippy, or some sound which that combination of
letters produces.

Lippy's mother, a large-eyed, good-looking young woman, with
insufficient clothing--at least in the estimate of a Ratingaite--was
transfixed the first time she saw her little one practise her
familiarities on their demigod.

Zeppa was lying on his back at the time, in front of his hut, when Lippy
prowled cautiously towards him, like a very small and sly kitten about
to pounce on a very huge dog. She sprang, just as her mother caught
sight of her, and was on his broad chest in a moment. The mother was,
as we have said, transfixed with alarm. The human kitten seized Zeppa
by the beard and laughed immoderately. Zeppa replied with a gentle
smile--he never laughed out now--and remained quite still.

Having finished her laugh, Lippy drew herself forward until she was
close to her human dog's chin. At this point her mother would have
rushed to the rescue, but she was still paralysed! Having reached the
chin Lippy became more audacious, stretched forth one of her little
hands, and seized Zeppa's nose. Still he did not move, but when the
little brown kitten proceeded to thrust a thumb into one of his eyes, he
roused himself, seized the child in his powerful hands, and raised her
high above his head; then, lowering her until her little mouth was
within reach, he kissed her.

This sufficed to relieve the mother's fears, so she retired quietly from
the scene.

She was not so easily quieted, however, some weeks later, when she
beheld Zeppa, after amusing himself one day with Lippy for half an hour,
start up, place her on his shoulder, and stalk off towards the
mountains. He absented himself for three days on that occasion.
Lippy's mother at first became anxious, then terrified, then desperate.
She roused Ongoloo to such a pitch that he at last called a council of
war. Some of the head men were for immediate pursuit of the madman;
others were of opinion that the little brat was not worth so much
trouble; a few wretches even expressed the opinion that they were well
rid of her--there being already too many female babies in the community!

While the conflict of opinions was at