He grasped my hand, struggling violently with his emotion. Then he
struggled with me--and I left hurriedly. Poor old boy! The
funeral was well attended, however, and no one knew the truth, not
even myself.
III
JUNGLE FOLK
It was high noon of a warm summer's day when Moo Kow came down to
the watering-place. Miaow, otherwise known as "Puskat"--the
warmth-loving one--was crouching on a limb that overhung the pool,
sunning herself. Brer Rabbit--but that is Another Story by Another
Person.
Three or four Gee Gees, already at the pool, moved away on the
approach of Moo Kow.
"Why do ye stand aside?" said the Moo Kow.
"Why do you say 'ye'?" said the Gee Gees together.
"Because it's more impressive than 'you.' Don't you know that all
animals talk that way in English?" said the Moo Kow.
"And they also say 'thou,' and don't you forget it!" interrupted
Miaow from the tree. "I learnt that from a Man Cub."
The animals were silent. They did not like Miaow's slang, and were
jealous of her occasionally sitting on a Man Cub's lap. Once Dun-
kee, a poor relation of the Gee Gees, had tried it on,
disastrously--but that is also Another and a more Aged Story.
"We are ridden by The English--please to observe the Capital
letters," said Pi Bol, the leader of the Gee Gees, proudly. "They
are a mighty race who ride anything and everybody.
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