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By and by the Mongoose came back, and he was terribly disappointed when he found the eggs all covered with the big chatty.

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So he ran off to Little Black Mingo, and asked her to help him, and Little Black Mingo came and took the big chatty off the eggs, and the Mongoose ate them every one.

“Now,” said he, “there will be no little muggers to make a feast for to-morrow.”

“No,” said Little Black Mingo, “but the Mugger will eat me all by himself I am afraid.”

“No he won’t,” said the Mongoose, “for we will sail away together in the big chatty before he comes back.”

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So he climbed on to the edge of the chatty, and Little Black Mingo pushed the chatty out into the water, and then she clambered into it and paddled with her two hands as hard as she could, and the big chatty just sailed beautifully.

So they got across safely, and Little Black Mingo filled the chatty half full of water and took it on her head, and they went up the bank together.

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But when the Mugger came back, and found only empty egg-shells he was fearfully angry.  He roared and he raged, and he howled and he yelled, till the whole island shook, and his tears ran down his cheeks and pattered on the sand like rain.

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So he started to chase Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose, and he swam across the river as fast as ever he could, and when he was half way across he saw them landing, and as he landed they hurried over the first ridge.

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So he raced after them, but they ran, and just before he caught them they got into the house, and banged the door in his face.  Then they shut all the windows, so he could not get in anywhere.

“All right,” said he, “you will have to come out some time, and then I will catch you both, and eat you up.”

So he hid behind the back of the house and waited.

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Now Black Noggy was just coming home from the bazaar with a tin of kerosene on her head, and a box of matches in her hand.  And when he saw her the Mugger rushed out and gobbled her up, kerosene tin, matches and all!!!

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When Black Noggy found herself in the Mugger’s dark inside, she wanted to see where she was, so she felt for the match-box and took out a match and lit it.  But the Mugger’s teeth had made holes in the kerosene tin, so that the flame of the match caught the kerosene, and

Bang!!

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the kerosene exploded, and blew the old Mugger and Black Noggy into little bits.

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At the fearful noise Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose came running out, and there they found Black Noggy and the old Mugger all blown to bits.

So Little Black Mingo and the Mongoose got the nice little house for their very own, and there they lived happy ever after.  And Little Black Mingo got the Mugger’s head for her seat, and the Mongoose got Black Noggy’s handkerchief for his.  But he was so wee he used to put it on the Mugger’s nose, and there they sat, and had their tea every evening.