32 THE MAGIC OAK TREE

of him with his arms akimbo. ‘Halloa,
young ’un,’ he cried, in a deep voice, ‘ where
are you going to?’

Hurly-Burly had taken a step backward
at the unexpected sight of this figure, but he
recovered himself immediately, shook his
handkerchief boldly before him, and at the
same time uttered the magic word, ‘Gambleo-
gomeril !’ in a voice as clear and firm as he
could command.

Without a moment’s delay the little man
turned round and ran away into the gorse,
like a rabbit with a dog at his heels.