PAGE 5
(N20) The Lions Of The North Wind
by
“And he sent them out too.
“‘Lions, put out those fires!’
“Such a terrible roar those lions roared that the whole Earth shook. Through the forests they raced, leaping through the wild tree tops, lashing their tails, and shaking their shaggy manes. And they leaped at the fires, but they couldn’t do any better. Those big lions just couldn’t put the little fires out.
“Beside himself with rage was old Northwind now. So he sent them all out, wolves and tigers and lions wild, and he rushed on at their head.
“But never, never can they put the little fires out, so you needn’t worry at all.”
The Toyman stopped and Marmaduke listened.
“Hark!”
Yes, there were the grey wolves now, howling down the chimney. There were the wild tigers, snarling at the window panes and leaping at the door.
Hark! How the knobs rattled!
And there were the wild lions, rushing and roaring through the tree-tops.
And round and round and round the house raced old Giant Northwind himself.
But all the while, in the fireplace the little red flames danced merrily, never afraid at all.
Marmaduke jumped. Something was whining and scratching at the door.
Was it a wolf?
The voice he heard was too small and weak.
He knew who that was.
“Toyman,” he shouted, “that’s my little pet doggie, out in the cold. Those bad wolves an’ tigers an’ lions ‘ll eat him up.”
So they ran to the door, the Toyman and little Marmaduke. And he wasn’t afraid at all. And they let little Wienerwurst in, and saved him from the grey wolves and the wild tigers and the fierce lions of the Northwind.
Little Wienerwurst barked happily and curled himself up by their feet, in front of the warm fire.
After that Marmaduke spoke only once before he fell asleep.
“You never had any little boys, did you, Toyman?”
On the Toyman’s face was a funny look as he answered:
“No, little feller, I never had any little boys.”
Marmaduke reached up his hand and patted the Toyman’s rough, kind face.
“Don’t worry, Toyman,” he said, “I’ll be your little boy.”
Little Wienerwurst was sound asleep, so Marmaduke just had to fall asleep too, happy and safe in the Toyman’s arms, by the little red fire that the wind could never put out.