Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson Page B

storm in the glass ball. The boat was indeed heavily laden when she sailed away from Lonely Island after the storm. Behind her floated a big raft carrying the driftwood they had collected. Their cargo consisted of the gold and the little snow storm, of the gorgeous big buoy, the boot, the dipper, the lifebelt and the raffia mat, and in the prow lay the figurehead gazing out to sea. Beside her sat Moomintroll with his paw on her beautiful blue hair. He was so happy!
    The Snork Maiden couldn't keep her eyes off them.
    'Oh, if only I were as beautiful as the Wooden Queen,' she thought, 'but I haven't even got my fringe left.' And she didn't feel gay any more.
    'Do you like the Wooden Queen?' she asked Moomintroll.
    'Very much!' he answered without looking up.
    'But I thought you said you didn't approve of girls with hair,' said the Snork Maiden. 'Besides she's only painted!'
    'But so beautifully painted!' said Moomintroll.
    This was almost too much for the Snork Maiden. She stared down into the sea with a lump in her throat and went very pale. 'The Wooden Queen looks so stupid!' she said at last.
    Then Moomintroll looked up.
    'Why are you so pale?' he asked in surprise.
    'Oh, nothing in particular!' she answered.
    Then he clambered down from the prow and sat beside her, and after a while he said: 'Do you know, the Wooden Queen looks terribly stupid actually.'
    'She does, doesn't she?' said the Snork Maiden, getting her colour back again.
    'Do you remember the golden butterfly we saw?' asked Moomintroll, and the Snork Maiden nodded, tired and happy.
    Far away Lonely Island lay flaming in the light of the sunset.
    'I wonder what you're all thinking of doing with the Snork's gold?' said Snufkin.
    'I think we shall use it to decorate the edges of the flower beds,' said Moominmamma, 'only the big bits, of course, because the little ones look so rubbishy.'
    Then in silence they watched the sun dive into the sea, and the colours fade to blue and violet, while The Adventure rocked gently homeward.



Chapter five
    In which we hear of the Mameluke Hunt, and of how the Moominhouse is changed into a jungle.
    IT was somewhere about the end of July and very hot in Moomin Valley. Not even the flies bothered to buzz. The trees seemed to be tired; the river was no longer fit for raspberry juice but flowed narrow and brown through the dusty countryside. The Hobgoblin's Hat, which had been taken back into favour stood on the chest of drawers under the mirror.
    Day after day the sun beat down on the little valley lying hidden between the hills. The small creeping things hid themselves in the cool darkness; the birds were silent, and Moomintroll and his friends got peevish and quarrelled amongst themselves.
    'Mother,' said Moomintroll. 'Find us something to do! We just quarrel, and it's so hot!'
    'Yes, dear,' said Moominmamma. 'I've noticed that! And I should be glad to get rid of you for a bit. Can't you go off to the cave for a few days? It's cooler there, and you can swim and laze all day without disturbing anyone.'
    'Can we sleep in the cave, too?' Moomintroll asked excitedly.
    'Certainly,' said Moominmamma. 'And don't come home until you're better tempered.'
    It was very thrilling really to live in the cave. In the middle of the sandy floor they put a kerosene lamp, and then everyone dug a hole to fit himself and made a bed in it. The provisions were divided into six big equal portions, which included raisin-pudding and pumpkin jam, bananas, marzipan pigs and sweet maize, and a pancake as well for breakfast next day.
    A little breeze came murmuring sadly across the lonely shore, while the sun sank in a red glow filling the cave with its last rays: a reminder of the mysterious darkness that was to come. Then Snufkin played his mouth-organ while the Snork Maiden laid her curly head in Moomintroll's lap, and everyone began to feel comfy inside after the raisin-pudding. And as twilight came stealing into the cave a nice creepy feeling came over