More about Mary Poppins / И снова о Мэри Поппинз

And when it grew still again they found themselves hurrying with Mary Poppins through great pine woods towards a clearing where several tents were pitched round a huge fire. In and out of the firelight flickered dark figures crowned with feathers and wearing loose tunics and trousers of fringed doe-skin. One of the largest of these figures broke away from the rest and came hurrying towards Mary Poppins and the children.

“Morning-Star-Mary,*” he said. “Greeting!” And he bent over her and touched his forehead with hers.

Then he turned to the four children and did the same to them.

“My wigwam awaits you,” he said in a grave, friendly voice. “We are just frying a reindeer for supper.”

“Chief Sun-at-Noonday*,” said Mary Poppins, “we have only dropped in – indeed, we have come, as it were, to say good-bye. We have been round the world and this is our last port of call*.”

“Ha?* Is that so?” said the Chief, looking very interested. “I have often thought of doing that myself.

But surely you can spend a little time with us, if only so long as to let this young person” (he nodded at Michael) “try his strength against my great-great-great-grandson, Fleet-as-the-Wind*!” The Chief clapped his hands.

“Hi – ho – hee!” he called loudly, and from the tents a little Indian boy ran towards them. He came swiftly up to Michael and when he reached him he flicked him lightly on the shoulder.

“Touched you last!*” he said and ran like a hare.

That was too much for Michael. With a bound he was after him, with Jane on the heels of both. The three of them went dodging among the trees, circling one huge pine again and again as Fleet-as-the-Wind led them on, always laughing and always out of reach. Jane dropped behind, beaten, but Michael was angry now and set his teeth and fled screaming after Fleet-as-the-Wind, determined not to be outrun by an Indian boy.

“I’ll get you!” he cried, straining to run still faster.

“What are you doing?” enquired Mary Poppins, snappily.

Michael looked back at her and stopped suddenly in his tracks. Then he turned again to the chase, but to his surprise there was no sign of Fleet-as-the-Wind. Nor of the Chief, nor the tents, nor the fire. There was not even a pine-tree to be seen. Nothing but a garden seat, and Jane and the Twins and Mary Poppins standing in the middle of the Park.