Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson Page B

shots and the stamping of feet, as everybody came rushing down to the drawing-room armed with axes, spades, rakes, stones, knives, and scissors, and stood staring at the Muskrat.
    'Where's the Groke?' demanded Moomintroll.
    'Oh, it was only me,' said the Muskrat peevishly. 'I just wanted to look at the stars. I forgot all about your stupid Groke.'
    'Then go outside at once,' said Moomintroll. 'But don't do it again.' And he threw the door open.
    Then - they saw the Groke. Everybody saw her. She sat motionless on the sandy path at the bottom of the steps and stared at them with round, expressionless eyes.
    She was not particularly big and didn't look dangerous either, but you felt that she was terribly evil and would wait for ever. And that was awful.
    Nobody plucked up enough courage to attack.

    She sat there for a while, and then slid away into the darkness. But where she had been sitting the ground was frozen!
    The Snork shut the door and shook himself. 'Poor Thingumy and Bob!' he said. 'Hemul, look and see if they're awake.'
    They were.
    'Has she gone?' asked Thingumy.
    'Yes, you can peep in sleace now,' replied the Hemulen.
    Thingumy sighed a little and said: 'Thank goodness!' And they pulled the suitcase with them as far into the drawer as possible and went to sleep again.
    'Can we go back to bed now?' asked Moominmamma, putting down her axe.
    'Yes, mother,' said Moomintroll. 'Snufkin and I will stand guard till the sun gets up. But put your handbag under your pillow to be on the safe side.'
    Then they sat alone in the drawing-room and played poker till the morning. And no more was heard of the Groke that night.
    *
    Next morning the Hemulen went anxiously out to the kitchen and said: 'I've been talking to Thingumy and Bob.'
    'Well, what is it now?' asked Moominmamma with a sigh.
    'It's their suitcase the Groke wants,' explained the Hemulen.
    'What a monster!' burst out Moominmamma. 'To steal their small possessions from them!'
    'Yes, I know,' said the Hemulen, 'but there is something that makes the whole thing complicated. It seems to be the Groke's suitcase.'
    'Hm,' agreed Moominmamma. 'That certainly makes the situation more difficult. We'll talk to the Snork. He always arranges everything so well.'
    The Snork was very interested. 'It's a remarkable case,' he said. 'We must hold a meeting. Everybody will come to the lilac bushes at three o'clock to discuss the question.'
    It was one of those lovely warm afternoons full of the scent of flowers and the humming of bees, and the garden was brilliant with the deep colours of late summer.
    The Muskrat's hammock was hung between two bushes and on it was a notice which said:
    PROSECUTOR for the GROKE
    The Snork himself, in a wig, was sitting in front of a box: everybody could see that he was the judge. Opposite him sat Thingumy and Bob eating cherries in the prisoners' dock.
    'I wish to be their Prosecutor,' said Sniff (who hadn't forgotten that they had called him a silly old mouse).
    'In that case I'll be their Counsel for the Defence,' said the Hemulen.
    'What about me?' asked the Snork Maiden.
    'You can be the Moomin Family's witness,' said her brother. 'And Snufkin can make notes concerning the proceedings of the Court. But you're to do it properly, Snufkin!'
    'Why doesn't the Groke have a Counsel for the Defence?' asked Sniff.
    'That isn't necessary' replied the Snork, 'because the Groke is in the right. Everything clear now? All right. We'll begin.'
    He banged three times on the box with a hammer.
    'Man you cake it out?' asked Thingumy.
    'Mot nutch,' said Bob, blowing a cherry stone at the judge.
    'You are not to speak until I say so,' said the

    Snork. 'Yes or No. Nothing more. Is the said suitcase yours or the Groke's?'
    'Yes,' said Thingumy.
    'No,' said Bob.
    'Write down that they contradicted each other,' screamed Sniff.
    The Snork banged on the box. 'Quiet!' he cried. 'Now I'm asking for the last time. Whose suitcase is it?'
    'Ours!' said Thingumy
    'Now they say