The Borribles - Larrabeiti Michael. Страница 16

"Every name has a story," said Adolph philosophically, "but I am glad you like them, and Winston will add something special. Yours is a fine name, too. You will tell me the story sometime? But what are the names of all the others?"

"They haven't got them yet," said Knocker, "but I can tell you what they will be when this adventure is over." And he explained the reason for the Rumble names.

Adolph was very interested. "We have Rumbles at home, too," he said. "We call them Gormutliks. They wield great power, and are dangerous and sly."

They could have talked for much longer like this but they were interrupted by orders from Napoleon.

"Come on," he called, "we've more rowing to do, otherwise we'll never get there. This ain't a holiday, you know."

They went to their seats and Napoleon slipped the moorings and the boat drifted from its hiding place. Once more they crossed the river quickly and getting on station they rowed expertly along the southern shore on the last leg of their river journey. At dawn, if Napoleon's navigation was correct, they would land at the mouth of the river Wandle, the muddy stream where only Napoleon Boot's own people knew a way through the treacherous swamps which stretched for miles under the very streets of Wandsworth.