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spot； the remainder hurled backwards； but not until they had slain nearly
twice their own number。
There is a custom； we are told； amongst the hillsmen； that when a great
chieftain of their own falls in battle； his wrist is bound with a thread either
of red or green； the red denoting the highest rank。 According to custom；
they stripped the dead； and threw their bodies over the precipice。 When
their comrades came； they found their corpses stark and gashed； but round
both wrists of every British hero was twined the red thread！
This anecdote serves its purpose of illustration perfectly well； but
considered as a separate story it is somewhat too explanatory in diction；
and too condensed in form。 Just as the long story is analysed for reduction
of given details； so this must be analysed；to find the details implied。 We
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
have to read into it again all that has been left between the lines。
Moreover； the order must be slightly changed； if we are to end with the
proper 〃snap；〃 the final sting of surprise and admiration given by the point
of the story； the point must be prepared for。 The purpose of the original is
equally well served by the explanation at the end； but we must never
forget that the place for the climax； or effective point in a story told； is the
last thing said。 That is what makes a story 〃go off〃 well。
Imagining vividly the situation suggested； and keeping the logical
sequence of facts in mind； shall we not find the story telling itself to boys
and girls in somewhat this form？
THE RED THREAD OF COURAGE＇1＇
＇1＇ See also The Red Thread of Honour； by Sir Francis Doyle； in Lyra
Heroica；
This story which I am going to tell you is a true one。 It happened
while the English troops in India were fighting against some of the native
tribes。 The natives who were making trouble were people from the hill…
country； called Hillsmen； and they were strong enemies。 The English knew
very little about them； except their courage； but they had noticed one
peculiar custom； after certain battles；the Hillsmen had a way of marking
the bodies of their greatest chiefs who were killed in battle by binding a
red thread about the wrist； this was the highest tribute they could pay a
hero。 The English； however； found the common men of them quite enough
to handle； for they had proved themselves good fighters and clever at
ambushes。
One day； a small body of the English had marched a long way into the
hill country； after the enemy； and in the afternoon they found themselves
in a part of the country strange even to the guides。 The men moved
forward very slowly and cautiously； for fear of an ambush。 The trail led
into a narrow valley with very steep； high； rocky sides； topped with woods
in which the enemy might easily hide。
Here the soldiers were ordered to advance more quickly； though with
caution； to get out of the dangerous place。
After a little they came suddenly to a place where the passage was
divided in two by a big three…cornered boulder which seemed to rise from
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
the midst of the valley。 The main line of men kept to the right； to save
crowding the path； a sergeant and eleven men took the left； meaning to go
round the rock and meet the rest beyond it。
They had been in the path only a few minutes when they saw that the
rock was not a single boulder at all； but an arm of the left wall of the
valley； and that they were marching into a deep ravine with no outlet
except the way they came。 Both sides were sheer rock； almost
perpendicular； with thick trees at the top； in front of them the ground rose
in a steep hill； bare of woods。 As they looked up； they saw that the top was
barricaded by the trunks of trees； and guarded by a strong body of
Hillsmen。 As the English hesitated； looking at this； a shower of spears fell
from the wood's edge； aimed by hidden foes。 The place was a death trap。
At this moment； their danger was seen by the officer in command of
the main body； and he signalled to the sergeant to retreat。
By some terrible mischance； the signal was misunderstood。 The men
took it for the signal to charge。 Without a moment's pause； straight up the
slope； they charged on the run； cheering as they ran。
Some were killed by the spears that were thrown from the cliffs；
before they had gone half way； some were stabbed as they reached the
crest； and hurled backward from the precipice； two or three got to the top；
and fought hand to hand with the Hillsmen。 They were outnumbered；
seven to one； but when the last of the English soldiers lay dead； twice their
number of Hillsmen lay dead around them！
When the relief party reached the spot； later in the day； they found the
bodies of their comrades； full of wounds； huddled over and in the
barricade； or crushed on the rocks below。 They were mutilated and
battered； and bore every sign of the terrible struggle。 BUT ROUND
BOTH WRISTS OF EVERY BRITISH SOLDIER WAS BOUND THE
RED THREAD！
The Hillsmen had paid greater honour to their heroic foes than to the
bravest of their own brave dead。
Another instance is the short poem； which； while being perfectly
simple； is rich in suggestion of more than the young child will see for
himself。 The following example shows the working out of details in order
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
to provide a satisfactorily rounded story。
THE ELF AND THE DORMOUSE＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from The Elf and the Dormouse； by Oliver Herford； in A
Treasury of Verse for Little Children。 （Harrap。 1s。 net。）
Once upon a time a dormouse lived in the wood with his mother。 She
had made a snug little nest； but Sleepy…head； as she called her little mousie；
loved to roam about among the grass and fallen leaves； and it was a hard
task to keep him at home。 One day the mother went off as usual to look for
food； leaving Sleepy… head curled up comfortably in a corner of the nest。
〃He will lie there safely till I come back；〃 she thought。 Presently； however；
Sleepy…head opened his eyes and thought he would like to take a walk out
in the fresh air。 So he crept out of the nest and through the long grass that
nodded over the hole in the bank。 He ran here and he ran there； stopping
again an again to cock his little ears for sound of any creeping thing that
might be close at hand。 His little fur coat was soft and silky as velvet。
Mother had licked it clean before starting her day's work； you may be sure。
As Sleepy…head moved from place to place his long tail swayed from side
to side and tickled the daisies so that they could not hold themselves still
for laughing。
Presently something very cold fell on Sleepy… head's nose。 What could
it be？ He put up his little paw and dabbed at the place。 Then the same
thing happened to his tail。 He wh