Free Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson

dropped the whole lot overboard.
    Now the Snork Maiden's blood was up and she was as excited as the others.
    'You are like Diana,' said Moomintroll, admiringly.
    'Who's that?' she asked.
    'Goddess of the chase!' he replied. 'As beautiful as the Wooden Queen and as clever as you!'
    'Hm,' said the Snork Maiden.
    At that moment The Adventure keeled over a little. 'Hush!' said the Snork. 'He's nibbling!' There was another twitch - this time more violent and then came a furious jerk that knocked them all over.
    'Help!' screamed Sniff. 'He's going to gobble us up!'
    The Adventure's bows dipped alarmingly, but she righted herself again and set off at a terrific speed towards the open sea. The painter was stretched out, tight as a bow-string, in front of her and disappeared in a flurry of foam below the surface.
    The Mameluke obviously liked pancake!
    'Keep calm!' yelled the Snork. 'Calm in the boat! Every man to his post!'
    'As long as he doesn't dive...' thought Snufkin creeping into the bows.
    But the Mameluke set a course straight out to sea, and soon the shore lay, like the sweep of a paintbrush, far behind them.
    'How long do you think he will be able to hold on?' asked the Hemulen.
    'If the worst comes to the worst we can cut the line,' said Sniff.
    'Never,' declared the Snork Maiden shaking her curly fringe.
    And then the Mameluke gave his huge tail a whisk and swung round making for the coast again.
    'He's going a little slower now,' shouted Moomintroll, who was on his knees in the bows. 'He's beginning to get tired!'
    The Mameluke was tired, but he had also begun to get angry. He gave the line a jerk and then tore off again so that The Adventure rocked about in the most alarming way.
    Sometimes he lay quite still trying to fool them, and then suddenly he would set off with such speed that a tidal wave almost swamped them. So Snufkin took his mouth-organ and played his hunting-song, while the others beat time with so much energy that the deck shook. And then, when they had almost given up hope, the Mameluke floated over on his back turning his huge lifeless belly up to the light.
    They had never seen such a big fish! They contemplated it for a moment in silence and then the Snork said: 'Well, I got him at last, didn't I?' And his sister proudly agreed.
    While the Mameluke was being towed to land it began to rain, and soon the Hemulen's dress got wet through, and Snufkin's hat lost what was left of its shape - which wasn't much.
    'It'll probably be pretty wet in the cave now,' said Moomintroll, who sat freezing at the oars.
    'Mother may be worried,' he added after a while.
    'You mean that we could sort of go home presently?' said Sniff, trying not to sound too hopeful.
    'Yes, and show them the fish,' said the Snork.
    'We will go home,' said the Hemulen. 'Strange adventures, and getting wet, and carrying on alone and that sort of thing are all very well, but they're not comfortable in the long run.'
    So they put boards under the Mameluke and everyone helped to carry him through the wood. His wide-open mouth was so big that the branches caught in his teeth, and he weighed so many hundreds of pounds that they had to rest every few minutes. Meanwhile the rain got worse and worse, until, when they got to their valley, it hid the whole house.
    'What about leaving him here for a bit?' suggested Sniff.
    'Not on your life!' said Moomintroll, indignantly, and they plunged on through the garden. Suddenly the Snork stood stock still. 'We've come the wrong way!' he said.
    'Nonsense!' said Moomintroll. 'Isn't that the wood-shed? And down there's the bridge.'
    'Yes, but where's the house?' asked the Snork.
    It was most extraordinary. Moominhouse had vanished. Quite simply - it wasn't there. They laid down the Mameluke in front of the. steps - at least that is to say - where the steps ought to have been. Instead...
    But first I must explain what had happened in the Valley while they were out on the Mameluke Hunt.
    Moominmamma had gone