They were on their way to a secret meeting with the Manufacturer of Cardboard Boxes.
The Despoiler seemed to be literally shaking with anger. The Young Stork had been forced to tell him that he stood in urgent need of certain repairs to his back, and the Despoiler, therefore, found himself in the humiliating situation of having to make a purchase from the Manufacturer of Cardboard Boxes.
It added to the Despoiler's vexation to have been seen by the two little humans. He stopped and looked at the sun, of which only a small piece of the rim was visible.
The Despoiler turned towards the Rats and, pointing to the cauldron, called out angrily:
"Take that and run with it to the frontier and empty it out there."
And thus it was done.
THE PICNIC WHICH FOLLOWED WAS AN UNFORGETTABLE REPAST
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