"Nam-Bok was ever clumsy at the paddle," she maundered reminiscently, shading the sun from her eyes and staring across the silver-spilled water.

So he sat for a while, maundering dismally, then stood up and made for the door.

"Tha' he ishe go'n' a' sprinkle snake-dust in mah bootstha' he iswatch out!" He still maundered weakly as I reached the door, but it was not this that detained me at its threshold.