Little Black Mingo is the hero of the tale based in India. She resides with a vicious older woman called Black Noggy who systematically assaults her. The old lady takes Mingo to the river to obtain some water one day. She encounters a crocodile - sized mugger while fishing at the river - who wants to consume her. A mongoose saves her and recommends a technique to thwart the mugger. Mingo tricks the mugger into being captured by nearby fishermen...