Shefoundhimwaitingforher,andpretendingtobeasleep,thoughsheclearlysawhimwinkoneofhiseyes。However,shetooknonotice,butthrowingthesackroughlyontheground,sheexclaimed:
\'Nowmeasure！\'
Atthisthejackalgotup,andgoingtotheheapofgrainwhichlaycloseby,hedivideditasbeforeintoeightportions——sevenforhimselfandoneforthesheep。
\'Whatareyoudoingthatfor？\'askedsheindignantly。\'YouknowquitewellthatitwasIwhodrewthewater,andyouwhoonlypoureditintothetrenches。\'
\'Youaremistaken,\'answeredthejackal。\'ItwasIwhodrewthewater,andyouwhopoureditintothetrenches。Anybodywilltellyouthat！
Ifyoulike,Iwillaskthosepeoplewhoarediggingthere！\'
\'Verywell,\'repliedthesheep。Andthejackalcalledout:
\'Ho！Youdiggers,tellme:Whowasityouheardsingingoverthework？\'
\'Why,itwasyou,ofcourse,jackal！Yousangsoloudthatthewholeworldmighthaveheardyou！\'
\'Andwhoitisthatsings——hewhodrawsthewater,orhewhoemptiesit？\'
\'Why,certainlyhewhodrawsthewater！\'
\'Youhear？\'saidthejackal,turningtothesheep。\'Nowcomeandcarryawayyourownportion,orelseIshalltakeitformyself。\'
\'Youhavegotthebetterofme,\'answeredthesheep;\'andIsupposeI
mustconfessmyselfbeaten！ButasIbearnomalice,goandeatsomeofthedatesthatIhavebroughtinthatsack。\'Andthejackal,wholoveddates,raninstantlyback,andtoreopenthemouthofthesack。
Butjustashewasabouttoplungehisnoseinhesawtwobrowneyescalmlylookingathim。Inaninstanthehadletfalltheflapofthesackandboundedbacktowherethesheepwasstanding。
\'Iwasonlyinfun;andyouhavebroughtmyunclethegreyhound。Takeawaythesack,wewillmakethedivisionoveragain。\'Andhebeganrearrangingtheheaps。
\'One,two,three,four,five,six,seven,formymotherthesheep,andoneforthejackal,\'countedhe;castingtimidglancesallthewhileatthesack。
\'Nowyoucantakeyourshareandgo,\'saidthesheep。Andthejackaldidnotneedtwicetelling！Wheneverthesheeplookedup,shestillsawhimflying,flyingacrosstheplain;and,forallIknow,hemaybeflyingacrossitstill。
[ContesBerberes,parReneBasset。]
TheThreeTreasuresoftheGiantsLong,longago,therelivedanoldmanandhiswifewhohadthreesons;
theeldestwascalledMartin,thesecondMichael,whilethethirdwasnamedJack。
Oneeveningtheywereallseatedroundthetable,eatingtheirsupperofbreadandmilk。
\'Martin,\'saidtheoldmansuddenly,\'IfeelthatIcannotlivemuchlonger。You,astheeldest,willinheritthishut;but,ifyouvaluemyblessing,begoodtoyourmotherandbrothers。\'
\'Certainly,father;howcanyousupposeIshoulddothemwrong？\'
repliedMartinindignantly,helpinghimselftoallthebestbitsinthedishashespoke。Theoldmansawnothing,butMichaellookedoninsurprise,andJackwassoastonishedthathequiteforgottoeathisownsupper。
Alittlewhileafter,thefatherfellill,andsentforhissons,whowereouthunting,tobidhimfarewell。Aftergivinggoodadvicetothetwoeldest,heturnedtoJack。
\'Myboy,\'hesaid,\'youhavenotgotquiteasmuchsenseasotherpeople,butifHeavenhasdeprivedyouofsomeofyourwits,itwasgivenyouakindheart。Alwayslistentowhatitsays,andtakeheedtothewordsofyourmotherandbrothers,aswellasyouareable！\'Sosayingtheoldmansankbackonhispillowsanddied。
ThecriesofgriefutteredbyMartinandMichaelsoundedthroughthehouse,butJackremainedbythebedsideofhisfather,stillandsilent,asifheweredeadalso。Atlengthhegotup,andgoingintothegarden,hidhimselfinsometrees,andweptlikeachild,whilehistwobrothersmadereadyforthefuneral。
NosoonerwastheoldmanburiedthanMartinandMichaelagreedthattheywouldgointotheworldtogethertoseektheirfortunes,whileJackstayedathomewiththeirmother。Jackwouldhavelikednothingbetterthantositanddreambythefire,butthemother,whowasveryoldherself,declaredthattherewasnoworkforhimtodo,andthathemustseekitwithhisbrothers。
So,onefinemorning,allthreesetout;MartinandMichaelcarriedtwogreatbagsfulloffood,butJackcarriednothing。Thismadehisbrothersveryangry,forthedaywashotandthebagswereheavy,andaboutnoontheysatdownunderatreeandbegantoeat。Jackwasashungryastheywere,butheknewthatitwasnouseaskingforanything;andhethrewhimselfunderanothertree,andweptbitterly。
\'Anothertimeperhapsyouwon\'tbesolazy,andwillbringfoodforyourself,\'saidMartin,buttohissurpriseJackanswered:
\'Youareanicepair！Youtalkofseekingyourfortunessoasnottobeaburdenonourmother,andyoubeginbycarryingoffallthefoodshehasinthehouse！\'
Thisreplywassounexpectedthatforsomemomentsneitherofthebrothersmadeanyanswer。Thentheyofferedtheirbrothersomeoftheirfood,andwhenhehadfinishedeatingtheywenttheirwayoncemore。
Towardseveningtheyreachedasmallhut,andknockingatthedoor,askediftheymightspendthenightthere。Theman,whowasawood—cutter,invitedthemhim,andbeggedthemtositdowntosupper。
Martinthankedhim,butbeingveryproud,explainedthatitwasonlysheltertheywanted,astheyhadplentyoffoodwiththem;andheandMichaelatonceopenedtheirbagsandbegantoeat,whileJackhidhimselfinacorner。Thewife,onseeingthis,tookpityonhim,andcalledhimtocomeandsharetheirsupper,whichhegladlydid,andverygoodhefoundit。Atthis,Martinregretteddeeplythathehadbeensofoolishastorefuse,forhisbitsofbreadandcheeseseemedveryhardwhenhesmeltthesavourysouphisbrotherwasenjoying。
\'Heshan\'thavesuchachanceagain,\'thoughthe;andthenextmorningheinsistedonplungingintoathickforestwheretheywerelikelytomeetnobody。
Foralongtimetheywanderedhitherandthither,fortheyhadnopathtoguidethem;butatlasttheycameuponawideclearing,inthemidstofwhichstoodacastle。Jackshoutedwithdelight,butMartin,whowasinabadtemper,saidsharply:
\'Wemusthavetakenawrongturning！Letusgoback。\'
\'Idiot！\'repliedMichael,whowashungrytoo,and,likemanypeoplewhentheyarehungry,verycrossalso。\'Wesetouttotravelthroughtheworld,andwhatdoesitmatterifwegototherightortotheleft？\'And,withoutanotherword,tookthepathtothecastle,closelyfollowedbyJack,andafteramomentbyMartinlikewise。
Thedoorofthecastlestoodopen,andtheyenteredagreathall,andlookedaboutthem。Notacreaturewastobeseen,andsuddenlyMartin——hedidnotknowwhy——feltalittlefrightened。Hewouldhaveleftthecastleatonce,butstoppedwhenJackboldlywalkeduptoadoorinthewallandopenedit。Hecouldnotforveryshamebeoutdonebyhisyoungerbrother,andpassedbehindhimintoanothersplendidhall,whichwasfilledfromfloortoceilingwithgreatpiecesofcoppermoney。
ThesightquitedazzledMartinandMichael,whoemptiedalltheprovisionsthatremainedoutoftheirbags,andheapedthemupinsteadwithhandfulsofcopper。
ScarcelyhadtheydonethiswhenJackthrewopenanotherdoor,andthistimeitledtoahallfilledwithsilver。Inaninstanthisbrothershadturnedtheirbagsupsidedown,sothatthecoppermoneytumbledoutontothefloor,andwereshovellinginhandfulsofthesilverinstead。
Theyhadhardlyfinished,whenJackopenedyetathirddoor,andallthreefellbackinamazement,forthisroomasamassofgold,sobrightthattheireyesgrewsoreastheylookedatit。However,theysoonrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,andquicklyemptiedtheirbagsofsilver,andfilledthemwithgoldinstead。Whentheywouldholdnomore,Martinsaid:
\'Wehadbetterhurryoffnowlestsomebodyelseshouldcome,andwemightnotknowwhattodo\';and,followedbyMichael,hehastilyleftthecastle。Jacklingeredbehindforafewminutestoputpiecesofgold,silver,andcopperintohispocket,andtoeatthefoodthathisbrothershadthrowndowninthefirstroom。Thenhewentafterthem,andfoundthemlyingdowntorestinthemidstofaforest。Itwasnearsunset,andMartinbegantofeelhungry,so,whenJackarrived,hebadehimreturntothecastleandbringthebreadandcheesethattheyhadleftthere。
\'Itishardlyworthdoingthat,\'answeredJack;\'forIpickedupthepiecesandatethemmyself。\'
Atthisreplybothbrotherswerebesidethemselveswithanger,andfellupontheboy,beatinghim,andcallinghimnames,tilltheywerequitetired。
\'Gowhereyoulike,\'criedMartinwithafinalkick;\'butnevercomenearusagain。\'AndpoorJackranweepingintothewoods。
Thenextmorninghisbrotherswenthome,andboughtabeautifulhouse,wheretheylivedwiththeirmotherlikegreatlords。
Jackremainedforsomehoursinhiding,thankfultobesafefromhistormentors;butwhennoonecametotroublehim,andhisbackdidnotachesomuch,hebegantothinkwhathehadbetterdo。Atlengthhemadeuphismindtogotothecasteandtakeawayasmuchmoneywithhimaswouldenablehimtoliveincomfortfortherestofhislife。
Thisbeingdecided,hesprangup,andsetoutalongthepathwhichledtothecastle。Asbefore,thedoorstoodopen,andhewentontillhehadreachedthehallofgold,andtherehetookoffhisjacketandtiedthesleevestogethersothatitmightmakeakindofbag。Hethenbegantopourinthegoldbyhandfuls,when,allatonce,anoiselikethundershookthecastle。Thiswasfollowedbyavoice,hoarseasthatofabull,whichcried:
\'Ismellthesmellofaman。\'Andtwogiantsentered。
\'So,littleworm！itisyouwhostealourtreasures！\'exclaimedthebiggest。\'Well,wehavegotyounow,andwewillcookyouforsupper！\'
Butheretheothergiantdrewhimaside,andforamomentortwotheywhisperedtogether。Atlengththefirstgiantspoke:
\'TopleasemyfriendIwillspareyourlifeonconditionthat,forthefuture,youshallguardourtreasures。Ifyouarehungrytakethislittletableandraponit,saying,asyoudoso:\"Thedinnerofanemperor！\"andyouwillgetasmuchfoodasyouwant。\'
WithalightheartJackpromisedallthatwasaskedofhim,andforsomedaysenjoyedhimselfmightily。Hehadeverythinghecouldwishfor,anddidnothingfrommorningtillnight;butby—and—byhebegantogetverytiredofitall。
\'Letthegiantsguardtheirtreasuresthemselves,\'hesaidtohimselfatlast;\'Iamgoingaway。ButIwillleaveallthegoldandsilverbehindme,andwilltakenoughtbutyou,mygoodlittletable。\'
So,tuckingthetableunderhisarm,hestartedofffortheforest,buthedidnotlingertherelong,andsoonfoundhimselfinthefieldsontheotherside。Therehesawanoldman,whobeggedJacktogivehimsomethingtoeat。
\'Youcouldnothaveaskedabetterperson,\'answeredJackcheerfully。
Andsigningtohimtositdownwithhimunderatree,hesetthetableinfrontofthem,andstruckitthreetimes,crying:
\'Thedinnerofanemperor！\'Hehadhardlyutteredthewordswhenfishandmeatofallkindsappearedonit！
\'Thatisaclevertrickofyours,\'saidtheoldman,whenhehadeatenasmuchashewanted。\'GiveittomeinexchangeforatreasureIhavewhichisstillbetter。Doyouseethiscornet？Well,youhaveonlytotellitthatyouwishforanarmy,andyouwillhaveasmanysoldiersasyourequire。\'
Now,sincehehadbeenlefttohimself,Jackhadgrownambitious,so,afteramoment\'shesitation,hetookthecornetandgavethetableinexchange。Theoldmanbadehimfarewell,andsetoffdownonepath,whileJackchoseanother,andforalongtimehewasquitepleasedwithhisnewpossession。Then,ashefelthungry,hewishedforhistablebackagain,asnohousewasinsight,andhewantedsomesupperbadly。
Allatonceherememberedhiscornet,andawickedthoughtenteredhismind。
\'Twohundredhussars,forward！\'criedhe。Andtheneighingofhorsesandtheclankingofswordswereheardcloseathand。TheofficerwhorodeattheirheadapproachedJack,andpolitelyinquiredwhathewishedthemtodo。
\'Amileortwoalongthatroad,\'answeredJack,\'youwillfindanoldmancarryingatable。Takethetablefromhimandbringittome。\'
Theofficersalutedandwentbacktohismen,whostartedatagalloptodoJack\'sbidding。
Intenminutestheyhadreturned,bearingthetablewiththem。
\'Thatisall,thankyou,\'saidJack;andthesoldiersdisappearedinsidethecornet。
Oh,whatagoodsupperJackhadthatnight,quiteforgettingthatheowedittoameantrick。Thenextdayhebreakfastedearly,andthenwalkedontowardsthenearesttown。Onthewaythitherhemetanotheroldman,whobeggedforsomethingtoeat。
\'Certainly,youshallhavesomethingtoeat,\'repliedJack。And,placingthetableonthegroundhecried:
\'Thedinnerofanemperor！\'whenallsortsoffooddishesappeared。Atfirsttheoldmanatequitegreedily,andsaidnothing;but,afterhishungerwassatisfied,heturnedtoJackandsaid:
\'Thatisaveryclevertrickofyours。Givethetabletomeandyoushallhavesomethingstillbetter。\'
\'Idon\'tbelievethatthereisanythingbetter,\'answeredJack。
\'Yes,thereis。Hereismybag;itwillgiveyouasmanycastlesasyoucanpossiblywant。\'
Jackthoughtforamoment;thenhereplied:\'Verywell,Iwillexchangewithyou。\'Andpassingthetabletotheoldman,hehungthebagoverhisarm。
Fiveminuteslaterhesummonedfivehundredlancersoutofthecornetandbadethemgoaftertheoldmanandfetchbackthetable。
Nowthatbyhiscunninghehadobtainedpossessionofthethreemagicobjects,heresolvedtoreturntohisnativeplace。Smearinghisfacewithdirt,andtearinghisclothessoastolooklikeabeggar,hestoppedthepassersbyand,onpretenceofseekingmoneyorfood,hequestionedthemaboutthevillagegossip。Inthismannerhelearnedthathisbrothershadbecomegreatmen,muchrespectedinallthecountryround。Whenheheardthat,helostnotimeingoingtothedooroftheirfinehouseandimploringthemtogivehimfoodandshelter;buttheonlythinghegotwashardwords,andacommandtobegelsewhere。Atlength,however,attheirmother\'sentreaty,hewastoldthathemightpassthenightinthestable。Herehewaiteduntileverybodyinthehousewassoundasleep,whenhedrewhisbagfromunderhiscloak,anddesiredthatacastlemightappearinthatplace;
andthecornetgavehimsoldierstoguardthecastle,whilethetablefurnishedhimwithagoodsupper。Inthemorning,hecauseditalltovanish,andwhenhisbrothersenteredthestabletheyfoundhimlyingonthestraw。
Jackremainedhereformanydays,doingnothing,and——asfarasanybodyknew——eatingnothing。Thisconductpuzzledhisbrothersgreatly,andtheyputsuchconstantquestionstohim,thatatlengthhetoldthemthesecretofthetable,andevengaveadinnertothem,whichfaroutdidanytheyhadeverseenorheardof。Butthoughtheyhadsolemnlypromisedtorevealnothing,somehoworotherthetaleleakedout,andbeforelongreachedtheearsofthekinghimself。ThatveryeveninghischamberlainarrivedatJack\'sdwelling,witharequestfromthekingthathemightborrowthetableforthreedays。
\'Verywell,\'answeredJack,\'youcantakeitbackwithyou。ButtellhismajestythatifhedoesnotreturnitattheendofthethreedaysIwillmakewaruponhim。\'
Sothechamberlaincarriedawaythetableandtookitstraighttotheking,tellinghimatthesametimeofJack\'sthreat,atwhichtheybothlaughedtilltheirsidesached。
Nowthekingwassodelightedwiththetable,andthedinnersitgavehim,thatwhenthethreedayswereoverhecouldnotmakeuphismindtopartwithit。Instead,hesentforhiscarpenter,andbadehimcopyitexactly,andwhenitwasdonehetoldhischamberlaintoreturnittoJackwithhisbestthanks。Ithappenedtobedinnertime,andJackinvitedthechamberlain,whoknewnothingofthetrick,tostayanddinewithhim。Thegoodman,whohadeatenseveralexcellentmealsprovidedbythetableinthelastthreedays,acceptedtheinvitationwithpleasure,eventhoughhewastodineinastable,andsatdownonthestrawbesideJack。
\'Thedinnerofanemperor！\'criedJack。Butnotevenamorselofcheesemadeitsappearance。
\'Thedinnerofanemperor！\'shoutedJackinavoiceofthunder。Thenthetruthdawnedonhim;and,crushingthetablebetweenhishands,heturnedtothechamberlain,who,bewilderedandhalf—frightened,waswonderinghowtogetaway。
\'Tellyourfalsekingthatto—morrowIwilldestroyhiscastleaseasilyasIhavebrokenthistable。\'
Thechamberlainhastenedbacktothepalace,andgavethekingJack\'smessage,atwhichhelaughedmorethanbefore,andcalledallhiscourtierstohearthestory。Buttheywerenotquitesomerrywhentheywokenextmorningandbeheldtenthousandhorsemen,andasmanyarchers,surroundingthepalace。Thekingsawitwasuselesstoholdout,andhetookthewhiteflagoftruceinonehand,andtherealtableintheother,andsetouttolookforJack。
\'Icommittedacrime,\'saidhe;\'butIwilldomybesttomakeupforit。Hereisyourtable,whichIownwithshamethatItriedtosteal,andyoushallhavebesides,mydaughterasyourwife！\'
Therewasnoneedtodelaythemarriagewhenthetablewasabletofurnishthemostsplendidbanquetthateverwasseen,andaftereveryonehadeatenanddrunkasmuchastheywanted,Jacktookhisbagandcommandedacastlefilledwithallsortsoftreasurestoariseintheparkforhimselfandhisbride。
Atthisproofofhispowertheking\'sheartdiedwithinhim。
\'Yourmagicisgreaterthanmine,\'hesaid;\'andyouareyoungandstrong,whileIamoldandtired。Take,therefore,thesceptrefrommyhand,andmycrownfrommyhead,andrulemypeoplebetterthanIhavedone。\'
SoatlastJack\'sambitionwassatisfied。Hecouldnothopetobemorethanking,andaslongashehadhiscornettoprovidehimwithsoldiershewassecureagainsthisenemies。Heneverforgavehisbrothersforthewaytheyhadtreatedhim,thoughhepresentedhismotherwithabeautifulcastle,andeverythingshecouldpossiblywishfor。Inthecentreofhisownpalacewasatreasurechamber,andinthischamberthetable,thecornet,andthebagwerekeptasthemostprizedofallhispossessions,andnotaweekpassedwithoutavisitfromkingJohntomakesuretheyweresafe。Hereignedlongandwell,anddiedaveryoldman,belovedbyhispeople。Buthisgoodexamplewasnotfollowedbyhissonsandhisgrandsons。Theygrewsoproudthattheywereashamedtothinkthatthefounderoftheirracehadoncebeenapoorboy;andastheyandalltheworldcouldnotfailtorememberit,aslongasthetable,thecornet,andthebagwereshowninthetreasurechamber,oneking,morefoolishthantherest,thrustthemintoadarkanddampcellar。
Forsometimethekingdomremained,thoughitbecameweakerandweakereveryyearthatpassed。Then,oneday,arumourreachedthekingthatalargearmywasmarchingagainsthim。Vaguelyherecollectedsometaleshehadheardaboutamagiccornetwhichcouldprovideasmanysoldiersaswouldservetoconquertheearth,andwhichhadbeenremovedbyhisgrandfathertoacellar。Thitherhehastenedthathemightrenewhispoweroncemore,andinthatblackandslimyspothefoundthetreasuresindeed。Butthetablefelltopiecesashetouchedit,inthecornetthereremainedonlyafewfragmentsofleathernbeltswhichtheratshadgnawed,andinthebagnothingbutbrokenbitsofstone。
Andthekingbowedhisheadtothedoomthatawaitedhim,andinhisheartcursedtheruinwroughtbytheprideandfoolishnessofhimselfandhisforefathers。
[FromContesPopulairesSlaves,parLouisLeger。]
TheRoverofthePlainAlongwayoff,neartheseacoastoftheeastofAfrica,theredwelt,onceuponatime,amanandhiswife。Theyhadtwochildren,asonandadaughter,whomtheylovedverymuch,and,likeparentsinothercountries,theyoftentalkedofthefinemarriagestheyoungpeoplewouldmakesomeday。Outtherebothboysandgirlsmarryearly,andverysoon,itseemedtothemother,amessagewassentbyarichmanontheothersideofthegreathillsofferingafatherdofoxeninexchangeforthegirl。Everyoneinthehouseandinthevillagerejoiced,andthemaidenwasdespatchedtohernewhome。Whenallwasquietagainthefathersaidtohisson:
\'Nowthatweownsuchasplendidtroopofoxenyouhadbetterhastenandgetyourselfawife,lestsomeillnessshouldovertakethem。
Alreadywehaveseeninthevillagesroundaboutoneortwodamselswhoseparentswouldgladlypartwiththemforlessthanhalftheherd。
Thereforetelluswhichyoulikebest,andwewillbuyherforyou。\'
Butthesonanswered:
\'Notso;themaidensIhaveseendonotpleaseme。If,indeed,Imustmarry,letmetravelandfindawifeformyself。\'
\'Itshallbeasyouwish,\'saidtheparents;\'butifby—and—bytroubleshouldcomeofit,itwillbeyourfaultandnotours。\'
Theyouth,however,wouldnotlisten;andbiddinghisfatherandmotherfarewell,setoutonhissearch。Far,farawayhewandered,overmountainsandacrossrivers,tillhereachedavillagewherethepeoplewerequitedifferentfromthoseofhisownrace。Heglancedabouthimandnoticedthatthegirlswerefairtolookupon,astheypoundedmaizeorstewedsomethingthatsmeltveryniceinearthenpots——especiallyifyouwerehotandtired;andwhenoneofthemaidensturnedroundandofferedthestrangersomedinner,hemadeuphismindthathewouldwedherandnobodyelse。
Sohesentamessagetoherparentsaskingtheirleavetotakeherforhiswife,andtheycamenextdaytobringtheiranswer。
\'Wewillgiveyouourdaughter,\'saidthey,\'ifyoucanpayagoodpriceforher。Neverwastheresohardworkingagirl;andhowweshalldowithoutherwecannottell！Still——nodoubtyourfatherandmotherwillcomethemselvesandbringtheprice？\'
\'No;Ihavethepricewithme,\'repliedtheyoungman;layingdownahandfulofgoldpieces。\'Hereitis——takeit。\'
Theoldcouple\'seyesglitteredgreedily;butcustomforbadethemtotouchthepricebeforeallwasarranged。
\'Atleast,\'saidthey,afteramoment\'spause,\'wemayexpectthemtofetchyourwifetohernewhome？\'
\'No;theyarenotusedtotravelling,\'answeredthebridegroom。\'Lettheceremonybeperformedwithoutdelay,andwewillsetforthatonce。
Itisalongjourney。\'
Thentheparentscalledinthegirl,whowaslyinginthesunoutsidethehut,and,inthepresenceofallthevillage,agoatwaskilled,thesacreddancetookplace,andablessingwassaidovertheheadsoftheyoungpeople。Afterthatthebridewasledasidebyherfather,whosedutyitwastobestowonhersomepartingadviceastoherconductinhermarriedlife。
\'Begoodtoyourhusband\'sparents,\'addedhe,\'andalwaysdothewillofyourhusband。\'Andthegirlnoddedherheadobediently。Nextitwasthemother\'sturn;and,aswasthecustomofthetribe,shespoketoherdaughter:
\'Willyouchoosewhichofyoursistersshallgowithyoutocutyourwoodandcarryyourwater？\'
\'Idonotwantanyofthem,\'answeredshe;\'theyarenouse。Theywilldropthewoodandspillthewater。\'
\'Thenwillyouhaveanyoftheotherchildren？Thereareenoughtospare,\'askedthemotheragain。Butthebridesaidquickly:
\'Iwillhavenoneofthem！Youmustgivemeourbuffalo,theRoverofthePlain;healoneshallserveme。\'
\'Whatfollyyoutalk！\'criedtheparents。\'Giveyouourbuffalo,theRoverofthePlain？Why,youknowthatourlifedependsonhim。Hereheiswellfedandliesonsoftgrass;buthowcanyoutellwhatwillbefallhiminanothercountry？Thefoodmaybebad,hewilldieofhunger;and,ifhedieswediealso。\'
\'No,no,\'saidthebride;\'Icanlookafterhimaswellasyou。Gethimready,forthesunissinkinganditistimewesetforth。\'
Soshewentawayandputtogetherasmallpotfilledwithhealingherms,ahornthatsheusedintendingsickpeople,alittleknife,andacalabashcontainingdeerfat;and,hidingtheseabouther,shetookleaveofherfatherandmotherandstartedacrossthemountainsbythesideofherhusband。
Buttheyoungmandidnotseethebuffalothatfollowedthem,whichhadlefthishometobetheservantofhiswife。
Nooneeverknewhowthenewsspreadtothekraalthattheyoungmanwascomingback,bringingawifewithhim;but,somehoworother,whenthetwoenteredthevillage,everymanandwomanwasstandingintheroadutteringshoutsofwelcome。
\'Ah,youarenotdeadafterall,\'criedthey;\'andhavefoundawifetoyourliking,thoughyouwouldhavenoneofourgirls。Well,well,youhavechosenyourownpath;andifillcomesofitbewarelestyougrumble。\'
Nextdaythehusbandtookhiswifetothefieldsandshowedherwhichwerehis,andwhichbelongedtohismother。Thegirllistenedcarefullytoallhetoldher,andwalkedwithhimbacktothehut;butclosetothedoorshestopped,andsaid:
\'Ihavedroppedmynecklaceofbeadsinthefield,andImustgoandlookforit。\'Butintruthshehaddonenothingofthesort,anditwasonlyanexcusetogoandseekthebuffalo。
Thebeastwascrouchingunderatreewhenshecameup,andsnortedwithpleasureatthesightofher。
\'Youcanroamaboutthisfield,andthis,andthis,\'shesaid,\'fortheybelongtomyhusband;andthatishiswood,whereyoumayhideyourself。Buttheotherfieldsarehismother\'s,sobewarelestyoutouchthem。\'
\'Iwillbeware,\'answeredthebuffalo;and,pattinghishead,thegirllefthim。
Oh,howmuchbetteraservanthewasthananyofthelittlegirlsthebridehadrefusedtobringwithher！Ifshewantedwater,shehadonlytocrossthepatchofmaizebehindthehutandseekouttheplacewherethebuffalolayhidden,andputdownherpailbesidehim。Thenshewouldsitathereasewhilehewenttothelakeandbroughtthebucketbackbrimmingover。Ifshewantedwood,hewouldbreakthebranchesoffthetreesandlaythematherfeet。Andthevillagerswatchedherreturnladen,andsaidtoeachother:
\'Surelythegirlsofhercountryarestrongerthanourgirls,fornoneofthemcouldcutsoquicklyorcarrysomuch！\'Butthen,nobodyknewthatshehadabuffaloforaservant。
Only,allthistimeshenevergavethepoorbuffaloanythingtoeat,becauseshehadjustonedish,outofwhichsheandherhusbandate;
whileinheroldhometherewasadishputasideexpresslyfortheRoverofthePlain。Thebuffaloboreitaslongashecould;but,oneday,whenhismistressbadehimgotothelakeandfetchwater,hiskneesalmostgavewayfromhunger。Hekeptsilence,however,tilltheevening,whenhesaidtohismistress:
\'Iamnearlystarved;IhavenottouchedfoodsinceIcamehere。Icanworknomore。\'
\'Alas！\'answeredshe,\'whatcanIdo？Ihaveonlyonedishinthehouse。Youwillhavetostealsomebeansfromthefields。Takeafewhereandafewthere;butbesurenottotaketoomanyfromoneplace,ortheownermaynoticeit。\'
Nowthebuffalohadalwayslivedanhonestlife,butifhismistressdidnotfeedhim,hemustgetfoodforhimself。Sothatnight,whenallthevillagewasasleep,hecameoutfromthewoodandateafewbeanshereandafewthere,ashismistresshadbiddenhim。Andwhenatlasthishungerwassatisfied,hecreptbacktohislair。Butabuffaloisnotafairy,andthenextmorning,whenthewomenarrivedtoworkinthefields,theystoodstillwithastonishment,andsaidtoeachother:
\'Justlookatthis;asavagebeasthasbeendestroyingourcrops,andwecanseethetracesofhisfeet！\'Andtheyhurriedtotheirhomestotelltheirtale。
Intheeveningthegirlcreptouttothebuffalo\'shiding—place,andsaidtohim:
\'Theyperceivedwhathappened,ofcourse;soto—nightyouhadbetterseekyoursupperfurtheroff。\'Andthebuffalonoddedhisheadandfollowedhercounsel;butinthemorning,whenthesewomenalsowentouttowork,theracesofhoofswereplainlytobeseen,andtheyhastenedtotelltheirhusbands,andbeggedthemtobringtheirguns,andtowatchfortherobber。
Ithappenedthatthestrangergirl\'shusbandwasthebestmarksmaninallthevillage,andhehidhimselfbehindthetrunkofatreeandwaited。
Thebuffalo,thinkingthattheywouldprobablymakeasearchforhiminthefieldshehadlaidwastetheeveningbefore,returnedtothebeanpatchbelongingtohismistress。
Theyoungmansawhimcomingwithamazement。
\'Why,itisabuffalo！\'criedhe;\'Ineverhavebeheldoneinthiscountrybefore！\'Andraisinghisgun,heaimedjustbehindtheear。
Thebuffalogavealeapintotheair,andthenfelldead。
\'Itwasagoodshot,\'saidtheyoungman。Andherantothevillagetotellthemthatthethiefwaspunished。
Whenheenteredhishuthefoundhiswife,whohadsomehowheardthenews,twistingherselftoandfroandsheddingtears。
\'Areyouill？\'askedhe。Andsheanswered:\'Yes;Ihavepainsallovermybody。\'Butshewasnotillatall,onlyveryunhappyatthedeathofthebuffalowhichhadservedhersowell。Herhusbandfeltanxious,andsentforthemedicineman;butthoughshepretendedtolistentohim,shethrewallhismedicineoutofthedoordirectlyhehadgoneaway。
Withthefirstraysoflightthewholevillagewasawake,andthewomensetfortharmedwithbasketsandthemenwithknivesinordertocutupthebuffalo。Onlythegirlremainedinherhut;andafterawhileshetoowenttojointhem,groaningandweepingasshewalkedalong。
\'Whatareyoudoinghere？\'askedherhusbandwhenhesawher。\'Ifyouareillyouarebetterathome。\'
\'Oh！Icouldnotstayaloneinthevillage,\'saidshe。Andhermother—in—lawleftoffherworktocomeandscoldher,andtotellherthatshewouldkillherselfifshedidsuchfoolishthings。Butthegirlwouldnotlistenandsatdownandlookedon。