He approached until close under--the natives, about
forty in number, standing breathlessly round, and wondering what was
going to happen. Bang! Down dropped the parrot; a wail, hands to ears,
a shout, and we were left alone with the chief, who happened to be
standing close by me. Those natives only ceased running when they
reached their homes.
We visited several villages, and at sundown returned. In the dark we
travelled along the bed of a creek, passing small villages, whose
inhabitants were terribly alarmed, but none more so than our chief. Poor
fellow, he _was_ frightened. How nimbly he ascended his platform on our
arrival at his house, where his two wives were crying, but now rejoiced
to see him in the body. Long ago the escort had returned with a terrible
tale, and they feared whether their husband could have lived through it
all. But he was now considered a veritable hero, to be sung in song and
shouted in dance. Friends gather round; he tells his tale; presents the
bird; the wives examine it, then the crowd of relatives.
Pages:
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97