ROBOOR MARRIED 247 



fifteen miles with him, to a place where he assured me 

 we could find the birds. I told him I was too tired 

 that day, but the next morning he was waiting outside 

 the door before sunrise. He raced me up and down 

 the mountain-sides at such a rate that I heartily wished 

 he were not quite so ardent. Hearing a bird a mile 

 away, he would start through the forest on a run, 

 shouting for me to follow. He would point out birds 

 where I could only see green leaves, and make me 

 jump with his sudden exclamations as they flew over- 

 head. As each new one was added to the number, he 

 would hold up his hands, calculating how many were 

 still wanting, and never wishing to go home until we 

 bagged one more. He seemed afraid something might 

 happen to spoil the bright prospect before him, so was 

 eager to perform his part of the contract promptly. At 

 last, the ten good birds were procured (and they were 

 good ones), and the axe earned. 



I was present when Roboor bought his wife. The 

 mother asked a great many questions, and did not seem 

 to favor the match ; but, in the end, was obliged to 

 relinquish her daughter. They were married the fol- 

 lowing morning. I intended to be present ; but, my 

 attention being called to other things, I did not arrive 

 till rather late, when the ceremony was being concluded 

 with a wild dance, and singing by a chorus of girls. 



Roboor never forgot what he thought was a great 

 generosity on my part, and often brought me a bunch 



