BOOTCHUANA TALES. 
300 
object of their confinement, and believing that they were 
detained to be eaten, kept himself awake, and during 
the night pinched and awoke the other children, when 
by their joint efforts they happily succeeded in getting 
the stones removed from the door, and effected their 
escape without being overheard by the cannibals. The 
old woman, finding in the morning that they were gone, 
went after them ; the children seeing her approach, 
while yet at a distance, hastily climbed up some camel- 
thorn trees; but she observed where they were con- 
cealed, and with an axe cut all the trees down. Just 
then the bird that had decoyed them to the village 
made its appearance, and assisted the woman in col- 
lecting the children, and bringing them again to her 
house. On arriving there, one of the women came 
out and cursed the bird ; which being offended, be- 
came sulky, and would not eat, but took the children 
under his protection, and restored them all to their 
parents, except one who happened to be the child of 
the woinan that had cursed him. This child he carried 
tip ioto the air, and let it fall from a great height, which 
caused its death. 
CRUEL PARENTS OF A DUMB LAD. 
THERE was a dumb young man whose parents^greatly 
disliked him, and privately used means for his destruc- 
tion. To promote their object, they sent him to attend 
their cattle in the field ; but his youngest sister warned 
him of their designs against his life, and advised him 
always to carry his shield and assagais with him. His 
parents often came to the field to kill him, should an 
opportunity offer ; but being on his guard he always 
escaped. At one time they brought dogs with them on 
purpose to seize him, but he eluded the danger. 
VOL, II. B B 
