第13章

Thegoosethankedhimwithtearsinhereyes，andthedwarfkepthisword。Hekilledtheothertwogeesefordinner，butbuiltalittleshedforMimiinoneofhisrooms，underthepretenceoffatteningherunderhisowneye。Hespentallhissparetimetalkingtoherandcomfortingher，andfedheronallthedaintiestdishes。Theyconfidedtheirhistoriestoeachother，andJemlearntthatthegoosewasthedaughterofthewizardWeatherbold，wholivedontheislandofGothland。Hefelloutwithanoldfairy，whogotthebetterofhimbycunningandtreachery，andtorevengeherselfturnedhisdaughterintoagooseandcarriedherofftothisdistantplace。WhenLongNosetoldherhisstoryshesaid:

’Iknowalittleofthesematters，andwhatyousayshowsmethatyouareunderaherbenchantment——thatistosay，thatifyoucanfindtheherbwhosesmellwokeyouupthespellwouldbebroken。’

ThiswasbutsmallcomfortforJem，forhowandwherewashetofindtheherb？

Aboutthistimethegranddukehadavisitfromaneighbouringprince，afriendofhis。HesentforLongNoseandsaidtohim:

’Nowisthetimetoshowwhatyoucanreallydo。Thisprincewhoisstayingwithmehasbetterdinnersthananyoneexceptmyself，andisagreatjudgeofcooking。Aslongasheishereyoumusttakecarethatmytableshallbeservedinamannertosurprisehimconstantly。Atthesametime，onpainofmydispleasure，takecarethatnodishshallappeartwice。Geteverythingyouwishandsparenothing。Ifyouwanttomeltdowngoldandpreciousstones，doso。Iwouldratherbeapoormanthanhavetoblushbeforehim。’

Thedwarfbowedandanswered:

’Yourhighnessshallbeobeyed。Iwilldoallinmypowertopleaseyouandtheprince。’

Fromthistimethelittlecookwashardlyseenexceptinthekitchen，where，surroundedbyhishelpers，hegaveorders，baked，stewed，flavouredanddishedupallmannerofdishes。

Theprincehadbeenafortnightwiththegrandduke，andenjoyedhimselfmightily。Theyatefivetimesaday，andthedukehadeveryreasontobecontentwiththedwarf’stalents，forhesawhowpleasedhisguestlooked。Onthefifteenthdaythedukesentforthedwarfandpresentedhimtotheprince。

’Youareawonderfulcook，’saidtheprince，’andyoucertainlyknowwhatisgood。AllthetimeIhavebeenhereyouhaveneverrepeatedadish，andallwereexcellent。Buttellmewhyyouhaveneverservedthequeenofalldishes，aSuzerainePasty？’

Thedwarffeltfrightened，forhehadneverheardofthisQueenofPastiesbefore。Buthedidnotlosehispresenceofmind，andreplied:

’Ihavewaited，hopingthatyourhighness’visitherewouldlastsometime，forIproposedtocelebratethelastdayofyourstaywiththistrulyroyaldish。’

’Indeed，’laughedthegrandduke;’thenIsupposeyouwouldhavewaitedforthedayofmydeathtotreatmetoit，foryouhaveneversentituptomeyet。However，youwillhavetoinventsomeotherfarewelldish，forthepastymustbeonmytableto—morrow。’

’Asyourhighnesspleases，’saidthedwarf，andtookleave。

ButitdidnotpleaseHIMatall。Themomentofdisgraceseemedathand，forhehadnoideahowtomakethispasty。Hewenttohisroomsverysad。AshesattherelostinthoughtthegooseMimi，whowasleftfreetowalkabout，cameuptohimandaskedwhatwasthematter？Whensheheardshesaid:

’Cheerup，myfriend。Iknowthedishquitewell:weoftenhaditathome，andIcanguessprettywellhowitwasmade。’Thenshetoldhimwhattoputin，adding:’Ithinkthatwillbeallright，andifsometrifleisleftoutperhapstheywon’tfinditout。’

Sureenough，nextdayamagnificentpastyallwreathedroundwithflowerswasplacedonthetable。Jemhimselfputonhisbestclothesandwentintothedininghall。Asheenteredtheheadcarverwasintheactofcuttingupthepieandhelpingthedukeandhisguests。Thegrandduketookalargemouthfulandthrewuphiseyesasheswallowedit。

’Oh！oh！thismaywellbecalledtheQueenofPasties，andatthesametimemydwarfmustbecalledthekingofcooks。Don’tyouthinkso，dearfriend？’

Theprincetookseveralsmallpieces，tastedandexaminedcarefully，andthensaidwithamysteriousandsarcasticsmile:

’Thedishisverynicelymade，buttheSuzeraineisnotquitecomplete——asIexpected。’

Thegranddukeflewintoarage。

’Dogofacook，’heshouted;’howdareyouservemeso？I’veagoodmindtochopoffyourgreatheadasapunishment。’

’Formercy’ssake，don’t，yourhighness！Imadethepastyaccordingtothebestrules;nothinghasbeenleftout。AsktheprincewhatelseIshouldhaveputin。’

Theprincelaughed。’Iwassureyoucouldnotmakethisdishaswellasmycook，friendLongNose。Know，then，thataherbiswantingcalledRelish，whichisnotknowninthiscountry，butwhichgivesthepastyitspeculiarflavour，andwithoutwhichyourmasterwillnevertasteittoperfection。’

Thegranddukewasmorefuriousthanever。

’ButIWILLtasteittoperfection，’heroared。’Eitherthepastymustbemadeproperlyto—morroworthisrascal’sheadshallcomeoff。Go，scoundrel，Igiveyoutwenty—fourhoursrespite。’

Thepoordwarfhurriedbacktohisroom，andpouredouthisgrieftothegoose。

’Oh，isthatall，’saidshe，’thenIcanhelpyou，formyfathertaughtmetoknowallplantsandherbs。Luckilythisisanewmoonjustnow，fortheherbonlyspringsupatsuchtimes。Buttellme，aretherechestnuttreesnearthepalace？’

’Oh，yes！’criedLongNose，muchrelieved;’nearthelake——onlyacoupleofhundredyardsfromthepalace——isalargeclumpofthem。Butwhydoyouask？’

’Becausetheherbonlygrowsneartherootsofchestnuttrees，’

repliedMimi;’soletuslosenotimeinfindingit。Takemeunderyourarmandputmedownoutofdoors，andI’llhuntforit。’

Hedidasshebade，andassoonastheywereinthegardenputherontheground，whenshewaddledoffasfastasshecouldtowardsthelake，Jemhurryingafterherwithananxiousheart，forheknewthathislifedependedonhersuccess。Thegoosehuntedeverywhere，butinvain。Shesearchedundereachchestnuttree，turningeverybladeofgrasswithherbill——nothingtobeseen，andeveningwasdrawingon！

Suddenlythedwarfnoticedabigoldtreestandingaloneontheothersideofthelake。’Look，’criedhe，’letustryourluckthere。’

Thegooseflutteredandskippedinfront，andheranafterasfastashislittlelegscouldcarryhim。Thetreecastawideshadow，anditwasalmostdarkbeneathit，butsuddenlythegoosestoodstill，flappedherwingswithjoy，andpluckedsomething，whichsheheldouttoherastonishedfriend，saying:’Thereitis，andthereismoregrowinghere，soyouwillhavenolackofit。’

Thedwarfstoodgazingattheplant。Itgaveoutastrongsweetscent，whichremindedhimofthedayofhisenchantment。Thestemsandleaveswereabluishgreen，anditboreadark，brightredflowerwithayellowedge。

’Whatawonder！’criedLongNose。’Idobelievethisistheveryherbwhichchangedmefromasquirrelintomypresentmiserableform。ShallItryanexperiment？’

’Notyet，’saidthegoose。’Takeagoodhandfuloftheherbwithyou，andletusgotoyourrooms。Wewillcollectallyourmoneyandclothestogether，andthenwewilltestthepowersoftheherb。’

SotheywentbacktoJem’srooms，andherehegatheredtogethersomefiftyducatshehadsaved，hisclothesandshoes，andtiedthemallupinabundle。Thenheplungedhisfaceintothebunchofherbs，anddrewintheirperfume。

Ashedidso，allhislimbsbegantocrackandstretch;hefelthisheadrisingabovehisshoulders;heglanceddownathisnose，andsawitgrowsmallerandsmaller;hischestandbackgrewflat，andhislegsgrewlong。

Thegooselookedoninamazement。’Oh，howbigandhowbeautifulyouare！’shecried。’Thankheaven，youarequitechanged。’

Jemfoldedhishandsinthanks，ashisheartswelledwithgratitude。ButhisjoydidnotmakehimforgetallheowedtohisfriendMimi。

’Ioweyoumylifeandmyrelease，’hesaid，’forwithoutyouI

shouldneverhaveregainedmynaturalshape，and，indeed，wouldsoonhavebeenbeheaded。Iwillnowtakeyoubacktoyourfather，whowillcertainlyknowhowtodisenchantyou。’

Thegooseacceptedhisofferwithjoy，andtheymanagedtoslipoutofthepalaceunnoticedbyanyone。

Theygotthroughthejourneywithoutaccident，andthewizardsoonreleasedhisdaughter，andloadedJemwiththanksandvaluablepresents。Helostnotimeinhasteningbacktohisnativetown，andhisparentswereveryreadytorecognisethehandsome，well—madeyoungmanastheirlong—lostson。Withthemoneygivenhimbythewizardheopenedashop，whichprosperedwell，andhelivedlongandhappily。

ImustnotforgettomentionthatmuchdisturbancewascausedinthepalacebyJem’ssuddendisappearance，forwhenthegranddukesentordersnextdaytobeheadthedwarf，ifhehadnotfoundthenecessaryherbs，thedwarfwasnottobefound。Theprincehintedthatthedukehadallowedhiscooktoescape，andhadthereforebrokenhisword。Thematterendedinagreatwarbetweenthetwoprinces，whichwasknowninhistoryasthe’HerbWar。’Aftermanybattlesandmuchlossoflife，apeacewasatlastconcluded，andthispeacebecameknownasthe’PastyPeace，’

becauseatthebanquetgiveninitshonourtheprince’scookdisheduptheQueenofPasties——theSuzeraine——andthegranddukedeclaredittobequiteexcellent。

THENUNDA，EATEROFPEOPLE

Onceuponatimetherelivedasultanwholovedhisgardendearly，andplanteditwithtreesandflowersandfruitsfromallpartsoftheworld。Hewenttoseethemthreetimeseveryday:

firstatseveno’clock，whenhegotup，thenatthree，andlastlyathalf—pastfive。Therewasnoplantandnovegetablewhichescapedhiseye，buthelingeredlongestofallbeforehisonedatetree。

Nowthesultanhadsevensons。Sixofthemhewasproudof，fortheywerestrongandmanly，buttheyoungesthedisliked，forhespentallhistimeamongthewomenofthehouse。Thesultanhadtalkedtohim，andhepaidnoheed;andhehadbeatenhim，andhepaidnoheed;andhehadtiedhimup，andhepaidnoheed，tillatlasthisfathergrewtiredoftryingtomakehimchangehisways，andlethimalone。

Timepassed，andonedaythesultan，tohisgreatjoy，sawsignsoffruitonhisdatetree。Andhetoldhisvizir，’Mydatetreeisbearing;’andhetoldtheofficers，’Mydatetreeisbearing;’

andhetoldthejudges，’Mydatetreeisbearing;’andhetoldalltherichmenofthetown。

Hewaitedpatientlyforsomedaystillthedateswerenearlyripe，andthenhecalledhissixsons，andsaid:’Oneofyoumustwatchthedatetreetillthedatesareripe，forifitisnotwatchedtheslaveswillstealthem，andIshallnothaveanyforanotheryear。’

Andtheeldestsonanswered，’Iwillgo，father，’andhewent。

Thefirstthingtheyouthdidwastosummonhisslaves，andbidthembeatdrumsallnightunderthedatetree，forhefearedtofallasleep。Sotheslavesbeatthedrums，andtheyoungmandancedtillfouro’clock，andthenitgrewsocoldhecoulddancenolonger，andoneoftheslavessaidtohim:’Itisgettinglight;thetreeissafe;liedown，master，andgotosleep。’

Sohelaydownandslept，andhisslavessleptlikewise。

Afewminuteswentby，andabirdflewdownfromaneighbouringthicket，andateallthedates，withoutleavingasingleone。

Andwhenthetreewasstrippedbare，thebirdwentasithadcome。Soonafter，oneoftheslaveswokeupandlookedforthedates，buttherewerenodatestosee。Thenherantotheyoungmanandshookhim，saying:

’Yourfathersetyoutowatchthetree，andyouhavenotwatched，andthedateshaveallbeeneatenbyabird。’

Theladjumpedupandrantothetreetoseeforhimself，buttherewasnotadateanywhere。Andhecriedaloud，’WhatamItosaytomyfather？ShallItellhimthatthedateshavebeenstolen，orthatagreatrainfellandagreatstormblew？Buthewillsendmetogatherthemupandbringthemtohim，andtherearenonetobring！ShallItellhimthatBedouinsdrovemeaway，andwhenIreturnedtherewerenodates？Andhewillanswer，"Youhadslaves，didtheynotfightwiththeBedouins？"

Itisthetruththatwillbebest，andthatwillItellhim。’

Thenhewentstraighttohisfather，andfoundhimsittinginhisverandahwithhisfivesonsroundhim;andtheladbowedhishead。

’Givemethenewsfromthegarden，’saidthesultan。

Andtheyouthanswered，’Thedateshaveallbeeneatenbysomebird:thereisnotoneleft。’

Thesultanwassilentforamoment:thenheasked，’Wherewereyouwhenthebirdcame？’

Theladanswered:’Iwatchedthedatetreetillthecockswerecrowinganditwasgettinglight;thenIlaydownforalittle，andIslept。WhenIwokeaslavewasstandingoverme，andhesaid，"Thereisnotonedateleftonthetree！"AndIwenttothedatetree，andsawitwastrue;andthatiswhatIhavetotellyou。’

Andthesultanreplied，’Asonlikeyouisonlygoodforeatingandsleeping。Ihavenouseforyou。Goyourway，andwhenmydatetreebearsagain，Iwillsendanotherson;perhapshewillwatchbetter。’

Sohewaitedmanymonths，tillthetreewascoveredwithmoredatesthananytreehadeverbornebefore。Whentheywerenearripeninghesentoneofhissonstothegarden:saying，’Myson，Iamlongingtotastethosedates:goandwatchoverthem，forto—day’ssunwillbringthemtoperfection。’

Andtheladanswered:’Myfather，Iamgoingnow，andto—morrow，whenthesunhaspassedthehourofseven，bidaslavecomeandgatherthedates。’

’Good，’saidthesultan。

Theyouthwenttothetree，andlaydownandslept。Andaboutmidnighthearosetolookatthetree，andthedateswereallthere——beautifuldates，swinginginbunches。

’Ah，myfatherwillhaveafeast，indeed，’thoughthe。’Whatafoolmybrotherwasnottotakemoreheed！Nowheisindisgrace，andweknowhimnomore。Well，Iwillwatchtillthebirdcomes。Ishouldliketoseewhatmannerofbirditis。’

Andhesatandreadtillthecockscrewanditgrewlight，andthedateswerestillonthetree。

’Ohmyfatherwillhavehisdates;theyareallsafenow，’hethoughttohimself。’Iwillmakemyselfcomfortableagainstthistree，’andheleanedagainstthetrunk，andsleepcameonhim，andthebirdflewdownandateallthedates。

Whenthesunrose，thehead—mancameandlookedforthedates，andtherewerenodates。Andhewoketheyoungman，andsaidtohim，’Lookatthetree。’

Andtheyoungmanlooked，andtherewerenodates。Andhisearswerestopped，andhislegstrembled，andhistonguegrewheavyatthethoughtofthesultan。Hisslavebecamefrightenedashelookedathim，andasked，’Mymaster，whatisit？’

Heanswered，’Ihavenopainanywhere，butIamilleverywhere。

Mywholebodyiswell，andmywholebodyissickIfearmyfather，fordidInotsaytohim，"To—morrowatsevenyoushalltastethedates"？Andhewilldrivemeaway，ashedroveawaymybrother！Iwillgoawaymyself，beforehesendsme。’

Thenhegotupandtookaroadthatledstraightpastthepalace，buthehadnotwalkedmanystepsbeforehemetamancarryingalargesilverdish，coveredwithawhiteclothtocoverthedates。

Andtheyoungmansaid，’Thedatesarenotripeyet;youmustreturnto—morrow。’

Andtheslavewentwithhimtothepalace，wherethesultanwassittingwithhisfoursons。

’Goodgreeting，master！’saidtheyouth。

Andthesultananswered，’HaveyouseenthemanIsent？’

’Ihave，master;butthedatesarenotyetripe。’

Butthesultandidnotbelievehiswords，andsaid;’ThissecondyearIhaveeatennodates，becauseofmysons。Goyourways，youaremysonnolonger！’

Andthesultanlookedatthefoursonsthatwerelefthim，andpromisedrichgiftstowhicheverofthemwouldbringhimthedatesfromthetree。Butyearbyyearpassed，andhenevergotthem。Onesontriedtokeephimselfawakewithplayingcards;

anothermountedahorseandroderoundandroundthetree，whilethetwoothers，whomtheirfatherasalasthopesenttogether，litbonfires。Butwhatevertheydid，theresultwasalwaysthesame。Towardsdawntheyfellasleep，andthebirdatethedatesonthetree。

Thesixthyearhadcome，andthedatesonthetreewerethickerthanever。Andthehead—manwenttothepalaceandtoldthesultanwhathehadseen。Butthesultanonlyshookhishead，andsaidsadly，’Whatisthattome？Ihavehadsevensons，yetforfiveyearsabirdhasdevouredmydates;andthisyearitwillbethesameasever。’

Nowtheyoungestsonwassittinginthekitchen，aswashiscustom，whenheheardhisfathersaythosewords。Andheroseup，andwenttohisfather，andkneltbeforehim。’Father，thisyearyoushalleatdates，’criedhe。’Andonthetreearefivegreatbunches，andeachbunchIwillgivetoaseparatenation，forthenationsinthetownarefive。Thistime，Iwillwatchthedatetreemyself。’Buthisfatherandhismotherlaughedheartily，andthoughthiswordsidletalk。

Oneday，newswasbroughttothesultanthatthedateswereripe，andheorderedoneofhismentogoandwatchthetree。Hisson，whohappenedtobestandingby，heardtheorder，andhesaid:

’Howisitthatyouhavebiddenamantowatchthetree，whenI，yourson，amleft？’

Andhisfatheranswered，’Ah，sixwereofnouse，andwheretheyfailed，willyousucceed？’

Buttheboyreplied:’Havepatienceto—day，andletmego，andto—morrowyoushallseewhetherIbringyoudatesornot。’

’Letthechildgo，Master，’saidhiswife;’perhapsweshalleatthedates——orperhapsweshallnot——butlethimgo。’

Andthesultananswered:’Idonotrefusetolethimgo，butmyheartdistrustshim。Hisbrothersallpromisedfair，andwhatdidtheydo？’

Buttheboyentreated，saying，’Father，ifyouandIandmotherbealiveto—morrow，youshalleatthedates。’

’Gothen，’saidhisfather。

Whentheboyreachedthegarden，hetoldtheslavestoleavehim，andtoreturnhomethemselvesandsleep。Whenhewasalone，helaidhimselfdownandsleptfasttilloneo’clock，whenhearose，andsatoppositethedatetree。ThenhetooksomeIndiancornoutofonefoldofhisdress，andsomesandygritoutofanother。

Andhechewedthecorntillhefelthewasgrowingsleepy，andthenheputsomegritintohismouth，andthatkepthimawaketillthebirdcame。

Itlookedaboutatfirstwithoutseeinghim，andwhisperingtoitself，’Thereisnoonehere，’flutteredlightlyontothetreeandstretchedouthisbeakforthedates。Thentheboystolesoftlyup，andcaughtitbythewing。

Thebirdturnedandflewquicklyaway，buttheboyneverletgo，notevenwhentheysoaredhighintotheair。

’SonofAdam，’thebirdsaidwhenthetopsofthemountainslookedsmallbelowthem，’ifyoufall，youwillbedeadlongbeforeyoureachtheground，sogoyourway，andletmegomine。’

Buttheboyanswered，’Whereveryougo，Iwillgowithyou。Youcannotgetridofme。’

’Ididnoteatyourdates，’persistedthebird，’andthedayisdawning。Leavemetogomyway。’

Butagaintheboyansweredhim:’Mysixbrothersarehatefultomyfatherbecauseyoucameandstolethedates，andto—daymyfathershallseeyou，andmybrothersshallseeyou，andallthepeopleofthetown，greatandsmall，shallseeyou。Andmyfather’sheartwillrejoice。’

’Well，ifyouwillnotleaveme，Iwillthrowyouoff，’saidthebird。

Soitflewuphigherstill——sohighthattheearthshonelikeoneoftheotherstars。

’Howmuchofyouwillbeleftifyoufallfromhere？’askedthebird。

’IfIdie，Idie，’saidtheboy，’butIwillnotleaveyou。’

Andthebirdsawitwasnousetalking，andwentdowntotheearthagain。

’Hereyouareathome，soletmegomyway，’itbeggedoncemore;

’oratleastmakeacovenantwithme。’

’Whatcovenant？’saidtheboy。

’Savemefromthesun，’repliedthebird，’andIwillsaveyoufromrain。’

’Howcanyoudothat，andhowcanItellifIcantrustyou？’

’Pullafeatherfrommytail，andputitinthefire，andifyouwantmeIwillcometoyou，whereverIam。’

Andtheboyanswered，’Well，Iagree;goyourway。’

’Farewell，myfriend。Whenyoucallme，ifitisfromthedepthsofthesea，Iwillcome。’

Theladwatchedthebirdoutofsight;thenhewentstraighttothedatetree。Andwhenhesawthedateshisheartwasglad，andhisbodyfeltstrongerandhiseyesbrighterthanbefore。Andhelaughedoutloudwithjoy，andsaidtohimself，’ThisisMYluck，mine，Sit—in—the—kitchen！Farewell，datetree，Iamgoingtoliedown。Whatateyouwilleatyounomore。’

Thesunwashighintheskybeforethehead—man，whosebusinessitwas，cametolookatthedatetree，expectingtofinditstrippedofallitsfruit，butwhenhesawthedatessothickthattheyalmosthidtheleavesheranbacktohishouse，andbeatabigdrumtilleverybodycamerunning，andeventhelittlechildrenwantedtoknowwhathadhappened。

’Whatisit？Whatisit，head—man？’criedthey。

’Ah，itisnotasonthatthemasterhas，butalion！ThisdaySit—in—the—kitchenhasuncoveredhisfacebeforehisfather！’

’Buthow，head—man？’

’Todaythepeoplemayeatthedates。’

’Isittrue，head—man？’

’Ohyes，itistrue，butlethimsleeptilleachmanhasbroughtforthapresent。Hewhohasfowls，lethimtakefowls;hewhohasagoat，lethimtakeagoat;hewhohasrice，lethimtakerice。’Andthepeopledidashehadsaid。

Thentheytookthedrum，andwenttothetreewheretheboylaysleeping。

Andtheypickedhimup，andcarriedhimaway，withhornsandclarionetsanddrums，withclappingsofhandsandshrieksofjoy，straighttohisfather’shouse。

Whenhisfatherheardthenoiseandsawthebasketsmadeofgreenleaves，brimmingoverwithdates，andhissonbornehighonthenecksofslaves，hisheartleaped，andhesaidtohimself’To—dayatlastIshalleatdates。’Andhecalledhiswifetoseewhathersonhaddone，andorderedhissoldierstotaketheboyandbringhimtohisfather。

’Whatnews，myson？’saidhe。

’News？Ihavenonews，exceptthatifyouwillopenyourmouthyoushallseewhatdatestastelike。’Andhepluckedadate，andputitintohisfather’smouth。

’Ah！Youareindeedmyson，’criedthesultan。’Youdonottakeafterthosefools，thosegood—for—nothings。But，tellme，whatdidyoudowiththebird，foritwasyou，andyouonlywhowatchedforit？’

’Yes，itwasIwhowatchedforitandwhosawit。Anditwillnotcomeagain，neitherforitslife，norforyourlife，norforthelivesofyourchildren。’

’Oh，onceIhadsixsons，andnowIhaveonlyone。Itisyou，whomIcalledafool，whohavegivenmethedates:asfortheothers，Iwantnoneofthem。’

Buthiswiferoseupandwenttohim，andsaid，’Master，donot，Iprayyou，rejectthem，’andsheentreatedlong，tillthesultangrantedherprayer，forshelovedthesixelderonesmorethanherlastone。

Sotheyalllivedquietlyathome，tillthesultan’scatwentandcaughtacalf。Andtheownerofthecalfwentandtoldthesultan，butheanswered，’Thecatismine，andthecalfmine，’

andthemandarednotcomplainfurther。

Twodaysafter，thecatcaughtacow，andthesultanwastold，’Master，thecathascaughtacow，’butheonlysaid，’Itwasmycowandmycat。’

Andthecatwaitedafewdays，andthenitcaughtadonkey，andtheytoldthesultan，’Master，thecathascaughtadonkey，’andhesaid，’Mycatandmydonkey。’Nextitwasahorse，andafterthatacamel，andwhenthesultanwastoldhesaid，’Youdon’tlikethiscat，andwantmetokillit。AndIshallnotkillit。

Letiteatthecamel:letiteveneataman。’

Anditwaitedtillthenextday，andcaughtsomeone’schild。

Andthesultanwastold，’Thecathascaughtachild。’Andhesaid，’Thecatismineandthechildmine。’Thenitcaughtagrown—upman。

Afterthatthecatleftthetownandtookupitsabodeinathicketneartheroad。Soifanyonepassed，goingforwater，itdevouredhim。Ifitsawacowgoingtofeed，itdevouredhim。

Ifitsawagoat，itdevouredhim。Whateverwentalongthatroadthecatcaughtandate。

Thenthepeoplewenttothesultaninabody，andtoldhimofallthemisdeedsofthatcat。Butheansweredasbefore，’Thecatismineandthepeoplearemine。’Andnomandaredkillthecat，whichgrewbolderandbolder，andatlastcameintothetowntolookforitsprey。

Oneday，thesultansaidtohissixsons，’Iamgoingintothecountry，toseehowthewheatisgrowing，andyoushallcomewithme。’Theywentonmerrilyalongtheroad，tilltheycametoathicket，whenoutsprangthecat，andkilledthreeofthesons。

’Thecat！Thecat！’shriekedthesoldierswhowerewithhim。

Andthistimethesultansaid:

’Seekforitandkillit。Itisnolongeracat，butademon！’

Andthesoldiersansweredhim，’Didwenottellyou，master，whatthecatwasdoing，anddidyounotsay，"Mycatandmypeople"？’

Andheanswered:’True，Isaidit。’

Nowtheyoungestsonhadnotgonewiththerest，buthadstayedathomewithhismother;andwhenheheardthathisbrothershadbeenkilledbythecathesaid，’Letmego，thatitmayslaymealso。’Hismotherentreatedhimnottoleaveher，buthewouldnotlisten，andhetookhisswordandaspearandsomericecakes，andwentafterthecat，whichbythistimehadrunoftoagreatdistance。

Theladspentmanydayshuntingthecat，whichnowborethenameof’TheNunda，eaterofpeople，’butthoughhekilledmanywildanimalshesawnotraceoftheenemyhewashuntingfor。Therewasnobeast，howeverfierce，thathewasafraidof，tillatlasthisfatherandmotherbeggedhimtogiveupthechaseaftertheNunda。

Butheanswered:’WhatIhavesaid，Icannottakeback。IfIamtodie，thenIdie，buteverydayImustgoandseekfortheNunda。’

Andagainhisfatherofferedhimwhathewould，eventhecrownitself，buttheboywouldhearnothing，andwentonhisway。

Manytimeshisslavescameandtoldhim，’Wehaveseenfootprints，andto—dayweshallbeholdtheNunda。’ButthefootprintsneverturnedouttobethoseoftheNunda。Theywanderedfarthroughdesertsandthroughforests，andatlengthcametothefootofagreathill。Andsomethingintheboy’ssoulwhisperedthatherewastheendofalltheirseeking，andto—daytheywouldfindtheNunda。

Butbeforetheybegantoclimbthemountaintheboyorderedhisslavestocooksomerice，andtheyrubbedthesticktomakeafire，andwhenthefirewaskindledtheycookedthericeandateit。Thentheybegantheirclimb。