Page:Swahili tales.djvu/275

 Rh

of them were killed and some of them ran away. The Sultan returned with his sons, and came and buried them.

The seventh son, who was in the house, when he learnt the news of his brothers who were killed by the cat, said to his mother, "I too will go, that the cat may kill me as it has killed my brothers." And she said, "How will you go, son; by yourself?" And he said, "I shall go in anger for my brothers; for a man to lose out of the world three people in one day, should not such a one feel anger? So then I shall wander about and look for that cat who killed my brothers." And she said, "Very good, my son, but I do not like you to go." And she said, "These have died, and that you should go and die, is not that one wound upon another?" And he said, "I cannot help going, mother, on such a business, and do not tell my father."

The cat had run off to a great distance. And he had cakes made for him by his mother, and was given people to carry food for him. And he was given a great spear as sharp as a razor, and his sword. And he said, "Mother, a last farewell." And he went out and went away.

When he had passed the suburbs he saw a huge dog, and smote it, and tied it, and dragged it, and came singing,

When he arrived near the town his mother was up-stairs, and saw him, and heard him singing,

And his mother answered him and said,