Page:Swahili tales.djvu/419

Rh And she wandered in the forest, till on the seventh day she came out upon another town. And she climbed up into a great tree, and ate the fruit of the tree, and in the morning she slept there in the tree. On the next day the son of the king came out shooting birds, he and his people. About twelve o'clock he was tired, and said, "I will go there by the tree, that I may rest, and you shoot birds." And he sat under the tree, he and his slave.

And the young woman cried till her tears fell upon the king's son below. And he said to his slave, "Look outside; is it not raining?" And he said, "It is not, master." And he said, "Then climb up into the tree, and look what bird is casting its droppings upon me." And his slave climbed up, and he saw an exceedingly beautiful woman crying, and without saying a word, he got down. And he told his master, "There is a most beautiful young woman. I did not venture to say a word to her." And his master asked him, "Why?" And he said, "I found her crying; perhaps you should go yourself." And his master climbed up, and went and saw her, and said to her, "What is the matter with you, my mistress? Are you a person or a spirit?" And she said, "I am a person." And he said, "What are you crying about?" And she said, "I am thinking of things; I am a person as you are."

And he said, "Come down and let us go to our home." And she said to him, "Where is your home?" And he said, "With my father and mother: I am a king's son." And she said, "What did you come to do here?" And he said, "I come to shoot birds, month by month; this is our employment. I came with my companions." And she said, "I do not like to be seen by anybody." And that woman had told the king's son. And he said, "We shall not be seen by any one." And she came down.

And he sent his slave, "Go into the town quickly, and