hard and groaning her husband was tied to the gaily painted the door of the hut that opened into the street was shut fast and three or four people were sitting with their backs to it knew the manners and customs of the villagers very fairly he argued that so long as they could eat and talk and smoke they would not do anything else but as soon as they had fed they would begin to be dangerous would be coming in before long and if his escort the second book had done its duty would have a very interesting tale to tell so he went in through the window and stooping over the man and the woman cut their pulling out the and looked round the hut for some milk was half wild with pain and fear she had been beaten and all the morning and put his hand over her mouth just in time to stop a scream her husband was only bewildered and angry and sat picking dust and things out of his torn beard i knew � i knew he would come sobbed at last now do i know that he is my son and she to her heart up to that time had been perfectly steady but now he began to tremble all over and that surprised him immensely why are these why have they tied thee he asked after a pause to be put to the death for making a son of thee � what else said the man sullenly look i said nothing but it was at her wounds that looked and they heard him his teeth when he saw the blood whose work is this said he there is a price to pay letting in the the work of all the village i was too rich i had too many cattle therefore she and i are because we gave thee shelter i do not understand let tell the tale i gave thee milk dost thou remember said timidly because thou my son whom the tiger took and because i loved thee very dearly they said that i was thy mother the mother of a devil and therefore worthy of death and what is a devil said death i have seen the man looked up gloomily but laughed see she said to her husband i knew � i said that he was no he is my son � my son son or what good will that do us the man answered we be as dead already yonder is the road to the � pointed through the window your hands and feet are free go now we do not know the my son as � as thou began i do not think that i could walk far and the men and women would be upon our backs and drag us here again said the husband the second book h m said and he the palm of his hand with the tip of his knife i have no wish to do harm to any one of this village � but i do not think they will stay thee in a little while they will have much else to think upon ah he lifted his head and listened to shouting and outside so they have let come home at last he was sent out this morning to kill thee cried thou meet him yes � we � i met him he has a tale to tell and while he is telling it there is time to do much but first i will learn what they mean think where ye would go and tell me when i come back he bounded through the window and ran along again outside the wall of the village till he came within ear shot of the crowd round the tree was lying on the ground and groaning and every one was asking him questions his hair had fallen about his shoulders his hands and legs were from climbing up trees and he could hardly speak but he felt the importance of his position keenly from time to time he said something about devils and singing devils and magic enchantment just to give the crowd a taste of what was coming then he called for water letting in the said chatter � chatter talk talk men are blood brothers of the log now he must wash his mouth with water now he must blow smoke and when all that is done he has still his story to tell they are very wise people � men they will leave no one to guard till their ears are stuffed with s tales and � i grow as lazy as they he shook himself and glided back to the hut just as he was at the window he felt a touch on his foot mother said he for he knew that tongue well what dost thou here i heard my children singing through the woods and i followed the one i loved best little i have a desire to see that woman who gave thee milk said mother wolf all wet with the dew they have bound and mean to kill her i have cut those ties and she goes with her man through the i also will follow i am old but not yet mother wolf reared herself up on end and looked through the window into the dark of the hut in a minute she dropped noiselessly and all the second book she said was i gave thee thy first milk but speaks truth man goes to man at the last maybe said with a very unpleasant look on his face but to night i am very far from that trail wait here but do not let her see thou never afraid of little said mother wolf into the high grass and herself out as she knew how and now said cheerfully as he swung into the hut again they are all sitting 