THE GOBLIN BIRD.
Now convinced that the goblin-bird would return no more, Maszilo, full of pride and hardiness, returned to his father's dwelling. On his arrival there, he was surrounded by all the villagers, who, full of curiosity, gathered around him, in admiration of the rich flock, and praised his good fortune, but the first impulse of their curiosity satiated, they almost with one voice inquired "Where is Mazziloniane?"
"I know not; we went different ways," answered he.
Many of his relations now surrounded the white cow, and exclaimed: "Oh how beautiful she is! what fine hair! what a pure colour! happy the man that owns such a treasure!"
Suddenly, their exclamations were changed into deep silence, for upon one of the horns of the much-admired animal appeared a little bird, singing in most melancholy strains, "Tsiri! tsiri! Maszilo killed Mazziloniane, to get possession of the white cow which the murdered brother so much loved."
"What! has Maszilo killed his brother?" all exclaimed, and, full of horror, turned away from the murderer, unable to account to themselves for the emotion he inspired, and the strangeness of the disclosure. Infuriated, they drove Maszilo from their home, into the desert: in the confusion this occasioned, the little bird flew to the murdered man's sister, and whispered in her ear, "I am the soul of Mazziloniane; Maszilo has killed me; my body lies in a well near the desert, go bury it—" and then the bird flew back into the desert, evermore to be the companion of the murderer.