Then the children of Masilo said: “There is a bird in our father’s house which makes milk.”
The others said: “Please show us the bird.”
They went into the house and took it out of the secret place where their father had placed it. They ordered it as their father used to order it, and it made milk, which their companions drank, for they were very hungry.
After drinking they said: “Let it dance for us,” and they loosened it from the place where it was tied.
The bird began to dance in the house, but one said: “This place is too confined,” so they took it outside of the house. While they were enjoying themselves and laughing, the bird flew away, leaving them in great dismay. [[45]]
Masilo’s children said: “Our father will this day kill us, therefore we must go after the bird.”
So they followed it, and continued going after it the whole day long, for when they were at a distance it would sit still for a little while, and when they approached it would fly away.
When the digging companies returned from digging, the people of that town cried for their children, for they did not know what had become of them. But when Masilo went into the house and could not find his bird, he knew where the children were, but he did not tell any of their parents. He was very sorry for his bird, for he knew that he had lost his food.
When evening set in, the children determined to return to their home, but there came a storm of rain with heavy thunder, and they were very much afraid. Among them was a brave boy, named Mosemanyanamatong, who encouraged them, and said:
“Do not be afraid; I can command a house to build itself.”