"Master! Master!"
Stas approached the giant tree, whose trunk, hollowed through decay near the ground, looked like a tower, and asked:
"What do you want?"
"Not far away can be seen zebras, and further on antelopes are feeding."
"Good! I will take a rifle and go, for it is necessary to cure meat.
But why did you climb the tree, and what are you doing there?"
The girl answered in her sad, melodious voice:
"Mea saw a nest of gray parrots and wanted to bring a young one to the little lady, but the nest is empty, so Mea will not get any beads for her neck."
"You will get them because you love the little lady."
The young negress came down the rugged bark as quickly as possible, and with eyes glistening with joy began to repeat:
"Oh! Yes! Yes! Mea loves her very much—and beads also."