“What do you want?”
“There are many zebras to be seen not far from here, and further off antelopes also.”
“Good. I will take my gun and go after them, for we must have some meat to smoke. But why did you climb up in the tree and what are you doing up there?”
The girl answered in a sad, drawling voice:
“Mea saw a nest of gray parrots and wanted to bring the young ones to the little lady, but the nest is empty, and so Mea will not get any glass beads for her neck.”
“You will get some because you love the little lady.”
The young negress slid down hastily over the rugged tree bark, and with eyes beaming with joy she called repeatedly:
“Oh, yes, yes! Mea loves the little lady very much, and she also loves glass beads!”
Stasch stroked her head kindly, then he took the rifle, closed the cartridge-case, and went in the direction where the zebras were grazing. After half an hour had elapsed the crack of a shot sounded in the camping-place, and at the end of an hour the young hunter returned with the good news that not only zebras, but numerous herds of antelope and small groups of water-bucks were feeding near the river.
Then he ordered Kali to take a horse with him and get the animal which had been killed, while he himself carefully examined the huge trunk of the baobab-tree and began to test the rugged bark with the end of his rifle.