They all walked gravely, two by two, up to the garden-gate of
Giulianic's house; there they were stopped by the sentinels.
"Who are you?" said Zwillievic. "Who are you, who, armed to the teeth, dare to come up to this peaceful dwelling?"
"We are," answered the voivoda, the head of the svati, "all men from this beautiful town of Budua."
"And what is your motive for coming here?"
"We are in search of a beautiful bird that inhabits this neighbourhood."
"And what do you wish to do with the beautiful bird?"
"We wish to take it away with us."
"And supposing you succeeded in finding it, are you clever enough to capture it?"
"All men of the Kotor are clever hunters," answered the voivoda, proudly, and showing Milenko. "This one is the cleverest of all."
"If you are not only clever in words, show us your skill."