“I was over in the thicket cutting sticks to mark off the field,” he said.
“But you did not come to the lodge to eat at all,” she answered.
“I was too busy,” he said.
Early the next morning he started off with his hoe over his shoulder.
Then the mother went again to call him, when the meal was ready. The hoe was lying there, but there was no sign of work done. And away over in the thicket, she heard a hu-hu calling, Sau-h! sau-h! sau-h! hoo-hoo! hoo-hoo! hoo-hoo! chi! chi! chi! whew!
Now when the man came home that night, the mother asked,
“What have you been doing all day?”
“Working hard,” he said.
“But you were not there when I came after you.”
“Oh, I went over in the thicket awhile,” said the man, “to see some of my relatives.”