to a dark and damp
cellar.

For some time the kingdom remained, though it became weaker and weaker
every year that passed. Then, one day, a rumour reached the king that a
large army was marching against him. Vaguely he recollected some tales
he had heard about a magic cornet which could provide as many soldiers
as would serve to conquer the earth, and which had been removed by his
grandfather to a cellar. Thither he hastened that he might renew his
power once more, and in that black and slimy spot he found the treasures
indeed. But the table fell to pieces as he touched it, in the cornet
there remained only a few fragments of leathern belts which the rats had
gnawed, and in the bag nothing but broken bits of stone.

And the king bowed his head to the doom that awaited him, and in his
heart cursed the ruin wrought by the pride and foolishness of himself
and his forefathers.

The Rover of the Plain

[From Contes Populaires Slaves, par Louis Leger.]

A long way off, near the sea coast of the east of Africa, there dwelt,
once upon a time, a man and his wife. They had two children, a son and
a daughter, whom they loved very much, and, like parents in other
countries, they often talked of the fine marriages the young people
would make some day. Out there both boys and girls marry early, and very
soon, it seemed to the mother, a message was sent by a rich man on the
other side of the great hills offering a fat herd of oxen in exchange
for the girl. Everyone in the house and in the village rejoiced, and
the maiden was despatched to her new home. When all was quiet again the
father said to his son:

'Now that we own such a splendid troop of oxen you had better hasten and
get yourself a wife, lest some illness should overtake them. Already we
have seen in the villages round about one or two damsels whose parents
would gladly part with them for less than half the herd. Therefore tell
us which you like best, and we will buy her for you.'

But the son answered:

'Not so; the maidens I have seen do not please me. If, indeed, I must
marry, let me travel and find a wife for myself.'

'It shall be as you wish,' said the parents; 'but if by-and-by trouble
should come of it, it will be your fault and not ours.'

The youth, however, would not listen; and bidding his father and
mother farewell, set out on his search. Far, far away he wandered, over
mountains and across rivers, till he reached a village where the people