round the old man's stool, "that is
foolish talk, for you will see many floods."

"That is fine talk for the river folk," grinned the old man, "but not
for we people of the forest, who never see flood and only little-little
rivers. Now, I tell you, lord, that I am glad to die, because I have
been full of mad thoughts for a long time, but now my mind is clear.
Tell me, master, why you come."

Bones explained his errand, and the old man's eyes brightened.

"Lord, if I could go with you to the forest, I would bring to you many
beautiful leopards by my magic. Now, because I love Sandi, I will do
this for you, so that you shall know how wise and cunning I am."

In the woods about the village was a wild plant, the seeds of which,
when pounded and boiled in an earthen vessel, produced, by a rough
method of distillation, a most pungent liquid. Abid spoke learnedly of
_pimpinella anisum_, and probably he was right.[4]

[Footnote 4: Both anise and star anise (_Illicium anisatum_) are to be
found in the Territories, as also is a small plant which has all the
properties (and more) of _Pimpinella anisum_. This was probably the
plant.--AUTHOR.]

Bones and his assistant made many excursions into the woods before they
found and brought back the right plant. Fortunately it was seed-time,
and once he was on the right track Bones had no difficulty in securing
more than a sufficient quantity for his purpose.

He made his distillation under the old man's directions, the fire
burning in the middle of the hut. As the drops began to fall from the
narrow neck of his retort, a fault sweet aroma filled the hut. First the
cat, then the monkeys began to show signs of extraordinary agitation.
Cat and kittens crouched as near the fire as they could, their heads
craned towards the brown vessel, mewing and whimpering. Then the monkeys
came, bright-eyed and eager.

The scent brought the most unexpected beasts from every hole and crevice
in the hut--brown rats, squirrels, a long black snake with spade-shaped
head and diamond markings, little bush hares, a young buck, which came
crashing through the forest and prinked timidly to the door of the hut.

The old man on the bed called them all by name, and snapped his feeble
fingers to them; but their eyes were on the retort and the crystal
drops that trembled and fell from the lip of the narrow spout.

* * * * *

A week later a speechless group stood before the Resi