I buried my child under the sand on the beach . ' Then Masilo implored her to give the child back to him ; but she would not listen , and only answered : ` If I were to give her back you would only obey the laws of your country and take her to your father , the ogre , and she would be eaten . ' But Masilo promised that he would never let his father see her , and that now she was a woman no one would try to hurt her ; so Thakane 's heart melted , and she went down to the lake to consult the old woman . ` What am I to do ? ' she asked , when , after clapping her hands , the old woman appeared before her . ` Yesterday Masilo beheld Dilah , and ever since he has entreated me to give him back his daughter . ' ` If I let her go he must pay me a thousand head of cattle in exchange , ' replied the old woman . And Thakane carried her answer back to Masilo . ` Why , I would gladly give her two thousand ! ' cried he , ` for she has saved my daughter . ' And he bade messengers hasten to all the neighbouring villages , and tell his people to send him at once all the cattle he possessed . When they were all assembled he chose a thousand of the finest bulls and cows , and drove them down to the river , followed by a great crowd wondering what would happen . Then Thakane stepped forward in front of the cattle and sang : Bring to me Dilah , Dilah the rejected one , Dilah , whom her father Masilo cast out ! And Dilah came from the waters holding out her hands to Masilo and Thakane , and in her place the cattle sank into the lake , and were driven by the old woman to the great city filled with people , which lies at the bottom . -LSB- Contes Populaires des Bassoutos . -RSB- The Wicked Wolverine One day a wolverine was out walking on the hill-side , when , on turning a corner , he suddenly saw a large rock . ` Was that you I heard walking about just now ? ' he asked , for wolverines are cautious animals , and always like to know the reasons of things . ` No , certainly not , ' answered the rock ; ' I do n't know how to walk . ' ` But I SAW you walking , ' continued the wolverine . '
I am afraid that you were not taught XXXXX speak the truth , ' retorted the rock .
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