"The pity of it," she sighed; "but I doubt not
the place swarms with crocodile, also."
She sat down again, and looked at the decoy birds. Their timidity had
increased into actual fear. Masanath reached a soothing hand toward
one of them and it fled. The motion of the poling-arm of Pepi
frightened it again, and with a flirt of its wings it retreated toward
Masanath.
"Stop a moment, Pepi," she said. "Let me quiet this frightened thing.
I can not fathom its terror."
"The unquiet soul, my Lady," Nari whispered, in awe.
"Strange that the gods gifted the creatures with keener sight than
men," Masanath answered, somewhat disturbed. She moved toward the
bird, talking softly, but the persuasion was as useless as if the decoy
had been a wild thing. At the nearer approach of the small hand it
took wings and flew. The mate followed, unhesitating. The shining
distance toward the west swallowed them up.
The trio on the raft looked at one another.
"Nay, now, saw ye the like before?" Masanath exclaimed, the tone of her
voice divided between astonishment and irritation at the loss of her
pets.
"Let us leave this vicinity," Pepi said, suiting the action to the
word, "it is unholy." He seized the sweep and drove the raft about,
poling with wide strokes.
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