with by the fire in the evening!” “Nothing easier,” replied the blind man. “Crawl on all fours through the jungle, and when you are near the boys, roar like a tiger. They will be frightened and run away, leaving the drum behind.” So said, so done.
But now night began to fall, and it became necessary to seek a lodging. “Is there no village in sight?” asked the blind man. “There is,” said the other. “But I don’t like its looks. It seems to me an abode of robbers or creatures still more ominous.” “What matter?” reply the stout-hearted blind man. “We will enter one of the granaries on the outskirts of the village, bar the doors, and sleep quietly.” So said, so done.
But, in truth, the village was the home of a gang of robbers, and the granary was where they kept their ill-gotten gain, under the charge of a terrible man-eating demon. This creature presently came prowling round the hut, and smelling the travellers, chanted through its nose the local equivalent of “Fee faw fum.” “Come out,” it cried, “and be eaten!” But the intrepid blind man, not in the least disturbed, said, “Much too cold, my friend, at this time of night! But we can have a trial of strength in another way. Judging by your voice, you must be a great hairy sort of beast. Pluck some of the fluff off your chest and put it through the chink in the door.” The demon growled but obeyed. “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the blind man. “Call that hair! Look at mine!” So saying he thrust out the frayed elephant-rope.
“Now,” said the blind man, “let us try another test. Hairy you are and verminous too, I guess. Let us see what sort of fleas you carry about you. Shove one through the chink.” The demon muttered and cursed, but obeyed. “Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the blind man. “Call that a flea! Look at mine!” And, not without squeezing, he pushed his tortoise out through the chink.
“Well,” said the blind man, “I don’t mind putting you to one more trial. A big fellow like you has no doubt a big resonant chest on him. Beat your chest and let us see how much noise you can make.” The poor demon, now thoroughly
