and shook the bird's claw too. The whole party afterwards sat
down to dinner, after which they all returned to their own hut.

The next day the husband declared that he was very ill, and could
not eat anything; but this was only a presence so that he might
get what he wanted. The family were all much distressed, and
begged him to tell them what food he fancied.

'Oh! I could not eat any food,' he answered every time, and at
each answer his voice grew fainter and fainter, till they thought
he would die from weakness before their eyes.

'There must be some thing you could take, if you would only say
what it is,' implored his wife.

'No, nothing, nothing; except, perhaps--but of course that is
impossible!'

'No, I am sure it is not,' replied she; ' you shall have it, I
promise--only tell me what it is.'

'I think--but I could not ask you to do such a thing. Leave me
alone, and let me die quietly.'

'You shall not die,' cried the girl, who was very fond of her
husband, for he did not beat her as most girls' husbands did.
'Whatever it is, I will manage to get it for you.'

'Well, then, I think, if I had that--redbreast, nicely roasted, I
could eat a little bit of his wing!'