. Tales of the Punjab : told by the people . our dinner. So the old man set off to the forest and beganto hack and to hew with such a will that he soonhad quite a large bundle, and with every faggot hecut he seemed to smell the savoury khichri, andthink of the feast that was coming. Just then a bear came swinging by, with its greatblack nose tilted in the air, and its little keen eyespeering about; for bears, though good enough fellowson the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive. Peace be with you, friend ! said the bear, andwhat may you be going to do with that remarkablylarge bundle of wood
. Tales of the Punjab : told by the people . our dinner. So the old man set off to the forest and beganto hack and to hew with such a will that he soonhad quite a large bundle, and with every faggot hecut he seemed to smell the savoury khichri, andthink of the feast that was coming. Just then a bear came swinging by, with its greatblack nose tilted in the air, and its little keen eyespeering about; for bears, though good enough fellowson the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive. Peace be with you, friend ! said the bear, andwhat may you be going to do with that remarkablylarge bundle of wood ? It is for my wife, returned the woodman. Thefact is, he added confidentially, smacking his lips, she has made suck a khichri for dinner ! and if Ibring in a good bundle of wood she is pretty sure togive me a plentiful portion. Oh, my dear fellow,you should just smell that khichri ! At this the bears mouth began to water, for, likeall bears, he was a dreadful glutton. -•>:•• - - / ^av-- z*y k£ <^; ! .: - •. 38 TALES OF THE PUNJAB Do you think your wife would give me sometoo, if I brought her a bundle of wood ? he askedanxiously. Perhaps ; if it was a very big load, answeredthe woodman craftily. Would—would four hundredweight be enough ?asked the bear. 1 Im afraid not, returned the woodman, shakinghis head ; you see khichri is an expensive dish tomake,—there is rice in it, and plenty of butter, andpulse, and 4 Would-—would eight hundredweight do ? 1 Say half a ton, and its a bargain ! quoth thewoodman. Half a ton is a large quantity ! sighed the bear. There is saffron in the khichri 1 remarked thewoodman casually. The bear licked his lips, and his little eyestwinkled with greed and delight. Well, its a bargain ! Go home sharp and tellyour wife to keep the khichri hot; Ill be with youin a trice. Away went the woodman in great glee to tell hiswife how the bear had agreed to bring half a ton ofwood in return for a share of the khichri. Now t
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