All this was so plausible that the Professors gave up their permit
without a word but thanks. They bundled their curiosities hurriedly into
"the poor foreign devil's" blanket, reserving a more careful packing till
they were out of the preserves. They wished my father a very good night,
and all success with his quails in the morning; they thanked him again
for the care he had taken of them in the matter of the landrails, and
Panky even went so far as to give him a few Musical Bank coins, which he
gratefully accepted. They then started off in the direction of
Sunch'ston.

My father gathered up the remaining quails, some of which he meant to eat
in the morning, while the others he would throw away as soon as he could
find a safe place. He turned towards the mountains, but before he had
gone a dozen yards he heard a voice, which he recognised as Panky's,
shouting after him, and saying--

"Mind you do not forget the true reading of the Sunchild's prayer."

"You are an old fool," shouted my father in English, knowing that he
could hardly be heard, still less understood, and thankful to relieve his
feelings.




CHAPTER V: MY FATHER MEETS A SON, OF WHOSE EXISTENCE HE WAS IGNORANT; AND
STRIKES A BARGAIN WITH HIM