ow?"

"Cinda told one of her girl friends, and it frightened her so that she
told Uraso."

"Why that would spoil all the plans."

"So it would, but Uraso told his sister."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Of course I am; I was there."

"What did she say?"

"She simply said 'I will take care of that.'"

"Of course she will; she's a brick."

CHAPTER XVI

SUTOTO AND CINDA'S MARRIAGE; AND THE SURPRISE

Mida had learned the situation. Their customs as to marriages closely
resembled that of the Saboros. In that tribe the Chief was the sole
authority. To marry without his consent meant exile for the disobedient
warrior, and for the bride as well.

Sutoto was a member of the Berees, and there the mother was the
matchmaker. She prescribed all the requirements. The first thing that
Mida did was to insist that the Chief should be informed of the desires
of the young people.

To the delight of the two women he consented to the match, and he was
then told that the people had come over from Wonder Island to take part
in the ceremony. But when he was told that they intended to marry that
night, by stealth, his brow was clouded.

His law was that no one should marry without his consent, and he could
not believe that Cinda could thus attempt to take the matter into her
own hand. It was hard to think that his own child should be the first to
break his law.

The women pleaded with him, and then Mida confided her plan to him. The
tribe's marriage ceremony was a very curious one. First, there must be a
gift of fruit, then of fowl, and next of game. This must be brought to
the door of the bride by the groom blindfolded.

He must remain blindfolded while she prepares them for the table. Not a
word must be spoken, or they must separate forever. A part of the
ceremony requires that the invited guests are to resort to every sort of
device to make them speak. The slightest sound by either is a sign that
they will quarrel, and means the end of the affair.

If they pass this test, the second comes when the bridegroom's eyes are
uncovered. They are then to converse with each other, and they must not
for a moment relax the talk. Neither has any knowledge of the time that
this test must continue. There must be no faltering, or hesitancy.

Mida conferred with John and the boys, as she told of these necessary
requirements, and the boys laughed as they listened.

"What is the object of all that?" inquired George.

John was ch