show it to
them, and glory in your gift."

"What is it you say, my son, you want the moon?" asked the astonished
king.

"Yes. Do get it for me at once, won't you?"

"But, my child, the moon is a long way up. How shall we be ever able to
reach it?"

"I don't know; but you have always been good to me, and you surely would
not refuse me this favour, father?"

"I fear, my own, that we will not be able to give you the moon."

"But, father, I must have it; my life will not be worth living without
it. How may I dare to again face my companions after my proud boast
before them of your might and goodness? There was but one thing that
yonder pert boy said I might not have, and that was the moon. Now my
soul is bent upon possessing this moon, and you must obtain it for me or
I shall die."

"Nay, my son, speak not of death. It is an ugly word, especially when
connected with my prince and heir. Do you not know yet that I live only
for your sake? Let your mind be at rest. I will collect all the wise
men of the land together, and ask them to advise me. If they say that
the moon can be reached and brought down to us, you shall have it."

Accordingly the great state drum was sounded for the general palaver,
and a score of criers went through the towns beating their little drums
as they went, and the messengers hastened all the wise men and elders to
the presence of the king.

When all were assembled, the king announced his desire to know how the
moon could be reached, and whether it could be shifted from its place in
the sky and brought down to the earth, in order that he might give it to
his only son the prince. If there was any wise man present who could
inform him how this could be done, and would undertake to bring it to
him, he would give the choicest of his daughters in marriage to him and
endow him with great riches.

When the wise men heard this strange proposal, they were speechless with
astonishment, as no one in the Basoko Land had ever heard of anybody
mounting into the air higher than a tree, and to suppose that a person
could ascend as high as the moon was, they thought, simple madness.
Respect for the king, however, held them mute, though what their glances
meant was very clear.

But while each man was yet looking at his neighbour in wonder, one of
the wise men, who appeared to be about the youngest present, rose to his
feet and said:

"Long life to the prince and to his father, the king! We h