116 Children of Yayoute

 .I will be careful, yes, if you take me; but if you don't
take me, I'm going to eat you,, Bouqui warned him.
 cAnd besides you can't dance or sing; your voice is too
rough.;
 -I can have my voice forged and you will teach me to
sing,, Bouqui said.
 <Bon! Tonight we'll go.-
 Immediately Bouqui went to a machoquette, and de-
manded that his throat be forged so his voice could be flexi-
ble like that of a mocking-bird. The machoquette, to whom
Bouqui had always looked like a voracious lion, was afraid,
and therefore agreed to grant Bouqui's demand.
 He must have done a good job, for Malice found no
difficulty in teaching Bouqui to sing.
 When it was time to go, Malice said, cNbw you must do
as I do so the guineas won't get wise: Take along a big bag
- not too big, and while dancing, keep one hand in it all
the time. That's the hand with which you'll break their
necks each time you manage to slip one in. Seeing you in
this position while dancing, they will sing:
 Compere Bouqui, Compare Bouqui,
 what is your hand doing
 in the bag all the time?-
 -You will answer:
 <Commnres Guineas, Commeres Guineas,
 I keep it in there,
 for it gives me rhythm.D
 (With this trick you keep on slipping them into your bag
 without their becoming suspicious.-