"tonda, do tell us some of your adventures," begged alila. "you have travelled so far and seen such wonderful things! father says you have even been to the great city of manila. i wonder what a city can be like."
tonda had certainly seen more of the world than any one alila knew, and he was always proud and glad to show his knowledge. so, although he was tired and sleepy from the excitement of the day, he began to tell of his visit to manila when a young man.
"oh, a city is indeed a wonderful place, alila; i believe you would be almost frightened, at first, at the queer noises you would hear.
"what would you think of long, heavy cars rushing along through the streets with no buffaloes to draw them and a single pony in their place? these cars run along on tracks through streets in which round stones are set in, side by side.
"there are great buildings divided by walls into many different rooms. around one part of the city there is a strong wall which was built long, long ago, i was told. behind those walls the people used to fight against their enemies and were safe.
"there is a river running right through the city, and upon it many kinds of boats sail at every hour of the day and night. while i was there, the chinese had a grand festival. great ships like floating palaces rode up and down the river. at night they were lighted up from topmast to stern. bands of music kept playing, and every morning the chinese who filled the vessels threw squares of coloured[79] paper over the sides and burned incense in honour of st. nicholas, in whose memory they held the festival.
"why was st. nicholas honoured so? because in far distant times he saved the life of a chinaman from the fury of a crocodile.
"it happened in this way. the man was sailing on the river in a small canoe, with no thought of danger. all at once, a crocodile appeared close to the boat, capsized it, and with open jaws was ready to devour the man. it was a fearful moment, but the chinaman did not lose hope. he lifted up his voice in prayer to st. nicholas, and begged him to save his life. the good saint appeared before him, and, striking the crocodile with his wand, changed it instantly into a rock.
"the man was saved, but you may be sure he did not forget the wonderful help he had received. he went back to manila, and with the help of his friends built a chapel in honour[80] of the saint. every year since then the chinese have gathered in the city and remembered the day when their countryman's life was saved. they hold one festival after another during two whole weeks. the people say that the city is always a gay sight at such times."
by the time this story was finished, the company gathered around the fire began to nod their heads. they were so tired from the day's hard work that they could listen no longer. a minute afterward alila was sound asleep. he knew nothing more till the sunlight fell upon him the next morning.
on the way home two more boars and a deer were shot. a bamboo hurdle was quickly made, and the store of flesh was placed on it and easily carried on the shoulders of the men.
