This was agreed to, and five cows were offered as a reward; but as his men never came, mine had to do the job.
Maula then engaged the king's attention for fully an hour, relating what wonderful things Bana kept in his house, if his majesty would only deign to see them; and for this humbug got rewarded by a present of three women.

Just at this juncture an adjutant flew overhead, and, by way of fun, I presented my gun, when the excited king, like a boy from school, jumped up, forgetting his company, and cried, "Come, Bana, and shoot the nundo; I know where he has gone--follow me." And away we went, first through one court, then through another, till we found the nundo perched on a tree, looking like a sedate old gentleman with a bald head, and very sharp, long nose.

Politeness lost the bird; for whilst I wished the king to shoot, he wished me to do so, from fear of missing it himself.
He did not care about vultures--he could practise at them at any time; but he wanted a nundo above all things.

The bird, however, took the hint, and flew away..