How gay my masters are! If my mistress makes her choice I shall not leave; I must stay and see that wedding." Just then a magpie flew suddenly before his face.

Michu, superstitious like all primitive beings, fancied he heard the muffled tones of a death-knell.

The day, however, began brightly enough for lovers, who rarely see magpies when together in the woods.

Michu, armed with his plan, verified the spots; each gentleman had brought a pickaxe, and the money was soon found.

The part of the forest where it was buried was quite wild, far from all paths or habitations, so that the cavalcade bearing the gold returned unseen.