Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/101

 He was nursed by the sea-gods, and will one day bring many blessings to the race of men.” Then Maui’s father held out his arms, and Maui went to him, resuming his human form. The old man recited over his new-found son all the charms and incantations which should preserve Maui’s life in the hour of danger, but once he skipped a word, which made the charm incomplete, and which was a misfortune that in the future ended Maui’s life. This was because the gods were supposed to be angry if prayers or charms were wrongly repeated.