Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/12

 lives in the sea. The cause of the combat was as follows:—The heron had been fishing on the coral reef, and in wading about it had chanced to put its foot on the eyes of the snake, which had been protruding from a hole in the coral. The heron immediately flew away, but the snake felt insulted and determined to take revenge, so it followed the flight of the heron with its eyes and noted how the bird had flown inland and settled on a lofty screw-palm tree. Then the snake left the salt water and swam up the current of a mountain stream till it arrived near the tree on which the heron was sleeping. Easily the snake climbed the tree, and taking two or three turns of its tail around a branch it fiercely attacked the heron. They fought hard all night, and the next morning appeared, that on which Rata observed them. The heron cried out to the man, “O Rata, kill the evil snake and end the fight.” But the serpent said, “Rata, do not interfere. It is only a trial of strength, and it must be fought out fairly.” Rata thought that it was no business of his, so he went on with his work, but the heron said to him reproachfully, “You will not be able to finish your canoe without my help.”