Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/130





 

When Tawha, with his mother and brother, had returned from the slaying of the Pona, they dwelt quietly together for some time in their own country. One day Tawha was lying asleep on the hillside in the evening, when there floated down through the shadows a maiden of the heavenly race. Her name was Hapai, a daughter of the gods, and she saw that there was somewhat more in the appearance of Tawha than could be found in that of an ordinary mortal. Struck with his distinguished beauty, she alighted near him, and soothed him in his sleep with her caresses, withdrawing herself, however, before he opened his eyes. When Tawha awoke he had a dim consciousness of some fair visitor having been beside him in his 