Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/158



The people dwelling in the little village of Aora were greatly troubled to find that much of their food and fruit was stolen at night. A strict watch was kept; still the bananas and plantains, the taro and coco-nuts were continually pilfered and almost certainly not by any one of the villagers themselves. Still more careful guard was kept and resulted in a report being made that on the night after full moon two fairies had risen from a fountain, and had, after pillaging the gardens, dived back again into the waters. These fairies were said to be a man and a woman, of dazzling whiteness of complexion and of great personal attractions. No further depredations took place for the space of a month, and the people of the settlement resolved to attempt the capture of their unearthly visitors at the usual time of their appearance. A strong scoop-net of sinnet was made for this purpose and placed in concealment near the spring. On the night after the moon was full, the fairies, little thinking that they had been detected, emerged from the water and betook themselves to the plantations. As soon as they had gone their vigilant enemies spread the net