Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/76

 are the only mortal that has ever left my presence alive.”

Kama returned joyfully to his own home, and performed the shark-god’s commands. He built a sacred fence around his dwelling, surrounded the enclosure with tall staves from whose tops holy pennons of white tapa floated gracefully in the wind. Then he gathered the herds of black pigs, the shoals of red fish, the flocks of white birds; these being in readiness, he sat down to watch. Days passed, weeks and months glided away, but at last the first sign appeared. The small white cloud like a man’s hand appeared seaward. Steadily it grew in size and made its way against the prevailing wind till it rested on the tops of the mountains in a majestic mass. Against the duskiness of the cloud grew the vivid colours of a magnificent arch of rainbow, its ends resting on the hills. Swiftly swept onward a hurricane of rushing wind, downward fell deluges of blinding rain in still increasing torrents, till everything in the valley where Kupa had dwelt was washed away into the sea, the cruel king and his people being devoured by countless sharks which were waiting there and obeying the behests of their lord. Only the dwelling of Kama was left untouched within its sacred fence of waving pennons.