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 were playing with tops which way they should follow. Being instructed they soon found themselves at the settlement, and food having been cooked, it was laid before the guests. In the evening they said to their younger brother, “Ruru, as you are the youngest of us, it is proper for you to stay and look after the canoe which contains all our property.” The elder brothers then went up to the large meeting house of the village, leaving Ruru as the caretaker of the canoe. The brothers having seen the people and having associated with them, all took wives, each being secretly assured by his bride that she was Roa, the famous beauty, and none other. But Ruru had not been idle when he was supposed by the others to be keeping guard quietly on the canoe. He had stolen up to the village while the people were holding their assemblies, and having found out the real Roa at once fell in love with her peerless beauty. She was softened towards him by seeing how greatly he was overcome with timidity in her presence, and after Ruru had several times visited her she owned to him that the affection he felt for her was returned with equal warmth. Ruru’s brothers each informed him privately that Roa was going back with them, for all of them had been deceived by