Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/92



A long time ago there lived a woman named Rona. She was very handsome, and she was greatly beloved by her husband, but she often vexed him by her hasty words and quick temper. One day he said to her “To-night is one of the favourable nights of the moon. I and my sons will go to the other side of the island to the good fishing-grounds, and we shall not return until to-morrow evening. Be sure that the oven is ready and food cooked for us when we return.” Rona promised that her husband’s request should be complied with, and the party of men set out. She found the next day very long, although she busied herself as much as possible in getting ready an oven and piles of food against the time of her husband’s return, but by some strange omission she forgot to bring her supplies of water from the spring before the sun had set and darkness had fallen. She heard far off the distant song from the returning canoe; the stones were heated and glowing ready for cooking the food, when she suddenly remembered that there was not sufficient water to wet the old baskets or throw