Page:More Australian legendary tales.djvu/47



, the soft-furred sandhill rat, was once a man, and lived in a camp with Mayrah the wind for a mate. Mayrah was a strange mullayerh for a man, he was invisible. He could hold conversations with Bilber, but much as he desired it, Bilber could never see him. One day he said to Mayrah: "Why do you not become like me that I might see you?"

"I can see you," said Mayrah.

"Yes, I know that you can, but I cannot see you, only hear you. I know you are there because you eat the food before you. You catch opossums, and get honey, but though I go with you, following your voice, yet I can never see you, and I long to see some one again."

"But I can see you, so I am all right."

"But I cannot see you, and I long to see some one again. I must travel away somewhere and join others of my tribe. If I could only see you I would not wish for a better mullayerh."

"Well, I am off hunting now. Are you coming?"

"No, I will stay in the camp to-day."

Mayrah the wind went off, and when evening was at