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74 "Nay," answered the man, "but mine was the knot. Many days are gone since I placed my knot here. True, it is not here now, but perchance it is withered, or hath fallen into the grass."

"Thou speakest lies," said the King of the Fairies angrily. Then he stooped and held up the earthworm. "Behold my knot. Where is thine?"

"I cannot tell," answered the man.

Then said the King of the Fairies, "Stand aside while I pluck up my waoi."

"That will I never do," said the man. "The waoi is mine, and thou darest not touch it."

The King of the Fairies was silent for a space, and then he said, "Thou speakest boldly. Call thy men that I may see how many followers so great a chieftain owns."

The man called, though in truth he knew well that none of his friends could hear him. And so it was. He called once more, and there was no sound.

Then said the King of the Fairies, "Now hold thy peace and I will call." He lifted up his voice but once, and on a sudden, from the grass, from caves, from valleys, and from the tops of tall trees, came answering voices from the fairies.

"Dost hear?" asked the King of the Fairies of the man. "These who answer me are my people. Where are thine?"

The man answered never a word, but pulled the waoi from its hole. The King of the Fairies struggled with him for it, and fierce was the fight. Almost