Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/117

Rh with joy. "Pampam! pampam! It is the home of my love, my lord!"

In truth they had at least reached Diriuna, and in the dim starlight they saw birds with waving wings dancing beneath the palms.

The canoe floated outside till morning, for in that light who might know Kokorereko from another?

At last "Uba," the cold morning wind, blew from off the mountain, and one by one the stars began to fade. Then far over Kaierara the dawn broke, and slowly, very slowly, the birds woke and came out from their sleeping chamber one by one. First came Binama, the hornbill.

"Is that thy lover?" asked the father.

"Nay, but that is another bird," said the girl.

And so in like manner with the parrot, the black cockatoo, and the wagtail. At last came the bird of paradise.

"Surely now I see him," said the man.

"No," replied his daughter proudly. "My love is far more beautiful."

And now her long waiting met with its reward, for Kokorereko, the Chief of all the birds, came slowly forth. The eager girl held out her coconuts, saying, "Come, take what I have brought thee, my lord."

"Nay, but bring them hither," spake Kokorereko, for though coconuts were indeed his food, yet he was a great chief, and might not obey the voice of a woman.