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126 knew them to be taken from the back of their old enemy, and they wondered much who had sent them. One said, "Surely it must be the child of the woman we left behind, but how can such a thing be?"

'Let us go and see for ourselves," said another. And though many would have forbidden any returning to the land they had left, this is what they did. They built a canoe, and five of their number started, that they might know what meant the bristles sent to them upon the raft. Nevertheless when they drew near to land they feared greatly lest the boar should still live, and tarried long at the landing place, being not willing to leave the canoe.

But the lad had watched for their coming, and painted his face and tied on his war headdress of feathers, and, carrying spears over his shoulder, he went down to the beach where the men waited.

'Truly ye were many, O men," quoth he, "and yet the boar ate you. Fear not now, but land, for I have slain him."

Then the men drew their canoe to the beach, and went with the boy to his home. When they saw the boar's flesh which he had smoked they were much afraid, and cried, 'Who hath helped thee?"

"Nay, but by myself I slew him," answered the youth.

Then did the men marvel that one should be so strong, and they made haste and returned to their own people, and bade them return with them to the land where they had lived aforetime. And this was