Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/182

140 "Who knoweth?" said he. 'I have not seen him."

The mother believing him to be playing alone, went in and peeled taro and made it ready for the evening meal. Now as she thus did the dead child's blood dripped upon the mat near to which she sat. And hearing the sound of the drops, she looked and saw it and rose up, saying, "Whose blood is this?" And she lifted Nau Oroto and found the dead body of her little son. Then did grief make her heart hot, and she called for the elder child that he might tell her in what manner his brother had perished.

"We were spearing berries, mother," said the lad, "and my brother pierced many, whereas I had pierced none. Therefore I slew him with my spear."

At this word the woman arose and drove the lad from her, and he departed from the village and fled far away to the west. He journeyed on and on until he came to the river of Magavara. This he crossed, and went on once more until he reached another river, which is called Mai. Near this were the people of Dimadima making ready for a feast.

The lad went towards them and watched what they did. Then said he, 'Cook all the food which I see here. And when it is cooked hide some of it in the bush, and set forth the rest that men may eat. I go now to bathe at the river; tarry ye my coming."

The men of Dimadima did even as he had said, and waited for him to come to them again.