Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/191

Rh out of the house. Under a chestnut tree she halted, and then climbed high into it. For a moment she tarried, and then cast herself down and her spirit fled from her. Then in her father's house great was the mourning and loud were the cries that arose as she was laid in the earth, which had but on the day before swallowed up her son. But the woman's heart was glad, for at the gate of the under world her child tarried for her to greet her as she travelled the long and weary path that leadeth to Ioloa.



a certain village there lived three sisters, and it fell on a day that they went a fishing. Now as they went they must needs walk along a narrow path until they reached the river, therefore they went in single file. By and by, the eldest, who walked first, saw a snake lying by the path. He said to her, "I am an hungered. Wilt thou chew a little of the food in thy hand, and give it to me!"

"That will I never do," quoth the girl. "Thou art only a snake. My food is not for thee." And she went her way.

Soon came by the second sister, and the snake seeing her, said, "Wilt thou chew a little food for me? I am an hungered." 