Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/30

10 The man's heart was hot within him for grief that no star would have pity on him in his sad plight, and he wept sore. But as he wept and lamented, Maratomtom rose and hearkened to his cry. The man held fast and Maratomtom and he rose together high into the heaven. The man let go his hold and lighted where much people were gathered together. The people of heaven marvelled greatly when the man showed himself unto them, and one damsel looking on him required that he should be her husband. So were they married, and for a time the man forgot the land which he had left.

In due time a son was born to them, and grew and waxed strong. Now it fell upon a day that the lad cut many spears and brought them unto his father that he might sharpen them for him. This he did and the lad, seeing many coconuts far below him upon the earth, speared them from his home in the heaven. And, as his spears returned not, the child cried unto his father that he should make ready more darts for him that he might continue in his play. But the father was loth to do so, and said, "Why should I make new spears? Where are the ones I made thee?"

Then he too looked down and saw upon the earth the tops of the palms of his own village. And his heart died at the sight, for he longed with an exceeding great longing to visit his land once more.

So he said to his wife, "Cook me some food that I may eat." And she did so, and he ate it. Then