Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/58



and Taureboga were brothers, and dwelt in one house with their sister Rekota, who wasa widow. Now it fell on a day that the woman's little son, being alone in the house with his mother, cried to her for food, and Rekota, having none, said sharply, "Hush thy cry! Thine uncles are but idly walking about. Dost think they would dig thy food?" And then, not wishing that the child should hunger, she took her pearl shell and string bag, and set out for the gardens to get food that her son might eat.

Now while she was yet at the gardens Kakukaku and Taureboga returned to the house, and, seeing the child with tears on his cheeks, said, "Why hast thou been crying, nephew?" Then the little boy, who could scarce speak plain, said, "I cried for food, and Rekota said ye were walking about and would not dig to give me to eat. But she has gone herself and will bring us some."

At these words the brothers' hearts grew hot within them, and taking counsel together they agreed to die, for who would care to live after being thus accused? But first they bethought them of their necklaces of shell money, and how they might see that none should take them after their death. To