Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/351

Rh Die, Mr. Worn-out! Die, you old wretch! Die, old Spade-mouth! Die, old Fetch-what-you-see! Die, old Short-loin-cloth! Die, old Snout-grubber! How do you like it? How are you now? Soon you are done for, Soon you squeal out, Soon you are shrivelled, Soon you are doubled up, Soon you won't move."

But after a little the wild-hog made a desperate effort and got out from among the fire, but his skin and his fore and hind feet were terribly burnt, although he was still alive. So the rat said, "It was all a joke of mine, but go and bathe in the water." So the wild-hog went and did so, but as soon as he had bathed he was dead.

The stories which people relate of this Rapéto are exceedingly puzzling; still, we may safely say that they are fabulous.

The town where he lived, they say, is Ambòhidrapéto, west of Antanànarìvo.

And the fables related of him are these—