Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/140

 132 ropes of their clothes, and calls to the witches to fix some spears in the ground, and then to take hold of the ropes which he would let down. Two of them do this; but the brothers cut the ropes when their enemies have nearly reached the top, upon which they fall down and are killed.

Then Isìlakòlona commands his dog to go down and lay hold of the remaining witch by the tail (sic); this he does, and waits for the arrival of the brothers. The rock is commanded to descend; the brothers leave it, and Isìlakòlona binds the remaining witch, and takes her home. Again the three brothers threaten the youngest one, and demand that he would give up his prize to them, but he now refuses; so they go home to their father, telling him that the three first tasks are accomplished, but the fourth was impracticable, and in fact that they had barely escaped with their lives. The father then commands that the people be gathered together to rejoice with him; but at the same time asks the three brothers if any one went with them to help them. They deny this, protesting that they alone had done the work.

The people being assembled, the father presents the three brothers, asking if any one helped them to get the white guinea-fowl. So Isìlakòlona rose and said that he alone caught the bird, which was taken by them from him by force. The same questions were put about the red bees and the bull, and the same answers returned; and then the father inquired about the witches, to which Isìlakòlona replied that he had captured Iampélamànanòho, and had her then in his house. So he brought her to his father. Then Andrìanjatòvo decided that the three brothers should be cast off and become the slaves of their youngest brother, because he had achieved great feats never before accomplished, while they had deceived the king. So Isìlakòlona was exalted and became king, because of his patience in bearing the injuries done to him by his three brothers.

The last story of which we shall give an outline is entitled—