Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/171

Rh she will devour you all; pray begone, and come again another time, for the child is still little."

So Andriambahòaka arose; and when he had only gone a little way, Ravòrombé came back, and called the child as she used to do; but, as there was no reply, she said, "I smell humankind, I smell humankind." And Ikétaka, coming in, said, "What person can have been here? for every time you come in you speak thus!" She replied, "Did I not think that some one had come in and taken you both away?" at the same time opening the box, and looking at her child, whom she saw to be getting big. Then she said, "Do you stay here, for I will go and look for ornaments for Ramàitsoanàla, for she is growing up." So she went away.

And Andriambahòaka spoke to his two wives and to his people thus: "There is a beautiful young lass, and I am going to take her for a wife, for we are most unfortunate in having no children. And so after a fortnight I shall be back; so bid the servants fatten fowls and pound rice in abundance, for when I return I shall marry her, therefore make all preparations." So he set off, and coming to the water's edge he sent for canoes and crossed over; on arriving there he was welcomed by Ikétaka, and he spoke to Ramàitsoanàla thus: "What do you say, Miss; if I take you for my wife, will you be willing, or how?" She replied, "Nonsense, Sir; you can't manage me; so let it alone, Sir." He said, "Tell me why I could not manage you." She replied, "This is why you could not: my mother is a bird." Andriambahòaka replied again, "If that is all, Miss, I am equal to it; so come now, let us go." Then said Ikétaka, "But if you marry her, Sir, will you not let her wait first for her mother?" But he replied, "Let us go, for when she comes she can follow." So when the two could not resist him, Ramàitsoanàla went away, and Ikétaka was left to keep the house.

Then they went and took white rice and indian-corn and beans to deceive the mother on the road until Andriambahòaka should get home, lest the girl should be overtaken by her mother on the road and brought back. And after a while, back came the mother, and called again as she was used to do. Then Ikétaka replied from the house "Ramàitsoanàla is not here, but has been taken away by some one."