Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/59

Rh tokòndrilàhy, and found, and how can you fight with him without coming to harm?" But his father, seeing that he would not be warned, made him fetch a great stone, in order to see the strength of his son; then he said, "Since I can't persuade you, fetch me yonder big stone to make me a seat." So he went and fetched it. Then his father let him go. So off he went and came up with Fòzanatokòndrilàhy. And when the latter saw him he said, "What are you seeking for here?" Ibonia replied, "I want my dog." So he asked him, "Are you strong?" "Yes," replied Ibonia, "I am strong." And no sooner had he said so than Fòzanatokòndrilàhy seized him, and threw him more than the length of a house. Then Ibonia seized him in his turn, and threw him also as far as the length of a house. And so they went on, first one and then the other, until each had thrown his opponent as far as ten house lengths. Then said Fòzanatokòndrilàhy, "Don't let us throw each other any more, but cast each other down" (a descent). So he lifted Ibonia up and cast him down, but he did not fall, but stuck in the ground as far as his ancles; then he, in turn, cast down Fòzanatokòndrilàhy, who descended as far as his knees. And so they went on with each other until Fòzanatokòndrilàhy was forced completely into the ground, that is, the rock on which they were contending, and Ibonia pressed down the stones upon him so that he was quite covered up.

Then Ibonia called together Fòzanatokòndrilàhy's subjects and asked them, "Will you obey the living, or the dead?" So his wife and people replied, "We will obey the living, sir." So they became Ibonia's subjects, and he departed with all his spoil.

And on his way back a number of people met him who were each skilled in various ways. Some were swimmers in deep waters, others were able to tie firmly, others again were able to see at great distances, others were able to make alive; and all these Ibonia showed kindness to, and gave them a share of the spoil which he had obtained. So he went on his way back and came to his village. Arriving there he could not find Rampélasòamànanòro, his betrothed wife, for she had been taken by Ravàtovòlovoày. So he asked his parents, Where has my wife gone?" They replied, "She has been taken by Ravàtovòlovoày." So he said, "I am going to fetch my wife." When they heard that, his parents they warned him, saying, "Don't do that, child, for Ravàtovòlovoày is extremely powerful." But he would not stay. So at last his father got angry and took gun