Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/62

54 either they will kill me." So in the morning, when Ravàtovòlovoày awoke, he found that the door of the house where Rampéla was was locked. Then he said to the people, "Isn't it just as I told you, that this is not the old man, but another person?" So he tried to break open the door; but the door became like a rock, and he could not force it. Then he set fire to the thatch of the roof; but it would not burn, but rather dropped down water. Then he dug round the foundation of the house; but that also became as rock.

And so, all his attempts being unavailing, at last Ibonia and Rampéla prepared to go out, and Ibonia caused a profound sleep to fall upon all the people outside the house, so that every one slept. Then he said to her, "Let us go, but do not speak to me or beckon to me." So they went out, and stepped over all the people who slept along the road they travelled. And when they came to the gateway, he beckoned to a lad and bade him awake the people. So the lad awoke and roused up all the people, and Ravàtovòlovoày as well. Then said he, "Bring quickly guns and spears; and come, let us pursue them!" So away they went, and shot at them with their guns; but when the smoke rolled away there was the pair going along without any harm. And so they went on without any mischance, until they came to the water-side; but when they got there the wife beckoned to him to ask him where to ford. But the moment she did so he was struck by a bullet, and fell back into the water and was dead. Then came up Ravàtovolòvoày to Rampéla and asked what she wished to do, to follow the living or the dead? She replied, "I will follow the living, sir," at the same time excusing herself to him.

And so Ibonia met his death, and his parents looked upon the arums and the plaintain-trees which he had left with them as a token; and when they saw them dried up they lamented him, because the things were dead which he had given them as a sign about himself. However, his friends to whom he had made presents when he came from conquering Fòzanatokòndrilàhy had by no means forgotten him, and one day Joiner-together and his companions said to the Far-off-seer, "Look out for Ibonia, lest some harm should have befallen him." So he looked and said "Ibonia is dead; and behold, yonder stream is carrying away his bones." Then said they all (Far-off-seer and Joiner-together and Life-giver) to Strong-swimmer: "Do you go and gather together those bones." So he went and gathered all the bones. Then Joiner-together united them, so that they all came