had the man won the day, when the King of the Fairies called again to his followers. They came from the grass, from caves, from valleys, and from the tops of tall trees, and seized the man, and held him while they waited to hear their lord's pleasure.
The man, seeing he could not prevail by force, said to those who held him, "If ye wish to bind me do so with grass upon a pole of aiumaumara." (This wood, as the man knew, is brittle.)
The fairies gave heed to his word, and bound him fast with grass upon a pole of aiumaumara, and set out for the cave where dwelt their master. They had gone but a little way when the bonds brake, and the man lay upon the ground. The fairies went to and fro seeking more grass, and being but silly folk, looked not for jungle creeper or the roots of pandanus. Then they bound the man again and set out. Few steps had they taken when the pole of aiumaumara snapped in twain, and the man fell heavily to the ground. Long lay he there while the fairies searched for another pole, nor did they find it till the night was nearly past.
Once more they bound the man and carried him on their way. Once more the grass brake, once more the pole of aiumaumara snapped asunder, and once more and once more the search was long. And now the dawn was near, and the fairies yet far from their home. For this had the man planned, and his heart cooled with content within him.
At last came the dawn, and the fairies fled with
