THE COCKEREL.
Long ago, in the old days, the birds all lived at Diriuna, which is at the foot of the hill country of Magavara. But of Diriuna nothing now remains, save only the circle of stones where the birds used to sit in council.
One night they were all dancing, and in their pleasure saw not that their fire had died down until not a spark was left to glimmer in the ashes. In the morning, therefore, when they arose, they wept for their warm fire, which was now dead.
But Kokorereko, the cockerel, when he was asked, promised to bring fresh fire that they might kindle it anew, and he set off, his strong wings cleaving the air. He flew, and flew, until he had covered many miles, and then alighted in the bush on a rock. With such force did he descend that his feet sank into the hard rock, and the mark of them remains to this day.
Where he alighted he slept, and the next day he flew on once more until he reached Kaierara, the long cape which stretches into the sea. There he saw a beautiful girl sitting alone in a house. Her ears hung low with weighty earrings, and her teeth were black as the seeds of wild bananas, from eating much betel nut.
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