Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/140

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98
PAPUAN FAIRY TALES

But when he reached the stream he found the water was muddied. He walked on and on until he reached the source. Then he drank and returned to the shore. But no canoe there lay, for his servants had already launched it and put out to sea, leaving their master's bag on the beach. When they were a safe distance from the shore they laid down their paddles and let the canoe float.

Then was Kapikoa wroth when he saw them, and he cried with a loud voice, "Come hither that I may go on board." But the servants made answer, "Nay! Thou hast given us only the husk of thy betel nut, while thou hast eaten the substance thyself. Remain there alone, for we will not have pity on thee."

Then they took up their paddles, and steered for home.

Kapikoa watched for long, hoping that their hearts would turn towards him, but when they were gone out of sight, he knew it was of no avail to stay where he was. Therefore, he turned and went into the bush, and found his way to the river.

There he saw a big fig tree on the bank, and he climbed into it. As he sat in the branches, a beautiful girl passed under it, and bent down at the river to fill her coconut water bottles. Kapikoa scratched a design on a fig and threw it down, hoping that the maiden would see him. She looked up when it splashed in the water, but could see nought, therefore she stooped once more. Kapikoa threw down yet