Page:Papuan Fairy Tales.djvu/169

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THE BOAR SLAYER
127

done, and the land was filled with men once more. And they all ate of the boar's flesh and were filled. And as for the lad who with his own hand had slain the evil beast, he became their chief, and ruled over them wisely and was served by them.


THE MAN WITH THE OPEN THROAT.


In the old days there lived in a certain village a man in whose neck was a hole, so that when he ate his food passed not down his throat, but came forth at the hole. Now it came to pass that his two grandsons saw him eating in this manner, and could not forbear to laugh. Therefore he resolved to punish them for mocking him. So with gentle voice he said to them, "I am about to go a journey in my canoe, and if ye desire it ye shall also come." Then said the elder, "Truly we would fain go with thee. But let me first get a water bottle to put on board, for my little brother will perchance be thirsty while we are on the sea."

"Nay, trouble not," said their grandfather. "It is already on board." This he said to deceive them.

"Ah," said the child, "but I must get some young coconuts for us to drink."

"I have already heaped young coconuts on the canoe," lied the man.