desired to go fishing. To do thus they must needs leave their child behind. But they guarded against the witch by cutting a bunch of bananas, which they hung up in the house. Then they bade the bananas answer if anyone spake to them, and they set out.
Fish were plentiful, therefore the man and woman built a little platform on which they smoked a great many of the fish they had caught. Now the smoking of fish cannot be hastened, or they will not be pleasant eating, so the little lad had many days to remain alone.
Nevertheless he did not fret. There was a swing of jungle creeper hanging from the big almond tree in front of the house, and he spent most of the day there. Each day, too, he pulled a ripe banana from the bunch and ate it.
Soon the witch, who often spied upon the child, began to think that he was alone. Then growing bolder, she crept down the hill and drew near to the swing where the child sat.
"Art alone, child?" she asked.
"Of a truth, no," answered the child.
"Who are with thee, then?"
"Au rava (my kinsfolk)," answered he.
"I would fain hear their voices," she said.
"Au rava!" called the child, and his voice was shrill.
"U!" answered the bananas from the house. Then the witch made haste back to her home on the hill, for she dared not harm the child if any grown persons were nigh.
