this end Kakukaku climbed a palm tree and plucked several young coconuts. One they gave to the child; the others they opened and scraped the flesh, heaping it in a wooden bowl. Then they unthreaded their necklaces, and mixed the shell money with the white flesh of the coconuts. This they ate, leaving none in the bowl.
After they had thus done, they brought forth their war ornaments, and arrayed themselves as though they feared an enemy drew near, and they said to the child, "Tell thy mother that her brothers, knowing of her words, have gone to die in battle." And they laid spears on their shoulders, and set out. In a short space of time Rekota returned, and her son gave the message even as he had heard it. Her heart was sore when the news was told, and she threw down the bag of food, and ran out of the house with the child in her arms.
The brothers had not gone far, and Rekota espied them as they began to go up a little hill. She called to them,—
"Kakukaku ma Taureboga,
Novumi Rekota;
Matagei roboi."
("Kakukaku and Taureboga,
I am your sister Rekota;
Take your nephew in your arms.")
Kakukaku, as he walked, said to his brother, "Hark! That is our sister calling." "Nay," replied Taureboga. "It is now the softness of even-