"How may that be?" asked the dame, 'seeing that ye carry no goods or other payment?"
"Ask for what is found inside our bodies," said Kakukaku quickly, for the men were close at hand. In a few moments all was over. The few spears the brothers had did not much harm, and death, which they had sought, came speedily to them and to their sister Rekota. But the old woman held the child firmly and yielded him up to none of those who would have taken his life.
It was now growing dark, and the bodies of the slain were soon cut up and made ready for the pot. The old woman said that she wished not for flesh to eat, but would fain have as her share what was found inside the men's bodies when they were cut up. The men gave her what she wanted, and she laid away carefully the shell money which the brothers had swallowed before setting out to meet their death. And she was faithful to her trust, and fed and cared for the little child left in her care until he was grown.
Now as the child grew bigger, he grew also fierce and violent. Day by day, when playing with the village children, he would ever strive to be chief in the games, and desired that all should bend to his will. And it came to pass on a certain day, that he, as was his wont, was beating and stoning the children who pleased him not, and one bolder than the rest, cried, ' Why dost thou ever beat and ill-treat us? Is it thy vengeance for thy three kinsfolk who are dead?"
