and perched on the natu tree. And in a little, an old man passed by, whose body was soiled with earth, and whose beard was black and long. Now the dirt and the beard were signs of mourning, and the bird-child saw also that the old man wore on his arm a plaited wicker armlet, therefore he knew him to be his grandfather, and he called to him.
The old man at the sound of the voice stopped to listen, and when he had heard the whole tale his heart was full of joy. For he knew that his daughter, whom he had mourned this long time, was not dead, but living. Then he made haste and put a cooking pot, a pearl shell, some taro, and a piece of burning wood in his canoe, and launched forth. And the bird-child flew in front and showed him whither he should steer.
They reached the island, and the old man greeted his daughter with joy. Then he cooked taro tor her, and she ate it and was filled.
When the meal was now over, the old man helped his daughter into the canoe, and took her back to her old home, her little son flying overhead. In the evening all sat round the fire, and talked of what had befallen the girl. But while they were yet talking, little Manubada said on a sudden, "Here we sit, but ye are people, and I am only a bird!" And having spoken he stretched his wings and departed into the night, nor did he ever return.
As for Manubada's bride, her old lover, to whom she was betrothed before she left her village, was still
