when he thought of their unkindness; but all the notice the brothers took was to say, “Those are not real tears; it is only the smoke which makes his eyes water.” The next day the hunting party again set out, and Hatu repeated his stratagem; again on the day after. But the elder brothers had grown suspicious, and they, having hidden themselves to watch, discovered that Hatu had cheated them. They were terribly angry, and fell upon him with many blows. So cruelly did they beat him that they thought that he was dead; and leaving his body behind, they returned to their own house. When their parents demanded where their youngest son was, they were answered, “We do not know; we have not seen him.”
In the meantime Hatu had recovered his senses, and wandered far away, for he was afraid to take the homeward path lest he should encounter his cruel relatives, and again be beaten. As he went along he entered the forest, and hunted birds for his food. Seeing a fine prize, he made a thrust with his spear round a tree; but instead of hitting his mark, he found that he had wounded an Ogress. She was also spearing birds, using her lips as a
