Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/30

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24
The Pet Whale.

grown up, to inhabit the deep seas. So beautiful and calm were these great sheets of water (the nursery-places of baby-fishes), that they were called “The mirrors of Tini.”

The prince had a beautiful wife, whose name was Hina, and to them was born a son. Soon after the boy was born, he and his mother were taken away by the child’s uncle, Rupe, and all three of them went to live in a distant country. When the infant had grown to boyhood, Tini went in search of his wife and child, and arriving near the village in which they lived, he saw some children playing among the reeds. He called to them to ask his way, and noticed that one of them wore round his neck a little bag filled with sweet-scented moss. This bag had been given by Tini to Hina years before, so Tini at once knew that this boy must be his son. Taking the child by the hand, the Lord of Fishes went up to the village, and was received as a great chief; but the people were suffering from famine, and had no food to set before their guest. Tini ordered them all to remain within their houses, and keep the doors fast shut. This they agreed to do; and then, when all was ready, Tini recited a charm. There was heard a sound like a rushing wind, and this continued a long time. Then when the people