Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/70

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64
THE MAIDEN SWIMMER.

“For whom is that water?” The slave answered, “Tu.” “Give the calabash to me.” The vessel was handed to her and she, throwing it to the ground, broke it in pieces. The patient slave went back and got another calabash, which Hine treated in the same manner. So the servant went to Tu and said, “There is a man down there in the bath, and he breaks your calabashes when I go there for water.” “Who is the fellow?” said Tu. “I don’t know; he is a stranger,” answered the slave. “Does he dare to destroy my calabashes? Oh, I shall die with rage.” So saying he put on his clothes, took up his club, and proceeded to the bath, his anger, increasing at every step as he thought upon the impertinence of his wretched vagrant visitor. When he got to the shore he called out “Where is this breaker of calabashes?” Hine heard the voice of her lover, but she coyly hid herself under the overhanging rocks and Tu searched vainly for a long time, feeling about in the dark and trying to find his enemy. Full of glee was the heart of the maiden as she mischievously kept quiet under the ledges of rock, wondering how long it would be before she was caught. At last he grasped her hand saying “Who is it?” And she answered,