Page:Swahili tales.djvu/425

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BLESSING OR PROPERTY.
405

together till on the road they saw a great lake. And the snake said to her, "Child of Adam, let us sit and rest, the sun is fierce; go and bathe in the lake with your child." And she carried her boy, and went to wash him, and he fell in and she lost him in the lake. And it asked her, "What is the matter with you there, child of Adam?" And she said, "My child is lost in the water." And it said, "Look for him well." And she sought for him for a whole hour without finding him. And it said, "Put in the other hand." And she said, "You snake are making game of me." And it asked "How?" And she said, "I have put in this sound one, and I have not found him; what is the use of this spoilt one?" And the snake said to her, "Only you put in both." And the child of Adam put them in, and went and found her son and laid hold of him, and drew out her hand sound again. And it said, "Have you found him?" And she said, "I have found him, and have got my hand sound again." And she rejoiced much.

And the snake said, "Now let us go away to my elders, and let me repay your kindness." And she said, "This is enough, getting my hand." And it said, "Not yet; let us go to my elders." And they went till they arrived, and they rejoiced much, and loved that young woman. And she remained, eating and drinking many days.

And her husband returned from his journey. And his elders had caused two tombs to be made, one of his wife and one of his child. And her brother had become a great man with the king.

And her husband, the king's son, came. And he asked, "Where is my wife?" And they said to him, "She is dead." "And where is my child?" And they answered him, "He is dead." And he asked, "Where are their graves?" And they took him to go and see them. And