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THE LAND OF THE DEAD
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now time for the Dead to arise. The man did as she bade him, and he watched as the Dead laid hold of each his own bones. "This is my thigh," and "Here is my arm," he heard them say. Now it was night, and the Dead began to dance, while some of them beat also upon drums. And the man was much afraid as he watched from the house. But his wife remained with him, and he cared not for fear nor any other thing while he had her with him once more. "Ah, my wife," he cried, "how hot was my heart with grief till I found thee!"

But his wife feared for him that the Dead would find him in their land and would work him some evil; therefore she said, "Thou must not tarry here, for the Dead if they find thee will certainly fall upon thee. Therefore go now, I pray thee."

Then said the man, "How can I leave thee when I have but now found thee?"

"Ah, my lord," answered the wife, "of a truth thou must not linger here. Yet if thou wouldst see me once more go now, and after three nights are past come again to me, and I will be here."

Then the man, after she had thus spoken, rose up to go. But on the way he stayed to pick coconuts, and scented herbs, and wild limes, that he might show them to the people of Uruam. And as he thus did, the Dead saw him and made haste after him in great numbers, and seized from his hands the coconuts, the scented herbs, and the wild limes, and he being beset by them could but escape with his life. And