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THE JUNGLE BOY
23

mother, teach me again my pari, for in truth it has passed from me." So she sang again,—

"O Dabedabe kukuna lau kuku;
Tinagu bo Garawada."

Then the child set forth once more, and was soon on the edge of the jungle. There, but a stone's cast away he saw children with little darts spearing a coconut which one of their number threw in such a manner that it rolled swiftly. The child stood behind the trunk of a big tree and peeped forth that he might watch the children in their play. Then his heart burned within him for longing to join in their sport. And making for himself a dart, he ran towards the children singing,

"O Dabedabe kukuna lau kuku;
Tinagu bo Garawada."

And he cast his dart at the coconut. But not being used to aim at a mark, his dart fell short and pierced the arm of the child nearest him. And all the children fearing an enemy (for they knew not what his pari might mean,) fled shrieking to their homes, and left the jungle boy alone. He therefore returned sadly enough to his mother.

But the next day the desire to play with the children being strong within him he set out once more, and peeped from behind a tree at the game as he had done before. Then coming boldly forth, he launched his dart at the coconut, singing,

"O Dabedabe kukuna lau kuku;
Tinagu bo Garawada."