and, calling for all who were not ready, they went down to the beach where the canoe lay. Then they went on board, and started for the little island where they hoped to gather many shell fish.
When they were come to the island, the girls asked their rival to tarry with the canoe, while they fished. "We will take thy basket with us," said they, "and fill it for thee." Now the beautiful girl had a mind to fish for herself, yet at the word of the others she tarried with the canoe.
The girls were away for some time, and found plenty of fish, but they kept it all for themselves, and filled the basket of their rival with empty shells. Then they came back to the canoe, and all went on board once more and set out for home. The beautiful girl, who had cared for the canoe, looked into her basket as she sat, and found it was full of empty shells. Yet was she not angry, but said with gentle voice, "Friends, will ye paddle back to the island for a little? I must get some fish ere I go home."
The girls nodded their heads kindly, for indeed this was what they had plotted, and their plan was working well. So they turned the canoe round, and went back once more to the island. The beautiful girl leapt lightly out, and ran along the beach looking for fish. In a little she found plenty, and hasted back to the landing place. But alas! there she found that the faithless maidens had deserted her, and she was alone on the desolate island.
