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MAUI THE HERO.
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ing, he said, “I had an accident, mighty lady, and the fire you gave me has been quenched.” Then his grandame pulled out another finger nail; again the fire issued forth, and was caught by Maui, was carried outside, and again extinguished. “Noble ancestress,” said Maui, “a second time has evil fortune deprived me of the favour you granted.” Mahu pulled out another nail and another till she had only one left, and when Maui begged for that as a last resource she felt sure that her descendant was cajoling and mocking her, so she pulled out her last nail and dashed it on the ground. Instantly the whole place was filled with flames, and through the roar Maui heard the goddess crying out, “There, you can have it all now!” Maui, by force of his power as a sorcerer, instantly assumed the form of a strong-winged hawk, and dashed away with swiftly-beating wings. But fast as he flew the fire went faster, and in its rapid pursuit nearly overtook him. He dashed down into a pool of water, but he found that the water was almost boiling, and again he rose in the air. The umbrageous forests caught fire under the flaming breath of the pursuing deity; even the solid ground seemed to blaze up and melt. Then Maui called to his great ancestors the Lords of Tem-