the tame animals free, and started to make his escape. As soon as he had done this, one of the little birds spread its wings and flew over the hills to Kura, crying out, “O Kura, all your treasures are stolen, and your home destroyed.”
Kura said, “Who has done this?" The bird answered, “Hatu; he has set all your pets free, has broken up the dwelling, and has taken away the sword and cloaks from your treasury.” Then Kura hastened her steps towards her home, singing a magic song, which made her progress even more swift than usual; and the words she sang were:
“Step out, stretch along! Step out, stretch along!
There you are, Hatu, not far away!”
In three of her great strides, stepping from range to range, and beating the air with her winged arms, she came upon her ravaged dwelling. She could see no one there; but her breast filled with rage when she looked upon the damage which had been done to her property, and she enquired of the little bird which way Hatu had gone. The bird told her, and she followed in swift pursuit, chanting her song as she went. Hatu was soon nearly overtaken. He was filled with terror when he caught sight of his pursuer, but luckily remembered the
