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THE PET WHALE.

answered, “I will be very careful if you will lend it to me; I will promise that it shall not get hurt.” Tini, after much persuasion, agreed to lend his pet, which was called Tutu. Tini told Kae that when he should arrive near the shore of his own land, and felt the animal give a few shakes, then he would know that the water was very shallow, and that he must get off and go on shore, else the whale would die. Kae promised to observe the precaution carefully, wished Tini farewell, and started away on his voyage.

The magician and the whale passed safely across the sea till they arrived near the shore on which Kae’s village stood, and Tutu shook himself many times as a sign that the journey was ended; but the wicked old priest would not get off. He sat there and made himself as heavy as he could by means of charms, pressing the whale against the shallow bottom; and as the whale writhed about in its pain, its blowholes got choked with sand, its body cut on the sharp rocks, until it died. Then Kae got off and went ashore. He and his people dragged the body up on the beach, and lighted great fires, building ovens filled with fragrant leaves, in which they cooked parts of the whale’s flesh, and feasted thereon.