Page:Fairytales•Tregear•1891.pdf/81

it, so they made a small house with only one window in it, and they drew charm-figures of nooses and men all over it. They waited until it was a day when the ocean mists came thickly round, and the gods of ocean came up to help them. Kara came also and called out, “O Ruru, where are you?” He ran inside the house and said, “Here I am.” Kara came and drew her coils bout the house, saying, “So you thought that you could escape me, but you see that I have you fast.” Then she went into the house and caressed Ruru, who concealed his disgust from her, and enticed her with sweet words. As they talked she heard a noise and said “O Ruru, what noise is that?” He answered, “It is my brother cooking food for us.” Again she heard a noise and said, “O Ruru, what is that noise?” He replied, “Only my father and mother getting the food ready for us.” The noise really was made by Ruru’s brothers heaping up firewood against the house; to this they put fire, and the place was soon surrounded by flames, which sparkled and crackled dreadfully. In the smoke Ruru made for the little window and escaped, closing it after him. The Serpent Woman screamed out, “Oh thou deceitful one! Oh Ruru, I am consumed with fire!” But the people standing