THE BIRD WIFE 



really was moving, so he peeped open his eyes a 

 trifle. 



At once the boat began to swing violently, but 

 he quickly shut his eyes, and it went on steadily, 

 and he soon landed on the island. 



There he saw a hut and his son playing on the 

 beach near it. The boy on looking up saw and 

 recognized him, and ran to his mother, crying: 



" Mother, Father is here and is coming to our 

 hut." 



" Go back to your play," she said; " your fa- 

 ther is far away and cannot find us." 



The lad went back, but again he ran in, saying: 



" Mother, Father is here and is coming to our 

 hut." 



Again she sent him away ; but he soon returned, 

 saying: " Father is right here." 



He had scarcely said it when Itajung opened 

 the door. When the new husband saw him he 

 said to his wife, " Open that box in the corner of 

 the hut." 



She did so, and a great quantity of feathers 

 flew out and stuck fast to them. The hut disap- 

 peared. The woman, her new husband, and the 

 child were transformed into geese and flew away, 

 leaving Itajung standing alone. 



27 



