LAFLESCHE] NI-KI NO>--K O^ RITE 221 



16. Again they meditated upon a descent, 



17. And they sat in great perplexity, 



18. For in the third division of the heavens 



19. They thought the little ones might become a people and abide. 



20. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



21. The little ones did not become a people in the third heaven. 



22. The little ones failed to become a people. 



23. They had made their third downward soaring. 



24. The people spake to one another, saying: 0, younger brothers. 



25. Look you, it is not possible for the little ones to become a people. 



26. Let search be made for a way. 



27. They meditated upon continuing the descent, 



28. They sat in great peqalexity, 



29. Then they took the downward course to earth. 



30. They found the earth engulfed in water that lay undisturbed. 



31. They paused, then asked one another: What shall we do? 



32. They descended and upon the tops of seven great rocks 



33. They alighted. 



34. The seventh rock, 



35. The rock that was black m color, 



36. Spake to the little ones of its great age, 



37. Spake to them, saying: Verily, my little ones shall come closely 



to me for protection as they travel the path of life. 



38. When my little ones come close to me for protection, 



39. There shall be no death among them as they travel the path of life. 



40. When my little ones come close to me for protection, 



41. They shall cause themselves to be difhcult to overcome by death. 



42. When my little ones come close to me for protection, 



43. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



44. The red rock spake to the little ones, 



45. Spake to them of its great age, 



46. Then said to them: My little ones shall come close to me for pro- 



tection as they travel the path of life. 



47. When my little ones come close to me for protection, 



48. There shall be no death among them as they travel the path of life. 



49. When the little ones come close to me for protection, 



50. They shall cause themselves to be difficult to be overcome by 



death. 



51. When the little ones come close to me for protection, 



52. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



53. The people spake to one another, saying: O, younger brothers, 



54. What shall we do ? they said to one another. 



