Hino , the Apostate. 
337 
The girl trembled and could not speak, for 
only that day Matara, the priest, had sent 
gifts to her and asked her to become his wife. 
He already had many wives, but he had seen 
the beauty of Hino and coveted her; and 
she, although she hated him, yet feared to 
cross his wish, for he was a revengeful man, 
next in greatness to Tati. So, fearing death 
from Matara if she fled away to her home on 
the other side of the island, a lie came to 
her lips. 
“ Nay,” she said, “ no man hath asked me.” 
For she knew what was in the mind of 
Tati, and knew that once she was his wife 
Matara would not dare to let it be known 
that he had sought her for himself; for great 
as was his priestly power and much as the 
people feared him, Tati the chief was greater 
even than he. 
Then Tati, taking the girl’s hand in his, tied 
round her wrist a piece of new cinnet to show 
that she was tapu from even the looks of any 
man but himself, and said to her, “ Go, tell 
thy people that I, Tati the chief, desire thee for 
my wife.” 
So Hino-riri became wife to Tati, who gave a 
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