Hino , the Apostate. 
359 
wide open. The water was but two spans 
in depth, and the lips of some of the paua 
were level with the surface. 
For a while she looked closely about her, till 
she came to one that was of great size, the 
mouth of which was hidden by weed. Then 
she stopped. 
The boy had become sleepy again, but his 
mother’s voice roused him. 
“ Stand there, and let me rest awhile,” she 
said, and lifting the boy quickly she placed his 
feet into the mouth of the great paua. It 
shut together, and held him fast. 
Then those women who were fishing heard a 
dreadful cry of agony through the night and saw 
a dim figure fleeing along the reef whence the 
sound came. They were frightened, and went 
back to the shore as quickly as they could. 
When they reached the village Tati was mad 
with rage and fear, for Tairoa was gone from 
his side. 
All the next morning the people searched for 
the boy and Hino-riri, Tati thinking she had 
hidden him in a desolate part of the island. 
The women who had heard and seen her in 
the night had then told no one of it. They 
