'He will walk over your body up to your head. Then you must shake all
your body. Do you understand, Pivi?'
'Yes, dear lady, I shall do just as you say.'
'Very good,' said the woman, going out and shutting the door.
Pivi lay still under his coverings, then a tiny noise was heard, and the
Black Ant began to march over Pivi, who lay quite still. Then came the
big Red Ant skipping along his body, and then Pivi shook himself all
over. He jumped up quite well again, he ran to the river, he looked into
the water and saw that he was changed from a bird into a fine young man!
'Oh, lady,' he cried, 'look at me now! I am changed into a man, and so
handsome!'
'Will you obey me again?' said the woman.
'Always; whatever you command I will do it,' said Pivi, politely.
'Then climb up that cocoa-nut tree, with your legs only, not using your
hands,' said the woman.
Now the natives can run up cocoa-nut trees like squirrels, some using
only one hand; the girls can do that. But few can climb without using
their hands at all.
'At the top of the tree you will find two cocoa-nuts. You must not throw
them down, but carry them in your hands; and you must descend as you
went up, using your legs only.'
'I shall try, at least,' said Pivi. And up he went, but it was very
difficult, and down he came.
'Here are your cocoa-nuts,' he said, presenting them to the woman.
'Now, Pivi, put them in the shed where you lay, and when the sun sets to
cool himself in the sea and rise again not so hot in the dawn you must
go and take the nuts.'
All day Pivi played about in the river, as the natives do, throwing
fruit and silvery showers of water at each other. When the sun set he
went into the hut. But as he drew near he heard sweet voices talking and
laughing within.
'What is that? People chattering in the hut! Perhaps they have taken my
cocoa-nuts,' said Pivi to himself.
In he went, and there he found two pretty, laughing, teasing girls. He
hunted for his cocoanuts, but none were there.
Down he ran to the river. 'Oh, lady, my nuts have been stolen!' he
cried.
'Come with me, Pivi, and there will be nuts for you,' said the woman.
They went back to the hut, where the girls were laughing and playing.
'Nuts for you?' said the woman, 'there are two wives for you, Pivi, take
them to your house.'
'Oh, good lady,' cried Pivi, 'how kind you are!'
So they were married and very happy, when in came cross old Kabo.
'Is this
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