old the truth, but she gave me her left bracelet, so I
went. When I was still far away from Baliwan I could smell the perfume,
and when I reached the tree I climbed it and I tried to break the stem
which held the perfume, and my companion saw that I was changing to a
serpent and he ran away. I truly became a serpent and now I have come
here and have met you. If you do not believe that I was truly a boy,
I will show you the arm beads." So he lifted his head and Langa-ayan
truly saw the arm beads around his neck. "My aunt, will you find out
how I may become a man again?" She said, "If what you have said is
true you follow me." So they went up to the town.
Do-ansowan said to his wife, "How long you have staid at the river,
my wife." "I was there a long time, for I met a big serpent. If you
wish to see it, it is in the yard. He says he was a young boy and he
showed me the arm beads of a young girl, which he has about his neck. I
believe that he is a young boy who has become a serpent. When he broke
the stem of the perfume which the girl wanted he became a serpent. He
wants to know how he can again become a boy." "Ala, if that is what
he wants, you go and take him to my Uncle Ma-obagan." So they went
and when they arrived where Ma-obagan lived she said, "Good morning,
uncle." "Good morning," he answered. "The reason I came is because a
young boy who became a big snake is here. Will you please put him in
your magic well which changes everything which goes in it and make
him a young boy again?" "If he will go into the water, even if it
feels bad, you call him and let him go in." So they went and when
they arrived at the well the serpent went into the water, and the
serpent's skin began to crack and fall off and he became a boy again.
Not long after they went back to the house of Langa-ayan. As soon as
they arrived there the boy went to the _balaua_ and did not follow
Langa-ayan to the house. Do-ansowan saw that he was a handsome young
boy. As soon as Langa-ayan had finished cooking they called him to
come and eat and he said to them, "I do not wish to eat if there are
no girls to eat with me." "We are afraid if you do not eat, for you
did not eat for a long time, while you were a serpent." The boy said,
"Even though I did not eat while I was a serpent I will follow my
custom, for I do not eat unless a pretty young girl who never goes
outdoors eats with me." When they could not persuade him Do-ansowan
said to his wife, "Go a
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