doing so he over-balanced himself and was hurried into
some rapids, where he was knocked against some rocks, and he sank and
was drowned, and his body was carried down the stream into smoother
water when it rose to the surface again. But by this time it had lost
all likeness to a man, and was changed into a piece of wood.

The wood floated on, and the river got bigger and bigger and entered a
new country. There it was borne by the current close to the shore, and a
woman who was down there washing her clothes caught it as it passed, and
drew it out, saying to herself: 'What a nice smooth plank! I will use it
as a table to put my food upon.' And gathering up her clothes she took
the plank with her into her hut.

When her supper time came she stretched the board across two strings
which hung from the roof, and set upon it the pot containing a stew that
smelt very good. The woman had been working hard all day and was very
hungry, so she took her biggest spoon and plunged it into the pot. But
what was her astonishment and disgust when both pot and food vanished
instantly before her!

'Oh, you horrid plank, you have brought me ill-luck!' she cried. And
taking it up she flung it away from her.

The woman had been surprised before at the disappearance of her food,
but she was more astonished still when, instead of the plank, she beheld
a baby. However, she was fond of children and had none of her own, so
she made up her mind that she would keep it and take care of it. The
baby grew and throve as no baby in that country had ever done, and
in four days he was a man, and as tall and strong as any brave of the
tribe.

'You have treated me well,' he said, 'and meat shall never fail to your
house. But now I must go, for I have much work to do.'

Then he set out for his home.

It took him many days to get there, and when he saw his son sitting
in his place his anger was kindled, and his heart was stirred to take
vengeance upon him. So he went out quickly into the forest and shed
tears, and each tear became a bird. 'Stay there till I want you,' said
he; and he returned to the hut.

'I saw some pretty new birds, high up in a tree yonder,' he remarked.
And the son answered: 'Show me the way and I will get them for dinner.'

The two went out together, and after walking for about half an hour they
old man stopped. 'That is the tree,' he said. And the son began to climb
it.

Now a strange thing happened. The higher the young ma