the thing for me
to eat." But Suac gave him a deadly blow with Pugut's club, and the
giant tumbled down dead.

Later Suac rid the islands of all the wild monsters, and became the
ruler over his people.

The Three Friends,--The Monkey, the Dog, and the Carabao.

Narrated by Jose M. Hilario, a Tagalog from Batangas, Batangas.

Once there lived three friends,--a monkey, a dog, and a carabao. They
were getting tired of city life, so they decided to go to the
country to hunt. They took along with them rice, meat, and some
kitchen utensils.

The first day the carabao was left at home to cook the food,
so that his two companions might have something to eat when they
returned from the hunt. After the monkey and the dog had departed,
the carabao began to fry the meat. Unfortunately the noise of the
frying was heard by the Bungisngis in the forest. Seeing this chance
to fill his stomach, the Bungisngis went up to the carabao, and said,
"Well, friend, I see that you have prepared food for me."

For an answer, the carabao made a furious attack on him. The Bungisngis
was angered by the carabao's lack of hospitality, and, seizing him
by the horn, threw him knee-deep into the earth. Then the Bungisngis
ate up all the food and disappeared.

When the monkey and the dog came home, they saw that everything was
in disorder, and found their friend sunk knee-deep in the ground. The
carabao informed them that a big strong man had come and beaten him
in a fight. The three then cooked their food. The Bungisngis saw
them cooking, but he did not dare attack all three of them at once,
for in union there is strength.

The next day the dog was left behind as cook. As soon as the food
was ready, the Bungisngis came and spoke to him in the same way he
had spoken to the carabao. The dog began to snarl; and the Bungisngis,
taking offence, threw him down. The dog could not cry to his companions
for help; for, if he did, the Bungisngis would certainly kill him. So
he retired to a corner of the room and watched his unwelcome guest
eat all of the food. Soon after the Bungisngis's departure, the monkey
and the carabao returned. They were angry to learn that the Bungisngis
had been there again.

The next day the monkey was cook; but, before cooking, he made a
pitfall in front of the stove. After putting away enough food for
his companions and himself, he put the rice on the stove. When the
Bungisngis came, the monkey said very politely, "Sir, yo