the
southwest, and with it came clouds which quickly hid the entire sky.
The day turned to night. The birds ceased to sing and went to their
nests. The wild beasts ran to their caves. The family sought shelter in
the house from a heavy downpour of rain which continued for many
days and nights. So long did it last that they became very anxious about
the condition of things around them.
On the eighth day the birds again began to sing, and the sun was, as
usual, bright. The farmer arose early and went out to look at his fields,
but, lo! his crop was all destroyed. He went back to the house and told
the family that the water-god was angry and had washed away all that
he had hoped to have for the coming year.
What were they to do? The supply in the house was getting low and it
was too late to raise another crop. The father worried night and day, for
he did not know how he could keep his children from starvation.
One day he made a long journey and came into a place that was strange
to him. He had never before seen the like of it. But in the midst of a
broad meadow he saw a tree with spreading branches like an elm, and
as his legs and back were stiff from walking, he went over and sat
down under it. Presently, looking up, he discovered that on the tree
were large red fruits. He climbed up and brought some down, and after
satisfying his hunger he fell asleep.
He had not slept long when he was awakened by a loud noise. The
owner of the place was coming. He was fearful to look upon. His body
was like that of a person, but he was of enormous size; and he had a
long tail, and two horns growing out of his head. The farmer was
frightened and did not know what to do. He stood motionless till the
master came up and began to talk to him. Then he explained that he had
come there in search of food to keep his family alive. The monster was
delighted to hear this, for he saw that he had the man and the man's
family in his power. He told the traveller that in return for a certain
promise he would help him out of his troubles.
The demon, as he was called by some travellers to that land, showed
the farmer a smooth, round stone, which, he said, gave its possessor the
power of a magician. He offered to lend this to the farmer for five years,
if at the expiration of that time the farmer and family would become his
slaves. The farmer consented.
Then the demon was glad. He said to the farmer, "You must squeeze
the stone when you wish to become invisible; and must put it in your
mouth when you wish to return to human form."
The man tried the power of the magic stone. He squeezed it, and
instantly became invisible to the demon; but he bade him farewell, and
promised to meet him in the same place at the appointed time.
In this invisible form the man crossed the water that washed the shore
of the island on which he lived. There he found a people who lived in
communities. He wanted something to eat, so he went into the shops;
but he found that a restaurant owned by a Chinaman was the one to
which most people of the city went. He put the stone in his mouth, thus
appearing in visible form, and, entering the restaurant, ordered the best
food he could find. He finished his meal quickly and went out. The
waiter, perceiving that he did not pay, followed him. The man had no
money; so he squeezed the stone and shot up into the air without being
seen. The Chinaman, alarmed by the cry of the waiter, came out and
ran in all directions, trying to find and catch the man. No one could find
him; and the people thought he must indeed be a fast runner to escape
so quickly, for they did not know of the gift of the demon.
Not far from that place he saw groups of men and women going in and
out of a large building. It was a bank. The farmer went in to see what
he could find. There he saw bags of money, gold and silver. He
chuckled with joy at this opportunity. In order to use his hands freely,
he put the stone in his mouth; but before he could fill all his pockets
with money, he was discovered by the two guards, who began to pound
him on the head.
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