Atondido Stories
ended in a cave in the hills. In front of the cave many flowers
were blooming and the grass was soft and green, and the tall
grasses were nodding their heads very gently. He knew that
those he was seeking were inside, and he entered the cave very
quietly. Just beyond the door a fire was smouldering and near it
lay Rain and Whirlwind both fast asleep. Sparrow tried to wake
them with his bill and his cries, but they were sleeping too
soundly. Then he took a coal from the fire and put it on Rain's
back, but it spluttered and fizzled and soon went out. He tried
another, but the same thing happened. Then he took a third coal,
and this time Rain woke up. He was much surprised to hear a
stranger in the cave, but he could not see him because he was
blind. So he woke up Whirlwind to protect him.
Then Sparrow told them of the great trouble in the north
country and of the great hardship and sorrow their absence had
brought to the people, and of how sadly they had been missed
and of the decision of the council to call them back. And Whirl-
wind said, "We shall return to-morrow if we are so badly need-
ed. You may go back and tell your people that we are coming.
We shall be there the day after you arrive." So Sparrow, feeling
very proud of his success, flew back home. But when he arrived
after many days, he went first to his own people to tell them the
good news. And the Sparrow-people all gathered together and
held a feast of celebration, and they twittered and danced and
made a great hub-bub in their excitement because Rain was com-
ing back on the morrow. Then Sparrow went to the Chief and
said, "Oh, Chief, I have found Rain and Whirlwind and to-
morrow they will be here," and he told the story of his flight to
the south and of his discovery. And the Chief said, "Because of
your success, you will never be hunted for game or killed for
food."
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