“‘I have a wife who loves me, and I want no other. What else?’
“‘Then I will do more than all these. You shall pass unharmed through fire.’
“‘If you can do that I may spare you; but if you fail you shall be my nambu.’
“Then the god gathered brushwood together, and piled it with stones in a little hollow, and made fire, and lighted it, and they sat down to wait until the stones grew hot. And when the wood had burned to ashes, and the stones were red with heat, the god rose and took Tui Nkualita by the hand, saying, ‘Come, let us go into the oven.’
“‘What! And be roasted while living?’
“‘Nay,’ returned the god, ‘I would not return evil for good. It shall not burn you.’
“Then Tui Nkualita took his hand, and lay on the hot stones, finding them cool and pleasant to his body.
“And Tui na Moliwai said, ‘You shall stay four days in the oven, and be unhurt.’
“‘Four days! And who shall find food for my wife and children while I am there? No! Let me only pass through the fire as I have done, and come out unharmed. I ask no more than this.’