ECHO, THE CAVE FAIRY
From the Island of Mangaia
In the very long ago, Rangi the Brave came from the Land-of-the-Bright-Parrot-Feathers to the Island of Mangaia. Swiftly over the blue waves sped his canoe. He stepped out upon the land, and lay down to rest in the shade of a broad-leaved tree covered with gorgeous blooms. And after he had slept and was refreshed, he arose and wandered about the island.
Beautiful was the place with cocoa palms waving their tall fronds in the air, and with banana trees heavy with golden fruit. But though Rangi walked all that day and the next, he saw no human being. He heard no sounds except the beat of the sea against the shore, and the whirring of hundreds of bright-winged birds that passed like flashes of blue, green, and crimson, from tree to tree, and from grove to grove. Softly the perfumed breezes fanned his cheek, and played in his hair.
“Like a lovely dream is this island!” thought he, “but as lonely as the sea on a moonlit night!”
Then to comfort himself he threw back his head and called: “Halloo! Halloo!”
And from a pile of rocks overhanging a deep gorge, a voice answered: “Halloo!”
“Who art thou?” cried Rangi in wonder. “What is thy name?”
And the voice answered more softly: “What is thy name?”
“Where art thou? Where art thou hidden?” he shouted.