Another said: “It is mine.”
One of them swallowed the stone. When the others saw that, they killed him and ate him. Then they pursued again after Sikulume. They came close to him again, when he threw the remainder of the fat on another stone. The cannibals fought for this also. One swallowed it, and was killed by the others.
They followed still, and Sikulume was almost in their hands, when he threw off his mantle. The mantle commenced to run another way, [[83]]and the cannibals ran after it. It was so long before they caught it that the young chief had time to reach his companions.
They all went on their way, but very soon they saw the cannibals coming after them. Then they observed a little man sitting by a big stone.
He said to them: “I can turn this stone into a hut.”
They replied: “Do so.”
He turned the stone into a hut, and they all went inside, the little man with them. They played the “iceya” there. The cannibals came to the place and smelt. They thought the hut was still a stone, for it looked like a stone to them. They began to bite it, and bit till all their teeth were broken, when they returned to their own village.
After this, the boys and the little man came out.
The boys went on. When they reached their own home they saw no people, till at length an old woman crept out of a heap of ashes. She was very much frightened, and said to them: “I thought there were no people left.” [[84]]
Sikulume said: “Where is my father?”