RAGS AND TATTERS.
The story I tell is about two boys. Rough street-boys they were, with no one to care for them, always 
in rags and
always together. They were known as Rags and Tatters. What their real names were they knew no more 
than do you
or I.
In the mornings and evenings they sold newspapers, and in the middle of the day, when it was summer 
and the
streets were roasting hot, they went down by the wharves. When the police were not looking, off went 
their clothes in
a twinkling, and they went head-first into the water. It was not very clean water, but it was cool, 
and neither Rags nor
Tatters had ever bathed in any that was cleaner.
One day, after bathing, they were sitting on the pier. They looked at the busy scene on the river, 
where loaded ships
were being dragged out into the channel ready to go to sea. Suddenly Rags said, "Let's go to sea."
Tatters was much amused at the idea, and asked Rags if he intended to go as a passenger.
But Rap was not to be laughed out of his plan. " We can't have a worse time than we have now," he 
said, " and who
knows that we may not be captains some day ! "
" There's a big ship down at the pier yonder," said Tatters. " She's going to sail to-night, for I 
heard the captain say so."
" Let's go and look at her."
So the boys went off, and very soon found themselves beside the " Lion," as the ship was named. They 
were very
much in the way of some men who were at work loading. A good-natured fellow told them to stand aside, 
as all the
boxes and barrels that they saw had to be aboard the " Lion " that day, for she was going out at 
midnight.
Their minds were made up at once. Instead of buying newspapers that night, they spent their money on 
some
biscuits. They had a
bottle of water, too, for they knew well enough that if they showed themselves before they were well 
at sea they would
be sent back by the pilot-boat.
That night, when it was dark, they quietly crept along and got on to the ship's deck. Every one was 
too busy to notice
them. By-and-by they came to a black, square hole, and down they crept by a ladder that was in it.
They found a lower deck after they had gone down a little way, and had just stepped on to it when the 
hole was
covered over.
The place where they were was as dark as pitch, and did not smell very pleasant, but they cuddled 
closely together,
and very soon were fast asleep.
They could not tell what time it was when they awoke, for it was as dark as ever. The ship was going 
up and down,
and they could hear the sailors singing as they pulled at the ropes, and so they thought they were well out at sea.
Then they began to wonder how they were to get out. But just at that minute the hatches were taken off.
" Now for it," said Rags.
Up they jumped, and, scrambling over some barrels and bags of grain, made their way to the deck above. Near them they saw a 
big man with gold lace on his cap, and, hurrying up to him, each 
gave a pull to
his front hair by way of a bow, and Rags said, " If you please, sir, we've come aboard."
" So I see, you young rascals," said the man, "and now, what in the world am I to do with you ?"
" Give us a chance," said Tatter; "we never had a chance ashore."
The captain, who liked the way Tatters spoke, said, " You shall have a chance, but it will be long 
before you see
London again, for we may go around the world."
But, as the boys had not a friend in London, they did not care if they never saw it again.
The captain called to a sailor, and told him to find them some clothes, for he could not have such 
scarecrows on his
ship. Soon they were dressed, each having on a good thick flannel shirt and warm trousers such as 
they had never
owned before.
The captain said that he would have no such names as Rags and Tatters on his ship. He didn't care 
what they called
themselves, but some decent names they must have. So Rags said he would be "Jack," and Tatters chose 
"Will,"
and when this had been settled they were put to work.
They soon found that there was not much fun in a sailor's life, but, now that they had the chance 
they had asked for,
they did their best, and soon every one liked them. They had good food, and in the clear air they 
began to look
strong and well.
They had the most glorious time, and saw many strange sights. First they went to Holland, and were 
much surprised
to see the country with so much water everywhere, and to see the ships sailing through the canals.

A CANAL IN HOLLAND.

After leaving Holland the " Lion " went to China, where the boys saw queer ships called junks, which amused them
very much. Sometimes they were able to get ashore at some of these strange lands, and saw many 
wonderful things. But nothing led them to forget their work. When, at the end of three years, the "' Lion " sailed into London, no 
one would ever have 
thought that these
sturdy boys were the same Rags and Tatters who went aboard
as stowaways.
Their captain told them that they could sail on his next voyage, for he would be sorry to lose them.

A CHINESE JUNK.

All this was twenty years ago. Now both boys are men, and each is a captain, and sails a ship of his 
own. But they
are as fond of each other as in the old days. They have taken a great many voyages since their first, 
and Rags was
shipwrecked and lived for a month on a desert island. For a time he thought that he would never see 
home again, but
just in the nick of time a vessel took him off, and brought him back to his home.

WHITE HORSE STORIES.
THE VIKINGS.
" And so, children," said Mummie, at the end of the morning's lessons," the Vikings, though brave 
in war, were often
very cruel, and caused great sorrow and suffering among the Saxons who held England after the Romans 
left."
"How did they get the name ' Vikings,' Mummie? " asked Jack.
" They were pirates from the viks, or creeks, of Norway, and so were called 'Vikings.'"
When the children were going to bed that night Jack said to Sybil, " I do wish the White Horse would 
come to-night to
take us back to the time of the Vikings."
But he knew that the White Horse never came until they had fallen asleep. Scarcely had their eyes 
closed - at least,
so it seemed - when they were awakened by the welcome voice from the outside telling them to come along. 
Up they
went to the furry back, and snuggled down.
The next thing they remember was that the sun was shining brightly on them through some trees. The 
birds were
singing merrily, and the rippling of a brook by which they lay mingled with the sound of waves 
breaking on a rocky
shore.
Then voices were heard coming nearer and nearer, and the children shrank back into the shadows. They 
were too
late, however, for several armed men came through the trees towards the brook, and a boy, whose 
sharp eyes had
caught sight of Sybil's frock, ran towards them. Then he stopped, and gazed with his eyes staring and 
his mouth wide
open.
After he had got over his surprise, he shouted something to the men, and then, coming up to Jack, he 
said, " Who
are you ? Where did you get these strange clothes ? Are you of the Saxons, and, if so, where is your 
home ? We
have neither seen nor heard of villages near."
"Nay, Sweyn," said one of the men who had come up, " delay not, for we must get the fresh water we 
need, and return
at once to the ships. If we don't, your father will be hurrying us with his spear. As you well know, 
he has a heavy
hand."
" Truly it is so," said the boy Sweyn, feeling his shoulders carefully, as if it was not easy to 
forget his father's spear-handle. " But I will take this boy and girl with me as a prize, for surely they must be high-born."
The children were a little frightened, but Sybil whispered in Jack's ear, "It must be all right, 
Jack. You know we cannot
be harmed, for we are alive still, though it is hundreds of years after."
For a moment Jack puzzled over this. He did not quite know what she meant. But he saw that she was 
ready to go
with the men, and so he said to Sweyn, " All right, old man. We'll come."
"Old man!" said the lad sharply, "I am but a lad, little older than you are. This is but the twelfth 
winter I have seen."
" He doesn't mean anything," said Sybil quickly. " You see, they all talk like that at his school."
Sweyn looked at her, as much as to say, " I don't know what a school is, but it must be a funny place, anyway."
By this time the men had got the water they wanted, and. had turned towards the shore. Sweyn took his 
place in the
lead, with Jack and Sybil beside him, and off they marched.
"Who are you ? " asked Jack.
"My father," said Sweyn, " is Olaf the Rover. He is chief of the ships you will see by-and-by."
As he spoke they came to the edge of the wood, and there before them lay the sea.
Not far from the shore were five strangely shaped ships, each having one mast. The ends of the ships 
were curved up,
" Something like a Maori canoe," thought Jack.
The children were hurried into a. small rudely built boat, nearly as 
broad as it was long. Here they had to sit very
quietly in the middle, while the men rowed towards the ships. Sweyn sat 
down beside Jack, and said, "We are going
to my father's ship, the 'Dragon.' You will seee the dragon on her sail 
when it is hoisted."
(To be continued.)

THE TALKING TANIWHA.
The state of things at Kaiapoi was becoming worse and worse. No one knew when or how he could get his 
dinner. No
one knew how soon he himself would be eaten for dinner by the most dreadful monster that ever lived.
Not far from the pa lived the Talking Taniwha, an awful creature who was able to turn himself into 
all sorts of shapes.
He used to carry off all the plump maidens and well-grown boys, and eat them in his dark den beneath 
the ground.
Soon there were only thin warriors and lean women left at Kaiapoi.
So unhappy were the poor Maoris that they made up their minds to send for the great Kiu, *  a priest 
the fame of
whose magic had spread throughout both Islands. So to this mighty wizard came a messenger from 
Kaiapoi, and bowed low to the ground before him.

* Kiu, pronounced Ke'oo.

"It is true, great priest," said he, " that I belong to a wretched tribe which knows not the gods. And 
in anger the gods
have sent into our land a terrible monster, that lives in a deep hole not far from the sea-shore. 
When we go out to
fish, he turns himself into a huge creature of the sea, upsets our canoe, and eats the fishermen."

[From "The Stirring Times of Rauparaha," by W. T. L. Travers, with the permission of Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, 
Limited.]
THE PA AT KAIAPOI.

" Then, let your people stay on shore, and live on potatoes instead of fish," said the great Kiu.
" But when the men begin to dig," said the messenger, " the monster turns himself into a huge man, 
twenty feet high,
and rushes upon them. The men run , but the monster runs faster. Then he seizes ten or a dozen of 
them, carries
them off to his den, and eats them. We dare not go out to fish; we dare not go into the fields: the 
taniwha gets us
either way."
" You should make strong ropes," said Kiu, "and catch him as he comes out of his hole. Put a hundred 
men on to
each rope and kill the monster. That's the way."
" We have tried to catch him in that manner half a dozen times," said the messenger, "but each time he has broken
the ropes and caught some of the men. We do not know of a charm to make the ropes hold him. No, no; 
the proper
plan is for you to come, and with your charms to kill the taniwha. We all know that you are the 
greatest worker of
wonders in the country."
Kiu's heart melted before the words of the messenger; he smiled, and rubbed his hands together.
" I am delighted that you think so much of my powers," said he. "Go home, and tell your people not to 
be frightened
any more: Kiu, who holds evil spirits in the hollow of his hand, is coming to fight the monster that 
troubles them."
So, with joy in his heart, the messenger went home and told the good news. Meanwhile Kiu ordered his 
people to cut
down a large number of toi-trees, and to make two great ropes from their strong leaves. Then he set 
out with two hundred men for Kaiapoi.
For three days Kiu and his men feasted on the good things their hosts had got ready for them; indeed, they almost ate them out of 
house and home. On the fourth day Kiu said they must hold a 
meeting and
talk over the matter.
The two parties then sat down in long lines with a clear space between them, so that the speakers 
might have room
to walk up and down.
First rose the messenger who had visited Kiu. He walked up and down three times without saying a word. Then he faced the 
visitors and spoke.

A MAORI MEETING.

" I am the man to make a journey," he said. "I am the man with the smooth tongue. I am the man to 
fetch the great
priest of the warrior tribe to Kaiapoi. He is here ; he is in our midst. But how did I act ? When I 
returned I told my
people to get food ready for Kiu and his tribe. My people braved the taniwha - they went into the 
forests and caught
pigeons; they went out to sea and caught fish. The taniwha looked out of his den, and said, 'The 
men are
everywhere. I don't know which to catch first. I think I'll eat the fishermen.' So
he went down to the sea. Then he turned back, and said, 'No; I think I'll get the men who are hunting 
pigeons in the
forest.' So the taniwha went into the forest ; but the men had got so far in that he was unable to 
reach them. So he
went back to the shore ; but the fishermen had caught all the fish they needed and had gone back to 
the pa. All he
got for his trouble were two skinny old women, with no flesh on their bones. Surely the charm of Kiu 
has already fallen
on the monster."
Then, proud of his great fame, Kiu slowly rose. He walked up and down the open space; he cleared his 
throat, so that
all might know he was going to speak.
" Men of Kaiapoi," he said, " I heard of the way the taniwha was eating you up. Then I said, 'As 
these men have no
charms or spells to kill the monster, they must have broken the sacred law. But they have sent for 
Kiu. Kiu will go.'
Kiu has come. He has brought with him a rope that never breaks. You have seen how thick it is - how 
strong. I have
cast spells over it so that it may be stronger still."
Next morning they all made their way to the taniwha's den. Over this Kiu's men spread the ropes, 
making great
nooses with which to snare the monster.
" The taniwha knows I am here," said Kiu in a clear, loud voice, so that all might hear.
"He is afraid to come out. Now, all of you take hold of one rope and leave the other to me. I will 
show you how strong
I am."
In a minute or two there appeared above the hole a head like that of a terrible giant.
" Pull," shouted Kiu.
The ropes were drawn tight and the taniwha was caught round the middle. He lashed out his great arms, 
and kicked,
and pulled ; but the ropes held fast and tight. And Kiu, who held one rope by himself, was as strong 
as the two
hundred men who held the other ; he was stronger than the taniwha !
As the monster fought with the ropes, Kiu shouted, " Have you had enough, taniwha? Don't you see that you're
caught ? Can't you see that it is I, Kiu, who have got you in my noose ? "
The taniwha ceased his struggles and lay panting on the ground.
" Let go," cried Kiu to the men, " I have got him fast. I can hold him by myself."
The men obeyed, and the taniwha, springing from the ground, tried to tear the ropes from his body. 
But Kiu put his
heels into the soft ground, and held him as easily as a man holds a dog.
" Now," said Kin, walking boldly up to the awful creature, " tell me what you are. Are you a man ? "
" I am," said the taniwha.
" A Maori ? "
"Yes, I was a Maori before I was made a taniwha."
" You have been killing my friends here, and have eaten over two hundred of them."
"I have eaten a great number; but how many I don't know. I never kept count."
" Well, don't you dare to eat any more. If you do I will quickly make an end of you. You are now my 
taniwha. Listen
while I tell you what you must do. You are to make payment to my friends for all the people you have 
eaten. You are
to catch fish, and pigs, and pigeons, and place them at night outside the pa. You must never show 
yourself during the
day, lest you should frighten the women and children with your ugly face. You are to drive off any 
other monsters who
may trouble my friends. Now go back into your hole, and stop there till we have gone away."
The taniwha gave one humble glance at the mighty priest, and then crept into his den.
After this the men of Kaiapoi lived right royally. Every night, wet or fine, frosty or mild, the 
taniwha placed a stock of
food outside their pa. But at last the debt was paid. Kiu removed his spell, and the monster was seen no more at Kaiapoi.
Then the Maoris were very sad. No longer was food found near the gate of the pa in the morning. So 
they sent another
messenger to Kiu to ask him to send the taniwha back.
But the great man replied, " You people are greedy. My taniwha has fed you for ten years; now he 
shall feed me and
my tribe."
-Abridged and adapted from "Folk-tales of the Maori," by A. A. Grace, by permission of the author.

WHITE HORSE STORIES.
THE VIKINGS.
(Continued from page 16.)
"What are your ships doing here ? " asked Jack.
"We are looking for the ships of Eric the Dane, who has told our people in the north that he is going 
to fight us, drive
our ships ashore, and kill all our men."
"But," said Jack, " why are you looking for him, then ?
" Why," said Sweyn, "so that we may show him that we are not afraid. We Vikings think it is glorious 
to die in battle,
as your people ought to know well."
Just then the boat bumped against the side of
the largest of the ships. The men climbed over the side, and hauled the children after them.
Everybody seemed to be very busy: some of the men were getting up the anchor, while others hauled up 
the great,
square, gaily coloured sail on which was shown the picture of a fierce dragon. Jack and Sybil looked 
about, while Sweyn stood near and explained things.

VIKING SHIPS.

"What a funny little ship!" said Sybil "it has only one sail, no cabins, and only a little bit of deck 
at each end."
" Little ship! " cried Sweyn, angrily. " Know that the 'Dragon' is one of the largest ships that sail 
the North Seas. She
is twenty-five strides long, and five across. One sail she has, but little you must know of ships to think there should be more. We 
have sixteen oars on each side, 
and we ride so
light that, with a full load, we can sail where a tall man can stand with his head above water." 
Then, looking angrily at
the children, he turned away. He went towards the front part of the ship, where a great, 
fierce-looking man was
shouting orders.
" Twenty - five strides long, is she ! " said Jack, " and five strides broad! Father always calls his 
strides three feet
long. That would make her about seventy-five feet long and fifteen feet broad. I wonder what they 
would say if they
could see the ' Ionic ' ! "
" What great, fierce men ! " said Sybil.
Indeed, to the little New Zealand girl, the men, with their long hair and beards, did look very wild 
and fierce. But they
took little notice of the children, though some of them looked kindly at them. One big fellow in a 
leathern jacket and
short kilt lifted Sybil on to the narrow platform that ran down the middle of the vessel. Here she 
could see much
better.
The man on the fore deck was Sweyn's father. He whistled loudly, and the men took their places at the 
oars. The
oars in the middle of the ship were each pulled by two men; those towards the ends of the ship were 
shorter, and
were each pulled by only one man. Then a man standing on the platform beside Sybil held up his hand. A harper struck a few 
notes. " Splash " went the oars in the sea. Round went the great 
sail, and, swinging
together, the men all sang this oar-song
Swing with the oar,
Dashing the sea-foam
From waves breasting high
'Neath the hull of our sea-home.
Piled are our swords
At the foot of the sail-mast
Our shields round the sides
O'er the oar-holes are slung fast.
Grim stands our chief
At the prow, his eyes shading
To blue lines of land
Through the sun-rays fast fading.
Bend to the oar;
Ahoy for the morrow,
When slain are our foemen,
Their wives pale with sorrow.
Restless and free,
Sons of the wave-crest,
Vikings are we,
Loving the sea-breast.
" How many men have you on board ? " Jack asked of Sweyn, who had returned and was now sitting down beside them. " 
Eighty-two," answered Sweyn proudly, "counting myself." "But you are only a boy like Jack," said Sybil.
"I may be only a boy," said Sweyn, "but see here"; and, as he spoke, he 
dived quickly under the forward deck, and
came back with a small bundle, which he opened. On to the seat he emptied 
it, and out tumbled a few rings and
some long pins, all seeming to be of gold. There was also a rudely made 
silver cup, and there were a few other small
things of less value.
"Aye, I may be but a boy," said Sweyn, "but at the last town we burnt on your Saxon coast I took these from one 
of your men. He was fleeing from us. With
my spear I brought him down. I now have arms and armour like the others. 
See my shield."
So saying he ran to the side of the ship. The children had seen a long 
line of objects hanging over the side. Each was
about as big as an ordinary tea-tray. Some had bright knobs on them, and 
others had round pointed blades sticking
out from the centre.
Sweyn lifted a small one shaped like the others, and the children drew 
near, though they were rather afraid of a boy
who so calmly said he had speared a man.
" When we get home again," Sweyn went on, "my father is going to give 
me a coat of mail and a helmet like his
own. See him where he stands on the fore deck."
(To be continued.)

THE DANCING BEAR.
The children had been playing on the beach all the morning. You may think how astonished they all 
were when they
came home to find a great bear standing on the grass in front of their house.
He had a muzzle on, poor fellow, though he was far too quiet to need one. To the muzzle a rope was 
fastened, and
his master held one end of this rope.
The bear was holding a musket, and to his muzzle was fastened a little basket for the pennies given 
to him. But it
was not time for pennies yet.
The first thing to be done was to get leave for the bear to perform in the garden. This was soon 
given, and Mr. and
Mrs. Brown came out to see what the bear was going to do, and also to take care that none of the 
children teased
him and made him angry.
The children stood in a circle, Charlie, the youngest, holding tight to his mother's hand, for he was 
just a little bit
frightened. But when he saw how the bear obeyed his master, and how he did everything directly he was 
told, Charlie
was no longer afraid.
The bear went through his drill like a real soldier. When his master said " Shoulder arms," he at 
once stood up as
straight as ever he could, and hugged the musket with one paw, holding the other paw stiffly down by 
his side.
Then he " presented arms " and " stood at ease," and then took aim and pretended to fire. But the 
funny thing was
that when the gun was supposed to go off, the bear tumbled down and pretended he had been shot.
He shut his eyes and lay quite still until his master said " All right." Then he got up again very 
slowly and rubbed his
shaggy fur, as if he really thought he had hurt himself.
After the bear had done all his tricks, he walked round on his four great feet, and held the basket 
to all the children in
turn. As each of the children had been given a piece of money to put into the basket, the bear's 
master got enough
money to pay for supper and bed.
The children patted the bear, and little Charlie asked to be lifted up to touch the top of his shaggy 
head. When the
man saw how fond of the bear the children seemed to be, he
asked if he might unfasten the rope and let the bear roll about on the grass.
You never saw any beast so delighted as the poor bear seemed at this. He lay down under the trees and 
rolled over
and over, to get the dust off him. This was the bear's way of having a wash after a journey.
Then he climbed up the biggest tree in the garden, and there he sat, and would not stir. His master 
asked the
children to bring a piece of bread, as the bear was fond of a crust, and would soon come down for it.
Away the children ran to the kitchen, and returned with a great piece of bread. The moment the bear 
saw it he began
to come down from branch to branch till he stood on the ground.
He got his bread, and then his master thanked Mr. and Mrs. Brown and the children, and. went away very happy.

WHITE HORSE STORIES.
THE VIKINGS.
(Concluded from page 32.)
Jack looked at the big man, who was now watching his men. On his head he wore a steel helmet. On his 
body he
had a long loose coat, shaped like a shirt. It was made of steel rings, and had short sleeves. His 
belt carried his horn
and his sword, and over his shoulders was thrown a cloak made of the hairy skin of some wild animal.
Jack could not keep his eyes off the great warlike Olaf, but Sybil took more notice of some half a 
dozen men in the
lower part of the ship. They first placed several wide, shalllow earthenware dishes on the deck, a 
little distance from
one another. They next piled 
some wood on each of the dishes. Then one of the men, holding his axe in one hand, struck it with a 
stone held in
the other. This made showers of sparks, which set alight some dry bark held by one of the men, and 
soon the dry
wood on the dishes was blazing up.
"  Whatever are they doing?" cried Sybil.
Sweyn, who was looking ahead, said carelessly, " They but prepare to cook the midday meal."
As he spoke Sybil. saw the men throw lumps of meat into some big pots, which were soon swinging from 
a pole over
the fires.
Jack, who was still watching Olaf, saw him suddenly turn round and give the harpist a signal. The 
music grew
quicker, the men rowed faster, and on all sides arose cries of " A sail! A sail! "
The children could see some tiny specks a long way off, while Olaf's other ships drew in closer and 
closer to the "Dragon."
" Hurrah," cried Sweyn, " now we shall see if Eric will drive us off the sea. "
" Why are the men on your other ships running about?" asked Jack. "Your men are not."
" Because their ships," said Sweyn, " are not kept in order. When their men go aboard after a raid, 
their armour is
thrown in untidy heaps; then, when each man wants his own, all is disorder. On our ship you will see 
that every man
puts his armour and his axe or sword near where he sleeps, or stows them away under the platform. 
Every man's
shield is hung over the side always in the same place, and the spears and long axes are piled around 
the foot of the
mast. Thus, when we draw near the enemy, we waste no time in getting ready. As you see, the men leave 
their oars
one at a time, arm themselves, and return to their places ; so all are armed in turn without stopping 
our speed."
" Are you going to fight ? " asked Jack.
" My father," said Sweyn, gloomily, " will not allow me to board, nor show myself when the arrows are 
flying. But he
lets me fight with the rowers. You see," he went on, as if he were ashamed of the small part he had 
to play, " I had
much trouble to get my mother to agree to my coming with our ships. When she bade
my father good-bye she said, 'Farewell, my lord. If you do not come back alive, I look to see you 
carried ashore on
your men's shields. But, touching the boy Sweyn, whom my heart is sorry to part with, his age being 
tender, I pray
you watch over him. If perchance he should forget my advice, and run into men's work, visit him with 
thy spear-handle
in such manner as to make him remember my advice and his promises.' "
"And," asked Jack, with a twinkle in his eye, "has your father remembered your mother's wishes and 
the spear-handle ? "
" Many a time and oft," said Sweyn, with a gloomy face. " If I but speak of fighting, he holds me up 
to the scorn of the
men, and hardens me, as he calls it, with a bow or whatever is handy."
" I do not like your people," said Sybil: "they are much too fond of fighting."
" But surely you would not have a man die in bed. The war-gods, the gods of our fathers, would indeed 
frown on him.
and give him poor welcome. He is indeed a weakling who does not wish to die swinging the sword or the 
battle-axe in
a noble fight."
"But are you never beaten?" asked Jack.
"Oh, yes ! " said Sweyn. "In some places we have had sore trouble to get away. Once, when our people 
came down
on the coast with ten ships and over six hundred men, the Saxons were well and bravely led. They fought so fiercely 
that our people
were not able to get away quickly enough. The ships were left stranded by the outgoing tide, and 
before another tide
would serve, all our men were killed."
While the children were talking, the Viking ships had been drawing nearer and nearer their foes. 
Jack and Sybil
could now see that the largest of the enemy's ships carried a big red flag on which was a black raven.
Sweyn turned to Jack and Sybil, and said, " Get you under the deck, where there is less danger. I 
hold you as a
prize, and would not have you killed. We are now going to sweep along the 'Raven's' side, break her 
oars, kill her
rowers, and throw ourselves on to her deck. Hear our men singing the Viking's war-song. Hide, I tell 
you ; hide."
Jack and Sybil crept under shelter, as Sweyn told them. Soon they heard mighty shouts of "Ahoy! Ahoy! 
The 'Dragon'!
the 'Dragon'!" and the rough chanting of the rowers.
Other fierce cries from across the water now mingled with those of the men of the "Dragon." Above the rattle of the
oars, from their hiding-place the children could hear the " Lap, lap, lappety-lap " of the waves, and 
could feel the
heaving of the ship as she moved more swiftly through the water. " Crash! crash! " - a sound of breaking, just as if a huge stick 
were being drawn along giant palings. 
A mighty yell, and . . . .
"Jack, are you never going to waken, child ?" came his mother's voice.
Jack looked round. Yes; safe in his own little bed.
Sybil, too, was calling to him.
" Well, I am glad," said Jack to himself. " I really began to think we were 
never, never going to get back again. I
wonder did the 'Dragon'
win, and whatever did Sweyn say when he found us gone!"

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES
V. MAUI
[NOTE TO TEACHERS. - Some of these " Maoriland Fairy Tales " have already appeared in Part II of the School Journal. They 
will now be continued in Part I. Before the tale of' Maui is read, the tale " Jack, the Fairy, and the Moa " (beginning on page 11 
of Part II of the School Journal for 1907) and the tale "The Six Brothers " (beginning on page 45) should be briefly told to the 
pupils, in order that they may understand such references to Rangi, Papa, &c., as  may occur, and may know also in what 
circumstances the tales are said to have been told.]
After hearing the story of Shining-eyes and Rippling-hair, Jack thought a great deal about the moon. 
He looked hard
at it all the way home that night.
Next, night, as Jack and the fairy were going to the Moa's cave, Jack said, " Isn't it funny that the moon does not shine every 
night Where is it?"
" I don't know, I'm sure. Never thought about it myself," said the fairy. " Ask the Moa-bird. He 
seems to know all
about the moon."
So, as soon as they reached the cave, Jack asked, " Why doesn't the moon shine every night, Moa-bird?"
" The moon ? Oh, that is Maui's fault," said the Moa. " He lives up with Rangi now, and he is just as 
tricky as ever.
When the moon doesn't shine Maui has put his hand over it to make things dark, and to tease all the 
Earth-people. He
is a tricky fellow still, is Maui."
" Who is he ? Tell us about him, will you, please ? " said Jack.
" Ah, of course you don't know about him. Well, I could tell you a great many funny things about 
him, but they would make such a long Story-time that I had better leave some out, I think."
" Oh, no ! don't leave out any," cried Jack.
" It would be too long," said the Moa, shaking his head, " far too long; I know it would."
" Divide it up, and tell it in two Story-times," said the fairy.
" Why, so I can. I never thought of that," replied the Moa, brightening up. " He is well worth 
telling you about, for he
was stronger than anybody I ever heard of, and was so full of mischief that I always call him Maui Up-to-tricks.
" His first trick was to lose himself when he was a baby. Now, perhaps, you will think that doesn't 
sound very clever;
but wait until you hear all about it, and you will find out that it was the very best thing he could 
have done.
Well, as I was saying, he was lost. It was on the sea-shore. He was not drowned, for he was not that 
sort of baby.
He just lay there quietly and waited. By-and-by all the sea-creatures from round about came to take 
care of him. The
little waves rocked him to and fro, the jelly-fish crept under him to make a soft bed for him, and 
the seaweeds floated
over him to protect him from harm. So there he lay, quite snug and happy, and the soft beach-winds 
sang hush-a-by
songs as they passed him on their journeys to and fro.
" But presently a great sea-bird saw him, and came sailing down to look more closely at him. Another 
sea-bird,
seeing the first one drop to the sea, thought there must be something good to eat, so he too came to 
look. Then
another came, and another, until there was a large flock of them wheeling over him, with their hungry 
eyes and cruel
beaks.
" ' What is that ? ' they asked the seaweeds. 'Move out of the way, and let us see.'
" ' It is an Earth-child,' said the seaweeds. He is not fish, and you would not like the taste of him at all. Go away, and
don't come troubling us.' And they swayed and swung still more closely above Maui, for they were 
terribly afraid the
sea-birds would peck at him, and perhaps kill him.
" ' Move out of the way,' said the birds again. 'He looks soft, and he is sure to be nice to eat.'
" ' No, no - go
 away,' screamed
 the seaweeds; '  and
 they shook and
 tangled themselves as much
as they could
 over the baby to
 cover him. But
 the hard beaks
 of the sea-birds came nearer and
nearer, and the poor seaweeds felt that they couldn't keep them off much longer.
" Now, just at that moment Rangi happened to look down at the Earth-world, and saw at once what was 
going on.
" ' Those birds will eat that child in a minute,' he cried. ' Some of you go and get the poor
little thing, and bring him here out of danger. Quick.'
He looked around, very much surprised that there was not a chorus of 'Yes, Rangi,' and 'Certainly, 
Rangi,' for usually
the Sky-fairies were very eager to do anything he wanted. But to-day there was not a Sky-fairy in 
sight. They were all
away, and Rangi was left alone.
" ' Dear me, this is very sad,' he said. 'No one here to send; and that child will certainly be eaten 
in half a minute. Oh,
well, I suppose I had better ask the mountains to do it, though I don't like asking anything of the 
stuck-up things.'
" So he called out to the mountains, ' Stoop down to the sea and pick up that child, and hand him up 
to me, will you? '
" ' Certainly,' called back the mountains. They knew Rangi did not like them, but they bore him no 
ill will for that. ' It is
only because he is afraid we shall reach him some day if we go on growing,' they would say; 'and he 
thinks we might
prick him again, as we did when Tane rested him on our peaks.'*
So they stooped down, and, picking up the baby, held him up high - as high as they could reach - and 
Rangi stretched
down his arms, and took Maui, and lifted him into Skyland. So the sea-birds had to fly away without their expected dinner, and 
the kind seaweeds and jelly-fish and little 
waves could float away and look after their own
business.

* See School Journal, Part II,  July, 1907, page 48.

"Here was Maui, then, not only safe and sound, but taken right up into 
the beautiful Sky-land, where any baby would
like to go. Now, don't you think he was a clever baby, and knew what was 
best for him ? "
(To be continued.)

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES.
V. MAUI
(Continued from page 64.)
" It was a wonderful life Maui led in Skyland. Rangi was very kind, and made the Skyfairies take 
great care of him.
They fed him with sky-food, and made him the prettiest and softest of little cloud-beds. They gave 
him sky-toys to play
with, and taught him all the sky-games.
" And Rangi taught him many other things besides, for you must not think it was all play up there. No; 
every one had
some work to do, and as Maui grew bigger he had lessons from Rangi every day. But these lessons were 
very
different from those he would have had down below with his brothers and sister. These were 
Magic-lessons, and when
he knew them he was able to do the most wonderful things.
" The first things he learnt to do with his Magic-lessons were the Think-out things. Now, if you had some cords given to you, and 
you were told to twist them into a new sort of rope - a rope that nobody in all the world 
had ever made
before - what would you do ? You would sit and twist and untwist, and try and try, and think and think 
for hours, and
then perhaps you would not be able to do it.
" But if you knew the Magic-lessons, all you would have to do would be to sit very still for five 
minutes without trying
at all.  Then you would see quite plainly how to do it. You would jump up and do it in a twinkling. 
That is what Maui
found he could do, and so he soon made the rope when he knew his Magic-lessons.
" Rangi made him do many Think-out things - new ways of making ropes and fish-hooks, and all the 
different things
that boys like to use on the Earth-world. 'For,' said Rangi, 'you may want these things some day, and 
they do not
make them very well on the Earth-world.'
" By learning the Magic-lessons, too, Maui found out how to lift a thing a hundred times as big as 
himself ; how to
stretch a yard of anything so far that you couldn't see the other end of it; how to change himself 
into anything he
liked; and how to do so many other wonderful things that I haven't time to tell you all of them.
" Things went on in this way until Maui was about twelve years old. Then he grew tired of it all, for he had no one on whom to 
play tricks. He had no children to play with, and he dared not play tricks on Rangi or the 
Sky-fairies. So he
began to feel very lonely.
" 'Let me go down to the Earth-world, and live with my brothers and sister,' he begged one ,day. 'I 
am sure they must
miss me.'
" Rangi smiled. 'There are too many children in your Earth-home for you to be much missed,' he said. 
'But go down if
you like, and live with them. Only you must promise to teach your brothers the Think-out things you 
have learnt from
your Magic-lessons, so that they will be able to make better things than they do now.'
" ' Yes, I'll teach them,' said Maui. And so he said good-bye to the Sky-people, and was carried down 
by one of the
Sky-fairies to the beach by his mother's house. Hearing the sound of merry voices he turned towards 
his home.
" There he found his brothers playing. He joined in their game as if he had always played with them. 
But they stared
at him, and wondered who the strange boy was. At last one of them asked him, and he answered ' I am your brother.'
" They would not believe him, and ran in and told their mother about him. Then she came out and asked 
him, and he
answered, ' I am your little boy.' And she would not believe him either. But he told her all about 
being lost on the sea-shore, and being saved by Rangi and kept in Sky-land. Then she believed him, and was very glad. 
Certainly, as Rangi
had said, she had so many children that she had not missed him much; but still she was glad to have 
him back
again.
 She rubbed noses with him, and took him into the house, and told his brothers to be kind to him. So Maui lived at home, 
and played with his brothers. He taught them
the Think-out things, and kept them amused by his funny tricks.

From "Maori Tales and Legends," by Kate McCosh Clark.)
MAUI'S WELCOME.

" They soon found that he had learnt Magic-lessons, for one day he pulled a whale on to the beach with one hand. Another day 
he changed himself into all kinds of birds,
one after another. Another day he changed himself into air. And so he went on showing off his powers for their amusement, and 
also playing so many tricks on them and
on all the people round about that he became noted for his pranks.
" I should never finish my story if I tried to tell you all the tricks he played on people; but I will tell you one or two of 
the really wonderful things he did when he became
a man. He was not then content with little things, but made up his mind to do things that nobody else in all the world could 
do. He was brave, and, as he had learnt
Magic-lessons, he was not afraid of the things that every one else was afraid of.
" One night, in his mischief, he went round to the houses when every one else was asleep, and put out all the fires in the 
pa. Now, this happened so long ago that it was
in the days when people did not know how to start a fire unless they had something burning to begin with. So they always kept 
their fires burning all night, and were
never without a fire. When they woke up, then, and found that nobody had any fire at all, you can imagine how troubled they 
were.
" ' Who has put out our fires ? ' they called out to one another. And some of them said angrily, 'It must have been that Maui 
up to his tricks again.'
" ' Some one will have to go to the old Fire-god for new fire,' said one of them ; but nobody wanted to go. Everybody was 
afraid of the Fire-god, for if he was angry with you
he just turned round and burnt you up. He lived in a deep cave a long way under the ground.
But Maui was not afraid. 'I will go down and get some fire,' he said.
'Nonsense, Maui,' said his mother. 'You are very clever, we know; but you 
cannot go safely down there.'
'Don't let him go,' said his brothers. ' He will play tricks on the 
Fire-god, who will then be angry and burn him up.'
" But Maui only laughed, and set off at once to find the Fire-god. He had 
a long way to go. At last he came to the
cave where the Fire-god lived.
The great chief was cooking his dinner, with his back to the passage. He 
turned, when he heard Maui's footsteps, and
asked, 'What do you want?'
'He must have a good dinner down there,' thought Maui; 'he doesn't seem a 
bit cross to-day.'"
(To be continued.)

THE SEASON FAIRIES.
In the days of long-ago four Fairies stood before the Sun. "You shall be 
the Season Fairies," he said, for he was the
King of the Year.
To the first he handed a robe of green and a silver wand. " Take these," 
said he. " Fly slowly up and down above the
earth from pole to pole. As you pass, each land shall clothe itself in 
green to match the colour of your robe ; as you
wave your silver wand, all baby-things shall spring from their winter 
cradles and begin to grow. Take with you rousing
winds and showers to wake the babies from their sleep, and a million warm and golden sunbeams in which to fold 
the tender
growing things when they have risen."
So the Spring Fairy went forth in her robe of green, waving her silver wand. As she flew from land to 
land, the earth
clothed itself in green to match the colour of her robe, and all baby-things sprang from their 
winter cradles
and began to grow.
To the next Fairy the Sun gave a rose-pink robe and a wand all wound round with flowers. " Take 
these," he said, "and follow your sister Spring, for you are Summer. As you pass from land to land, the earth shall 
blossom out, and
a million million flowers shall shine above the green of spring. The baby-things shall grow to their 
full size and beauty,
and shall proudly wave their flowered heads. Take with you long bright days, and soft night dews."
The Summer Fairy followed her sister Spring. As she went, a million million flowers blossomed out 
above the green of
Spring, and the baby-things grew up to their full size and beauty.
To the third Fairy he gave a robe of red and a golden wand. " Follow your sister Summer," he said, "for you are
Autumn. As you pass from land to land, the blossoms of the earth shall change to fruit; the 
grown-up things shall
.make cradles for the babies of next year. Red and purple shall hang the berries, red and brown shall turn the leaves, and as you 
wave your wand the 
corn that
covers half the land shall change to gold. Take with you hot days and gentle winds."
So the Autumn Fairy went forth in her crimson robe. As she passed, the blossoms changed to fruit, and the grown-up things made 
cradles for the babies of next year.
To the last Fairy he gave a robe of white, and a sparkling wand of diamonds. " You are Winter," he said. " As you
pass, you shall lull all growing things to their season's sleep and rest, that they may wake 
refreshed when Spring
returns. Take with you rain and hail and ice and frost, and the white snow-covering for the sleeping 
earth."
So the Winter Fairy followed her sister Autumn up and down from pole to pole, and as she went all 
growing things
folded themselves away for their season's rest.

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES.
V. MAUI
(Continued from page 80.)
"I want a fire-stick," said Maui to the Fire-god. 'All our fires have been put out, and so I have come to get some from you.'

From "Maori Tales and Legends," by Kate McCosh Clark.]
MAUI AND THE FIRE-GOD.

"But the old man only sniffed, and said nothing.
" 'I want a fire-stick. Do you hear ?' called out Maui so angrily that at last 
the Fire-god, to get rid of him, threw him one.
Maui picked it up, and then went away. But as he went he thought, ' I want 
more than a fire-stick. I want the secret
of how to make fire.'
" He went on till he came to a pool of water. He dropped the flaming stick 
into it, and the fire went out. Then he picked up the stick again and carried it back to the Fire-god. ' See,' he cried, 'I dropped the 
stick into the water, and
the fire has gone out. It is the secret of how to make fire that I want to 
know. Tell it to me.'
But the old man would not tell him. He only threw him another fire-stick, 
saying, 'Now go away, and don't trouble me
again. I am going to have my dinner.'
Maui took the second stick away, and dropped it into the water as before. 
Then he came back to the Fire-god, and
said, 'Tell me how to make fire or I shall make you tell me.'
"At this the old man was very angry, and answered, 'You are an impudent 
fellow. I will toss you high up into the air.'
" But Maui only said, 'Tell me the secret of how to make fire.'
" This made the Fire-god still more angry. He rushed at Maui, caught hold 
of him, and tossed him high up into the air, as high as the highest tree-tops. But Maui made himself as light as 
a pigeon, and fell
unhurt. Mad with rage, the Fire-god seized him again and hurled him still higher. Again Maui fell 
unhurt, and again and
again the old man threw him up, only to see him fall back to the earth unhurt.
" By this time the old man was panting for breath and was quite tired out.
" ' Now it is my turn,' said Maui, and, seizing the Fire-god, he tossed him up, right out of sight, 
and caught him like a
ball when he came down. Again and again did Maui toss him up, till at last the old man cried out, 'Oh ! spare me,
Maui, and I will tell you the secret of fire-making.'
" So Maui put him down, and the old man showed him how to make fire by rubbing a piece of hard wood 
on a piece
not so hard and catching the sparks so made on fine dry fibre.
"Having got what he wanted. Maui left the cave and turned homewards. But the Fire-god was still very 
angry, and when
he had rested he began to chase Maui, sending on ahead a fierce fire.
" Maui saw the blaze, and made off as fast as his legs could carry him. But still faster came the 
fire. The forest all
round him caught fire, and he was soon in such danger that he felt that only his magic could save 
him. So he changed himself into a bird, and flew high above the flames.
But the air above the fire was so hot that he soon began to feel that he could not bear it. Looking 
down, he saw a big
pool of water. ' Ah ! I will dive into that, and rest and cool myself,' he thought. So he dived down 
into the pool. But, to
his horror, he found the water was boiling-hot, and he rose again into the air in a great hurry.
" Poor Maui! He began to wish he had not played his tricks, for all the land was on fire, and even 
the sea was boiling,
so great was the heat.
" ' It will spread to my mother's place, and our homes will all be burnt,' he thought sadly. 'What 
shall I do ? With all
my Magic-lessons, I can think of nothing to stop such a terrible fire as this.'
" Suddenly he thought of Rangi. 'Yes, yes,' he cried; 'that is the best thing. He will help me, I 
know.'
He was still flying above the flames, but every moment he felt as if he could keep up no longer. He 
could hear the Fire-
god rushing over the country in the midst of the great fire. 'He will burn up everything before he 
stops,' he thought, 'and
I shall certainly be killed.'
So he cried out for help to Rangi.
'Send rain, kind Rangi,' he begged; 'send rain as quickly as you can, or I shall be burnt alive.'
" Rangi looked down, and saw the danger Maui was in. 'Dear me, I'm afraid he has been playing tricks 
again,' he said.
But he ordered up the rain-clouds at once. They came skurrying together when they heard his commands, 
and
formed themselves into drops and tumbled down upon the fire as fast as they could. But it was such a 
big, fierce fire
that they couldn't put it out, and could only jump about and hiss with the heat.
" 'This will not do,' cried Rangi. He was very much excited, for he was fond of Maui, and did not want to see him
burnt. ' This will not do at all,' he called again. 'Come here, all the rain-clouds, and make the 
heaviest rain you can. All
the storms in the sky, come and make a flood.'
" Then all the rain-clouds and all the storms in the sky came together. They fell down upon the land 
in such heavy
rain that they made a flood, and at last the fire was put out. Bigger and bigger grew the flood, and 
higher and higher it
rose, until the Fire-god was almost drowned. It was all he could do to escape to his cave-home 
again. All the fire
was put out, except a few sparks which lodged in the tops of some tall trees. There they have stayed 
ever since.
" As for Maui, he was safe enough now. He flew down and cooled himself in the flood. Then he changed 
himself to a
man again, and went home.
" When he told his people all his adventures, his brothers said, 'Didn't we say so! We knew you would 
play tricks on
the Fire-god.'

Photo by A. Hamilton, Dominion Museum, Wellington.]
MAORIS MAKING FIRE.

"His mother said, 'Where is the fire you were to bring ?'
" ' Oh! that is in the tops of some trees,' said Maui. And he went out and broke off two small dried 
branches from
these trees. ' See,' he said, 'I'll get it for you.' And he rubbed the branches together till the 
fire came out.
Then all the people had fires again, and for a time Maui stayed quietly at 
home. After a time he began to think -- But,
good gracious! it must be late. The glow-worms are putting out their 
lamps," said the Moa, looking round in great
surprise. " I had no idea it was so late as that. Oh, well ! I'll tell you 
the rest next time. Good-night."
"Good-night!" said Jack, and "Goodnight!" said the fairy.

From the " Child's Own Magazine."]
Tell the story of the picture, which is called "A Song of Triumph."

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES
VI. MORE ABOUT MAUI
" Now, where was I ? " asked the Moa the next night. " I have it!" he 
cried at last. " I know where I was. Maui
began to think he would like his grandmother's jaw-bone: that was it."
Jack jumped. " Surely you have made a mistake, Moa-bird," he said.
"I never make mistakes," said the Moa sharply; "and if you don't like the 
story, just say so, and I'll stop - that's all."
Jack had no more to say, so the Moa went on: " As I said before, Maui 
began to think he would like his
grandmother's jaw-bone. He had heard a great deal about this jaw-bone, 
and all its magic powers.


"His grandmother was a strange old Magic-woman, whose bones were so 
wonderfully made that she could slip them
in and out of her body without hurting herself. All her bones were 
powerful, but her jaw-bone was more powerful than
any of the others.
'If I had that jaw-bone I could do more wonderful things than I've ever 
done yet,' thought Maui. ' I'll go to her and see if
she will give it to me.'
" So the next morning he started off through the bush to pay his 
grandmother a visit. When he reached her home he
told her what he wanted, and why he wanted it, and his grandmother gave 
it to him quite willingly.
" ' I don't need it to eat with,' she said, 'for I have another. Its 
magic powers are no good to me now, as I am too old
to use them. Take it, and see that you make good use of it.'
I will - indeed I will,' said Maui; and he carried the jaw-bone joyfully 
home, and began to look round to see what he
could do with it.
" It was summer-time, and the days were very hot. Maui heard the people 
grumbling at the heat as they went about
their work. 'Why doesn't the Sun spread his rays out more evenly, instead 
of sending them in such great bundles that
we are almost burnt when they fall on us?' the men said; and the women 
said, 'Why doesn't he go more slowly? He goes so fast that it is dark before we can finish our work.' 
" ' Ah,' thought Maui, 'here is a good chance. I will see what the jaw-bone can do now. I should like 
to play a trick on
the Sun. He was not too polite to me when I was up in Sky-land.'
" So he called to his brothers, ' Come and help me to make the Sun go slower.' His brothers laughed, 
and the people
standing near laughed; but Maui said, ' I mean it, and I shall do it. Come on.'
" ' Nonsense, Maui! ' they all cried. 'You cannot make the Sun go slower ; he is too powerful. You 
will be killed if
you try.'
" ' Well, well, we shall see all about that,' replied Maui; and to his brothers he said, 'I am 
going, and I want you
to come with me to help.'
" At first the brothers were afraid to go. But Maui told them about the magic jaw-bone, and how he 
meant to use it;
and at last they said they would go.
" ' That's right,' said Maui 'The first thing to do is to make some very big ropes.'
"For the next few weeks they were as busy as they could be, making ropes that were stronger, and 
thicker, and
longer than any they had ever seen before. ' They need to be very long and very strong,' said Maui, 
'for they are to
hold the Sun.' And he sang a magic song as he plaited, to make the ropes stronger yet.
" When they were finished he said, 'We start to-night for the edge of the world, for it is there 
that we shall catch the
Sun. We shall travel at night, and hide ourselves in the bush by day, so that the Sun may not see 
what we are going
to do.'
" So they set out that night, taking the ropes with them. It took them several weeks to reach the 
edge of the world.
But at last they arrived there.
" ' Now,' said Maui, 'let us wait quietly here till the morning comes, and the Sun begins to come up 
above the edge.
Then we shall fling the ropes over him, and do you hold tight while I beat him.'
" They sat down and waited. By-and-by the morning broke, and the Sun came rushing up to do his day's work. 'Wait
till he is well up - till we can see the middle of him,' whispered Maui. Up rose the Sun, showing first 
his shining edge,
and then all the top of his round body. 'Now then! ' cried Maui ; and with one great heave they threw 
the ropes and
caught him fast.
" ' What's this ? What's all this ? ' cried the Sun. 'How dare you ! Take these things off at once.' 
But the brothers
pulled harder and harder, and Maui helped them, and the Sun found that he could not break away. How 
he struggled
and fought to free himself ! It was in vain - the ropes were too strong.
'Hold them very tightly. I'm going to beat him,' said Maui. Taking out the jawbone, he beat the Sun 
with it, giving him
the most terrible thrashing. The Sun fought and struggled harder than before, and roared with rage and pain.

ROPING THE SUN.

'How dare you ! What is it for ? ' he screamed out.
" ' Well,' said Maui, beating away all the time, 'it's because you won't go slowly when
everybody asks you to, and because you burn things up so.'
" ' Oh ! oh ! oh!' roared the Sun. ' I'll pay you out for this. Stop it, I say - stop it.'
" But Maui would not stop; and at last the Sun whined, and begged Maui to leave off. ' I will do 
anything you want if
you will leave off beating me.'

THE ROPES OF MAUI.

'Well, I think I have given you enough now,' said Maui, leaving off. 'I've spread you out so much with my blows that
your rays will be more scattered, and you will not be able to burn things up so much. As for going 
slowly - well, you
will have to do that, for I am going to leave the ropes on you.'
" And so he did. He fixed the ends of the ropes firmly to the edge of the world, and, ever since, the 
Sun has moved
more slowly because of them. You may often see the ropes stretching from the Sun to the Earth, and if you didn't know the 
story you might
think they are long beams of light. It is only on cloudy days that you notice them ; then all the 
world can see that the
Sun was once tricked by Maui.'' (To be continued.)

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES.
VI. MORE ABOUT MAUI.
(Continued from page 126.)
"Now, you would think that after Maui had so bravely roped and beaten the Sun his brothers would 
never be afraid of
going anywhere with him. But it is a fact that when they were all home again the brothers began to 
say to one
another, ' It is not safe to go with Maui on these journeys, for his power is so great that if he 
were angry with us he
could easily do us harm.' And they were so much afraid of him that one day, when they were going 
fishing, and he
wanted to go, they said 'No, no; we cannot take you in the boat to-day.'
" ' He is up to his tricks again - I can see it in his eyes,' said the eldest brother; ' and he might take us into danger.
Push off.' So they pushed off, and Maui was left standing on the shore.
" ' Oh, that is all right,' thought Maui. ' I am going, all the same.' And he changed himself into a 
bird, and flew after
the boat. He had made a fish-hook from part of his grandmother's jaw-bone, and he intended to fish up 
something big
with it.
" When the boat was a long way from the land, Maui flew on to it, and then changed himself into a man 
again.
" ' You see you cannot get away without me when I want to come,' he said quietly, as he seated 
himself in the boat.
'Now row far out.'
'Why should we ? - this is our usual fishing-place,' said the brothers. They were very uneasy at finding 
that they could
not get away from Maui.
" 'Well,' said Maui, 'one reason why you should go farther out is that you will catch more fish if 
you do.' '
'How do you know that ? 'they asked.
'Ah,' answered Maui, ' do I not know plenty of things that you know nothing about ? '
" ' That is true,' thought the brothers. 'Perhaps it will be best to go.' So they rowed farther and 
farther out, till Maui
said, ' Now, here is a good place.' Then they stopped rowing and let down their lines, and in a few 
minutes they had
pulled up so many fish that the boat was nearly full.
" ' I hope you will believe me another time,' said Maui.
"When they had as many fish as the boat could hold they said, 'Now we'll go home,' and they turned 
the boat's head
that way.
'No, don't go home yet,' said Maui. 'I have my fishing to do, and for that you must row farther out 
yet.'
" ' The boat is full already,' said the brothers,
and you know it is not safe to go out of sight of land.'
'You know it is safe while I am here,' said, Maui; 'and if you look you will see that we are out of 
sight of land already.'
" The brothers looked, and saw to their horror that what Maui said was true.
 " ' Well,' he said, laughing at their frightened faces, 'you see you are out of sight of land now,
so you may as well go farther out. You need
not be afraid. No harm will come to you if you
do as I tell you.'
" The brothers thought that it was, after all, best to do as he told them, so they rowed out to sea 
until at last Maui
said they had gone far enough. 'Now,' he said, 'I can do my fishing.'
" He carefully fixed his magic fish-hook to his line, and let it down into the water. It went down 
deeper and deeper
through the clear water until nearly all the line was out. Then Maui felt that the hook had caught 
something, so he
began to pull in. But this was no ordinary fish, for, although he pulled with all his might, he 
could scarcely move his
line. 
" His brothers were watching him closely, and when they saw how hard it was to pull in the line they 
said, ' That must
be a very great fish, Maui. It will be too big for the boat. Had you not better leave it alone ?'
But Maui knew what he had on his line. He took no notice of his brothers, but set himself to bring 
it up to the top of
the water. He grasped the line firmly with both hands, and began to pull very steadily, singing all the time a magic song. 
'O gentle north-east
breeze! O gentle south-east breeze! Come play upon my line,
Sweet tremulous song to make, As swift to ocean caves
It runneth to and fro.
Let nothing roughly sweep Across my line to break,
Or mar my sport this night, In the dark depth below.'
Slowly, inch by inch, he drew in the line, singing more and more loudly to make the great weight 
rise. The line now
came in yard by yard, the water began to hiss, and bubble, and boil, and the boat heeled over.
" ' Be careful, Maui - be careful,' his brothers shouted. 'You will turn the boat over.'
" Maui took no notice of them, but went on pulling and singing; and at last the great fish came up to 
the top of the
water, and the brothers nearly fell out of the boat in their surprise. It wouldn't have mattered very 
much if they had, for
the boat was upon dry land. Maui's great fish was an island that had been lying at the bottom of the 
sea, and the boat
was now on top of it!
" The brothers could only stand and stare, with their eyes and mouths wide open. At last they were 
able to say,
'However did you do it, Maui ? '

MAUI FISHING UP THE NORTH ISLAND.

" 'Magic,' answered Maui quietly. Then he said, ' This island will stay above the sea always, and it will be ours. By-and-by we 
shall divide it, and each shall have a share. But first I must go to a priest and give him an offering from this great catch of fish in 
the boat. While I am gone do not get out of
the boat or touch this big fish I have pulled up.'
'Very well,' replied they.
"Maui then left them, but scarcely was he out
of sight when the brothers began to quarrel about the prize. They stepped on to it, tramped about, and began to cut it with their 
knives, and eat it, for it was still half fish.
"At this the fish began to jump and to twist
about, and to lash the sea with its tail, making great ridges and hollows on its back, and tearing 
great pieces out of
its sides. Thus it is that the 'Fish of Maui,' as the Maoris called it, or the
'North Island of New Zealand,' as the white
people call it, is not level, and has its sides torn. In the south you can see its mouth and one eye 
[Port Nicholson and
the Wairarapa Lake], east and west are its two flippers [East Cape and Cape Egmont], and stretching 
away to the north is the great, long tail.
" The brothers were frightened at what they had done. They came back and sat in the boat, waiting for Maui, being dreadfully 
afraid of his anger.
" But Maui did not punish them. He was
good-natured, even though he was so tricky. 'You have been foolish, and have spoiled my beautiful 
island,' was all he
said. He helped them to drag the boat into the sea again, and they went home. Several days afterwards they crossed 
again to the
island, and brought seeds and plants with them. Soon the hills and valleys were covered with green, 
and the island
looked quite beautiful. Then some of the brothers went to live on it."
(To be continued.)

WHAT IS MY NAME?
Tell me, child, what I am, and what is my name ?
I rise in the east, and when I rise, then it is day. I look in at your window with my bright golden 
eye, and tell you
when it is time to get up. I do not shine for you to lie in your bed and sleep, but I shine for you 
to get up and work,
and read, and walk about.
I am a great traveller. Day after day I travel right across the sky. I never stop, and I am never 
tired. Upon my head I
have a crown of bright beams, and I send forth my rays everywhere. I shine upon the trees, and the 
houses, and the
water; and everything looks bright and beautiful when I shine upon it.
I give you light and I give you heat. I make the fruit ripen and the corn ripen. I am up very high in 
the sky - higher than
all trees, higher than the clouds. If I were to come near you, I should burn you to death, and I should burn up the grass.
Sometimes I take off my crown of bright rays, and wrap up my head in thin 
silver clouds. Then you may look at me;
but when there are no clouds, and I shine with all my brightness at 
noonday, you should not look at me, for then, I
dazzle your eyes and make you blind.
Only the eagle can look at me then; the eagle, with his strong, piercing 
eye, can gaze upon me always. When I am
going to rise in the morning and make the day, the lark flies up into 
the sky to meet me, and sings sweetly in the air.
The cock crows to tell everybody that I am coming ; but the owl and the 
bat fly away when they see me, and hide
themselves in old walls and hollow trees. The lion and the tiger go into 
their dens and caves, where they sleep all the
day,
I shine everywhere. I shine in New Zealand, in Australia, in England, and 
all over the earth. I am the most beautiful
and glorious thing that can be seen in the whole world. What am I, 
child, and what is my name?
-Collins's New Zealand Graphic Readers.

THE IMPRISONED SUNBEAMS.
The story ended only to-day, but it began thousands and thousands of years ago. In those days the sun 
shone as he shines now, and the sunbeam children
had their work to do before they were free to play, just as they have now. Some had to unfold the new 
leaves of the ferns, and some had to slip through the
clear water to nurse and comfort the water-babies.
But in those days there were five little sunbeam brothers who liked play much better than work. Day 
after day they played at hide-and-seek among the leaves
of a tall tree, instead of doing the tasks that were set for them. Time after time they were warned, 
but they would not work. At last the sun grew very angry,
and punished them with a terrible punishment.
"Enter into the leaves of that tree and go down to the trunk," he commanded.
" Now," he said, when they had tremblingly obeyed, " you shall remain there so long as the tree 
remains. When it decays you shall be free, but not till then."
This was a dreadful punishment for the sunbeams. To be shut up away from the light and the air and 
the other sunbeams was bad enough,  but to have to
stay there so long as the tree remained was much worse. They dared not disobey the sun, and year by 
year passed and the tree lived on.
But worse still was to happen. When the tree was becoming very, very old, and the. sunbeams thought 
they would soon be set free, the whole forest slowly
sank and the sea flowed over it. Tons of mud and sand and sea-shells were brought by the waves and 
dropped over it, covering it up.
 The five sunbeams now gave up all hope of  being set free, and they huddled together in their 
sorrow. How they wished they had done their work when they
had a chance ! How they longed to dance in the sunshine, turning the dewdrops into diamonds, and 
bringing joy and gladness to all growing things! They
could not die, for sunbeams cannot die. Under this great weight of earth and water they might be 
imprisoned for thousands and thousands of years before
anything happened to free them.
And that was just what happened. For thousands of years the forest lay under the water. Slowly the wood became black, shining, 
and hard like a stone. Then a change came.

THE SINKING FOREST.

The land slowly rose above the sea again. But now the trees were hidden by the earth above them, and over it grew grass and 
plants and even other trees. But the five
sunbeams were still in their prison.
Then one day men opened the earth and dug out the black, shining, hard stone, and the piece with the 
sunbeams in it was placed on the fire. At last freedom had come.
Quivering with joy, the five sunbeam children sprang out and danced on top of their prison-house.
" How bright those flames are, and how they jump ! " cried the children sitting round the fire.
Spark! spark! Up flew the five sunbeam children, and out through the tall chimney, to live again 
their life of work and play.
" It was a dreadful punishment, but it has taught us a lesson," they said.
" I am glad to hear it," said the sun, beaming down upon them.

FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH ISLAND.
It was a beautiful morning when Jack and his father went on board the 
steamer that was to take them, from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island. They took 
their luggage to a cabin and then came on
deck again.

THE PICTON BOAT STEAMING DOWN WELLINGTON HARBOUR.

 " We shall see better from the upper deck, I think, Jack," said his 
father. So they climbed up a steep ladder and
came out on the broad upper deck. All about were seats, and at the
sides of the steamer were big white boats.
Jack's father pointed above them to what looked like a bridge running 
from one side of the ship to the other. 
" That is where the captain stands," he explained. " He tells the steersman which way to turn the 
vessel, and signals to the men who work the engines. See, he has given the
signal, and we are moving off." First the steamer moved backwards, and then, turning round, moved 
forwards, going quicker and quicker.
By-and-by she went round a point of land. The town was shut out of sight, but the entrance to the 
harbour was before them. The waves were rolling gently in from Cook Strait,
and breaking into foam against the jagged rocks that lay near the entrance.
 "It is easy to find the way on a fine day like
 this," said Jack's father; " but when it is dark
 and stormy the captain is glad to see the light
 from the lighthouse standing there on the land.
 In the harbour too, are other lights to guide him."  
By this time the steamer had got past the rocks and was in Cook Strait. Jack did not feel sick in the 
least, the day was so fine and the sea so smooth. His father spread out
a map and showed him the way they were going. Through his father's spy-glass Jack could see the 
houses at Island Bay, near Wellington, quite plainly. Then they passed a
high point of land called Cape Terawhiti. From the other side of the vessel they could see the 
mountains and hills of the South Island.
Then came a rich booming sound. " There is the gong," said the father: "let us go and get something to eat."
When they came up again the South Island seemed now very close. Straight in front were high green hills, among which Jack 
looked for an opening. 
" I can't see where we go in," said he.

Photo by W. Macey, Blenheim.]
PICTON, AT THE HEAD OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND.

"Not yet, Jack," replied his father. " There
is an opening, and you'll see it by-and-by."
Sure enough the hills seemed to open out, showing a passage in which the water was as smooth as glass.
"We are in Tory Channel now," said his father. "It was named after a ship which came here seventy years ago."
"Isn't Ship Cove somewhere about here ?" asked Jack. " It was where Captain Cook stayed so often."
" We shall not see Ship Cove on this trip,"
his father answered. " The land to the right
of us is an island, and Ship Cove is on the passage
that is on the other side of it."  
How beautiful it all was, and how eagerly Jack listened as his father told him stories of the old 
days, and of the whalers who used to come here to boil down the whale-oil!
Turning to the left the vessel entered Queen Charlotte Sound. Jack was delighted. The high hills 
cast their shadows clearly into the still waters, and on each side was seen one
beautiful bay after another. All too soon the engines were stopped, and the vessel was lying alongside the wharf at Picton.
" Just four hours from Wellington," said Jack's father. " We haven't been long, have we, Jack ? "
" No," was the reply, " we haven't. It has been all too short."

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.

MAORILAND FAIRY TALES. 
VI. MORE ABOUT MAUI.
(Concluded from page 143.)
The Moa stopped to take breath, for he had been talking very fast. " Well," he said, when he went 
on again, " Maui did many other wonderful things. Some of them were good, for, as
you have seen, he was not always in mischief ; but most of them were tricks on somebody. At last he 
met his death through trying to play a trick on Hine,* the Goddess of Death, and
this is how it all happened:
" He had often heard his mother and the older people talk about the Goddess of Death, and how strong, 
and big, and powerful she was, and how nobody dared go near her. She lived in
a desert land, where the sky and the earth met, they said. Lightning came from her eyes, and her 
mouth was as big as the mouth of a shark.
" Of course, all this talk made Maui say he would go and see Hine. 'I will go and jump down her big 
throat,' he said, 'and then come back alive.'
" "If you can do that,' the old people said, 'you will never die; for any one who can touch Hine's heart and come back alive will 
live for ever. 
But you cannot do it even with all your magic.'
" ' I can, and I will,' said Maui.

* Hine - He'na.

" ' My son, I forbid you to go,' said his mother. 'Something tells me that if you go you will die, 
and I shall never see you again.'
" But Maui took no more notice of his mother than he had of the others. 'I am going,' he said. 'Who 
will come with me ? '
Nobody answered, for nobody else wanted to go near Hine. 'You will come, won't you?' he asked his 
brothers. They shook their heads. ' No,' they said ; ' we don't
wish for death. We will not come one step of the way.' He asked several others, but nobody would go 
on so dangerous an errand. 'You are foolish,' they all said.
' Why should we risk our lives for your trick ?'
'Very well, then,' said Maui, ' I shall go by myself '; and off he started through the bush.
Now, the little bush-birds were very fond of Maui, for they liked his merry tricks. When they saw him 
setting off by himself they said one to another, ' We cannot
let him go to Hine by himself. Let us go with him.'
" So they all flew to Maui, and went with him for company, sometimes hopping gravely along beside 
him, sometimes flitting about from bush to bush on either
side of the track. They were a very merry band, and kept Maui from feeling lonely. They told him all 
about their life in the trees, and about their nests and little
ones ; and he told them in return what he meant to do when he found Hine.
" At last they came to the place where the earth and the sky met ; and here they found Hine.
" ' She is asleep,' whispered Maui to the birds. 'What a good thing! See how wide open her mouth is! 
I can jump down her throat quite easily. Only, whatever
you do, don't make the least noise. I may look very funny when I am going down her throat, but do not 
laugh, or you will wake her up, and then I shall be killed.'
" ' Oh, no, no!' whispered the birds ; 'we will not make a sound'; and they stood quite still and 
watched Maui getting ready for his jump. He threw off his cloak,
and ran back for a good spring. Then he ran swiftly forward, and with a jump he landed right in 
Hine's throat.
" But he did not slip through quite so easily as he had expected, and for a few moments his legs 
dangled and kicked outside while his head and shoulders were
inside. You can imagine how funny he looked.
" The little birds had promised not to make a sound ; but he looked so comical that they had to put 
their wings over their beaks to keep from laughing out. They
were all shaking and holding their sides, when suddenly the little fantail laughed out aloud. He 
could keep quiet no longer.
" In an instant Hine woke up and shut her mouth, and poor Maui was killed.
" ' Oh dear! oh dear! oh dear!' screamed the frightened birds. 'Whatever made you do that, you 
careless fantail! Now we shall have to go and tell Maui's mother.'
They flew off, weeping, to tell her; and the poor little fantail, very much ashamed of himself, hid in the deepest part of the bush. 

THE DEATH OF MAUI.

Here the North-west Wind heard him crying to himself, and asked him what was the matter.
" ' Oh dear! oh dear! I laughed and woke Hine, and she killed poor Maui. Whatever shall I do! ' sobbed 
the fantail.
" ' Dear me! that's very sad,' said the Northwest Wind; and he flew away and told Rangi what had 
happened to Maui.
"' Go and tell Hine to give up his spirit to me,' said Rangi. 'She has the body, but she must send 
his spirit back to Sky-land.' The North-west Wind took the
message, and Hine had to give up Maui's spirit to Rangi.
" So Maui went up to Sky-land again. He took with him his wonderful fish-hook. You can see it among 
the stars, and it forms  the hooked tail of the group of stars
called by white men the 'Scorpion.'
"Maui is quite happy up there among the Sky-fairies again, and is as fond of tricks as ever. That is 
why he sometimes covers up the moon with his hand, and
makes all the world dark.*
" I wonder it is not dark in here by now," the Moa went on. " I am sure this has been a very long 
Story-time, for my throat is quite dry with talking."
" The Glow-worms have been so busy listening to the story that they have forgotten to put out their 
lamps," said the Kiwi.
They all looked at the Glow-worms. What the Kiwi said was quite true. The Glow-worms were all 
listening eagerly to the Moa, and their forgotten lamps were still
burning. When they saw everybody look at them, however, they suddenly put out their lamps, and the 
cave was left in darkness. So Jack and the fairy went home.

* At an eclipse of the moon.





