Page:Polynesian Mythology by George Grey (polynesianmythol00greyuoft).djvu/339

shouted to him from the top of the wall, "Who art thou?" And the other cried out to him, "Lo, he who stands here before you is Takarangi." And the aged chief of the pa called down to him, "Young warrior, art thou able to still the wrathful surge which foams on the hidden rocks of the shoal of O-rongo-mai-ta-kupe?" meaning, "Hast thou, although a chief, power to calm the wrath of these fierce men?" Then proudly replied to him the young chief, "The wrathful surge shall be stilled; this arm of mine is one which no dog dares to bite," meaning that no plebeian hand dared touch his arm, made sacred by his deeds and rank, or to dispute his will. But what Takarangi was really thinking in his heart was, "That dying old man is the father of Rau-mahora, of that so lovely maid. Ah, how I should grieve if one so young and innocent should die tormented with the want of water." Then he arose, and slowly went to bring water for that aged man, and for his youthful daughter; and he filled a calabash, clipping it up from the cool spring which gushes up from the earth, and is named Fount Oringi. No word was spoken, or movement made, by the crowd of fierce and angry men, but all, resting upon their arms, looked on in wonder and in silence. Calm lay the sea, that was before so troubled, all timid and respectful in the lowly