st as before.

Maui was content with this arrangement and sure also that the Sun
would not again forget, for he had crippled him considerably. It would
take some time, he thought, for the Sun's broken rays to mend.

So, very well pleased with his success, Maui permitted the Sun to
proceed on his journey, while himself he prepared to return with all
speed, bearing the good news to his mother.

KUNA, THE DRAGON.

Far above Rainbow Falls there lived a powerful kupua named Kuna. Kuna
had the form of a monstrous dragon, unlike anything in these islands
today.

Kuna often tormented the goddess Hina in her rocky cave behind Rainbow
Falls by sending over great torrents of water or by rolling logs and
boulders down the stream. Quite often he would block the stream below
the falls with sediment sent down by freshets during the rainy
seasons.

But Hina was well protected. Her cave was large and the misty cloud of
spray from the falling waters helped to conceal it. So in spite of the
frequent floods and many threats from Kuna, Hina paid him not the
slightest attention, but with her songs and gay laughter lightly
mocked him as she worked.

On many days Hina was quite alone, while her eldest son, the demi-god
Maui, was away on one of his numerous expeditions. Even then she did
not mind this, for should any danger befall her she had a peculiar
cloud servant which she called "ao-opua." If Hina were in trouble this
ao-opua would rise high above the falls, taking an unusual shape. When
Maui saw this warning cloud he would hurry home at once to his
mother's side.

One night while Maui was away from home on the Island of Maui, where
he had gone to bargain with the Sun, a storm arose. The angry waters
roared about the mouth of Hina's cave. They hissed and tossed in ugly
blackness down the narrow river gorge; but Hina heard naught of the
wildness without. Being used to the noisy cataract, her slumbers were
not disturbed by the heightened tumult of its roar.

But Kuna, quite aware of the situation, was quick to take advantage
and to act. Hina's apparent indifference annoyed him. He recalled
several failures to conquer her, and rage overwhelmed him. Calling
upon his powers he lifted an immense boulder and hurled it over the
cliffs. It fitted perfectly where it fell between the walls of the
gorge and blocked the rush of the hurrying torrent.

Laughing loudly at his success, Kuna called on Hina and warned her of
her plight,