she called Munu, and he
was so intelligent and trustful in his mistress's hands that he disliked
going very far from the neighbourhood; and if she laid her two hands in
the water, he would rest contentedly in the hollow thus formed. She had
also strung her stock of shells and beads into necklaces, and had
fastened them round the tails of her favourite fish.

Her other friends grew quite as tame as the fish, for all kinds of
animals learn to cast off their fears of mankind in return for true
kindness, and when no disturbing shocks alarm them. And in this lonely
place, so sheltered by protecting woods, where the wind had scarce power
to rustle the bending reed and hanging leaves, there was no noise to
inspire the most timid with fright.

If you try, you can fancy this young woman Izoka sitting on the ground
by the pool-side, surrounded by her friends, like a mother by her
offspring. In her arms a young pelican, on one shoulder a chattering
parrot, on the other a sharp-eyed squirrel, sitting on his haunches,
licking his fore-feet; in her lap another playing with his bushy tail,
and at her feet the wagtails, wagging friskily their hind parts and
kicking up little showers of dusty soil. Between her and the pool a
long-legged heron, who has long ago been snared, and has submitted to
his mistress's kindness, and now stands on one leg, as though he were
watching for her safety. Not far behind her is her woodland home, well
stored with food and comforts, which are the products of her skill and
care. Swifts and sand-martins are flying about, chasing one another
merrily, and making the place ring with their pipings; the water of the
pool lies level and unwrinkled, save in front of her, where the fish
sometimes flop about, impatient for their mistress's visit.

This was how she appeared one day to the cruel eyes of Koku her husband,
who had seen the smoke of her fire as he was going by the path which led
to the north. Being a woodman as well as a fisher, he had the craft of
such as hunt, and he stealthily approached from tree to tree until he
was so near that he could see the beady eyes of the squirrel on her
shoulder, who startled her by his sudden movements. It was strange how
quickly the alarm was communicated from one to another. His brother
squirrel peeped from one side with his tail over his back like a crest,
the parrot turned one eye towards the tree behind which Koku stood, and
appeared transfixed, the heron dr