d: 'I was crying for my baby--I cannot hide her for
ever, and if the ogre sees her, he will eat her; and I would rather
she was drowned than that.'

'What you say is true,' replied the old woman. 'Give me your child,
and let me take care of it. And if you will fix a day to meet me here
I will bring the baby.'

Then Thakane dried her eyes, and gladly accepted the old woman's
offer. When she got home she told her husband she had thrown it in the
river, and as he had watched her go in that direction he never thought
of doubting what she said.

On the appointed day, Thakane slipped out when everybody was busy, and
ran down the path that led to the lake. As soon as she got there, she
crouched down among the willows, and sang softly:

Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one,
Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast out!

And in a moment the old woman appeared holding the baby in her arms.
Dilah had become so big and strong, that Thakane's heart was filled
with joy and gratitude, and she stayed as long as she dared, playing
with her baby. At last she felt she must return to the village, lest
she should be missed, and the child was handed back to the old woman,
who vanished with her into the lake.

Children grow up very quickly when they live under water, and in less
time than anyone could suppose, Dilah had changed from a baby to a
woman. Her mother came to visit her whenever she was able, and one
day, when they were sitting talking together, they were spied out by a
man who had come to cut willows to weave into baskets. He was so
surprised to see how like the face of the girl was to Masilo, that he
left his work and returned to the village.

'Masilo,' he said, as he entered the hut, 'I have just beheld your
wife near the river with a girl who must be your daughter, she is so
like you. We have been deceived, for we all thought she was dead.'

When he heard this, Masilo tried to look shocked because his wife had
broken the law; but in his heart he was very glad.

'But what shall we do now?' asked he.

'Make sure for yourself that I am speaking the truth by hiding among
the bushes the first time Thakane says she is going to bathe in the
river, and waiting till the girl appears.'

For some days Thakane stayed quietly at home, and her husband began to
think that the man had been mistaken; but at last she said to her
husband: 'I am going to bathe in the river.'

[Illustration: 'BRING TO ME DILAH, DILAH THE REJE