From the Island of Mangaia
In the very long ago, Rangi the Brave came from the Land-of-the-Bright-Parrot-Feathers to the Island of Mangaia. Swiftly over the blue waves sped his canoe. He stepped out upon the land, and lay down to rest in the shade of a broad-leaved tree covered with gorgeous blooms. And after he had slept and was refreshed, he arose and wandered about the island.
Beautiful was the place with cocoa palms waving their tall fronds in the air, and with banana trees heavy with golden fruit. But though Rangi walked all that day and the next, he saw no human being. He heard no sounds except the beat of the sea against the shore, and the whirring of hundreds of bright-winged birds that passed like flashes of blue, green, and crimson, from tree to tree, and from grove to grove. Softly the perfumed breezes fanned his cheek, and played in his hair.
“Like a lovely dream is this island!” thought he, “but as lonely as the sea on a moonlit night!”
Then to comfort himself he threw back his head and called: “Halloo! Halloo!”
And from a pile of rocks overhanging a deep gorge, a voice answered: “Halloo!”
“Who art thou?” cried Rangi in wonder. “What is thy name?”
And the voice answered more softly: “What is thy name?”
“Where art thou? Where art thou hidden?” he shouted.
And the voice answered mockingly: “Where art thou hidden?”
Then Rangi in anger shouted fiercely: “Accursed be thou, hide-and-seek spirit!”
And the voice screamed back as if in derision: “Accursed be thou!”
Thereupon Rangi grasped his spear tighter, and strode toward the rocks, determined to punish the insolent one. Leaping from boulder to boulder, he entered the gorge. And ever as he proceeded, he shouted threats; and ever the mocking voice answered from some distant spot.
The gorge grew darker and narrower, until Rangi suddenly found himself in a wide-mouthed cavern. Its walls and roof glittered with pendant crystals from which fell, drop by drop, clear water like dew. A white mist rose from the rocky floor, and through it Rangi saw dimly a lovely Fairy face gazing roguishly at him. It was wreathed in rippling hair, and crowned with flowers. Archly it smiled, then melted away in the mist.
“Who art thou?” whispered Rangi in awe. “Art thou Echo indeed?”
And from the glittering walls and roof came a thousand sweet answers:—
“Echo indeed!”