'No,' said the Fisherman, 'I am spinning a line with which I
shall some day catch the world; but I do not play with the Sea.'
And he went on spinning his line.

Now there is also a Rat up in the Moon who always bites the old
Fisherman's line as fast as it is made, and the Eldest Magician
said to him, 'Ho! Rat of the Moon, are you playing with the Sea?'

And the Rat said, 'I am too busy biting through the line that
this old Fisherman is spinning. I do not play with the Sea.' And
he went on biting the line.

Then the little girl-daughter put up her little soft brown arms
with the beautiful white shell bracelets and said, 'O Eldest
Magician! when my father here talked to you at the Very
Beginning, and I leaned upon his shoulder while the beasts were
being taught their plays, one beast went away naughtily into the
Sea before you had taught him his play.

And the Eldest Magician said, 'How wise are little children who
see and are silent! What was the beast like?'

And the little girl-daughter said, 'He was round and he was flat;
and his eyes grew upon stalks; and he walked sideways like this ;
and he was covered with strong armour upon his back.'

And the Eldest Magician said, 'How wise are little children who
speak truth! Now I know where Pau Amma went. Give me the paddle!'