`` Awful '' is n't a pretty word , but it could be a convenience , now you mention it , if we could write home . ' Just then a Stranger-man came along the river , but he belonged to a far tribe , the Tewaras , and he did not understand one word of Tegumai 's language . He stood on the bank and smiled at Taffy , because he had a little girl-daughter Of his own at home . Tegumai drew a hank of deer-sinews from his mendy-bag and began to mend his spear . ` Come here , said Taffy . ` Do you know where my Mummy lives ? ' And the Stranger-man said ` Um ! ' being , as you know , a Tewara . ` Silly ! ' said Taffy , and she stamped her foot , because she saw a shoal of very big carp going up the river just when her Daddy could n't use his spear . ` Do n't bother grown-ups , ' said Tegumai , so busy with his spear-mending that he did not turn round . ' I are n't , said Taffy . ' I only want him to do what I want him to do , and he wo n't understand . ' ` Then do n't bother me , said Tegumai , and he went on pulling and straining at the deer-sinews with his mouth full of loose ends . The Stranger-man -- a genuine Tewara he was -- sat down on the grass , and Taffy showed him what her Daddy was doing . The Stranger-man thought , this is a very wonderful child . She stamps her foot at me and she makes faces . She must be the daughter of that noble Chief who is so great that he wo n't take any notice of me . ' So he smiled more politely than ever . ` Now , ' said Taffy , ' I want you to go to my Mummy , because your legs are longer than mine , and you wo n't fall into the beaver-swamp , and ask for Daddy 's other spear -- the one with the black handle that hangs over our fireplace . '
The XXXXX -LRB- and he was a Tewara -RRB- thought , ` This is a very , very wonderful child .
Mummy Stranger-man Taffy Tegumai Tewaras beaver-swamp carp fall grown-ups spear-mending