So the old man rose and went , and strapped the meat on his shoulder ; but as he was crossing the ford the strap broke and the pack fell into the river . He stooped to catch it , but it swirled past him . He clutched again ; but in doing so he over-balanced himself and was hurried into some rapids , where he was knocked against some rocks , and he sank and was drowned , and his body was carried down the stream into smoother water when it rose to the surface again . But by this time it had lost all likeness to a man , and was changed into a piece of wood . The wood floated on , and the river got bigger and bigger and entered a new country . There it was borne by the current close to the shore , and a woman who was down there washing her clothes caught it as it passed , and drew it out , saying to herself : ` What a nice smooth plank ! I will use it as a table to put my food upon . ' And gathering up her clothes she took the plank with her into her hut . When her supper time came she stretched the board across two strings which hung from the roof , and set upon it the pot containing a stew that smelt very good . The woman had been working hard all day and was very hungry , so she took her biggest spoon and plunged it into the pot . But what was her astonishment and disgust when both pot and food vanished instantly before her ! ` Oh , you horrid plank , you have brought me ill-luck ! ' she cried . And taking it up she flung it away from her . The woman had been surprised before at the disappearance of her food , but she was more astonished still when , instead of the plank , she beheld a baby . However , she was fond of children and had none of her own , so she made up her mind that she would keep it and take care of it . The baby grew and throve as no baby in that country had ever done , and in four days he was a man , and as tall and strong as any brave of the tribe . ` You have treated me well , ' he said , ` and meat shall never fail to your house . But now I must go , for I have much work to do . ' Then he set out for his home .
It took him many XXXXX to get there , and when he saw his son sitting in his place his anger was kindled , and his heart was stirred to take vengeance upon him .
day days drowned mind pack pot rapids strap stream throve