No one shall take my baby from me . ' That night , when everyone in the hut was asleep , Thakane rose , and carrying her baby on her back , went down to a place where the river spread itself out into a large lake , with tall willows all round the bank . Here , hidden from everyone , she sat down on a stone and began to think what she should do to save her child . Suddenly she heard a rustling among the willows , and an old woman appeared before her . ` What are you crying for , my dear ? ' said she . And Thakane answered : ' I was crying for my baby -- I can not 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 , XXXXX 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 .
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