6. THE WEEOONIBEENS AND THE PIGGIEBILLAH

Two Weeoombeen brothers went out hunting. One brother was much younger

than the other and smaller, so when they sighted an emu, the elder one

said to the younger: "You stay quietly here and do not make a noise, or

Piggiebillah, whose camp we passed just now, will hear you and steal

the emu if I kill it. He is so strong. I'll go on and try to kill the

emu with this stone." The little Weeoombeen watched his big brother

sneak up to the emu, crawling along, almost flat, on the ground. He saw

him get quite close to the emu, then spring up quickly and throw the

stone with such an accurate aim as to kill the bird on the spot. The

little brother was so rejoiced that he forgot his brother's caution,

and he called aloud in his joy. The big Weeoombeen looked round and

gave him a warning sign, but too late, Piggiebillah had heard the cry

and was hastening towards them. Quickly big Weeoombeen left the emu and

joined his little brother.

Australian Legendary Tales: folk-lore of the Noongahburrahs as told to the Piccaninnies · 第 15 / 50 题