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In the evening, when they returned, they found the giant helpless and tied to a tree by one enormous hair! 'How is it, said Makoma, astonished, 'that we find you thus bound and helpless? 'O Chief, answered Chi-eswa-mapiri, 'at mid-day a man came out of the river; he was of immense statue, and his grey moustaches were of such length that I could not see where they ended!
'We greet you, O Great One! answered the women. 'We are the wives of Sakatirina; your search is at an end, for there stands he whom you seek! And they pointed to what Makoma had thought were two tall mountain peaks. 'Those are his legs, they said; 'his body you cannot see, for it is hidden in the clouds.
But the river giant was so slimy that the blow slid harmlessly off his green chest, and as Makoma stumbled and tried to regain his balance, the giant swung one of his long hairs around him and tripped him up. For a moment Makoma was helpless, but remembering the power of the flame-spirit which had entered into him, he breathed a fiery breath upon the giant's hair and cut himself free.
Then the giants were very sad, and bewailed the loss of their hero; but Makoma comforted them, and gave back to each the gifts he had taken from them. Then bidding them 'Farewell, he went on his way.
He struck him so hard a blow that the giant shrank into quite a little man, who fell upon his knees saying: 'You are indeed greater than I, O Makoma; take me with you to be your slave! So Makoma picked him up and dropped him into the sack that he carried upon his back.
And behold! right down the river-bed and up the river-bed, till they faded into the blue distance, stretched the giant's grey moustaches! 'Who are you? bellowed the giant, as soon as he was out of the water. 'I am he that is called Makoma, answered the hero; 'and, before I slay thee, tell me also what is thy name and what thou doest in the river?
'My name is Chin-debou Mau-giri, said the giant. 'My home is in the river, for my moustache is the grey fever-mist that hangs above the water, and with which I bind all those that come unto me so that they die. 'You cannot bind me! shouted Makoma, rushing upon him and striking with his hammer.
When the four giants returned at sunset with the poles, they rejoiced to find that Makoma had overcome the fever-spirit, and they feasted on the roast venison till far into the night; but in the morning, when they awoke, Makoma was already warming his hands to the fire, and his face was gloomy.
Chi-dubula-taka grovelled before him, all the while growing smaller and smaller; and when he had become a convenient size Makoma picked him up and put him into the sack beside Chi-eswa-mapiri. He went on his way even greater than before, as all the river-maker's power had become his; and at last he came to a forest of bao-babs and thorn trees.
'I am eating fire, answered the man, laughing; 'and my name is Chi-idea-moto, for I am the flame-spirit, and can waste and destroy what I like. 'You are wrong, said Makoma; 'for I am Makoma, who is "greater" than you and you cannot destroy me! The fire-eater laughed again, and blew a flame at Makoma.
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