A certain chief had a rice farm on land across a river from his town. When his crop was ripe he caused it to be cut and stacked in the centre of a field. Green Pigeon made her nest upon the stack of rice, and laid three eggs therein.
One day the Chief said to his people:
“Tomorrow my rice must be hauled to town, nothing else will be done.”
Green Pigeon heard of this, and flew into the sky to see Nysoa.
“O God,” she said, “I have made my nest on a stack of rice in a field, and in the next I have three eggs. The Chief who owns this rice has said that it must be hauled to town tomorrow, although the proper time for hauling has not come. What must I do?
“Did the Chief call on my name?” Nysoa asked.
“No, God; he did not call on your name.”
“Then return to your place; for the strength of men is small, and you are safe.”
During the night rains came, and the lasted for a week. The river rose in flood, and even when the rains ceased no man could pass the river for many days. Green Pigeon’s eggs hatched out, but before the chicks had feathers the river fell, and the Chief announced again:
“Tomorrow my rice must be hauled to town; no other work will be done.”
Green Pigeon flew to God again:
“O Nysoa, I bring my thanks to you. My eggs have hatched, but my young are very young and cannot fly. The Chief has said today that he will haul his rice tomorrow, and my nest is on his rice; what shall I do?
“Did the Chief call on my name?” Nysoa demanded.
“No, O God; he did not call on your name.”
“Then return to your place; for the pride of men is great, but you are safe.”
Rains came again that night; the river swelled and men could no longer pass over it. Green Pigeon’s children grew long feathers, and when they were about to fly the river fell, and the Chief declared to his twin:
“Tomorrow, with the help of God, my rice will be hauled to town.”
Green Pigeon flew to God.
“O God, my children are ready to fly, and the Chief has again decided he will haul his rice to town. What must I do now?
“Did the Chief call on my name?”
“Yes, Nysoa, he called on your name.”
“Then leave your nest and fly away with your children; for tomorrow, with my help, the Chief will haul his rice to town.”