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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10891-0.txt b/10891-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d5c9c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6590 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10891 *** + +ALGONQUIN +INDIAN TALES + + +COLLECTED BY +EGERTON R. YOUNG + + +AUTHOR OF "BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN," "THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH," +"THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND," ETC. + + +[Illustration: The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles.] + + + +1903 + + + + +CHIEF BIG CANOE'S LETTER + + +GEORGINA ISLAND, LAKE SIMCOE. +REV. EGERTON R. YOUNG. + + +DEAR FRIEND: Your book of stories gathered from among my tribe has very +much pleased me. The reading of them brings up the days of long time ago +when I was a boy and heard our old people tell these tales in the wigwams +and at the camp fire. + +I am very glad that you are in this way saving them from being forgotten, +and I am sure that many people will be glad to read them. + +With best wishes, +KECHE CHEMON (Charles Big Canoe), +Chief of the Ojibways. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + + +In all ages, from the remotest antiquity, the story-teller has flourished. +Evidences of his existence are to be found among the most ancient monuments +and writings in the Orient. In Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, and other ancient +lands he flourished, and in the homes of the noblest he was ever an honored +guest. + +The oldest collection of folklore stories or myths now in existence is of +East Indian origin and is preserved in the Sanskrit. The collection is +called _Hitopadesa_, and the author was Veshnoo Sarma. Of this collection, +Sir William Jones, the great Orientalist, wrote, "The fables of Veshnoo are +the most beautiful, if not the most ancient, collection of apologues in the +world." As far back as the sixth century translations were made from them. + +The same love for myths and legends obtains to-day in those Oriental lands. +There, where the ancient and historic so stubbornly resist any change--in +Persia, India, China, and indeed all over that venerable East--the man who +can recite the ancient apologues or legends of the past can always secure +an audience and command the closest attention. + +While the general impression is that the recital of these old myths and +legends among Oriental nations was for the mere pastime of the crowds, it +is well to bear in mind that many of them were used as a means to convey +great truths or to reprove error. Hence the recital of them was not +confined to a merely inquisitive audience that desired to be amused. We +have a good example of this in the case of the recital by Jotham, as +recorded in the book of Judges, of the legend of the gathering of the trees +for the purpose of having one of them anointed king over the rest. Of this +legend Dr. Adam Clarke, the commentator, says, "This is the oldest and, +without exception, the best fable or apologue in the world." + +The despotic nature of the governments of those Oriental nations caused the +people often to use the fable or myth as an indirect way to reprove or +censure when it would not have been safe to have used a direct form of +speech. The result was that it attained a higher degree of perfection there +than among any other people. An excellent example is Nathan's reproof of +David by the recital of the fable of the poor man's ewe lamb. + +The red Indians of America have justly been famous for their myths and +legends. We have never heard of a tribe that did not have a store of them. +Even the hardy Eskimo in his igloo of ice is surprisingly rich in folklore +stories. A present of a knife or some other trifle that he desires will +cause him to talk by the hour to his guest, whether he be the daring trader +or adventurous explorer, on the traditions that have come down to him. The +interchange of visits between the northern Indians and the Eskimos has +resulted in the discovery that quite a number of the myths recited in +Indian wigwams are in a measure, if not wholly, of Eskimo origin. On the +other hand, the Eskimo has not failed to utilize and incorporate into his +own rich store some that are undoubtedly of Indian origin. + +For thirty years or more we have been gathering up these myths and legends. +Sometimes a brief sentence or two of one would be heard in some +wigwam--just enough to excite curiosity--then years would elapse ere the +whole story could be secured. As the tribes had no written language, and +the Indians had to depend entirely upon their memory, it is not to be +wondered at that there were, at times, great divergences in the recital of +even the most familiar of their stories. We have heard the same legend +given by several story-tellers and no two agreed in many particulars. +Others, however, were told with very slight differences. + +We have adopted the course of recording what seemed to us the most natural +version and most in harmony with the instincts and characteristics of the +pure Indian. The close scientific student of Indian folklore will see that +we have softened some expressions and eliminated some details that were +non-essential. The crude Indian languages, while absolutely free from +blasphemy, cannot always be literally translated. _Verbum sat sapienti_. + +The method we have adopted, in the presentation of these myths and legends +in connection with the chatter and remarks of our little ones, while +unusual, will, we trust, prove attractive and interesting. We have +endeavored to make it a book for all classes. Here are some old myths in +new settings, and here are some, we venture to think, that have never +before been seen in English dress. These will interest the student of such +subjects, while the general style of the book will, we hope, make it +attractive to young readers. + +Nanahboozhoo, the personage who occupies the principal part in these myths, +is the most widely known of all those beings of supposed miraculous birth +who played such prominent parts in Indian legends. He does not seem to have +been claimed by any one particular tribe. Doubtless legends of him were +transmitted down from the time when the division of tribes had not so +extensively taken place; when perhaps the Algonquin, now so subdivided, was +one great tribe, speaking one language. + +The variety of names by which he is known is accounted for by these tribal +divisions and the rapid changes which took place in the language owing to +its having no written form to maintain its unity. + +What his original name was, when legends about him first began to be told, +is of course unknown. However, since the white race began to gather up and +record these Indian myths he has been known as Misha-wabus, Manabush, +Jous-ke-ha, Messou, Manabozho, Nanahboozhoo, Hiawatha, Chiabo, +Singua-sew--and even some other names have been heard. We have given him in +this volume the name of Nanahboozhoo as that was the one most frequently +used by the Indians among whom we lived or visited. + +There is more unanimity about his origin, among the tribes, than about his +name. The almost universal report is that he was the son of Mudjekeewis, +the West Wind. His mother was Wenonah, the daughter of Nokomis. + +The author desires very gratefully to record his indebtedness, for +assistance or hints received in the pleasant work of here clustering these +Indian folklore stories, to many friends, among them such Indian +missionaries as Revs. Peter Jones, John Sunday, Henry Steinham, Allan Salt, +and also to his Indian friends and comrades at many a camp fire and in many +a wigwam. He also wishes in this way to express his appreciation of and +indebtedness to the admirable Reports of the Smithsonian Institution. He +has there obtained verification of and fuller information concerning many +an almost forgotten legend. + +In regard to a number of the finest of the photographic illustrations in +the volume the author gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Canada +Pacific Railway Company, without whose assistance it would have been +impossible to reach many of the sublime and romantic places here portrayed; +until very recently known only to the adventurous red Indian hunter, but +now brought within the reach of any enterprising tourist. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Introductory Note + + +CHAPTER I. + +The Children Carried Off by the Indians--The Feast in +the Wigwam--Souwanas, the Story-teller--Nanahboozhoo, +the Indian Myth--How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and +Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred--Why the Raccoon +has Rings on His Tail. + +CHAPTER II. + +The Children's Return--Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse--Her Pathetic History--Her Love for the Children--The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. + +CHAPTER III. + +More about Mary and the Children--Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees--How the Bees Got Their Stings--What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Love Story of Wakontas--His Test of the Two +Maidens--His Choice--The Transformation of Misticoosis. + +CHAPTER V. + +The Startling Placard--What Happened to the Little +Runaways--The Rescue--Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows--How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. + +CHAPTER VI. + +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo--How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf--Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Legend of the Bad Boy--How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Happy Christmas Holidays--Indians Made Glad with +Presents--Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. + +CHAPTER IX. + +Kinnesasis--How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. + +CHAPTER X. + +The Christmas Packet--The Distribution of Gifts--A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero--Souwanas Tells +How the Indians First Learned to Make Maple Sugar. + +CHAPTER XI. + +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease--The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. + +CHAPTER XII. + +The Naming of the Baby--A Canoe Trip--The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine--How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +In the Wigwam of Souwanas--How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo--The Treachery +of Gray Wolf--The Legend of the Whisky Jack. + +CHAPTER XV. + +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock--How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened--A Punishment for +Conceit. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun--How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters--Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Welcome Springtime in the Northland--How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians--The Revenge--The Flood--Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft--The Creation of a New World. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Among the Briers and Wild Roses--Why the Roses have +Thorns--Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. + +CHAPTER XX. + +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils--The Vain Woman--Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +Shooting Loons--Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet--Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner--Origin of Lichens--Why Some Willows are Red--The +Partridge. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall--A Short-lived Triumph--Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake--The Legend of the +Orphan Boy--His Appeal to the Man in the Moon--How +He Conquered His Enemies. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke--How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake--How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle--The Origin of Tobacco--Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +The Dead Moose--The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests--The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe--The Haze of the Indian +Summer. + + +Glossary + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles + +With the children cuddled around, Souwanas began + +The wild and picturesque Ka-ka-be-ka Falls + +They howled with rage and terror + +The startling placard + +While her mate stood beside her + +Surrounding them were fierce Indian dogs + +The beautiful reflections in the water + +They tumbled the tall ghost over + +Their dog trains were in constant demand + +Where the fire was stolen + +The coyote was too quick for them + +Across a single log at a dizzy height + +Which white men now call Cathedral Mountain + +Their babies with them + +Gave him such a terrible beating + +The big rock was surely gaining on him [note: not in actual text] + +Sun dance lodge of the Blood Indians + +They both threw their magic sticks + +He took a leap into the open mouth + +He ran away west, to the great mountains + +Wigwams and Indians + +The Indian story-teller + +Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard + +With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe + +Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push + +They were excited at his coming + + + + +Algonquin Indian Tales + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The Children Carried Off by the Indians--The Feast in +the Wigwam--Souwanas, the Story-teller--Nanahboozhoo, +the Indian Myth--How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and +Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred--Why the Raccoon +has Rings on His Tail. + +Without even knocking at the door there noiselessly entered our northern +home two large, unhandsome Indians. They paid not the slightest attention +to the grown-up palefaces present, but in their ghostly way marched across +the room to the corner where the two little children were playing on the +floor. Quickly but gently picking them up they swung them to their +shoulders, and then, without a word of salutation or even a glance at the +parents, they noiselessly passed out of that narrow door and disappeared in +the virgin forest. They were pagan Saulteaux, by name Souwanas and Jakoos. + +The Indian names by which these two children were called by the natives +were "Sagastaookemou," which means the "Sunrise Gentleman," and +"Minnehaha," "Laughing Waters." + +To the wigwam of Souwanas, "South Wind," these children were being carried. +They had no fear of these big Indians, though the boy was only six years +old, and his little sister but four. They had learned to look with laughing +eyes even into the fiercest and ugliest of these red faces and had made +them their friends. + +So even now, while being carried away among the dense trees, they merrily +laughed and shouted to each other. The bright patches of sunshine on the +ground, the singing birds, and the few brilliant-hued summer flowers, +brought forth their exclamations of delight, while all the time the grave, +silent Indians hurried them on deeper and deeper into the forest. Yet +carefully they guarded their precious loads, and as the antlered deer in +passing through the thick woods and under the low branches never strike +trunk or bough, so these sons of the forest glided swiftly on without +allowing any hurt to come to the children of the paleface, even if at times +the faint trail led them over slippery rocks and under low intertwining +branches. + +The wigwam of Souwanas was pitched in a beautiful spot at the edge of the +great forest near the sandy, rocky eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. This +great lake is well called The Sea, which is the meaning of its Indian name. +It is about as long as Lakes Ontario and Erie combined and in some places +is eighty miles wide. + +At the entrance of the wigwam, which was made of a couple of tanned +reindeerskins, the children were carefully lifted down from the men's +shoulders and then taken into this Indian abode. Coming in suddenly from +the bright sunshine it was some time before they could see distinctly. The +door flap of deerskin had dropped like a curtain behind them. All the light +there was came in through the hole in the top, where the poles of the +wigwam crossed each other. Presently, however, they were able to see a +circle of Indian children gathered around a small fire that smoldered on +the ground in the center of the tent. It was now in the pleasant summer +time, but the fire was needed for something else than warmth, as the little +Sagastao and Minnehaha discovered before long. They were soon seated in the +circle with the red children, who, young though they were, were a wee bit +startled at seeing these little palefaces. The white children, however, +simply laughed with glee. This outward demonstration seemed very improper +to the silent red children, who were taught to refrain from expressions of +their gladness or sorrow. + +The Indians had brought the white children for a characteristic reason. +They had said among themselves, "If the white father and mother love us as +they say they do we will test them by taking away their children without +asking permission." They also wished to show their own love for the +children, and so had really brought them to a children's feast. + +It was perhaps as queer a tea party as you ever heard of. There was no +table on which to put the good things prepared for the feast. No plates, no +cups and saucers, no knives, no spoons, not even a chair! There were no +cakes, no tarts, no jam, no pies, not even any bread and butter! + +"Well, what a feast!" you say. "Without any place to sit, or good things to +eat!" Not too fast! There were both of these. There was the lap of mother +earth, and so down on the ground, with bearskins and deerskins on it for +rugs, the children sat. Then the deerskin door was again opened and in came +Indians with birch-bark dishes, called _rogans_, in which were nicely +prepared wild ducks, rabbits, and partridges. But as they were uncooked +they could not yet be eaten by the now expectant, hungry children. + +Then began the preparation of the feast. Some of the Indians added dry wood +to the fire until there was a hot, smokeless blaze. Others took out their +sharp hunting knives and cleverly cut up the ducks, rabbits, and +partridges. Then these pieces were spitted on the ends of sharp points of +hard wood and skillfully broiled or toasted in the hot flames. As fast as +the dainty bits of meat were cooked and a little cooled they were given to +the children in their fingers, and in that way the little ones had their +feast. + +Now, please don't turn up your noses at such a feast. Think of it: out in a +wigwam in the lovely forest, where the wild birds sing and the squirrels +chatter, where is heard the music of the waves playing on the shore but a +few yards away, with great friendly Indians as your waiters! The very air +of that northern summer gives you an appetite ready for anything. + +Those little people, red and white, soon became the jolliest of friends, +and as the white children could speak the Indian language as well as their +own they were soon all chattering away most merrily while they daintily +picked the bones. Of course this way of eating was hard upon their hands, +faces, and clothing, but what healthy child ever gave a second thought--if +a first--to any of these things? + +After a time this feast, as all feasts must, came to an end. Then the +question was, "What shall we do next for the children?" for the whole day +had been planned by the grown-up Indians for the entertainment of the +little people. Canoes had been collected on the shore of Winnipeg, handy if +it should be decided that they all should go for an afternoon outing on the +water. However, Souwanas, who had gone out to look at the sky and observe +the winds and waves, now came in and reported that he thought they would +better put off the canoe trip to some time when the lake was more calm. It +was then suggested that the children be asked what would please them most. +The little folks, white and red, were not slow in giving their decision. + +"Tell us a story about Nanahboozhoo." + +"Who shall be the story-teller?" + +There was a hearty call for "Souwanas!" + +On coming in from investigating the weather, but a few minutes before, +Souwanas had seated himself on a robe and was now enjoying his calumet, or +pipe. Stoical though he was, his dark eyes flashed with pleasure at the +unanimous call of the children, but, Indianlike, it would have been a great +breach of manners if he had let his delight be known. Then, again, +Indianlike, it would never have done to have seemed to be in a hurry. The +Indian children well knew this, but who ever heard of white children that +could sit like statues, grave and dignified, while the story-teller took +time to finish smoking a large pipe of tobacco? + +So it was in this case. In their wild excitement and eagerness to have the +story begin, both Sagastao and Minnehaha sprang up and, rushing toward +Souwanas, vied with each other in seeing which could first pluck the +half-smoked calumet from his mouth. Such audacity appalled the Indian +children and fairly took the breath away from the older Indians. For was +not Souwanas a chief, and the calumet almost a sacred thing while between +his lips? + +Souwanas, however, was greatly delighted. Here was a new experience, and +the very boldness of the children of the palefaces was an evidence of their +unbounded confidence and love. To little Sagastao the calumet was +surrendered, and, with the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his +story: + +[Illustration: "With the children cuddled around him Souwanas began his +story."] + +"Now, you must know that Nanahboozhoo was a queer fellow. He could make +himself as tall as a tree or as small as a turtle or snake. Nothing could +kill him. He could not be drowned even if dropped hundreds of feet into +the lake, nor burned to death even if he tumbled into the fire. He often +met with accidents, but he always came up right again and was ready for +some other adventure in some new shape. He has left his marks on the rocks +and trees, leaves and flowers. Almost anywhere we look we see signs that +Nanahboozhoo has been around. As his temper was very uncertain he sometimes +caused trouble and injured the appearance of things which were once more +beautiful than they are now. But in general he was the friend of our race +and worked changes that were for our good. + +"One day, as Nanahboozhoo was walking along on a sandy shore, he felt very +hungry. It was now in the autumn of the year. As he wandered on he saw an +object moving toward him. He had not long to wait before he saw that this +object was a great black bear. He pulled up a young tree by the roots and +hid himself, preparing to kill the bear when he should come near. When the +bear came near Nanahboozhoo made a big jump out of his hiding place and +killed the bear with one blow. Then he built a big fire, and having singed +all the hair off the bear he cut him up and nicely roasted him. When the +meat was cooked Nanahboozhoo cut it up into fine pieces, for he intended to +enjoy his feast by eating leisurely. + +"While he was thus busy preparing his feast he was annoyed by a strange +sound among the tree tops that rubbed together when the wind blew. +Nanahboozhoo was very quick-tempered, and as the noise continued he +determined to stop it. So he left his feast on the ground and climbed away +up one of those trees to the spot where the other pressed against it. He +was endeavoring to pull the two great trees apart when one of his hands got +caught between them and was firmly held. While struggling to get loose he +heard a pack of wolves running toward his bear meat. This made him struggle +the harder to get his hand free. The fierce wolves soon scented the food +and had a good time devouring it, in spite of the shoutings of +Nanahboozhoo. + +"When Nanahboozhoo at length got his hand free and came down he found +nothing left of his feast but the skull of the bear. He was very angry, not +only at the wolves that had eaten his feast but also at the trees that had +held him, the great Nanahboozhoo, in so tight a grip. As the wolves had run +away he could not, at present, punish them, but he resolved that he would +so punish these great birch trees that they would never give him such a +squeeze again. So he prepared a great whip and with it he severely thrashed +the trees. Up to this time the birch had been the most beautiful of trees. +Its great trunk was of the purest white, without any blemish or blotch upon +it. But ever since the thrashing Nanahboozhoo gave it it has had to carry +the marks of that terrible whipping; and that is why the white birch tree +is so covered with scars. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had ceased thrashing the trees he found himself so very +hungry that he resolved to eat the brains that were in the head of the +bear, that had been overlooked by the wolves. However, he found the skull +very hard. So he transformed himself into a little snake, and in this way +got inside of the bear's skull and enjoyed his feast. In fact he enjoyed it +too much, for when he was through with his eating he could not get out of +the skull, he was so full. However, he was able to roll along, skull and +all, but as he could not see where he was going he bumped along in a very +erratic manner until at length he tumbled into a big lake and sank at first +deep down under the waves. + +"When he came up to the surface he just put a part of the head of the bear +out of the water, as does the bear when swimming. Then he listened +intently. It was not long before Nanahboozhoo heard voices saying: + +"'Look! There is a bear swimming. Let us kill him." + +"So there was a chase on the lake, and it was not long before the Indians +came up, in their canoe, and one of them with his stone ax struck the +bear's head such a blow that he split open the skull. + +"This just suited Nanahboozhoo, and instantly he sprang out and made for +the shore. + +"Then Nanahboozhoo journeyed on and again he began to feel very hungry. The +brains of the bear were not much to one who had had his mind set on eating +the whole carcass. It was not long before he met the raccoon awkwardly +carrying a birch _rogan_ that he had stolen from a couple of blind men. +Seeing the merry smile on the raccoon's face, Nanahboozhoo bade him a good +day, and asked him what was amusing him. + +"The raccoon, who did not know that it was Nanahboozhoo with whom he was +talking, told him how he obtained the dish. When Nanahboozhoo heard this he +was very angry at the raccoon for his heartless trick. + +"It seems that there was quite a large settlement of people who had among +them a couple of blind men. As these Indians were hunters they had to be on +the move a good deal of the time following the game. As the other people +were kind-hearted, instead of killing these old blind men, now that they +were unable to hunt, they arranged for them a wigwam in a safe, quiet +place, near the lake. Then they gave them a kettle and bowl and other +necessary things and cut a large pile of wood and placed it close at hand. +In order that they might be able to get water for their cooking and yet not +stumble into the water their friends fastened a rope, for their guidance, +from the door of the wigwam to a post on the edge of the lake. + +"The old men were now quite comfortable. Their friends came frequently with +abundant supplies of food and the blind men were able to do their own work +and were happy together. They divided the day's work so that one day one +would be the cook while the other would bring in the wood and go for the +water. Next day they would change about. It gave each enough to do, and not +too much. + +"For a long time the two men lived contented and happy. But it happened +that one day the raccoon was out prowling along the shore, looking for +something to eat, when he happened to find the end of the rope that was +tied to the post at the water's edge. + +"Now you must know," said Souwanas, "that, next to the wolverine, the +raccoon is the biggest mischief in the woods. He is full of tricks, but he +is very cunning and suspicious. So before he interfered with the rope he +cautiously followed it up and found that its other end was at the wigwam of +these two old blind men. Hearing no noise, he cautiously peered into the +wigwam and saw them both sleeping near the fire. There was a smell of +something good to eat, and the raccoon decided to wait around to see if he +could not get hold of it. + +"While he was thus waiting the old men woke up, and one said to the other, +'My brother, I am feeling hungry; let us prepare our dinner.' + +"'Very well,' said the other; 'it is your turn to go to the lake for water +while I make the fire.' + +"When the raccoon heard this he ran down to the lake and quickly untied the +rope from the stake and, drawing it back, tied it to a clump of bushes on +the land. When the old man with the kettle felt his way along the rope +until he reached its end he tried to dip up the water as usual, but all in +vain. There was nothing but the dry earth and bushes. Not finding any water +he returned to his brother with the sad news that the lake had dried up, +and that already bushes were growing where yesterday there was plenty of +water. When his brother heard this doleful story he laughed at it, and +said: + +"'Why, that cannot be possible. No bushes could grow up in such a short +time.' + +"However his brother declared it was the case, and so the other one said, +'Well, let me go, and see if I can find some water.' + +"When the tricky raccoon heard this he hurried back and at once untied the +rope from the bushes and refastened it to the post near the water. When the +second brother came along he easily found the water, and filling the kettle +he returned to the wigwam where he vigorously accused his brother of lying. +He, poor fellow, could not understand it and was much perplexed. + +"The preparation of their dinner went on, and soon it was ready. There was, +however, another one present that the blind men had no suspicion of, and +that was the raccoon, who had now noiselessly come into the wigwam and +greedily sat watching the preparations. This dinner consisted of eight +pieces of meat which, when cooked, were placed in their _rogan_, or wooden +bowl. When ready they sat down with this bowl between them and began to +eat. Each took a piece of meat, and they talked of various things while +they ate. + +"The raccoon now noiselessly took four of the pieces of meat out of the +bowl and began eating them. Soon one of the men reached into the bowl, to +get another piece of meat, and finding only two pieces left, he said: + +"'My brother, you must be very hungry, to eat so fast. I have only had one +piece of meat, and there are only two left.' + +"'I have not taken them,' was the reply, 'but I suspect that you are the +greedy one who has eaten them.' + +"This made the other brother very angry, and as they thus went on arguing, +the raccoon, to make matters worse, and to have, as he told Nanahboozhoo, +some more sport with the old blind fellows, hit each of them a smart blow +on the face. The poor old men, each believing that the other had struck +him, began to fight; and so they upset the _rogan_ and lost the rest of +their dinner and nearly set the wigwam on fire. + +"The raccoon then seized the two remaining pieces of meat and the bowl, +and, with shouts of laughter, rushed out of the wigwam. The old men, +hearing this, perceived that they had been fooled, and they at once stopped +fighting and apologized to each other. + +"The raccoon's rascally trick made Nanahboozhoo very angry. Indeed he had +had a good deal of trouble to keep from letting the raccoon know who he +was. So just as soon as the raccoon had finished he said: + +"'I am Nanahboozhoo. Those old blind men are my brothers, and I'll teach +you a lesson you will never forget!' + +"So he seized the raccoon and killed him, and carried his body back to the +tent of the blind men and made out of it a great feast for them, and +declared that in future the old raccoons should have to carry as many +circles on their tails as pieces of meat that had been stolen out of the +_rogan_ of the blind men." + +"Good for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted Sagastao. "Mr. Raccoon couldn't play any +tricks on him. Now tell us another story." + +But here Minnehaha interposed. + +"I think," said she, "we had better go home now, for father and mother may +begin to think they have lost their little ones." + +"Let us wait until dark," said Sagastao, "and then Mary won't see our dirty +clothes!" For their greasy fingers had soiled them badly. + +The wishes of the little girl, however, prevailed, and so it was not long +ere the Indian salutations, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" were shouted to all, +and once more the two children were hoisted upon the shoulders of the big +Indians, and in the same manner in which they had been brought to the +wigwam in the forenoon they rode home in the beautiful gloaming. + +Very tired were they, yet not so weary but that they were able with their +little hands to rub some of the paint off the faces of their big stalwart +carriers and daub it on their own. The effect was so ludicrous that their +merry laughter reached the ears of their expectant parents even before they +emerged from the gloom of the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The Children's Return--Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse--Her Pathetic History--Her Love for the Children--The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. + +In reaching home the children were quietly received by their parents, who, +understanding Indian ways, had no desire to lessen their influence by +finding fault with them for carrying off the children. They treated the +matter as though it were one of everyday occurrence. + +Mary, the Indian nurse, however, did not regard the incident so calmly. +When the children were brought back dirty, greasy, bedaubed, and so tired +that they could hardly hold up their little heads, her indignation knew no +bounds, and as she was perfectly fearless she couched her sentiments in the +most vigorous phrases of the expressive Cree language. + +The history of Indian Mary was very strange. Indeed there was an incident +in her life so sad that from the day of her recovery she was considered to +be under the special care of the Good Spirit, so that even the most +influential chiefs or hunters had a superstitious fear of showing any +temper, or making any bitter retort, no matter what she might say. + +Years before this time Mary was the wife of a cruel pagan Indian who bore +the English name of Robinson. Although she was slight of figure, and never +very strong, he exacted from Mary a great deal of hard work and was vexed +and angry if, when heavily burdened with the game he had shot, she did not +move as rapidly along on the trail as he did, carrying only his gun and +ammunition. + +Once, when they were out in the woods some miles from his wigwam, he shot a +full-grown deer and ordered her to bring it into the camp on her back. +Picking up his gun he started on ahead, and being a large, stalwart man, +and moving with the usual rapidity of the Indians on the homeward trail, he +soon reached his wigwam. Unfortunately for him--and, as it turned out, for +Mary also--he found some free-traders[1] at his abode awaiting his return. +They had few goods for trade in their outfit, but they had a keg of fire +water, which has ever been the scourge of the Indians. + +[Footnote 1: Fur buyers who were not agents of the Fur Company.] + +Robinson informed them of his success in shooting the deer and that it was +even now being brought in. The traders not only purchased what furs +Robinson had on hand but also the two hind quarters of the deer which Mary +was bringing home. Robinson at once began drinking the fire water which he +had received as part payment. + +He was naturally irritable, and short-tempered even when sober, but he was +much more so when under the influence of spirituous liquors. The +unprincipled traders, knowing this, and wishing to see him in one of his +tantrums, began in a bantering way to question whether he had really shot a +deer, since his wife was so long in coming with it. + +This made him simply furious, and when Mary did at length arrive, laboring +under the two-hundred-pound deer, she was met by her husband now wild with +passion and the white man's fire water. Little suspecting danger she threw +the deer from her shoulders, where it had been supported by the carrying +strap across her forehead. Weary and panting, she turned to go into the +wigwam for her skinning knife, but ere she had gone a dozen steps she was +startled by a yell from Robinson which caused her instantly to turn and +face him. The sight that met her eyes was appalling. Before her stood her +husband with an uplifted gleaming ax in his hands and curses on his tongue. +Seeing that there was no chance to fly from him she threw herself toward +him, hoping thereby to escape the blow. She succeeded in saving her head, +but the ax buried itself in her spine. + +Mary's piercing screams speedily brought a number of Indians from +neighboring wigwams. When they found poor Mary lying there in agony, with +the ax still imbedded in the bones of her back, their indignation knew no +bounds. + +Indians, as a rule, have great self-control, but this sight so stirred them +that there was very nearly a lynching. Robinson, now sobered by his fears, +clearly foresaw that terrible would be his punishment, and while the +Indians and traders turned to attend to Mary's wounds the wretched husband +stealthily slipped away into the forest and was never again seen there. +Rumors, however, at length reached Mary that he had fled away to the +distant Kaministiquia River, where for a time he lived, solitary and alone, +in a little bark wigwam. One day, when out shooting in his canoe, he was +caught in some treacherous rapids and carried over the wild and picturesque +Ka-ka-be-ka Falls, about which so many thrilling Indian legends cluster. + +For seven years Mary was a helpless invalid. When she did recover her back +had so curved that she looked like a hunchback. As she was poor, and +utterly unable either to hunt or to fish, we helped her in various ways. +She was always grateful for kindness, and in return was very willing to do +what she could for us. She was exceedingly clever with her needle, and with +a little instruction was soon able to assist with the sewing required. +However, what especially won her to us and gave her a permanent place in +our home, was her great love and devotion to our little ones. + +[Illustration: "The wild and picturesque Ka-ka-be-ka Falls."] + +Little Sagastao was only a few months old when she installed herself as his +nurse, and for years she was a most watchful and devoted as well as +self-sacrificing guardian of our children in that Northern home. She seemed +to live and think solely for them. At times, especially in the matter of +parental discipline, there would be collisions between Mary and the mother +of the children; for the nurse, with her Indian ideas, could not accept +of the position of a disciplined servant, nor could she quietly witness the +punishment of children whom she thought absolutely perfect. Hence, if she +could not have things exactly as she wanted them, Mary would now and then +allow her fiery temper to obtain the mastery, and springing up in a rage +and throwing a shawl over her head she would fly out of the house and be +gone for days. + +Her mistress paid no attention to these outbursts. She well knew that when +Mary had cooled down she would return, and it was often amusing to see the +way in which she would attract the children's attention to her, peering +around tree or corner, and then come meekly walking in with them as though +they had only been for a pleasant outing of an hour or so. + +"Well, Mary," would be the greeting of her mistress, while Mary's quiet +response would be the Indian greeting of, "Wat cheer!" + +Then things would go on as usual for perhaps another six months, when Mary +would indulge again in one of her tantrums, with the same happy results. + +She dressed the children in picturesque Indian costumes--coats, dresses, +leggings, moccasins, and other articles of apparel of deer skin, tanned as +soft as kid, and beautifully embroidered with silk and bead work. Not a +spot could appear upon their garments without Mary's notice, and as she +always kept changes ready she was frequently disrobing and dressing them +up. + +When Souwanas and Jakoos came that morning and picked up the children Mary +happened to be in another room. Had she been present she would doubtless +have interfered in their movements. As it was, when she missed the children +her indignation knew no bounds, and only the most emphatic commands of her +mistress restrained her from rushing after them. All day long she had to +content herself with muttering her protests while, as usual, she was busily +employed with her needle. When, however, the two stalwart Indians returned +in the evening with the children on their shoulders the storm broke, and +Mary's murmurings, at first mere protests, became loud and furious when the +happy children, so tired and dirty, were set down before her. The Indians, +knowing of the sad tragedy in Mary's life, would not show anger or even +annoyance under her scathing words, but, with the stoical nature of their +race, they quietly endured her wrath. This they were much better prepared +to do since neither of the parents of the white children seemed in the +slightest degree disturbed by their long absence or the tirade of the +indignant nurse. With high-bred courtesy they patiently listened to all +that Mary had to say, and when the storm had spent itself they turned and +noiselessly retired. + +The children were worn out with their day's adventure, and their mother +intimated that Mary ought at once to bathe them and put them to bed. This, +however, did not satisfy Mary. It had become her custom to dress them up in +the afternoons and keep them appareled in their brightest costumes during +the rest of the day; therefore now the weary children, after being bathed, +were again dressed in their best and brought out for inspection and a light +supper before retiring. The bath and the supper had so refreshed them that +when Mary had tucked them into their beds they were wide awake and asked +her to tell them a story. But sleep was what they needed now more than +anything else, and she tried to quiet them without any further words, but +so thoroughly aroused were they that they declared that if she refused they +knew somebody who would be glad to have them visit him again, and that he +would tell them lots of beautiful things. + +This hint that they might return to the wigwam of Souwanas was too much for +Mary, who very freely gave utterance to her sentiments about him. The +children gallantly came to the defense of the old Indian and also of +Nanahboozhoo, of whom Mary spoke most slightingly, saying that he was a +mean fellow who ought to be ashamed of many of his tricks. + +"Well," replied Sagastao, "if you will tell us better stories than those +Souwanas can tell us about Nanahboozhoo, all right, we will listen to them. +But, mind you, we are going to hear his Nanahboozhoo stories too." + +"O, indeed," said Mary, with a contemptuous toss of her head, "there are +many stories better than those of his old Nanahboozhoo." + +"Won't it be fun to see whose stories we like the best, Mary's or +Souwanas's!" said Minnehaha, who foresaw an interesting rivalry. + +Mary had now committed herself, and so, almost without realizing what it +would come to, she found herself pitted against Souwanas, the great +story-teller of the tribe. However, being determined that Souwanas should +not rob her of the love of the children, she was tempted to begin her +story-telling even though the children were exhausted, and so it was that +when the lad asked a question Mary was ready. + +"Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "the mosquitoes bit us badly to-day. Do you +know why it is that there are such troublesome little things? Is there any +story about them?" + +"Yes. Wakonda, one of the strange spirits, sent them," said Mary, "because +a woman was lazy and would not keep the clothes of her husband and children +clean and nice." + +"Tell us all about it," they both cried out. + +Mary quieted them, and began the story. + +"Long ago, when the people all dressed in deerskins, there was a man whose +name was Pug-a-mah-kon. He was an industrious fellow, and had often to work +a good deal in dirty places. The result was that, although he had several +suits of clothes, he seemed never to have any clean ones. + +"It was the duty of his wife to scrape and clean his garments and wash and +resmoke them as often as they needed it. But she neglected her work and +would go off gossiping among her neighbors. Her husband was patient with +her for a time, but at length, when he heard that Wakonda was coming to +pay a visit to the people, to see how they were getting along, he began to +bestir himself so as to be decently attired, in clean, handsome apparel, to +meet this powerful being, who was able to confer great favors on him, or, +if ill-disposed, to injure him greatly. + +"He endeavored to get his wife to go to work and remove the dirt that had +gathered on his garments. She was so lazy that it was only from fear of a +beating that she ever did make any attempt to do as he desired. She took +the garments and began to clean them, but she was in a bad humor and did +her work in such a slovenly and half-hearted way that there was but very +little change for the better after the pretended cleaning. + +"When the news was circulated that Wakonda was coming, the husband prepared +to dress himself in his best apparel, but great indeed was his anger and +disgust when he found that the garments which he had hoped to wear were +still disgracefully grimy. + +"While the angry husband was chiding the woman for her indolence Wakonda +suddenly appeared. To him the man appealed, and asked for his advice in the +matter. + +"Wakonda quickly responded, and said: 'A lazy, gossiping wife is not only a +disgrace to her husband, she is annoying to all around her; and so it will +be in this case.' + +"Then Wakonda told her husband to take some of the dirt which still clung +to his garments, which she was supposed to have cleansed, and to throw it +at her. This the man did, and the particles of dirt at once changed into +mosquitoes. And so, ever since, especially in the warm days and nights of +early summer when the mosquitoes with their singing and stinging come +around to trouble us, we are reminded of this lazy, slovenly woman, who was +not only a trial to her husband, but by her lack of industry and care +brought such a scourge upon all the people." + +"Didn't Wakonda do anything else?" murmured the little lad; but that +blessed thing called sleep now enfolded both the little ones, and with +mutterings of "Nanahboozhoo--Wakonda--Souwanas--Mary"--they were soon far +away in childhood's happy dreamland. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +More about Mary and the Children--Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees--How the Bees Got Their Stings--What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. + +The next morning while Mary was dressing them the children told her of +their adventures in the wigwam of the Indians. Mary was really interested, +though she pretended to be disgusted at the whole thing, and professed, in +her Indian way, to be quite shocked when they both confidentially informed +her that they had had such a good time that they were going again even if +they had to run away and be whipped for it. + +This was terrible news for Mary, and placed her in an awkward position. To +tell the parents of the children's resolve was something she would never +do, as it might bring down upon them some of the punishment which was quite +contrary to her principles. Yet, on the other hand, to let them go and to +give no information might cause more trouble than she liked to think of. + +Neither could she bear the thought of the two children returning from +another day's outing with their neat clothing and pretty faces soiled and +dirty. Do as they might, she had never once informed on them, and she had +no mind to begin now. She earnestly pleaded with them not to carry out +their resolve. The little ones were shrewd enough to see that they had +thoroughly alarmed her, and they were in no hurry to surrender the power +which they saw they had over her. + +Mary never said a word in English. She understood a good deal that others +said, but she never expressed herself in other than the Indian language. +Hence both little Sagastao and Minnehaha always talked with her in her own +tongue. + +Minnehaha, seeing Mary's anxiety at their determination to run away to the +Indians, thought of compromising the matter by insisting that Mary should +tell them more tales. If she would do this they "would not run away very +soon;" especially did she emphasize the "very soon." This was hardly +satisfactory to Mary, but as it was the best promise she could get she was +obliged to consent. + +Little Sagastao, who was Mary's favorite, once more unsettled her when he +said, "Now, Mary, remember, we have only promised not to run away very +soon. That means that we intend to do it some time." + +It seems that the little conspirators had talked it all over in the morning +in their beds, and had decided how they would get stories out of Mary +without really promising not to run away to the wigwam of Souwanas. + +The children, being dressed, were taken down by Mary to prayers and +breakfast, after which an hour was allowed in summer-time for outdoor +amusement before the lessons began. Little Sagastao generally spent his +hour, either with his father or some trusty Indian, playing with and +watching the gambols of the great dogs, of which not a few were kept at +that mission home. Minnehaha was with her mother, and was interested in the +bestowal of gifts to the poor widows and children who generally came at +that hour. + +Owing to the isolated situation of the mission, and the fact that there +were no organized schools within hundreds of miles, some hours of the +forenoon were devoted to the education of the children in the home. The +afternoons, according to the season, were devoted to reading and amusement. + +Mary, the nurse, while able to read fluently in the Cree syllabics, had no +knowledge of English. As the children's education progressed they wanted to +teach Mary. She stubbornly resisted, however, declaring that if they taught +her to read English they would want to make her talk it. + +The mother noted the unusual expectancy manifested by the children during +the day, and on inquiring the reason was promptly informed that Mary had +promised to tell them a story, or legend, and "had got to do it." + +"Why has she _got_ to do it?" said the loving mother, struck with the +emphasis which they had placed on the word. + +The little mischiefs were cunning enough to see that they had nearly run +themselves into trouble, and were wisely silent. Mary also noticed this, +and at once her great loyalty to the little folk manifested itself, and +quickly turning to her mistress she said, with an emphasis which was quite +unusual: + +"Mary has promised them a story, and as she always keeps her word she has +_got_ to tell it." + +Saying this she quickly sprang from the floor, where she had been sitting, +and taking a child by each hand she marched with them out of the room. + +"Hurrah for you, Mary! you saved us that time," said little Sagastao. + +Mary would not have been sorry if in some way the parents received an +inkling of what was in the minds of the children, yet she had such peculiar +ideas that she would never herself be the one to convey that information. + +During the brief summer months the pleasantest walks were along the shores +of the lake. Many were the cosy little cave-like retreats where Mary often +led the children. There, with the sunlit waters before them, and the +rippling waves making music at their feet, the old nurse crooned out many +an Indian legend or exciting story about the red men of the past. To-day, +however, she was perplexed by the attitude of the children and could not +select any story that she thought of sufficient interest to divert their +minds from Souwanas and Nanahboozhoo. So for a time they wandered on along +the pleasant shore, or turned aside to gather the brilliant wild flowers. + +A scream of pain from Minnehaha interrupted their pleasure. In gathering +some wild lilies she was stung on both hands by some honey bees that were +in the flowers. Mary quickly made a batter of clay and bound up the wounded +hands in it. Then she sat down and took the child in her lap. + +"Naughty bees to sting me like this," said Minnehaha, with tears streaming +down her cheeks. "I was not doing them any harm." + +"Yes, you were, and so were we all," said the brother. "We were carrying +off the flowers from which they get their honey, which is their food." + +"Well, they might let us have a few flowers without stinging us," replied +Minnehaha. + +The intense pain of the stings rapidly abated under Mary's homely but +skillful treatment, and as the child still retained her place in Mary's lap +she said, + +"Can you tell us why such pretty little things as bees have such terrible +stings? My hands felt as if they were on fire when I was first stung, and I +could not help crying out with the pain." + +"Well," said Mary, "there was a time when the bees had no stings, and they +were as harmless as the house flies. They were just as industrious as they +are now, but they had any amount of trouble in keeping their honey from +being stolen from them, for every creature loves it. + +"In vain they hid their combs away up in hollow trees and in the clefts of +high rocks. The bears, which are very fond of honey, were ever on the +lookout for it, and were very clever in getting it when once they found +where it was hidden away. Birds with long beaks would suck it out, and even +the little squirrels were always stealing it. The result was that whole +swarms often starved in the long winters, because all their honey, which is +their winter food, was stolen from them. The bees were in danger of being +destroyed. They gave up working in great numbers together, and scattered +into little companies, and in the most secret places tried to store away a +little honey, just enough to keep them alive from season to season. But +even these little hives were often discovered and the honey devoured. + +"Things had come to such a pass with them that they had almost given up +hope of lasting much longer. + +"Fortunately for them, word was circulated that Wakonda, the strong +spirit--the one who sent the mosquitoes--was coming around on a tour, to +see how everything was progressing. He was greater than even Nanahboozhoo, +and was perhaps a relative of his, but he very seldom appeared, or did +anything for anyone. However, it happened that he had this year left his +beautiful home at Spirit Lake and was journeying through the country, and +he was willing to help all who were in real distress. + +"So the bees resolved to apply to him for help. Wakonda received them very +graciously, and ate heartily of the present of beautiful honey which some +of them had made and had succeeded in keeping out of the way of bears and +their other enemies. + +"When his feast of honey was over he listened to their tales of sorrow and +woe. He was indignant when he heard of the numbers of their enemies, and of +the persistency of their attacks upon such industrious little creatures. + +"For a time Wakonda was uncertain as to the best method to adopt to help +them. He dismissed them for that day, and told them to come again on a day +he mentioned, saying that by that time he would know just what to do--for +help them he would. The bees were so delighted with this news that they +could not keep it to themselves but must go and tell their cousins, the +wasps and hornets, and even bumblebees. + +"When the appointed time arrived the bees were on hand--and so were the +wasps, hornets, and bumblebees. Wakonda welcomed the bees most kindly, but +was a little suspicious about their visitors, and he asked some sharp +questions. But the bees were in such good humor about the help that was +coming that they did not refer to the bad habits of their cousins at all. +Then Wakonda made a speech to the bees, and told them how much he loved +them for their industrious habits, which he wished all creatures had. He +praised them for the fact that, instead of idly wasting the summer days, +they used them in gathering up food for the long, cold winter. + +"Then he proceeded to give them the terrible stings which they have had +ever since, and as the wasps and hornets claimed to be their cousins +Wakonda was good-natured enough to give them the same sort of weapons. +Some people, especially boys, think this was a, great mistake, and would be +very glad if Wakonda had refused to give stings to the yellow wasp and the +black hornet." + +"Well, what happened after the bees got their stings?" said Sagastao. + +"A good deal happened," said Mary, "and that very soon. A lot of them, +without as much effort to conceal their nest as formerly, selected a tall, +hollow tree, and using a big knot hole as the door began secreting their +honey in it. They had made the combs, and were now filling them, when along +came a couple of bears. These animals, as you have been told, are great +honey thieves, but they always had hard work to find where the timid bees +had cunningly hid it away, and now they could hardly believe that right +here before them was a great swarm of bees filling the air with their +buzzing as they flew in and out of the knot hole. + +"With saucy assurance they at once began climbing the tree, expecting to be +able to put their long paws into that big hole and draw out the combs. But +they never reached that knot hole. The noise they made in their climbing +alarmed the bees. Out they came in great numbers, and now, instead of +flying around in a panic, like so many house flies, and seeing their honey +devoured, they at once flew at their enemies, the bears. They stung them on +their noses and about their eyes and lips, and indeed in every spot where +they could possibly reach them with their terrible new weapons. + +"The bears could not make out what the trouble was. They howled with rage +and terror, yet they were resolved to get that honey, and still tried to +crawl up higher on the tree. But at length the bees mustered in such vast +numbers--for those away gathering honey, as they returned, joined in the +attack--that the bears became wild with pain and fear, and had to give up +their effort and drop to the ground. Even then the bees gave them no peace, +and continued to sting them until they were obliged to run into the dark +forest for relief. + +"Thus it happens now that almost all creatures that bother the bees are +similarly treated." + +[Illustration: "They howled with rage and terror."] + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "they need not have stung me because I was picking +a few flowers; but, after all, I am glad they have their stings or I +suppose we should never have any honey." + +"They are not big enough to have much sense," replied Sagastao, "and so +they go for everyone that gets in their way." + +Mary now carefully removed the clay poultices, which had effectually done +their work. A wash followed, in the waters of the lake which rippled at +their feet, and soon not the slightest trace of the sting remained. By the +time they reached home both pain and tears were well-nigh forgotten. + +That evening before the children were sent to bed they overheard Jakoos, +who had come to the house with venison to sell, telling in the kitchen a +story that he had heard from Souwanas about a naughty fellow, called +Maheigan, who tried to capture a beautiful kind-hearted maiden, Waubenoo, +and of how Nanahboozhoo thrashed him, and then afterward, because of some +naughty children not holding their tongues, Waubenoo was turned into the +Whisky Jack. + +What the little children overheard had very much excited their curiosity, +and so when Mary was putting them to bed they demanded from her the full +story. + +As this was one of the Saulteaux Indian legends, while Mary was a Cree, she +was not familiar with it. She told the children that she knew nothing about +it, but this by no means set their curiosity at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The Love Story of Wakontas--His Test of the Two +Maidens--His Choice--The Transformation of Misticoosis. + +A few days later Mary was annoyed by having the children tell her frankly +that they did not think she was a first-class story-teller. For if she had +been she ought to have been able to answer Minnehaha's question about what +Nanahboozhoo did to Maheigan when he tried to catch Waubenoo. + +Mary was vexed at herself that she was unable to answer the question, for +she well knew that the children would not rest satisfied until they had the +story told them by some one, possibly Souwanas himself. Indeed, knowing +them so well, she had fully resolved to post herself from one of the noted +story-tellers who have all the Indian legends at their tongue tips. But as +yet she was ignorant in this matter, and therefore fell considerably in the +children's estimation. Alary was somewhat hurt by noticing, perhaps for the +first time, Sagastao and Minnehaha whispering confidentially to each other. +The children conversed with Mary only in her own language, which at that +time they perhaps understood better than they did English. Now, much to +Mary's annoyance, their confidential whisperings were carried on in +English. Being sensitive and quick-tempered, when she saw this sudden break +in their affections toward her she was inclined to resent it, and asked the +reason why she was not allowed to know what they were talking about. + +Blunt little Sagastao spoke up at once: + +"Minnehaha and I have talked it over, and have decided that unless you tell +us better stories, and ones which you know all about, we're going to run +away to the wigwam of Souwanas." + +This was humiliating and distressing news. Mary fancied she had told them a +good story, and that with a few others like it she could satisfy their +curiosity and keep them at home until the brief summer would have passed. +Not so, however, thought the children. They saw their advantage and were +resolved to keep it, and when their lessons were over and they were left +entirely in the charge of Mary they taxed the little woman in a way that +obliged her to exercise all her gifts as a story-teller, and she was far +from being a poor one. + +One day she took them out in a graceful birch canoe among the picturesque +islands. They landed on one of these islands, and spent some time in +exploring its beauties and resting where grew a profusion of the fragrant +Indian grass. They were for a time much interested in the various wild +birds that then were so numerous and fearless. Beautiful gulls of +different varieties were there nesting, and by following Mary's directions +the children were delighted to find that they could approach very near to +the nests of some of them without disturbing the mother bird while her +mate, in fearless confidence, stood on guard beside her. + +[Illustration: The startling placard.] + +[Illustration: While her mate stood beside her.] + +"Now, Mary, hurrah for a story!" cried the children, as they sat at lunch. + +While Mary was wondering what she would tell them, Minnehaha, with all the +restless, inquisitive spirit of childhood, noticing the ceaseless rustling +movements of the leaves in the stately northern poplar while the leaves of +all the other trees were so still, said: + +"Why is it, Mary, that even while the leaves on the other trees are so +quiet those almost round ones are ever stirring?" + +Mary knew the Indian legend, and at once proceeded to narrate it. + +"It is believed by our people," said Mary, "that there are other persons +just as clever as Nanahboozhoo, and as able to do wonderful things, but +they are very seldom heard of. Some of them were the children of Wakonda, +the powerful spirit who dwelt in the region of Spirit Lake, where they say +it is always sunshine. Many strange things have been told about them, but +everybody says they are kind-hearted, and never did anything to injure any +of our people unless it was well deserved. The story is that long ago one +of these sons of Wakonda, whose name was Wakontas, could not find a wife +to suit him in his own beautiful country, and so he came to the regions +where the Indians dwelt. + +"For a long time he wandered throughout great regions of country before he +found anyone who interested him. However, in his journeyings Wakontas went +into the wigwam of some Indians where there were two lovely maidens, so +very beautiful that he fell in love with both of them. He was in the +disguise of a very fine-looking young hunter. So clever was he in the use +of his bow and arrow that at the end of every hunting excursion he returned +laden with the richest spoils of the chase. He fell more and more in love +with the two girls, and knowing, of course, that he could only get one of +them he found a great difficulty in making his choice. He had already gone +to the girl's father, and after finding out from him the price demanded for +his daughter, without mentioning which one, very quickly by his magic +powers he obtained the heavy price and laid it at the father's feet. Both +of the girls seemed equally pleased with him, and each one secretly hoped +that she might be the object of his choice. Still he hesitated, and +although he tried many experiments yet they so nearly equaled each other in +cleverness and beauty that he was still undecided. However, there was a +great difference in their dispositions. While one was proud and jealous, +and had a very bitter tongue, the other was just the opposite; while one +was very selfish, the other was generous and kind-hearted. But Wakontas was +not able to find this out at first, and after he had considered various +plans he decided that he would put on one of his many disguises and thus +try them. + +"So he started off as though going on a hunting expedition, but soon after +he was out of sight he quickly assumed the form of a poor and aged Indian, +and came to the home of these two beautiful sisters, and asked for +assistance. Wakontas chose a time when he knew the rest of the family were +away from the wigwam, in order that he might see how the two sisters would +act toward him. + +"When he walked into the wigwam, for nobody ever knocks at an Indian tent, +the maidens were a little startled at thus suddenly seeing this +rough-looking old beggar-man in their midst. The selfish, proud girl, whose +name was Misticoosis, at once began assailing him, and cried, 'Auwasta +kena!' (Get out; go away, you!) + +"In vain he pleaded that he was aged and hungry. She would not listen to +him. + +"Omemee, the other young Indian maiden, who had not said a word, but had +been pitying him from the first moment she saw how feeble and sad he +looked, now interfered, and remonstrated with her sister, whose tongue kept +up a constant stream of abuse. Taking the old man to her side of the wigwam +she seated him on a rug of deerskins and then built up before him a bright +fire. Then she quickly brought in venison, cooked it nicely, and gave him +the broth for drink and the meat for food. He thanked her gratefully, but +she checked his words and said that her greatest joy was in making others +happy. Not satisfied with what she had done, and noticing that his shoes +were old and worn, she took out of her beaded workbag a pair of splendidly +worked moccasins, and put them on his feet. + +"All this time, while this good-hearted, generous Omemee was treating the +poor old man so kindly, the proud, selfish Misticoosis was talking as hard +and as fast as she could against such deeds of kindness to all old people. +In her opinion, when they had got so old and helpless as that old fellow +was, they ought to be killed by their relatives. + +"The old man again expressed his thanks to the kind sister, and then went +his way. + +"Soon the girls began to think of arraying themselves for the return of +their friend and lover. The proud, selfish Misticoosis spent all the time +in fixing herself up in the most elaborate manner. She had lately become +quite jealous of her sister, and she was resolved to so outshine her in +appearance that the handsome young hunter would surely prefer her. But +Omemee (a name which means a dove) thought to herself: + +"'My father and mother and the rest of the family will soon be returning to +the wigwam, tired and hungry, and the best thing I can do will be to have a +good dinner ready for them all.' So, only taking time to comb and brush her +luxuriant hair and make herself neat and tidy for her work, she set about +cooking the meal. She skillfully prepared venison and bear's meat, and the +finest of fish. + +"Hardly had she finished her work and seen everything nicely cooked before +she heard the happy shoutings of her younger brothers, and the sweet +birdcalls of her little sisters. + +"As Omemee and her sister Misticoosis hurried out to greet them they were +surprised to see the handsome stranger gliding along in his beautiful canoe +alongside of the larger one of the family. Of course, the sight of their +lover excited the two girls. Misticoosis, who had spent all the hours in +arraying herself in her finery and adornment, boldly thrust herself to the +front, and crowded out the modest Omemee, who was flushed by the busy work +of cooking the dinner, and was wisely dressed in a costume which harmonized +with her face and with the work in which she had been engaged so +industriously. + +"The instant the handsome young Indian landed--fancy the amazement of the +two girls to notice that he had on his feet the same beautiful moccasins +that, not many hours before, Omemee had given to the aged feeble man! +Before anyone could utter a word he came striding up to the girls, and +said: + +"'As an old, weary man, I came to your wigwam a few hours ago. Misticoosis +gave me nothing but abuse, yet my only crime was that I was old. Her tongue +went on and on without stopping, and all of her words were words of abuse +for the old man and anger that he should have been left to live so long. +But Omemee, kind-hearted Omemee, pitied the poor old man. She made him sit +down on a couch of deerskins, that he might rest his tired limbs. She +built a fire and warmed him. She took of the best of the venison, and made +him food and drink, and then ere he left she put on his feet the most +beautiful of her moccasins. All her gifts to the unknown old man were the +best she had. + +"'See the beautiful moccasins, the gift of Omemee! + +"'I was that old man--I am now the lover long seeking a bride. I have made +my choice. Two beautiful maidens for a time divided my heart. There is no +division now. By testing them I have found out that only one is lovely +within. + +"'That no man may have to put up through life with the unceasing clatter of +the tongue of Misticoosis, she will be from this time the unbeautiful aspen +tree, while her tongue shall be the leaves that will never again be still +even in the gentlest breeze. The leaves of other trees shall rest at times, +but the aspen leaves, now the tongue of Misticoosis, shall ever be restless +and unquiet.' + +"And even while he was speaking, Misticoosis, who was amazed and ashamed at +the words he spoke, became rooted to the ground, and gradually turned into +an aspen tree. + +"Then, turning from her to the maiden of his choice, he exclaimed: + +"'But Omemee, the loving, the tender, the kind-hearted, thou art my heart's +choice!' + +"Saying this, the handsome hunter opened his arms, and Omemee sprang toward +him. For a moment he held her in his arms; then he said: + +"'I am Wakontas, and to the beautiful home of Wakontas thou shalt be +taken.' + +"Then there was a wonderful transformation; as quickly as a butterfly +bursts from its chrysalis, so suddenly was Omemee transformed into a +beautiful dove and the hunter as quickly assumed the same lovely form. +Together they arose into the air, and flew away to the unknown but +beautiful home of Wakontas, in the land of perpetual sunshine." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The Startling Placard--What Happened to the Little +Runaways--The Rescue--Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows--How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. + +When Mary entered the children's bedroom one bright, pleasant morning she +was amazed at finding both of the beds empty and a piece of foolscap paper +pinned to the dressing table. The writing on it was beyond her power to +read. She remembered now that the children had begged her not to come very +early in the morning to wake them up, and as their requests were as a law +she had lingered as long as she dared, and indeed had only gone to call +them when her mistress had asked the reason for their nonappearance. Not +until she had shown the paper, with its inscription, to the kitchen maid, +who could read English, did its full meaning burst upon her. Of course, she +was very much troubled, and yet such was her loyalty to the children that +she hesitated about letting the parents know what had occurred. She was +fully aware that she could not long keep the startling news from them, and +yet she was still resolved that never should any information be imparted by +her that might bring down upon them any punishment, no matter how much +deserved. + +It was a long, rough trail through the primitive forest to the wigwam of +Souwanas. How long the children had been away she could not tell. Mary, +with Indian shrewdness, had felt their beds, and had found them both quite +cold, so she knew the little mischiefs had been off at least an hour. She +interrogated not only the maid in the kitchen but also Kennedy, the man of +all work, outside. Neither of them had seen or heard anything of the +children, and as they did not share Mary's ideas the escapade of the +children was soon known. + +The parents were naturally alarmed when they heard the news. At once the +father, accompanied by Kennedy and the dogs, Jack and Cuffy, started off on +the trail of the runaways. The intelligent dogs, having been shown a couple +of garments recently worn by the missing boy and girl and being told to +find them, at once took up the trail in the direction of the wigwam of +Souwanas, running with such rapidity that if they had not been restrained +by the voice of their master they would very quickly have left him and his +Indian attendant far behind. + +At length, with a sudden start, both dogs, growling ominously, dashed off +ahead, utterly regardless of all efforts made by their master to restrain +them. This suspicious conduct on the part of the dogs of course alarmed the +father and his Indian companion, and as rapidly as the rough trail would +allow they hurried on in the direction taken by the dogs. Soon their ears +were greeted by a chorus of loud and angry yelping. Fear gave speed to both +the men, and soon they dashed out from the forest into the opening of an +Indian's clearing. Here was a sight that filled them with alarm, and almost +terror. Standing on a pile of logs were little Sagastao and Minnehaha. +Sagastao erect and fearless, with a club about as large as an ordinary +cane, while behind him, leaning against a high fallen log, was Minnehaha. +Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs, among whom Jack +and Cuffy, wild and furious, were now making dire havoc. One after another, +wounded and limping, the curs skulked away as the two men rushed up to the +children. + +"Ha! ha! hurrah for our Jack and Cuffy; aren't they the boss dogs!" shouted +the fearless little runaways, and now that the victory was won they nimbly +sprang down from their high retreat and, apparently without the slightest +fear, congratulated both their father and the Indian on the superiority of +their own dogs. + +Trembling with anxiety, the anxious father, thankful at the narrow escape +of his children, as he clasped them in his arms could not but be amazed at +the indifference of the little ones to the great danger from which they had +just escaped. After petting Jack and Cuffy for their great bravery and +courage the return journey was begun, much to the regret of the children, +who pleaded hard to be allowed to resume their trip to the wigwam of +Souwanas to hear the stories of Nanahboozhoo. + +[Illustration: "Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian +dogs."] + +The father was perfectly amazed at this request, and of course it was +sternly refused. He had started off in pursuit of the runaways with a +resolve to punish them for this serious breach of home discipline, but his +alarm at their danger and his thankfulness for their escape had so stirred +him that he could not punish them nor even chide them at the time. All he +could do was to bring them safely home again and, as usual in such +emergencies, turn them over to the tender mercies of their mother. + +Sturdily the children marched on ahead for a while, then Kennedy, the +Indian, took Minnehaha in his arms. He had not carried her many hundred +yards before the weary little one fell fast asleep, softly muttering as she +slipped off into the land of dreams, "Wanted to hear about Nanahboozhoo." + +Great was the excitement at home when the party returned. Sagastao rushed +into the arms of his mother, and without the slightest idea of having done +anything wrong began most dramatically to describe how "our Jack and Cuffy +thrashed those naughty Eskimo dogs" that chased Minnehaha and him upon that +great pile of logs. Mary in the meantime had taken from Kennedy's arms the +still sleeping Minnehaha, and almost smothered her with kisses as she bore +her away to bed. + +There was great perplexity on the part of the parents to know just what to +do to impress upon the little ones that they had been very naughty in thus +running away, for it was very evident from the utterances of both that they +had not considered the matter in that light. Now, in view of the weariness +of Minnehaha, it was decided to leave the matter of discipline in abeyance +until a little of the excitement had passed away. + +In the meantime Sagastao was ready to talk with everybody about the whole +affair. It seems that he and Minnehaha had decided that Mary was "no good" +in telling stories. He said her stories neither frightened them nor made +them cry, but Souwanas was the boss man to tell Nanahboozhoo stories. He +said they got up before anybody was stirring, that morning, and dressed +themselves so quietly that nobody heard them. They remembered the trail +along which Souwanas and Jakoos had carried them. After they had walked for +some time they came to where there was a larger trail, and they turned into +it, and came upon a lot of dogs that had been chasing some rabbits. Soon +the rabbits got away from the dogs, when they reached those trees that had +been chopped down. Minnehaha was the first to notice that the dogs had +turned back, and were coming after them, and she shouted: + +"'O, look! those dogs think we are rabbits, and they are coming for us!'" + +"When I saw they really were coming," said Sagastao, "Minnehaha and I +jumped up on the logs, and we climbed up as high as we could, and I took up +a stick, and then I stood up with Minnehaha behind me, and I shook the +stick at them, and--and I shouted: + +"'A wus, atimuk!'" (Get away, you dogs!) + +"They came so near on the logs that I hit one or two of them, while all of +the others on the ground kept barking at us. But I kept shouting back at +them, 'A wus, atimuk!' My! it was great fun. Then all at once we heard Jack +and Cuffy, and, I tell you! soon there was more fun, when our big dogs +sprang at them. Every time an Eskimo was tackled by Jack or Cuffy he went +down, and was soon howling from the way in which he was shaken. And they +had nearly thrashed the whole of them when papa and Kennedy came rushing +up. I wished they had been there sooner, to have seen all the fun." + +Thus the lad's tongue rattled on, while it was evident he was utterly +unconscious of the danger they had been in. + +After some deliberation it was decided that, in view of this runaway being +the first offense of the kind, the punishment should be confinement to +their own room the next day, until six o'clock in the evening, on a diet of +bread and water. At this Mary was simply furious. She well knew, however, +that it was necessary for her to control herself in her master's and +mistress's presence. She managed to hold her tongue, but her flashing eyes +and an occasional mutter, which would come out as she went about her usual +duties, showed the smoldering fire that was burning inside. The children +had been duly lectured for their breach of discipline and then, that +evening, consigned to their room for their imprisonment which was to last +until the next evening. That night Mary took up her mattress and blankets +and went and slept on the floor between the two beds of the children, and +in spite of orders, so the maid said, she secretly carried up a goodly +sized bundle from the kitchen. + +The day was one of unusual quietness, as the lively pair, who generally +kept the house full of music, were now supposed to be away in humiliation +and disgrace. All regretted that the punishment had to be inflicted and the +children made to realize their naughtiness in thus running away, and all +were looking forward to the hour of six o'clock with pleasant anticipation. +When it arrived word was sent to the children that their hours of +imprisonment were over, and that they were to present themselves in the +library. Quick and prompt was the response, and noisily and hurriedly the +two darlings came rushing down the stairs, followed by Mary. They were +arrayed in their most beautiful apparel, and were evidently prepared by +their nurse to go with her for a walk. + +The father, feeling that it was necessary, began to make a few remarks +expressive of regret that he had thus been obliged to punish them, when he +was interrupted by little Sagastao with the honest and candid remark, +spoken in a way which, while perfectly fearless, was yet devoid of all +rudeness or impertinence: + +"O, father dear, you needn't feel badly about us at all, as Mary has been +with us all day and has told us lovely stories." + +"And Mary brought us taffy candy," broke in darling Minnehaha, with equal +candor; "and some currant cakes and other nice things, so we got on very +well after all." + +These candid utterances on the part of the two children not only amazed but +amused the parents, and were another revelation of Mary's wonderful love +for the children and her defiance of disciplinary measures which she +thought might cause the slightest pain or sorrow. And here she stood in the +open door, and as soon as their father's words and their own rather +startling "confessions" were ended she called them to her and away they +went for a long walk along the beautiful shore of the lake, leaving their +parents to conjecture whether the punishment that had been inflicted would +produce any very salutary results. + +When the children were gathered that evening in the study with their +parents little Sagastao said: + +"Papa, Minnehaha and I have been talking it all over with Mary and she has +shown us that it was naughty on our parts to run away as we did; and we are +sorry that we did anything that caused you and mamma sorrow and anxiety +about us, and so, ... Well, we know you will forgive us." And as the four +little arms went twining around the parents' necks there was joy and +gladness all round, and it was evident that there was no danger of the +escapade being repeated. + +The following are a couple of the legends that Mary told them while they +were prisoners in their own room that day. + + +THE LEGEND OF THE SWALLOWS. + +"Long ago," said Mary, "there were some Indian families who lived on the +top of a very high hill, like a mountain. They had quite a number of small +children, and I am sorry to say they were very naughty and would often +disobey their parents. One of their bad deeds was to run away, and thus +make the father and mother very unhappy until they returned. Their parents +were very much afraid that some of the Windegoos or wild animals would +catch them when they thus ran away by themselves, with no strong man to +guard them. + +"So the parents tried to make their homes as nice as possible for them. +They made all sorts of toys for them and gave them nice little bows and +arrows, and other things, that ought to have amused them and kept them +happy at home. All the efforts of their parents, however, were of no use. +They soon were tired of their home amusements, and when their parents' +backs were turned they would run away. + +"At length their conduct became so bad, and the parents found themselves so +powerless to prevent it, that they decided to appeal to the Indian Council +for assistance. For a time the stern commands of the Chief were listened to +and obeyed. Then they neglected his words, and about as frequently as ever +they were found playing truant from their homes and parents. + +"At length, on one occasion when they had all run away and had been off for +several days and could not be found, their fathers and mothers called upon +Wakonda to look for them and to send them home. Wakonda was very angry when +he heard about these naughty children running away so much, and so he set +off in a hurry to find them. After a long search he discovered them on the +bank of a muddy river making mud huts and mud animals. He was so angry at +them that he at once turned them into swallows, and said, 'From this time +forward you will ever be wanderers and your homes will always be made of +mud,' and so it has been." + +"I say, Mary, did you remember that yarn because Minnehaha and I ran away?" +said Sagastao. + +"Well, we were not making mud huts," said Minnehaha. + +Mary was not to be caught, however, even if she did love them so much, and +she did not answer Sagastao's question, although in her heart she was not +sorry if he saw something in the legend that would deter him from again +running away. + + +HOW SOME CRUEL MEN WERE PUNISHED WHO TEASED AN ORPHAN BOY. + +"There was once an old grandmother who was left alone with only an orphan +grandson. All of her other relatives were dead. This boy was a very +industrious little fellow, and did all that he could to help his +grandmother. They both had to work very hard to have sufficient to keep +them from starving. Together they would go out in their canoe and catch +fish. They also set many snares in the forest to catch rabbits, partridges, +and other small game. + +"Because they were so poor the clothing of this orphan boy was made partly +of rabbitskins and partly of the skins of birds. When he was not busy +helping his grandmother he, like other little boys, was pleased to go out +and play with the other children of the village. Some of the men of the +village were very fond of teasing him, and some were even cruel to him, +because of the poor clothing he had to wear. Often the poor boy would +return to the wigwam of his grandmother crying and weeping because the men +of the village had not only teased him on account of his poor clothing but +had almost torn his coat into pieces. His grandmother entreated the men to +stop teasing the poor boy, who could not help his poverty. She would +patiently mend his poor torn clothes and try to cheer him up with the hope +that soon these foolish, cruel men would see how wrong it was to treat him +thus. + +"But they only seemed to get worse instead of better, and so the +grandmother got very angry at last and determined to have it stopped. + +"So she went off to Wakonda and told him all about it. Wakonda was very +busy just then, but he gave her some of his magical powers and told her +what to do when she reached her home. + +"When she arrived there she found her grandson almost naked from the abuse +of the cruel men, who, finding that she was absent, had been more cruel +than ever to him. She then informed him that she was able now to put a stop +to all their cruel actions. So she told him to dive into a pool of water +that was near at hand. He did as she had commanded, and there he found an +underground channel that led out into the great lake. + +"When he came up to the top of the water in the lake he found himself +transformed into a beautiful seal. He at once begun playing about in the +waves as seals are often seen doing. + +"It was not long before he was seen by the people of the village, and, of +course, the men were very anxious to secure this valuable seal. Canoes were +quickly launched and away the men paddled with their spears to try and +capture it. But the boy, now transformed into the seal, quickly swam away +from them, as instructed by his grandmother, and so kept them busy paddling +on and on farther from the shore. When they seemed almost discouraged the +seal would suddenly dive down, and then reappear in the water just behind +them. Then, before the men could turn around and spear him, he as suddenly +dived under the water again. The pursuit was so exciting that these cruel +men did not notice how far out from land they had now come. They did, +however, after a time see their danger, for suddenly a fierce gale sprang +up, and the waves rose in such fury that they upset the canoes and all of +the wicked men were drowned. When the old grandmother saw this she once +more exerted the magical powers with which she had been intrusted by +Wakonda, and calling to her grandson to return home he instantly complied +with her request. He speedily swam back to her, and she at once transformed +him into his human form. + +"Thus freed from his tormentors, he very rapidly grew up to manhood and +became a great hunter, and was kind to his grandmother as long as she +lived." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo--How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf--Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. + +"Who was this Nanahboozhoo that we are hearing so much about?" + +Thus was the old story-teller addressed by Sagastao, who always was anxious +to learn about those who interested him. + +The old man began in this way: + +"When the great mountains are wrapped in the clouds we do not see them very +well. So it is with Nanahboozhoo. The long years that have passed since he +lived have, like the fogs and mists, made it less easy to say exactly who +he really was, but I will try to tell you. Nanahboozhoo was not from one +tribe only, but from all the Indians. Hence it is that his very name is so +different. + +"The Ojibway call him Mishawabus--Great Rabbit; the Menomini call him +Manabush. He had other names also. One tribe called him Jouskeha, another +Messou, another Manabozho, and another Hiawatha. His father was +Mudjekeewis, the West Wind. There was an old woman named Nokomis, the +granddaughter of the moon, who had a daughter whose name was Wenonah. She +was the mother of twin boys, but at their birth she died and so did one of +the boys. Nokomis wrapped the living child in soft dry grass, laid it on +the ground at one end of her wigwam, and placed over it a great wooden bowl +to protect it from harm. Then in her grief she took up the body of Wenonah, +her daughter, and buried it, with the dead child, at some distance from her +wigwam. When she returned from thus laying away her dead she sat down in +her wigwam, and for four days mourned her loss. At the end of that time she +heard a slight noise in her wigwam, which she soon found came from that +wooden bowl. Then as the bowl moved she suddenly remembered the living +child, which she had forgotten in her great grief at the loss of its +mother. When she removed the bowl from its place, instead of there being +the baby boy she had placed there she beheld a little white rabbit, and on +taking it up she said, 'O my dear little rabbit, my Manabush!' Nokomis took +great care of it and it grew very rapidly. + +"One day, when Manabush was quite large, it sat up on its haunches and +hopped slowly across the floor of the wigwam, and caused the earth to +tremble. + +"When the bad Windegoos, or evil spirits who dwell underground, felt the +earth to thus tremble they said, 'What is the matter? What has happened? A +great Munedoo (spirit) is born somewhere.' And at once they began to devise +means by which they might kill Manabush, or Nanahboozhoo, as he was now +called, when they should find him. + +"But Nanahboozhoo did not long continue to look like a rabbit. As he was +superior to other people he could change himself to any form he liked. He +was most frequently seen as a fine strong young Indian hunter. He called +the people his uncles. When he grew up he said to his grandmother, the old +Nokomis, that the time had come when he should prepare himself to go and +help his uncles, the people, to better their condition. This he was able to +do, seeing he was more than human, for his father was the West Wind and his +mother a great-granddaughter of the moon. Sometimes he was the beautiful +white rabbit; then he would be a wolf or a wolverine; then he would be a +lovely bird. He could even change himself to look like a dry old stump or a +beautiful tree. Sometimes he would be like a little half-frozen rabbit; +then he would be a mighty magician, and often a little snake. He was just +as changeable in his disposition as in his outward appearance. Sometimes he +was doing the best things imaginable for his uncles, the Indian people, and +at other times he was full of mischief and trickery. But on the whole he +was a friend, and although quick-tempered and fiery yet he did lots of fine +things for the people, for he was really one of the best of the Munedoos of +the early times. + +"When the time came for him to leave his grandmother's wigwam he built one +for himself, and then he asked Nokomis to prepare for him the sacred +magical musical sticks which she alone could make. His grandmother made +him four sticks, and with these he used to beat time when singing his queer +songs. Some of them were very queer, and ended up with 'He! he! ho! ho! ha! +ha! hi! hi!' Others were in reference to some special benefits he would +confer on his uncles. In one of them, referring to his going to steal the +fire for them, he sings: + + "'Help to my uncles I'm bringing, + Their sorrows I'll change into singing. + From their enemies the fire I'll steal, + That its warmth the children may feel. + + "'Disguised will be Nanahboozhoo, + That his work may the better be done; + But his jolly deeds ever will tell who + Has been sporting around in his fun.' + +"At first he was a jolly fellow, full of fun, and did lots of good things +for his uncles. He showed them the plants and roots good for food, and +taught them the arts of surgery and medicine, but as the years went by he +did some things that caused him to be feared very much. His uncles always +went to him when they got into trouble, but whether he would help them or +not depended much on the humor he was in when they came. + +[Illustration: The beautiful reflections in the water.] + +"After he had lived for years in the first wigwam which he had built, and +taught the people of the earth many things, his father, the West Wind, held +a council with the North Wind and the South Wind and the East Wind, and +as Nanahboozhoo was never married, and was living such a lonely life, they +determined to restore to life, and give to reside with him, his twin +brother who had died at his birth. The name of this brother was Nahpootee, +which means the Skillful Hunter. Nanahboozhoo was very fond of him, and +took great care of him. He grew very rapidly, and he and Nanahboozhoo were +very great friends. Like Nanahboozhoo, Nahpootee could disguise himself in +any form he chose. One favorite form he often assumed was that of a wolf, +as he was often away on hunting excursions. The evil spirits, or Windegoos, +who dwell under the land and sea, had never been able to do much harm to +Nanahboozhoo, he was too clever for them; and although they often tried he +generally worsted them. Now they were doubly angry when they heard that +Nahpootee had been restored to life and was living with him. Nanahboozhoo +warned his brother of their enmity, and of the necessity of being on his +guard against them. + +"These brothers moved far away and built their wigwam in a lonely country +on the shore of a great lake which is now called Mirror Lake, because of +its beautiful reflections. Here, as he was a hunter, Nahpootee was kept +busy supplying the wigwam with food. Once, while he was away hunting, +Nanahboozhoo discovered that some of the evil Munedoos dwelt in the bottom +of the very lake on the shores of which they had built their wigwam. So he +warned his brother, Nahpootee, never to cross that lake, but always to go +around on the shore, and for some time he remembered this warning and was +not attacked. But one cold winter day, when he had been out for a long time +hunting, he found himself exactly on the opposite side of the lake from the +wigwam. The ice seemed strong, and as the distance was shorter he decided +that, rather than walk around on the shore, he would cross on the ice. When +about half-way across the lake the ice broke, he was seized by the evil +Munedoos and drowned. + +"When Nahpootee failed to return to the wigwam Nanahboozhoo was filled with +alarm and at once began searching everywhere for his loved, lost brother. +One day when he was walking under some trees at the lake he beheld, high up +among the branches, Ookiskimunisew, the kingfisher. + +"'What are you doing there?' asked Nanahboozhoo. + +"'The bad Munedoos have killed Nahpootee,' Ookiskimunisew replied, 'and +soon they are going to throw his body up on the shore and I am going to +feast on it!' + +"This answer made Nanahboozhoo very angry, but he concealed his feelings. + +"'Come down here, handsome bird,' he said, 'and I'll give you this collar +to hang on your neck.' + +"The kingfisher suspected that the speaker was Nanahboozhoo, the brother of +Nahpootee, and he was afraid to descend. + +"'Come down, and have no fear,' said Nanahboozhoo, in a friendly tone. 'I +only want to give you this beautiful necklace to wear, with the white +shell hanging from it.' + +"On hearing this the kingfisher came down, but suspecting that Nanahboozhoo +would be up to some of his tricks he kept a sharp watch on him. +Nanahboozhoo placed the necklace about the neck of the bird so that the +beautiful white shell should be over the breast. Then he pretended to tie +the ends behind, but just as he had made a half knot in the cord, and was +going to tighten it and strangle the bird, the latter was too quick for him +and suddenly slipped away and escaped. He kept the necklace, however, and +the white spot may be seen on the breast of the kingfisher to this day. + +"Soon after this the shade or ghost of Nahpootee appeared to Nanahboozhoo +and told him that, as his death was the result of his own carelessness, in +not keeping on the land, he would not be restored to live here, but was +even now on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds, in the Land of the +Setting Sun, beyond the Great Mountains. + +"Nanahboozhoo was deeply moved by the loss of his brother, who had been +such a pleasant companion to him. So great was his grief that at times the +earth trembled and the evil spirits dwelling under the land or water were +much terrified, for they knew they would be terribly punished by +Nanahboozhoo if he should ever get them in his power. But it was a long +time before he had an opportunity to get his revenge on them for the death +of his brother. How he did it I will tell you at some future time." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The Legend of the Bad Boy--How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. + +"Tell us, Mary, a story about the boys of the old times among the Indians," +said Sagastao. + +"About bad boys," said Minnehaha with a mischievous look in her eyes; "for +this morning brother and papa had to have a 'settlement,' and it might do +Sagastao good to hear about other bad boys and what was done with them." + +These words of Minnehaha made Mary very angry. She thought more of Sagastao +than she did of any other member of the family, and nothing threw her into +a rage quicker than for anyone to cross him or even to question the wisdom +of anything he said. Now, indignant that his father had been obliged to +call him into his study for some misdemeanor, Mary was greatly annoyed to +hear these words. + +"O, pshaw, Sakehow," said Sagastao; "do not be so touchy. I deserved the +talking to that papa gave me. It was wrong of me to whack that Indian boy +with my bat as I did, and I ought to have been punished; so if you have any +jolly good stories about bad Indian boys, and how they were punished, why, +let us have one." + +This confession of her favorite, who, after his temper cooled, was always +quick to admit that he had been in the wrong, quite pacified Mary, and she +settled down on the wolfskin rug with the children and began her story. + +"Long ago all the Indians believed in Windegoos and other spirits that were +more or less friendly to good people. Some were man-eaters and, of course, +were always to be feared. Some Indians were in such fear of these cannibals +that they would never leave the wigwam after dark for fear of being gobbled +up by some of the monsters that might be skulking about. + +"There was one great creature called Annungitee, or Two Faced. He had a +great habit of looking out for bad boys, very bad boys. It was said that he +could not see really good boys; that they were like glass, and he could not +see them. But when a boy became very bad he was then so black that he was +easily seen, and Annungitee could espy him a long way off and was very +likely to come after him. + +"Fortunately Annungitee always made a noise when he was passing along. This +was a good thing for bad boys, for it gave them time to scurry into the +wigwams, out of his way. He was so big that when he set one of his feet +down on the ground there would be sounds like the ringing of bells and the +hooting of owls. When he put the other foot down the sound was like the +roaring of buffalo bulls when they are going to fight each other. Even when +he tried to move softly there would be sounds like birds and beasts crying +out. All the Indians who had heard this great terrible fellow were afraid +of him, and yet no two were able to give the same description of him. But +they did agree on one thing, and that was that when he caught a very wicked +man, which he did sometimes, or very bad boys, which he often did, he just +threw him into one of his big ears and held him there. Indeed, it was +believed that he could hold three big men or six bad boys in one of his +ears at the same time. Nobody knew where he lived, as no one had been found +brave enough to follow and see, and no daring hunter had ever found his +abode in any of his hunting expeditions. + +"Now a certain Indian man and his wife who lived in a wigwam quite apart +from other families had one boy. He was their only child. He had been a +very bad, cruel, unkind boy. His father had to work hard as a hunter to +obtain sufficient game to keep them from starving. His mother cut the wood, +carried up the water from the distant river, dressed the skins of the +animals that were shot by her husband, and did all the work of the wigwam. +The boy would not lift a finger to help in any way. One day the mother, who +was quite sick, asked him to go for some water. He refused, and was very +saucy to her. Then she asked him if he would please bring in some wood for +her, as she felt cold. No, he would not do anything of the kind. She then +became quite angry with him, and said: + +"'If you do not be a better boy I will put you out of the wigwam, and +Annungitee will toss you into his ear.' + +"All the same, she did not really believe he would, as she had not heard of +Annungitee or any other kind of ghost being around for a long, long time. +She only said what she did to frighten the bad boy into obedience. Indeed +she had often said to him, when she was angry with him, 'I do hope a ghost +will catch you.' But the more she talked to him the worse he became. So one +day when he had been very lazy and very rude to her she sprang up and, +seizing him by the arm, undertook to put him out of the wigwam. He became +much frightened at this and began to cry. But she, knowing that he deserved +to be punished, pushed him out and securely fastened the doorway, calling +out: + +"'May Annungitee catch you!' + +"She did not really mean it, of course. No mother could wish her boy to +have such a terrible misfortune. The frightened boy then began running +round and round the wigwam, trying to find some place where he could get +in, but he could find no opening. After a while his crying and his efforts +to get into the wigwam ceased, and all became still and silent. His mother +listened attentively, and every moment expected to hear his voice again, +but there was no sound except something like the sound of the singing of +birds and the rattling of small bells dying away in the distance. At this +she became very much frightened and began to cry, and to call for her boy. +She threw open the door flap and began to search all around her wigwam for +her son. But all in vain! He was nowhere to be found. + +"When the father came home from his hunting she told him of the sudden +disappearance of their boy, and he, too, was very much alarmed. They set +out and visited the lodges of all the people around. But no one had seen or +heard anything of the missing boy. They returned to their own silent wigwam +very sorrowful, and for days they mourned over the loss of their son. One +night, as the mother was weeping on account of her great loss, she heard +some one crying out to her: + +"'Hi! Hi!' and at the same time she heard the sounds of bells ringing and +owls hooting. This happened several nights, and then one night there was a +voice saying: + +"'You said, "Ghost, take that boy." Hi! Hi!' + +"Next morning the wife told her husband what she had heard during the +previous night, and she added: + +"'I believe the ghost Annungitee has taken our boy.' + +"Her husband was very angry when he heard this, and said: + +"'Yes, a ghost has taken our boy. You gave him to him, and he has taken +you at your word. So why should you complain? It serves you right.' + +[Illustration: "They tumbled the tall ghost over."] + +"At this the mother lifted up her voice and cried out so loud that it could +be heard a great distance. + +"'Husband,' she said, 'I deserve what you have said, but I am going to try +and get back our boy, and so to-night I will hide in the pile of wood that +is outside the wigwam, and if the ghost comes along again, as he has been +coming, I will catch him by the leg, and you must rush out and try to +rescue our son.' + +"So that night she hid herself in the wood pile, and, sure enough, after a +while she heard the sound of bells ringing and animals softly crying out, +and then a loud 'Hi! Hi!' after which all was still. + +"Then, as she cautiously looked out from her hiding place, there before her +was a great creature standing beside the wigwam. He was so tall that his +head was higher than the smoke hole at the top, and he was peeping down +into the wigwam. But, big as he was, she had a mother's loving heart after +all, and as she thought of her boy fastened up there in one of his big ears +she was determined to rescue him if possible. So she cautiously moved along +until she was able to seize one of his legs, which she did with all her +strength, and at the same instant she shouted for her husband to come and +help. Out he rushed, and between them they tumbled the tall ghost over and, +sure enough, in one of his big ears they found their little boy. + +"Poor little fellow. He was half-starved, and so thin and weak that he +could hardly stand. But they helped him into the wigwam and gave him some +soup, made out of some birds that his father had killed that day. + +"The tall ghost was so frightened by the sudden way in which he had been +seized that as soon as he could get up he hurried away, and was never seen +in that part of the country again. Some tribes say he went South, and +there, when he was stealing children and carrying them off in his ears, he +was caught by the angry parents and burned to death on a big wood pile." + +"Did the little boy get better?" asked Minnehaha. + +"O yes, he did, after a while; but he was a long time in getting over the +fright he had had. It did him good, however, for after that he was never +rude and saucy to his mother and did all he could to help her." + +"Did it do the mother any good?" asked Sagastao, who had not been +altogether satisfied with her treatment of the boy. + +"Yes, indeed," said Mary; "for after that terrible fright she was never +known to shout out at her boy such words as, 'I hope the ghost will catch +you,' or any other of the unpleasant ones which she sometimes had used when +she was angry with him." + +"Thank you, Sakehow," said both the children. "A pretty good story, that." + +Then what a jolly romp they had with Jack and Cuffy! The two splendid dogs +were the children's special protectors and companions. + +[Illustration: "Their dog trains were in almost constant demand."] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Happy Christmas Holidays--Indians Made Glad with +Presents--Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. + +The Christmas holidays were times of innocent festivities and gladness +among the Indians and their white friends, both at the mission and at the +trading post. + +The gifts which it was possible to give to the Indians were not of very +great value, but they were articles much needed and were always prized by +the recipients even if they were never very profuse in their words of +thanks. Minnehaha and Sagastao were wild with delight at these times, and +were eager to be the almoners of the mission, and carry the gifts to the +Indians whom they loved so well. The fact that the temperature of those +bright, cold Northern winters kept steadily many degrees below zero did not +chill their ardor nor lessen their enthusiasm. Their dog trains were in +almost constant demand, for they kept flying over the various icy trails +until in the different wigwams all had been remembered with some useful +gift. + +Faithful Mary had made for them the warmest of fur and blanket suits. +Dressed in these, and tucked in among the robes in the cariole by their +careful driver, they sped along the trails. They made the woods echo with +their merry shouts and laughter--unless it was so bitterly cold that they +had to be completely covered up. It is not to be wondered at that there +were times when, on reaching some distant wigwam, there were little hard, +white spots on their cheeks or noses which told the watchful Indians that +the Frost King had been at work and that speedily those frostbites must be +removed. Little cared they for the momentary pain that ensued, when the +frozen parts were being thawed out. They were out for a good time, and they +had too much grit and courage to let such trifles as a few frostbites +disturb their happiness. The bright fires burning in the center of the +wigwams, or in the fireplaces at the end or side of the little Indian +houses, were of course always welcome after a long run in the bitter cold. + +"Tell us, Souwanas," said Sagastao one very cold day, as they were gathered +around his wigwam fire, "how it was that Nanahboozhoo stole the fire from +those who were guarding it and gave it to the Indians." + +"It must not be too long a story," said Minnehaha, "as we have yet to go to +the wigwam of Kinnesasis, Little Fish, with his presents, and it would be +too bad to be late when they know we are coming." + +So Souwanas pledged himself to make the story as short as he could without +spoiling it, and then, after a few more whiffs from his beloved calumet, he +began: + +"It was long ago, when there were fewer people in the forests and on the +prairies than now. They did not have as many comforts as they have now, and +one of the rarest things among them was fire. Sometimes when the +lightning's flash set a tree on fire they would have it for a little while, +but they did not seem to be able to keep it going, and they were often very +cold and generally had to eat their food without cooking it. + +"Nanahboozhoo was then still living with his grandmother, Nokomis, and was +sorry to see that she often suffered from the cold and that the food was +miserable because it was not cooked. So he set his wits to work and decided +that something must be done. As he should now have to deal with the Muche +Munedoos, evil spirits, he had to be very careful. He put himself in +various disguises and at length he heard all about how the coyote had +stolen some of the fire from the watchers in the underground world, who +possess enormous quantities of it. It frightened him a little when he heard +that there was so much fire in the world under us, but he was not apt to be +afraid very long and so as he went on searching, and on the sly listening +to the talks of windegoos and others, he found that the fire for which he +had been so long searching was in the possession of a fierce old medicine +warrior who guarded it with the greatest care. Those who had employed the +coyote to get it had intrusted its keeping to him. In those days they had +an idea that fire was such a dangerous thing that it would be almost +certain destruction to the race if it was given to all. This old warrior +had his two daughters, who were great, fierce women, to assist him in +guarding the fire. + +"Several attempts had been made to steal the fire ere Nanahboozhoo resolved +to see what he could do. All of these other efforts had failed, and the +parties who tried them were killed. Nokomis heard of these unsuccessful +attempts and tried to dissuade her grandson, Nanahboozhoo, from such a +dangerous enterprise. + +"Nanahboozhoo, however, was a very skillful fellow, and although this was +one of his first great undertakings, for it was long ago, he was not to be +stopped by her fears, and so away he went. As the ice was not yet on the +waters he took his birch canoe and paddled eastward as far as he could. +Then he hid his canoe where he could easily find it on his return. + +"The next thing he did was to transform himself into a rabbit, and in that +shape he hurried on until he saw in the distance the sacred wigwam where +dwelt the old guardian of the fire and his two daughters, who were famous +for their height and their strength. To excite the pity of these daughters +Nanahboozhoo jumped into some water, and then crawling out, wet and cold, +he slowly approached the wigwam. Here the two daughters found him, and he +looked so miserable that they took pity on him and at once carried him into +the wigwam and set him down near the sacred fire, that he might soon get +warm and dry." + +[Illustration: "Where the fire was stolen out of the center of the earth."] + +"How very kind that was of the old man's daughters," said Minnehaha. + +"I don't know about that," said the more matter-of-fact Sagastao; "folks +sometimes get into trouble by taking up everything that comes along. +Remember that old rascal that humbugged father." + +But Souwanas, remembering his promise, adroitly shunted off the youngsters +and resumed his story. + +"The two girls, after seeing how contented and happy the rabbit seemed to +be as it warmed itself by the fire, again returned to their duties in +different parts of the large wigwam. The rabbit soon after hopped a little +nearer to the fire, that he might be able to seize hold of a burning stick +or brand, but as he moved the ground shook and trembled under him so that +it awoke the old man, who had fallen into a heavy sleep. Thus disturbed, he +called out to his daughters in alarm: + +"'My daughters, what was it that caused the ground to tremble?' + +"The girls replied that they did not know. They had done nothing beyond +their usual work except to bring in to warm a poor little shivering +half-frozen rabbit that they had found outside. At first the old man was a +little suspicious and, rolling over, he took a good look at Nanahboozhoo. +But he had made himself into such a poor little wretched half-drowned +rabbit that the old man's suspicions were completely dispelled, and he +turned over again and went to sleep. + +"Nanahboozhoo was pleased to hear the old man snoring again, and he only +waited now until the two girls should both be busy in the wigwam on the +opposite side from the door; then he suddenly changed himself into a fleet +young Indian runner, and quickly seizing hold of a burning stick he dashed +out of the wigwam and away he rushed toward the place where he had left his +canoe. + +"Of course there was instant pursuit. The two daughters, although they were +magicians, like their father, well knew that they would be punished by the +superior evil spirits if they allowed any of the sacred fire to be stolen, +and they were furious at the cunning and deceitful Nanahboozhoo, whom they +now recognized, for playing such a trick upon them. Shouting to their +father, to arouse him, they immediately ran after the retreating +Nanahboozhoo, who with the burning brand in his hand was speeding rapidly +over the trail. But, fleet as he was, he soon discovered that the two +girls, by their magic, were rapidly gaining upon him. They were the +fleetest of runners, even if they were girls, and it was for that reason +that they and their father were intrusted with the sacred fire. Great +honors were to be theirs if they guarded it to the satisfaction of those +who had intrusted it to them, while, on the other hand, great would be +their disgrace if they failed in their duty. + +"When they found that they were gaining on Nanahboozhoo, and were likely +to regain possession of the firebrand, with shouts and threats they +declared that severe indeed would be his punishment, when he fell into +their hands, for his abuse of their kindness and his trickery. + +"Nanahboozhoo felt that he was indeed in a tight place. He did not, +however, intend to be overtaken, and he sped on, if possible faster than +ever, until there was only a large dried-up, barren meadow between him and +the spot where he had tied his canoe on the shore of the lake. The girls +were only a few hundred yards behind him, and he resolved to fight them +with this sacred fire. So, as he rapidly continued his flight, he plunged +the now blazing firebrand into the dry grass, here and there, on each side +of the trail. The wind was in his face, and it carried back the fierce +blaze and dense black smoke and not only quickly hid him from the sight of +his pursuers but also made it very dangerous for them to follow him. + +"Nanahboozhoo thus succeeded in reaching his canoe, and fixing the burning +brand in one end of the boat he was soon rapidly paddling over the waters +toward his distant home. The flying sparks of the torch burnt him badly in +several places, but he did not much mind this, and he dared not stop to +dress his wounds for fear that his pursuers would yet overtake him. + +"Fortunately he succeeded in reaching his distant home. There at the shore +to welcome his return was Nokomis, who had been full of anxiety about him. +She carefully dressed his burnt face and hands and gladly received the gift +of the fire, which has been such a blessing to the Indians ever since. + +"At first there was a good deal of trouble among the Indians to keep the +fire burning. Sometimes the watchers appointed to look after it, especially +in the summer months, would forget to add fresh fuel, or would go to sleep +and neglect it. Then they would have to send off to some perhaps distant +wigwam, where the people had been more careful, and secure some live coals +from them. + +"Nanahboozhoo was troubled about this. He feared that if it were allowed to +die out at the same time in all of the wigwams he might not be so +successful again if he had to try to get a fresh supply from the fierce old +man and his now wrathful daughters. So he went out into the woods and at +length a good spirit came to him in a dream and told him of various ways in +which the fire could be obtained. He showed him how it could be made, by +rapid friction, with dry sticks. Another way he revealed to him was by the +striking together of a flint stone and a piece of iron; sparks of fire +could thus be produced which, caught in punk, would soon become a blaze. So +now the Indians do not have to cover up the fires as they were formerly +obliged to do; thanks to Nanahboozhoo's dreams, they can make it fresh +whenever they want it." + +"Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo for his good work this time!" said Sagastao. + +"Well, I think he was a mean fellow, to so fool those two nice girls who +took him in and warmed him when he was a poor little wet shivering rabbit!" +said Minnehaha. + +"Took him in?" the lad retorted. "Well, I guess it was well he was able to +take them in as he did, by setting fire to that old grass in the meadow, +for if he had not done so they would soon have had his scalp." + +But here Minnehaha appealed to Souwanas, and said: + +"I have been wondering how it was the old man and his daughters got the +fire in the first place from out of the underground. Will you not tell us +that story some time?" + +The old man looked grave and was silent for a minute or two, then he +replied: + +"I think you had better ask Kinnesasis. He knows the story better than I +do, for in his youth he traveled far West, into the land of the high +mountains, where the legend is that the fire was stolen out of the center +of the earth." + +"All right. Thank you, Souwanas. We are going to take Kinnesasis some +presents, and while there we will ask him for the story." + +Here an Indian lad rushed into the wigwam with the word that Kennedy was +coming with their cariole. The children were well wrapped up, and soon with +their usual happy, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" they were speeding homeward. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Kinnesasis--How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. + +A great time the children had in the wigwam of Kinnesasis. He was such a +jolly little old Indian, and he was specially happy to-day when the +children opened out the gifts and presented them. He was more than +delighted with a suit of black clothes sent him from a distance by friends +who had heard about him and his needs. He quickly put on the whole suit, +which fitted him very nicely, and then much amused the children by saying: + +"I am sure the man who made these clothes is in heaven, or, if not yet +dead, he will go to heaven when he dies." + +"Why, Kinnesasis, it is the kind friends who sent you these clothes you +ought to thank, and not make such a fuss over the man who made them; he was +paid for making them," said Sagastao. But Kinnesasis could only think of +the man who made the suit of which he was so proud. + +Kinnesasis's old wife was, if possible, still more delighted with her +presents than the old man with his. She and Minnehaha were always the best +of friends, and now as the child handed her gift after gift of warm +clothing and food her joy knew no bounds, and, old as she was, when some +warm shoes were given her, she sprang up and began singing an Indian song, +while with all the agility of a young maiden she spun around the wigwam in +rhythmic measure to her words, which, roughly translated, are as follows: + + "The Good Spirit has pity on me, + Though for days I had little to eat, + I was wretched and sad in my heart, + I was cold, O so cold! in my feet. + + "But now I have plenty of meat, + Clothes for my body, shoes for my feet, + I'll not grumble, nor sorrow, but praise + The Good Spirit the rest of my days." + +"Well done!" shouted the children when the old woman stopped. They were +greatly delighted with her performance. Kinnesasis, however, who, as well +as his wife, was now a church member, professed to be much shocked at +seeing her thus dancing, as though in the wild excitement of the Ghost +Dance. But both Sagastao and Minnehaha stood up for the old wife. They said +the words she sang were good enough for the church, any day, and they were +sure nobody could find fault with her thus showing how glad and thankful +she was. + +And nobody ever did find fault and soon was the affair almost forgotten, +for now the merry jingling of more dog bells was heard, and who should come +into the wigwam of Kinnesasis but the parents of Sagastao and Minnehaha! + +Cordially were they greeted. At first it was difficult for them to +recognize the staid little gentleman in his full suit of broadcloth as the +lively but generally ill-clothed Kinnesasis. The visitors--who quickly saw +and were delighted with the transformation--greeted him as though he were +some distinguished stranger. This vastly amused the children. Screaming +with laughter at Kinnesasis's pretense of keeping up the farce, they +shouted out, "Why, this is only our dear old Kinnesasis. He is no great +stranger. It is only Kinnesasis with his new clothes." + +"Well," then was asked, "who is that charming old lady over there with such +a fine shawl and brilliant handkerchief on, and such fancy new shoes on her +feet? Surely she is a stranger." + +"No! No!" the children again shouted. "Why, that is Kinnesasis's wife, with +her new presents on! My! doesn't she look nice!" + +Here the little ones seized hold of the happy old Indian woman and made her +get up and show herself off in her new apparel, of which she was just as +proud as Kinnesasis. + +"And she gave us such a jolly dance in them, papa! Wouldn't you like to see +her do it again?" cried Minnehaha. + +But here Kinnesasis, pretending to be shocked beyond measure, in a most +diplomatic manner directed the attention of the parents to some other +matter, and so the mischievous child did not succeed in making a church +scandal by inducing one of the flock to dance before the missionary. + +"Tell us, Kinnesasis," said Sagastao, "how it was that that old man and his +daughters first obtained the fire which Nanahboozhoo so cleverly stole from +them and gave to the Indians long ago." + +At first Kinnesasis hesitated about telling the old legend, saying that he +did not think the father and mother of the children would care for such +stories. + +"Don't they, though!" cried the children. "You don't know them very well, +then, if you don't know that they like stories just about as well as we +do." + +And with this they at once appealed to the parents, who of course sided +with them and expressed their desire to listen to this story that the +children had told them they were to hear from dear old Kinnesasis. + +Throwing some more logs on the fire, around which the white visitors with +the Indians gathered, Kinnesasis began: + +"It was long ago, when I was a young lad, that I heard the story from the +old story-tellers of our people. I had traveled with my father for many +days far toward the setting sun. We reached the land of the great +mountains, and there, with our people of those regions, we spent some +moons. It was while we were among them that I heard from the ancient +story-teller the legend of how the fire was stolen from the center of the +earth, where it was kept hidden away from the human family. + +"That there was such a thing as fire was well known. It had been seen +bursting out of the tops of distant mountains, and there had been times in +great thunderstorms, when the lightning had set fire to dead trees--and +indeed in this latter way the Indians had become acquainted with its value +to the human race. But they had not taken care to keep it burning, and no +one had been appointed to specially look after it. + +"The reason why fire had not been from the first given to men was because +when the race was created the fire was not much needed. The earth was then +much warmer than it is now. There was no snow or ice ever seen except on +the tops of the very highest mountains. Great animals now all dead, and +others that could only live in the hottest countries, lived all over these +great lands. Then there was abundance of fruit and nuts and roots that were +all very good for food. Then some great disaster happened to the world and +soon it began to grow colder and many animals, and even families, perished. +Snow and ice appeared where they were never seen before. There was great +suffering from the cold. The hunters began to kill the animals for food. +They were now not satisfied with the fruit and roots, they wanted something +better. + +"So the fire was much needed. But where it was, or how to get it, was the +question. Fortunately an old dreamer dreamed a dream about it. As the +council assembled to hear his dream he told them that the fire was +preserved in the heart of the earth by a magician called Sistinakoo, and +that it was kept very carefully surrounded by four walls, one within the +other, in each of which was a single door. At the first door a great snake +kept guard. At the second door a mountain lion or panther was the guardian. +A grizzly bear guarded the third door, and at the fourth and last door +Sistinakoo himself kept watchful care over the precious fire that smoldered +on a stone altar just inside this last wall. + +"When the council heard all this they were almost discouraged. They thought +it would be impossible for anyone to get by all of these guards and steal +the fire. + +"They first asked the fox to try, but he only reached the first door when +the great snake nearly made a meal of him. Thoroughly frightened, he rushed +back to the top of the earth and told of his narrow escape. + +"For a time nothing more was done to try and get the fire. The people +continued to suffer, for the earth kept getting colder and colder and ice +and snow were now to be found in lands that had previously been comfortably +warm. So the council was called again, and the question again raised as to +what could be done. + +"It happened that there came to the council a very old man who remembered a +tradition, handed down from his forefathers, which said that part of the +earth beneath us was hollow, and that some of the animals, even the great +buffaloes, had dwelt in those underground regions before they came to dwell +on the surface of the earth. He said that the coyote, the prairie wolf, was +the last one to leave, and that he was sure that he still remembered the +route to the very spot where Sistinakoo, the head chief of the regions, +guarded the fire so jealously." + +"Why should they so guard the fire, and be so careful about letting people +have it, when we know how good it is?" asked Minnehaha. + +"Because," replied Kinnesasis, "there was a tradition that at some time or +other the fire should get the mastery over men, and the whole world be +burned by it, and they thought that they would carefully guard it from +getting scattered about by careless people who might set the world on +fire." + +"Well, go on, Kinnesasis, and tell us the rest of the story," said the +impatient Sagastao. + +"So when the Indian council heard this story they sent for the king of the +coyotes and told him of their wish that he should return to that underworld +and bring up the fire for their use. + +"To their surprise and great delight the coyote said he would go, and he +immediately began his preparations for the journey. So greatly had the cold +increased that he found the dark mouth of the entrance under the mountains +almost surrounded by snow and ice. After traveling for some time in the +darkness he reached the outer wall, where he waited, a little distance from +the door, until the snake was taking his usual sleep. Then he quickly +stepped past him. Knowing the habits of the other animals, he waited until +they were asleep and then he noiselessly passed them all. Even Sistinakoo +himself was sound asleep. So the coyote crept silently up to the fire and +lighted the large brand or torch that was securely fastened to his tail. +The instant it began to blaze up, as the coyote rushed out through the +first door, Sistinakoo shouted, 'Who is there? Some one has been here and +has stolen the fire!' + +[Illustration: "The coyote was too quick for them all."] + +"He at once began to make a great row and loudly called to the different +keepers to close the doors in the walls. But the coyote was too quick for +them all, and ere the sleepers were wide enough awake to do anything he had +passed through all the doors and was far on his way to the top of the +ground. The fire was gladly received by the people, but after some time, +when some big prairies and forests had been burned up by it, the men got +fearful that the world might be destroyed and so they intrusted it to the +care of the old magician and his two daughters, with orders to be very +careful to whom they gave any. It was from them Nanahboozhoo stole it, to +scatter it once more freely among the people as we now have it. + +"But the tradition was still believed in the days of my grandfather that, +good as the fire was to warm us, and cook our food, it would yet become our +master, and do the world much harm." + +Kinnesasis was thanked by all for his recital of this suggestive legend, +especially by his older listeners, who saw much in it that was in harmony +with the earlier beliefs of other nationalities. + +By this time, however, the dogs in their trains were impatiently barking, +and longing to get back home for their suppers. So, after farewell +greetings to Kinnesasis and his wife, one cariole after another was loaded, +and away the happy ones sped over the icy expanse of the frozen lake. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The Christmas Packet--The Distribution of Gifts--A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero--Souwanas Tells +How the Indians first Learned to Make Maple Sugar. + +How great the excitement was which attended the arrival of the Christmas +packet can hardly be realized by persons who have never been exposed to the +privations of a land which the mail reaches every six months, and where +they wait half a year for the daily paper. After this long waiting it is no +wonder that a great shout was raised when far away in the distance the +long-expected, heavily-loaded dog-trains were seen that for several hundred +miles had carried the precious messages of love and the tokens of good will +from dear ones far away. + +This year an extra train well loaded with much-needed supplies for the +mission was among the arrivals. Its coming was hailed with special delight +by the children; for even in that Northland Santa Claus was not unexpected, +and it was surmised by some of the wee ones that possibly some of his gifts +would arrive about that time. + +And they were not disappointed, for loved ones far away in more favored +lands had remembered these little ones in their Northern home, where the +Frost King reigns, and many and varied were the gifts which they now +received. + +"I am going to take Souwanas some of my candies," said Sagastao. + +"And I am going to give him a nice red silk handkerchief," said Minnehaha. + +The children had by this time pretty well learned his weakness for these +things, and it was a pleasure now for them to think that they had it in +their power to make him happy. + +The next morning was, as usual, bright and cloudless, but it was bitterly +cold. The mercury was frozen in one thermometer, and in the other one the +spirit indicated fifty-five below zero. Yet so impatient were these +spirited children to be off with their gifts to Souwanas, and with +something also for each member of the family, that their pleadings +prevailed. A cariole with plenty of fur robes was soon at the door, and +with old Kennedy as their driver they were soon speeding away behind a +train of dogs. + +Indians are naturally alert and watchful, and so the merry jingle of the +silvery bells was heard while the cariole was still at some distance on the +trail. Cordially were they welcomed, and strong arms speedily carried them +into the cosy wigwam where, in the center, burned a great fire of dry +spruce and birch wood. + +As the cold was so intense, and the children had permission to remain for +two hours, it was decided that Kennedy should return home at once with the +dogs, as it would have been cruel to have kept them out in the cold so +long. + +The heavy wraps were soon removed and the children were comfortably seated +on the fur rugs provided for them. Then they very proudly opened their +parcels and distributed the contents--their own gifts as well as those +which had been sent to Souwanas and his family from the mission. Minnehaha +reserved her special gift for the last. When all of her others had been +bestowed she unfolded the beautiful red silk handkerchief and, going over +to Souwanas, she did her best to tie it nicely around his neck. + +The old man, genuine Indian that he was, was much moved by her winsome ways +and handsome gift. + +He said but little, but there was a soft, kindly look in his eyes that +showed his gratitude more than any words could have done. It meant a good +deal more than perhaps he would like to admit and those who saw it were +thankful that they had observed it, knowing that it meant so much. +Sagastao, who had already given him several presents, had held on to his +box of candies. He had learned that for such things the old man could be +coaxed to do almost anything, and now he held them out, and said: + +"Now, Souwanas, as all the presents have been passed around, I have got +some fine sweeties for you, but we must have a first-class Nanahboozhoo +story for them." + +"O yes!" said Minnehaha. "And as it is to be for sweeties let us have a +nice sweet story of Nanahboozhoo this time." + +"A sweet story you want? Well, before I begin let us fix up the fire and +all get comfortably seated around it." + +Then, as they usually did, the two white children cuddled as close to the +inimitable story-teller as they could. Little cared they for the cold +without or even for the occasional puffs of smoke which seemed at times to +prefer to enter the eyes of the listeners rather than to go out at the +orifice at the top of the wigwam. + +"A sweet story," musingly said the old man, "in this land of fish, and +bears, and wolves, and wildcats, and wolverines!" Then he paused long +enough to fill his mouth again with the candies which he enjoyed so much. + +"A sweet story. Then it must be of a land, south of this, where for some +years I dwelt, many, many moons ago. A land where the Se-se-pask-wut-a-tik +(sugar maple tree) grows and flourishes in all its beauty. + +"There, in those wigwams, long ago lived the people whom we call the +Hurons, the Dakotahs and the Ojibways. These Ojibways are cousins of my own +people, the Saulteaux. Well, the story I want to tell you had its beginning +long, long ago. One day there came a great embassage of Indians from the +far South with words of peace and good will. They said that in their +country they had no cold weather, and very seldom saw any snow. They said +that the trees were different, and that many things grew there that they +did not see in our Northern country. They brought with them many presents +and were kindly received by our people, and then, after some weeks of +feasting and speech-making, they returned home laden with the best gifts +our tribes could bestow. + +"Among the presents which these Southern Indians brought was a large +quantity of sugar. This was the first time it was ever seen among the +Indians of the North. It was very much prized, and was very carefully +divided among the people so that each one had a small quantity. It did not +last very long, for everybody was fond of it. When it was all gone the +people were sorry, and the question was asked, 'Why cannot we send a +company of our own people and get more of it?' + +"This suggestion met with the favor of the tribes, and a large party of the +best runners was selected, and being well supplied with rich presents and +pipes of peace they started off to find the Southland and to obtain +abundance of the sugar. Some weeks passed by before word was heard from +them, and the news was very bad. Fierce wars had broken out among the +tribes that lived between ours and those who dwelt in that far South. Our +Indians had to fight for their lives. Many of them were killed, others were +badly wounded, and of the large company that started out not more than half +ever returned to their homes. The expedition was a complete failure. + +"Still there was the memory of the sugar among them, and it happened that +one day in the council somebody said: + +"'Why not send to Nanahboozhoo?' + +"Good!" shouted Minnehaha; "that is just what I thought they would do." + +"Well, hold on," said her more matter-of-fact brother; "just as like as not +Nanahboozhoo would give them salt instead of sugar, if he were in one of +his tantrums." + +Souwanas was not displeased at this interruption on the part of the +children, and gladly availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to +once more help himself to the sweets. + +Earnestly appealing to Souwanas, Minnehaha, who always looked on the bright +side of things, and who had a quick intuition quite beyond her years, said: + +"It could not be a sweet story if Nanahboozhoo gave them salt instead of +sugar; could it, Souwanas?" + +The old man, as soon as his mouth was sufficiently emptied to resume his +story, amused by the earnestness with which the child appealed to him, +replied with the words, "Tapwa, tapwa!" (Verily, verily!) + +Sagastao, however, unwilling to give in, retorted, "O 'tapwa, tapwa' +doesn't mean anything, anyway." + +Souwanas only laughed at this criticism, and proceeded with his story. + +[Illustration: Across a single log at a dizzy height.] + +"So it was decided to send a deputation to Nanahboozhoo to tell him of +the wish of the tribes to have Se-se-pask-wut (sugar), as had the tribes of +the Southland. + +"The deputation who started off to find Nanahboozhoo had a great deal of +difficulty in finding him. It seems that a great strife had arisen between +Nanahboozhoo and some of the underground Muche Munedoos--bad spirits, +sometimes called the Ana-mak-quin--who had determined to kill Nokomis, the +grandmother of Nanahboozhoo, because of their spiteful hatred of +Nanahboozhoo, whom they knew they could not kill because he had +supernatural powers. + +"Nanahboozhoo had, as usual, been playing some of his pranks on them, and +that was why they were determined to kill Nokomis." + +"What were some of the tricks that Nanahboozhoo had been up to this time?" +asked Sagastao. + +"It would take me too long to tell you now," replied Souwanas. + +"Nanahboozhoo dearly loved his grandmother, although he was often giving +her great frights, just as other grandsons sometimes do. So when he heard +of what the Muche Munedoos were threatening he took up his grandmother on +his strong back and carried her far away and made for her a tent of maples +in a great forest among the mountains. The only access to it was across a +single log at a dizzy height over a wild rushing river. + +"It was now in the fall of the year, and the leaves of these trees were all +crimson and yellow, so brilliant that when seen from a long distance they +looked like a great fire. Thus it happened that when the bad spirits +following after Nanahboozhoo and Nokomis saw the brilliant colors through +the haze of that Indian Summer day they thought the whole country was on +fire, and they turned back and troubled them no more. Nanahboozhoo was +pleased that the beautiful maple trees had been of so much assistance to +him. He decided to dwell among them for some time, so he prepared a very +comfortable wigwam for himself and his grandmother. + +"It was in the wigwam among the maples that the deputation found +Nanahboozhoo. He received them kindly, and listened to their story and +their request. + +"At first Nanahboozhoo was perplexed. He was such a great traveler that he +had often been down in the great Southland, and well knew how the sugar was +there made. He had seen the fields of sugar cane, and knew the whole +process by which the juice was squeezed out and then boiled down into +sugar. He also knew that it required a lot of hard work before the sugar +was made. + +"When Nokomis heard the request of the deputation to her grandson she was +very much interested--for had not Nanahboozhoo several times, when +returning from those trips to the South, brought back to her some of the +sugar?--and she had liked it very much; and so now she added her pleadings +to theirs that he would in some way grant them their request. + +"Of course Nanahboozhoo could not refuse now, so he told them that, as the +beautiful maple trees had been so good to him and Nokomis, from this time +forward they should, like the sugar cane of the South, yield the sweet sap +that when boiled down would make the sugar they liked so much. + +"He told them, however, that it was not for the lazy ones to have, but only +for those who were industrious and would carry out his commands. Then +Nanahboozhoo described to them the whole process of sugar making. He told +them that only in the spring of the year would the sweet sap flow. Then +they were to have ready their tapping gouges, their spiles and buckets. +Great fireplaces were to be built and here, as fast as the sap was gathered +from the trees, it was to be boiled down in their little kettles into the +nice molasses; and then a little more, so that when it cooled it would +harden into sugar. + +"'Now,' added Nanahboozhoo, 'go back to your people and tell them that it +depends on their industry between now and the spring who shall have the +most of the sugar you love so well.' Then he skillfully modeled out a stone +tapping gouge of the shape required to make the incision in the tree from +which the sap would flow. With his knife he made a sample spile of cedar, +the thin end of which was to be driven into the hole made by the gouge and +along which the sap would flow. Then he told them to make plenty of buckets +of birch bark, and thus be ready when the time came to secure an abundant +supply of sap. Thus the art of making maple sugar first came to be known. +Nanahboozhoo gave it to the Indians long ago. Then when the palefaces came +they followed the same process. That is the way Nanahboozhoo showed us how +to get the maple sugar." + +But here the sound of the barking of the dogs, and the sweet tones of the +silvery bells on the collars of the dogs that had come for the children, +told that the two hours had passed away. + +"Thank you ever so much," said the grateful Minnehaha, as she rose to have +loving hands carefully wrap her up for the return ride, "for that sweet, +sweet story. It was so good of Nanahboozhoo to tell them about the sap in +the maple trees, even if it is only there in the spring time." + +"I think old Nokomis deserves a good deal of the credit," said Sagastao. +"It seems to me that Nanahboozhoo would not have done it if she had not +made him." + +"Well, Nanahboozhoo did it, anyway, and so we and the Indians have our +maple sugar and molasses, and I am glad. And so, hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" +Thus replied Minnehaha. + +Here Souwanas lifted the well-wrapped-up child, and carried her out to the +cariole, where she and her brother were speedily covered and tucked in +among the warm robes. + +"Marche! Marche!" was shouted to the dogs by the driver, and away they sped +over the icy trail with such speed that it was not long ere they were again +safe and happy in their own cozy home. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease--The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. + +"Mary, how is it that I get sick sometimes," said Sagastao the following +summer, "and have to take medicine that I dislike? Why can't we always be +well?" + +For the last week or ten days Mary had been most devoted and faithful in +watchful care over her restless charge, who had been very sick but was now +rapidly recovering. + +"As soon as you are a little stronger I will tell you the legends of +sickness and medicine, as handed down by our Indian forefathers," said +Mary, "but now you must only rest, and eat, and sleep." + +"Well, Sakehow" (beloved), his pet name for his faithful nurse, "I will try +and mind you; don't forget." + +The next week was one of rapid recovery, and very proud, indeed, was Mary +when she led forth the two children, in the bright sunshine of a delightful +summer day, to a cozy resting place among the rocks where the waves of Lake +Winnipeg rippled on the sandy beach at their feet. + +Minnehaha was eager for a story about the sweet birdies or the brilliant +flowers, but the young invalid had his way this time, and Mary proceeded to +tell the story of the Indians' idea as to the origin of sickness and +disease. + +"Long, long ago," said Mary, "all the animals and birds on this earth lived +in peace and harmony with the human family. Then there was food for all in +abundance without any shedding of blood. Even the wild animals, that now +live by killing and devouring each other, found plenty of food in the +fruits and vegetables that then were so abundant. + +"Men and women also lived on similar things, and were contented and happy. +But as the years went on the people became so numerous, and their +settlements spread over so much of the earth, that many of the poor animals +began to be cramped for room. + +"Even this could have been borne, but by and by men began to make bows and +arrows, spears and knives, and other weapons, and began to use them on the +defenseless animals. Then soon they began to eat the flesh of the animals, +and presently they found that they preferred the meat thus obtained to the +fruits and vegetables of the earth. + +"Formerly they had made their garments out of the fiber of the trees and +plants, which the women carefully prepared and wove; but after a while they +discovered that the skins of the buffalo and deer and other animals, when +well prepared, made better and more durable garments and wigwams than the +materials they had previously used. As time went on the destruction of +the larger animals increased, and men became so much more cruel than +formerly that even the frogs and worms, that in the earlier days were never +harmed, were now destroyed without mercy, or by sheer carelessness or +contempt. Thus the animals came to be in such a sad plight that it was +resolved by them to call great councils of their members together to +consult upon what could be done for their common safety. + +"The bears were the first to assemble. They gathered together on the peak +of a great smoky mountain, which the white men now call Cathedral mountain, +and the great white bear from the Northland was appointed chairman." + +[Illustration: "Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain."] + +"Well, that was funny," said Minnehaha. "Just fancy a big white bear +sitting up in a chair! Why, he would need a whole sofa to hold him." + +"Don't be silly, child," said the patronizing brother. "It was a bears' +council and, of course, the chairs used were bears' and not men's." + +When Mary was appealed to to settle the question she could only say, "As +the council was held on the top of a mountain perhaps the bears sat on the +rocks. But never mind; let me go on with the story. + +"After the white bear had made his speech he took his seat and said he was +now ready to hear the statements of the different bears who had assembled +to lodge their complaints against the way in which men killed their +relatives, devoured their flesh for food, and made garments and robes out +of their skins. + +"Nearly every kind of bear had grievous statements to make, and so +blood-curdling were some of their recitals that it was decided to begin war +at once against the human race. + +"Then the question was asked, 'What weapons shall we use against them?' +After some discussion it was decided to use bows and arrows, the favorite +weapons of their enemies. + +"'And what are they made of?' was the next question. + +"This was soon answered by a bear who had been caught when young and kept +captive for a couple of years in the wigwam of one of their enemies. He had +often seen the process of making bows, and he was now able to tell all +about it, and even to do the work himself. It was not long before the first +bow, with some arrows, was manufactured, and there was great excitement +when the first trial of it was made. A large strong bear was selected to +shoot the first arrow. To their great disappointment the trial was not a +success, for it was found that when the bear let the arrow fly, after +drawing back the bow, his long claws caught in the string and spoiled the +shot. Other bears tried, but they all had long claws, and they all failed. +Then some one suggested that this difficulty could be overcome by their +cutting off their long claws. But here the chairman, the white bear, +interposed, saying that it was very necessary that they should have their +long claws in order to climb trees, or up steep rocky places. 'It is +better,' said he, 'for us to trust to our claws and teeth than to man's +weapons, which certainly were not designed for us.' + +"The bears remained in council until they got very hungry, but think as +much as they might they could not devise any satisfactory plan, for they +are stupid animals after all, and they dispersed to their different homes +no better able to fight the human race than before. + +"Then the deer next held a council. Representatives of all the different +kinds of deer, from the great elk and moose down to the smallest species in +existence, assembled in a beautiful forest glade. The moose was selected as +chief. After a long discussion it was resolved that in revenge for man's +tyranny they would inflict rheumatism, lumbago, and similar diseases upon +every hunter who should kill one of their number unless he took great care +to ask pardon for the offense. That is the reason why so many hunters say, +just before they shoot, 'I beg your pardon, Mr. Deer, but shoot you I must, +for I want your flesh for food.' They know that if they do this they are +safe. + +"The Cree legend is that it is the bear that has to be propitiated by +gentlemanly expressions when he is being approached to be killed. I well +remember being with a couple of hunters closely following up a bear, and +just before they fired they kept saying, 'Excuse us for shooting you, +Brother Bear, but we must do it. We want your warm fur robe, our families +want your meat, our girls want your grease to put on their heads, so you +must excuse us, Brother Bear. Please do, Brother Bear; please do.' Thus +they went on at a great rate until he was killed. + +"But many forget it, and the spirit of their chief knows it and is angry, +and he strikes those hunters, or their relatives, down with rheumatism or +some other painful disease. + +"Next the fishes and snakes and other reptiles held their council, and they +decided that as the human race had now become such enemies to them they +would trouble them with 'fearful dreams' of snakes twining about them, and +blowing their poisonous breath in their faces, by which they would lose +their appetites and die, while others of them would seek opportunity to +make the water they drank, or even the air they breathed, unwholesome. The +poisonous ones were also directed to use every opportunity to kill with +their deadly bites whenever possible. + +"The birds also held a council, over which the crow was appointed chairman. +The eagle objected, and wanted the place, but he was voted down because +there were so few of his kind, and these were only hunted for their +feathers to adorn the war bonnets of the great chiefs and warriors. The +crow was appointed because he was always with the human race and knew the +various schemes and tricks they were inventing to injure the birds and +animals of various kinds. After much deliberation the birds decided to give +colds, and coughs, and throat diseases, and consumption, to the human +race, and to thus lessen their numbers that there might be room for all +creatures. + +"The insects and smaller animals then held their council, and the grubworm +was appointed to preside over the gathering. He was so elated over his +election, and that they had arranged a scheme which should be fatal +especially to women, that he fell over backward and could not get on his +feet again. So from that time the grubworm has only been able to wiggle in +that way. There was any amount of talking and buzzing among the crowd. The +frog was especially noisy and angry in his remarks. + +"'It is high time,' said he, 'that we began to do something against this +cruel human race, or we will soon be swept off the earth. See how my back +is ugly with lumps and sores because men have so kicked and knocked me +about!' + +"Others followed in the same strain of indignant protest against man's +cruelty. Even the flies and mosquitoes had something to complain of. + +"Well, after the buzzing, and the croakings, and the hummings and angry +talkings were over, they settled down to business. + +"Some were appointed to poison the waters so that malarias and fevers +should attack the now hated race. Others, such as the flies and mosquitoes, +were to carry in their bites and stings many diseases. Thus it has come to +pass that there is more damage done to the hated human beings by these +bites and stings than the mere smarting pain caused at the time of the +bite. Thus, because the human race changed from being all kindness to the +rest of the creatures, both great and small, into being cruel and savage, +all these various creatures have combined to bring dreadful diseases among +men in revenge for their own wrongs." + +"That is too bad," said Minnehaha. "Why could they not have kept on loving +each other all the time, instead of things being as they are now?" + +Sagastao, who had laughed at the idea of the mosquitoes coming to a +council, and of their having anything to complain of, said, "I would like +to know what mosquitoes lived on in those good old days you speak about. +Now they are after me lively enough." And he slowly lifted up his hand, on +the back of which a couple were rapidly filling themselves with his blood. + +But Mary, who, Indian like, was wise and observant, only said, "Wait a +minute or two and I will show you." Then she quickly hurried back into a +swampy place and soon returned with a thick juicy leaf, to the under side +of which several mosquitoes were still clinging, with their bodies +distended with its juice. + +"There," she said, as she carefully held the leaf sideways, "that is what +most of the mosquitoes still live on. They attack our race in revenge for +our being so cruel as to kill so many of the animals, large and small, but +this, as you can easily see, is their natural food." + +This appeal to the eye quite silenced the children, who had considered the +whole story as only an Indian legend to be amused with. + +Mary, who had often been worsted by the sharp criticisms and inquiries with +which they were apt to receive her pet Indian legends, was quite delighted +at her apparent triumph, so she hastily sprang up, saying: + +"It is time we were going home. Some other day I will tell you the story of +how the medicines came." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The Naming of the Baby--A Canoe Trip--The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine--How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. + +There was great excitement among a number of Indian men and women who had +gathered on the shore in front of the mission one pleasant summer morning. +Grave Indians, with Souwanas in their midst, were calmly discussing some +object of interest, while Mary and a party of women, some of whom had their +babies with them, were much more noisy, talking rapidly about something +which was evidently a matter of exciting interest. Even Sagastao and +Minnehaha were rushing in and out of the house and running from one group +of Indians to the other, full of eager inquiries and pleasant +anticipations. What could it all be about? + +Let us ask the children, for such little people often know more than we are +likely to give them credit for. Here comes Minnehaha, and we ask her the +cause of such an early gathering of the Indians, and the reason why they +are so unusually interested in some matter unknown to us. + +[Illustration: "Their babies with them."] + +"Why, don't you know?" the bright little girl promptly replies. "They have +come to form a Naming Council, to give my little baby sister an Indian +name. You see," she added, "Sagastao and I were born among the Cree +Indians, but baby was born here among the Saulteaux. Just think: the first +little white baby born among them! And they want to give her a nice +Saulteaux name. The reason why they are talking so much now, before they +form the council, is that lots of them have pet names they want to give our +baby, but of course she can only have one." + +"Yes," said Sagastao, "and our old Mary is trying to get the women to +oppose the name that Souwanas will offer, just because she is down on him. +But I'll bet he will beat her yet." + +"You should not say, 'I'll bet.' Mother has often told you that it was very +rude," reprovingly said little Minnehaha. "You never learned it from father +or mother. You must have picked that up from some rough trader." + +"Well, all right, I'll not say it again, but I'll bet--no, I mean--hurrah! +for Souwanas and his side, anyway," and off he ran. + +"Dear me!" said the little sister. "I do have so much trouble with that +boy!" + +Soon the council assembled. The men and women arranged themselves in a big +circle and spent some time in drinking some strong, well-sweetened tea that +had been prepared for them. They had been desirous of having their usual +pagan ceremonies, but of course this could not be allowed, so the +ceremonies of tea drinking and their usual smoking were substituted. Then +the little baby was brought in by her nurse and handed to one of the oldest +women. She took the child, and after kissing her and uttering some words of +endearment passed her on to the woman on her left. She in her turn kissed +her, uttered some kindly words, and passed her on to the next. So baby went +from hand to hand until she had made the complete circle of women and men. +This was the ceremony of adopting the child into the tribe. + +Mary, the nurse of the older children, was excluded from this circle as she +was of another tribe. After some more tea had been drunk the child was +again sent on her rounds. This time each person, as he or she held the +child, pronounced some Indian name that he or she wished the babe to be +called. Mary, who had now crowded herself into the circle, persisted in +having a voice in the matter. She wanted the child to be called +Papewpenases (Laughing Bird), but she was voted down by the crowd, who +said: + +"No, that is Cree; we must have Saulteaux." + +With a certain amount of decorum each name suggested was discussed, only to +be rejected. + +For a time there was quite a deadlock, as no name could be decided upon. + +"Now that you have all spoken," said Souwanas, "and cannot come to any +agreement, I, as chief, will make the final decision. This is the first +white child born among us, as Sagastao and Minnehaha, whom we all love, +were born at Norway House, among the Crees. Most of the names which you +have suggested have some reference to birds and their sweet songs. A +compound name, which will include these ideas and mine, Souwanas (South +Wind), can surely be found." + +This suggestion was well received, as Florence was born in the spring of +the year, when the birds, returning from the South, filled the air with +melody after the long stillness of that almost Arctic winter. + +So busy brains and wagging tongues were at work, and the result was the +formation of the following expressive name, which was quickly bestowed upon +the child. It was first loudly announced by Souwanas himself: +Souwanaquenapeke; which in English is, "The Voice of the South Wind Birds." + +At once all the Indians took it up and uttered it over and over again, so +that it would not be forgotten. Even Sagastao and Minnehaha, who could talk +as well in the Indian language as in English, took up the word and shouted +out, Souwanaquenapeke, until they had it as thoroughly as their own. + +Mary alone was vexed, and so annoyed that she could not conceal her +disappointment. This was particularly noticed by Sagastao, and as soon as +Minnehaha joined them they slipped quietly away together. Having obtained +permission they took a canoe and went for a paddle on the quiet lake. Mary, +like all other Indians, was passionately fond of the water, and in spite of +her crooked back was a strong and skillful paddler. + +The children were placed in the center of the canoe, on a fur rug, while +Mary seated herself in the stern and paddled them over the beautiful sunlit +waves. + +For a time but little was heard, for the children were absorbed in the +scenes of rarest beauty or watched some fish, principally the active gold +eyes, sporting in the water around them. + +After a while the children began to clamor for a story, but Mary would not +speak a word. Sagastao suspected the cause of Mary's unusual silence. + +"What is the use, sakehou," he protested, "of your being in a pet because +baby was not named Papewpenases? The name they gave her pleased everybody +else; you must be pleased too." + +"If you are cross and won't speak to us we will go and run away to +Souwanas; won't we?" said Minnehaha. + +This was too much for Mary, and she quickly surrendered and made an excuse +about thinking of some beautiful story to tell them when they should land +on that little rocky island just ahead of them. + +"Very well," said Sagastao, "let us have the one about how medicines were +discovered and given to the Indians to cure diseases." + +"Just the one I was thinking about," said Mary; "and while we rest on the +lovely white sand I will tell you the story." + +A few vigorous strokes of the paddle sent the canoe well up on the sandy +shore, and soon they all landed. A good romp relieved them of the stiffness +caused by the cramped position in the canoe. Then as they cuddled down in +the warm sand Mary began her story. + +"You remember, little sweethearts, how the animals of various kinds held +councils and decided to be revenged on the human family for their cruelty +by sending diseases among them. Well, these creatures did as they said they +would and the result was that lots of men died, and also the women and +children, that did the creatures no harm, were getting different kinds of +sicknesses and many of them were dying. + +"Were there no diseases among them before these times?" inquired Minnehaha. + +"No; not what you might call diseases," replied Mary. "The people lived +such simple lives that, with the exception of accident, such as being +drowned in great storms or killed by falling trees, or something that way, +nearly all the people died of old age." + +"Then they had no doctors in those days?" asked Sagastao. + +"No; there were no medicine men in those times. Although there were those +skillful to set broken limbs or attend to any who happened to be +accidentally wounded, but that was nearly all. Then all at once these +diseases sent by the angry animals began to appear among them, and, of +course, there was much alarm. The people did not know what had brought +them, nor how to get rid of them. Many people were sick and numbers of them +died. + +"You see, the animals held their councils in secret, and away from the +presence of men, and so it would never have been known if the ground +squirrel, called by some the chipmunk, had not gone and told all about the +councils to the men. He had always been friendly to the human race. He had +attended a number of the councils and was the only animal that had ventured +to say anything in the favor of man. By doing this he so enraged the other +animals that some of them fell upon him with great fury, and would have +torn him in pieces if he had not been able to escape into his hole in the +ground. As it was, they so tore and wounded him with their teeth and claws +that the stripes remain in his back to this day. + +"Well, when he was healed enough to get around again he visited the abodes +of the human race and was very sorry to find that the diseases sent by the +other angry animals were causing much suffering and many deaths, so he +revealed the whole thing to a number of men and told them to be on their +guard. But even this was not sufficient. It was felt that, now that these +diseases were spreading among them, they must have some remedies for the +cure of them or they would all soon be destroyed. + +"While thus wondering what they should do their little friend the ground +squirrel came to their help again. He went about among the trees and +plants, who were always friendly to man, and he told them of the sad +calamities that had come to the human race. + +"When the trees and plants heard what had been done by the animals to +injure and destroy their friends they speedily held councils among +themselves and resolved that they would do all they could to overcome the +evil. + +"First the great trees held their councils, talked over the matter, and +decided what they could do in the way of furnishing remedies to cure these +diseases that were doing so much injury. The pine and the spruce and the +balsam trees said, 'We will give of our gums and balsams.' The slippery elm +said it would give of its bark to make the soothing healing drink. The +sassafras said it would give of its roots to make the healthful tea that +will bring back health again. The prickly ash and the sumach and others +volunteered their help, and spoke of the wonderful healing power there was +in them, if rightly used. + +"When the plants came to their council the numbers that wanted to help were +very great. No one was able to keep a record of them and of the healing +powers they professed to have. There was the mandrake, with its May apples, +and the wintergreen, with its pretty red berries; the catnip and the +bone-set, which are so good for colds; the lobelia, which is such a quick +emetic; the spikenard, the peppermint, the snakeroot, sarsaparilla, +gentian, wild ginger, raspberry, and scores of others. All cheerfully +offered assistance. + +"When the ground squirrel, who had for days been attending the council of +the trees and plants, had made out his list of what remedies each tree and +plant could furnish he was very much delighted, and then, thanking them for +their offered assistance, he rapidly returned to the abodes of mankind and +informed them of his great success. + +"Of course they were very much pleased, and very grateful to the ground +squirrel for his kindness and his interest in their happiness. This is the +reason why the chipmunk, or ground squirrel, lives near the homes of men. +You never see an Indian shoot them or the boys or girls try to snare them. +They are always welcome among the trees and the wigwams. The Indians love +them because they spoke up for man when the other animals turned against +him, and because it was one of their ancestors that made the trees and +plants reveal their good medicines for the cure of the sick." + +"Now I know why it was, when I was out with the Indian boys, that they +never would shoot an arrow at a chipmunk, even when I asked them to," said +Sagastao. + +"Yes," said Mary, "all of the Indians have heard their fathers tell of the +kindness of the old father chipmunk in the days when the animals knew so +much and could talk, and so they warn the children against injuring these +pretty little creatures." + +But it was now time they were returning. The light canoe was once more +pushed down into the lake, and soon they were merrily gliding along over +the clear, transparent waters to their cozy home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +In the Wigwam of Souwanas--How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. + +"We have come to-day for a nice story about Nanahboozhoo," said Minnehaha, +as she and Sagastao lifted the deerskin door at the wigwam of Souwanas, and +entered with all the assurance of children who knew they were welcome. + +"Did he ever do anything to punish bad fellows who were cruel to their +wives and children?" asked Sagastao. "Because, if he did, I wish he would +come and thrash old Wakoo, that bad fellow who has been thrashing his wife +again because he said she did not snare enough rabbits to suit him." + +Souwanas, who was one of the kind-hearted Indians, never cruel to any of +his family, was much amused at the fire and indignation with which the +young lad spoke. So after he had had comfortable seats arranged for the +children among the robes and blankets he endeavored to satisfy their +demands. "Nanahboozhoo," he said, "did such things long ago, but once, +when he was giving a good thrashing to a man who had been very cruel to his +wife, the wife, as soon as she was able, sprang up from the place where her +husband had knocked her to, seized a paddle and attacked Nanahboozhoo with +such fury that he resolved never to interfere again, if he could help it, +in a quarrel between man and wife. And," added the old man, with a merry +twinkle in his eye, "it is best for everybody, if possible, to keep out of +such quarrels." + +"Yes, but, mismis" (grandfather, Minnehaha's pet name for Souwanas), "you +surely know a nice story in which Nanahboozhoo helped some one without +getting into trouble himself." + +"Of course I do, my grandchild," said the old man, "and I know you will be +pleased with it. + +"My story is about a lovely Indian maiden who was bothered by a cruel +hunter. He was determined that she should marry him, although she did not +like him, and Nanahboozhoo came to her rescue. + +"The maiden's name was Waubenoo. She had the misfortune to lose both her +father and mother when she was about eighteen years old. There were four +children, all much younger than she, left in her sole care. They had no +uncles or aunts, or other relatives, near, to take care of them, and so +Waubenoo had to hunt and fish to get food for her little brothers and +sisters. Fortunately her father had left a number of good traps and nets, +and plenty of twine for snares, and so the industrious girl got on fairly +well. The great lake near her wigwam was well supplied with fish, and the +forests all round had in them many rabbits and partridges and other small +game. When great storms arose on the big lake, and Waubenoo could not go +out alone in her birch bark canoe to visit her nets, some of the Indians, +who were pleased to see how kind and industrious she was, would overhaul +her nets and bring in what fish were caught. Thus she toiled on, and with +the assistance of these kind Indians she did very nicely. Her little +brothers and sisters loved her dearly, and did what they could to help in +the simpler and easier part of the work. Every decent person among the +Indians was pleased with her industrious habits, and often, in their quiet +way, had some cheery words of encouragement for her. + +"But there was one exception, and this was a selfish Indian hunter who, +seeing what a fine-looking, strong woman she had become, and so clever in +her work with both nets and traps, resolved that she should be his wife, to +work for him and do his bidding. This man had been married before and, if +the reports were true which had been told, it was likely that his wife had +died because of his cruelties to her. So he resolved, in his selfishness, +to take Waubenoo from caring for her brothers and sisters to be his wife, +and to hunt and fish for him, that he might live a life of idleness. + +"Her parents being dead this selfish young Indian did not have to go to her +father to buy her to be his wife. All he thought he had to do was to go and +tell her she had to be his wife and come and do as he commanded her. So +harsh and cold were his words, and so very rough and forbidding his looks, +that, while Waubenoo was frightened, she was grave and high spirited enough +to indignantly refuse his request, and to order him never to trouble her +again. + +"This, of course, made him very angry. He refused to go, and continued to +insist on her going with him. + +"Fearing that he might revenge himself upon her by doing her or the +children some harm, she told him that it was her duty to stay with the +little ones whom the death of the parents had left in her care; that they +might perish if she now left them. + +"But nothing would turn away his anger, and if it had not happened just +then that some friendly Indians came along he would have cruelly beaten +her. Before them he durst not strike her, and so, muttering some threats, +he sulkily strode away into the forest. + +"Poor Waubenoo was now sadly troubled. Lighthearted and free, she had +cheerfully worked and toiled for her loved ones, but now here comes this +cruel, fierce-looking man, whom she could only look on with fear and dread, +and threatens to drag her away from them all. Gray Wolf, for that was his +name, had a bad reputation among the Indians. The young men shunned him and +the maidens took good care to be out of the way when he was around. That he +would persist in his attempts to get Waubenoo all were convinced, but that +he should succeed no one desired. Still, while Indian ideas on some of +these things are so peculiar that no one seemed disposed to interfere, at +the same time some of them were generally on the lookout for her +protection. As for brave Waubenoo, while certain that he would still +trouble her, she was resolved never to submit to him. + +"Thus the weeks rolled on, with Gray Wolf looking for some opportunity to +carry her off, and making several attempts to do so, which Waubenoo, ever +alert and watchful, succeeded in preventing. + +"At length his persistent attempts became so annoying that she was obliged +to neglect much of her work in order to keep on her guard. Food was getting +scarce because she dared not now go far from her wigwam to hunt for the +partridges and rabbits and other small creatures she was so clever in +snaring. + +"At length she resolved to go to Nanahboozhoo and seek his aid in getting +rid of this troublesome fellow. When Nanahboozhoo heard her sad story he +became very angry. He was indignant that such a commendable maiden, one who +had been so kind to her little brothers and sisters, should be bothered by +a big, selfish, lazy fellow who only wanted her because she was so +industrious and so clever at her work. + +"Nanahboozhoo had heard much about her kindly treatment of the children, +and of her skill in providing for their wants, so he lost no time in going +back with her to her wigwam. At first the younger children were much afraid +of him, as they, like all other Indian children, had heard such wonderful +tales about him. But he was in such a jolly good humor that day, and was so +delighted with everything he saw about Waubenoo's wigwam and with the +proofs of her industry that he soon made friends with all the children. How +to go to work to give Gray Wolf such a lesson that he would never trouble +them any more he hardly knew at first. However, he had not been there many +hours before he had to come to a decision, for one of the little children +came rushing into the wigwam with the terrible news that Gray Wolf, +carrying a big dog whip and looking very angry, was coming along the trail. +Nanahboozhoo only laughed when he heard this, and he very quickly decided +what to do. 'Sit down there,' he said to Waubenoo, 'in that dark side of +the wigwam, with a blanket over your head, and keep perfectly still until I +call you; and you, children, must keep quiet. Do not be frightened or say a +word, no matter what happens.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, who, as you know, could change himself into any form he +liked, suddenly transformed himself so as to look exactly like Waubenoo. So +perfect was his resemblance to her, even to his dress, that her brothers +and sisters could not have detected the disguise. Indeed, the young ones +could not help looking over to the spot where the real Waubenoo sat in the +gloom with the blanket drawn over her head. But they were Indian children, +early trained to be quiet and do as they were told, and so they fully +obeyed his commands. + +"Of course, when Gray Wolf came into the wigwam he was completely +deceived, and now, thinking that he had caught Waubenoo when there were no +friendly Indians around, he at once began speaking very fiercely to her: + +"'I have asked you for the last time,' he said, 'and now I have come with +my dog whip and I intend giving you a good thrashing and then driving you +to my wigwam. I intend to call you Atim, my dog, and like a dog I am going +to thrash you.' + +[Illustration: "Gave him such a terrible beating."] + +"He then savagely raised the whip to strike, as he thought Waubenoo, but +the blow never reached its victim, or even Nanahboozhoo in his disguise, at +whom it was aimed, for Nanahboozhoo was so enraged that anybody in the +shape of a man could be so cruel and selfish as to come and threaten a kind +young woman like Waubenoo that he suddenly sprang at Gray Wolf, and seizing +him by his scalp lock he dragged him out of the wigwam, and then wrenching +the heavy whip out of his hand gave him such a terrible beating that he +remembered it as long as he lived. Then roughly throwing him to the ground, +Nanahboozhoo, still in the disguise of Waubenoo, hurried into the wigwam +and said to the real Waubenoo: + +"'Now, while he is weak and cowed, go out and talk sternly to him, and tell +him that if he ever troubles you again it will be worse for him than this +has been.' + +"When Waubenoo came out her appearance so terrified Gray Wolf that he tried +to get up and skulk away, weak as he was. Waubenoo, glad that her enemy +was so conquered that he would not be likely to trouble her much more, did +as Nanahboozhoo requested her. + +"Nanahboozhoo was heartily thanked by Waubenoo and the children for thus +ridding them of this bad Indian, who had for so long made their lives +miserable. Ere he left Nanahboozhoo warned the children to say nothing +about his coming, 'for,' said he, 'if Gray Wolf finds out who it was that +thrashed him he may yet be troublesome.' + +"Well would it have been for all if the children had remembered this +advice," added Souwanas. + +"O tell us what they did, and what happened," shouted Sagastao. + +"Not to-day," said the old man; "it is time you both were back at your +lessons, and as I am going that way with some whitefish I will take you +with me in my canoe." + +"But is that all about the story of Waubenoo and the children?" said +Minnehaha. + +"Yes," said Souwanas, "until we come to the next. For a long time after +Gray Wolf received the beating he kept away from them, although his heart +was full of anger and revenge. Although he was a big fellow he feared to +again threaten her who, although she seemed but an ordinary-sized Indian +maiden, possessed the strength that had enabled her to give him such a +thrashing." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo--The Treachery +of Gray Wolf--The Legend of the Whisky Jack. + +"It came about in this way," said Souwanas, "and it is such a sad story +about beautiful Waubenoo." + +"Will it make me cry?" said the tender-hearted Minnehaha. "If so, I do not +think I want to hear it." + +"Stay and hear it, you little pussy," said Sagastao. "I am sure it is not +worse than the Babes in the Wood." + +"Well, you always cry first, when we read that story together," said +Minnehaha. + +At this the lad had nothing to say, for in spite of his apparent +brusqueness his heart melted more quickly, and his eyes filled easier with +tears, at a pathetic story, than did his sister's. + +"Well, go ahead, Souwanas," said Sagastao. "We each have a pocket +handkerchief, and when they are used up you can lend us a blanket." + +At this quaint speech everybody laughed, and then the old man began his +second story about Waubenoo. "It all came about because little children +have long tongues, and this story should warn little children that, while +they have two eyes and two ears, they have but one tongue, and that they +should not at any time talk about or repeat half of what they have seen and +heard. + +"The little brothers and sisters of Waubenoo had been warned that they +should say nothing about the visit of Nanahboozhoo to their wigwam. In +fact, Nanahboozhoo was such a queer fellow that he did not at any time want +people to be gossiping about him, and, if he had done any good deed for +anyone, he did not wish them to be ever speaking about it. Then another +reason why Nanahboozhoo did not want them to talk about his visit and help +was the fear that Gray Wolf, finding out how it was that he had received +such a beating, would be more bitter and revengeful against Waubenoo and +would again try to get her in his power. The little children were, of +course, delighted that their wigwam was no longer visited by Gray Wolf, +whose coming had always filled them with terror, while Waubenoo was so +pleased at having thus got rid of him that she was happier and brighter +than she had been for a long time. It was not long before some of the other +Indians noticed the change. They were surprised that Gray Wolf had so +suddenly stopped his visits, and that he seemed so dejected and sullen. +Naturally their curiosity was excited, and they were anxious to find out +what had happened." + +"Better to have been minding their own business," broke in young Sagastao, +who seemed to see the drift of the story. + +"Be quiet, and do not interrupt Souwanas," said Minnehaha, who often felt +called upon to restrain her brother's impulsiveness. + +"Of course," Souwanas continued, "Gray Wolf had so suffered that he had +very little to say, and if ever teased about Waubenoo he fell into a great +passion. + +"Waubenoo herself was too sensible to gratify their idle curiosity, but the +very return of her brightness, and her unwillingness to talk about the +matter, only added to the foolish desires of outsiders to find out what had +really occurred. So some of these naughty busybodies began questioning the +children when they could get them away from Waubenoo, for in her presence +they were as mute as she was. They pestered and bothered the children and +tried in various ways before they succeeded. But one day, while Waubenoo +was away overhauling her traps, some of those wicked meddlers visited her +wigwam and succeeded in getting one of the smallest ones--I just forget now +whether it was a boy or a girl." + +"A girl, of course," shouted Sagastao. + +"No, indeed; I am sure it was a naughty boy," said Minnehaha. + +"Well, no matter which; but one of them said: 'Nanahboozhoo!' + +"This one word, Nanahboozhoo, was quite enough to startle and alarm them, +for Nanahboozhoo was also much feared, as he sometimes did dreadful things. + +"The fact that Nanahboozhoo had been in their very midst, although they +were a long time in hearing anything more than the one word from the now +frightened children, was quite enough to excite the whole village, for the +news was soon spread abroad by the tattlers. + +"Such busybodies could not be satisfied with only hearing that Nanahboozhoo +had visited the wigwam of Waubenoo. Of course they wanted to hear about +what he said and did, and I am sorry to have to say that after a while, +with coaxing and presents, they managed to get from the children the whole +delightfully exciting story. + +"When Gray Wolf, who was so jeered and laughed at by all who dare, heard +from the gossipers how it had happened that he had received such a +thrashing he was doubly wild and furious. + +"When Waubenoo found out that all was known about how Nanahboozhoo had +helped her she was very sorry that her little brothers and sisters had been +so naughty and disobedient. She also knew that now she would have to be +more careful than ever against the movements of Gray Wolf. But the fact was +that he had been so cowed by his beating that he was afraid to openly +attack her, lest she should get Nanahboozhoo to help her again and it might +be worse for him than it was at his first meeting. But he treasured up +revengeful feelings in his heart and resolved that at some time or other he +would dreadfully punish her. + +"Some years passed by, and the older children, next to Waubenoo, were able +to do most of the hunting and fishing as well as to be on guard against +any of the evil doings of Gray Wolf. Thus they were able, in a measure, to +repay their sister, whom they dearly loved, although they were so +thoughtless, for all her great kindness to them. + +"One fall there came to the village a splendid Indian hunter. He was of the +same tribe, but lived with his people, most of the time, at a distant part +of the country. He was so pleased with this village, where dwelt Waubenoo, +that he decided to remain for the winter and hunt. He was such a very +pleasant fellow and such a great hunter that he soon made many friends. +Gray Wolf was the only man who seemed to hate him, and he was even so rash +as to insult him openly in an Indian gathering. + +"Soquaatum, for this was the young warrior's name, stood the insults of +Gray Wolf for some time, then, when he saw that some of the young hunters +began to think he was afraid of Gray Wolf, he suddenly sprang at him and +knocked him down, and then seizing him by his belt, he shook him as easily +and thoroughly as a wildcat would a rabbit. Then he threw him from him and +sat down among the people as though nothing had happened. + +"That evening, when he and the relatives with whom he lived were seated +around the fire in the wigwam, he heard for the first time the story of +Waubenoo: of her great industry, her love for her little brothers and +sisters, and how she had been threatened by Gray Wolf and then befriended +by Nanahboozhoo. + +"This story very much interested Soquaatum, and especially as in his +hunting he had met her younger brother, now a fine strapping hunter, and +had become very fond of him, although he was much younger. So he resolved +that as soon as he could he would visit her wigwam and seek her +acquaintance." + +"Ho! Ho! So this is to be a love story," said Sagastao. + +"Be quiet, do," said his sister. "All love stories do not end well. +Remember, there was Gray Wolf!" + +Souwanas profited by the interruption, for it gave him an opportunity to +light his pipe with flint and steel, and he then resumed the story. + +"Soon after Soquaatum arrayed himself in his most attractive costume and +called at the tent of Waubenoo. His excuse was that he wanted to see her +brother and arrange some hunting excursion. + +"Waubenoo, who had often heard her brother speak of his great skill as a +hunter, and had also heard how easily and thoroughly he had handled Gray +Wolf, received him most kindly and at once made him welcome. + +"Well, it is not surprising that he should soon fall in love with Waubenoo, +and so pleased was she with his manner, as well as his attractive +appearance, that she became very fond of him, and it was not many days +after their first meeting before it was noised abroad that Soquaatum and +Waubenoo were lovers. + +"Soquaatum remained until about the middle of the winter. Then he returned +to his distant home to make all preparations for receiving his wife, for +whom he was to come in the spring. + +"Gray Wolf was, of course, furious when he heard that Waubenoo was to be +married, and to the man who had humiliated him in the presence of so many +people. Though angry and revengeful, he was at heart a cowardly fellow, and +now that Waubenoo's brother was full-grown he was afraid of him, as well as +of Soquaatum while he was in the neighborhood. But his fears did not +prevent him from thinking of schemes for revenge which, however, came to +nothing, because the friends of Waubenoo were so vigilant and well +prepared. + +"At length one of his plans succeeded, and this is how it happened: + +"Gray Wolf enlisted a young Indian who was equally bad with himself to help +him. As Soquaatum had now been gone for some weeks to his home, which was +far east from that region, Gray Wolf and his wicked companion went a good +long distance--many miles--in that direction. There they made a hunting +lodge and laid their plans to capture Waubenoo. Then Gray Wolf's companion +went back and remained secreted near the wigwam of Waubenoo. One night he +saw her two brothers leave, about midnight, for some distant traps that +would take them all day to reach. + +"As soon as this bad fellow was satisfied that they were well out of sight +and hearing he rushed up to the tent of Waubenoo and hastily aroused her +from her sleep. He had arrayed himself as though he was gaining on her, +she began calling: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' Alas! he was far away, but there +was another who, fortunately, was near. Nanahboozhoo had been out hunting +and he had a sled which he was dragging, loaded with game. He was surprised +as he heard this calling, 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' and as he continued +listening it became hoarse and then only like a whisper. He could stand it +no longer; he rushed through the woods and there he saw Waubenoo, dashing +along on snow-shoes, calling in a low whisper: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' +while not a hundred feet behind her was Gray Wolf, yelling in triumph that +he would soon capture her. Unfortunately Nanahboozhoo was not in a very +good humor that day. He had heard of some little children that had been +tattling about him, and he had heard that the children in the tent of +Waubenoo had told about his visit. + +"However, when he saw who it was that was in danger, and heard her cry to +him for help when she saw him, and especially when he saw who it was that +was after her, he quickly turned Waubenoo into a bird and without any +trouble she quickly flew up into a tree out of the reach of danger. + +"Ever since that Waubenoo has been the Whisky Jack, and if you will listen +to Whisky Jack when he is not scolding or clamoring at your camp for food +his voice is like that of the lost Indian maiden, with a bad cold, calling +for her lover." + +"What did Nanahboozhoo do to Gray Wolf?" said Sagastao. + +"Hush," said Minnehaha. "Don't you know Nanahboozhoo doesn't like to have +children talk about him?" + +This excessive caution on the part of the little girl vastly amused +Souwanas. Then he told them that Nanahboozhoo turned Gray Wolf into a dog +and made him draw home his heavy load of meat. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock--How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened--A Punishment for +Conceit. + +There was great excitement one morning among the children in the schoolroom +when Mary came in with the word that some hunters with their dog sleds had +called, and that they had with them a great wolverine which had been killed +in the woods not very far away. The children ran out to look at it. + +Now the wolverine is known to be such a cunning, clever animal that the +killing of one is quite an event among the Indians, and the lucky hunter +who succeeds in destroying one is the hero of the hour. A man may on one +hunting trip kill several bears or wolves, or many other animals, and there +is not much said about it, but to kill a wolverine, that pest and scourge +of the hunters, is indeed a feat that any man is proud of. + +"Why is it called a wolverine?" asked Sagastao. + +"Because it was once like a wolf, and had small feet and long legs, but now +its legs are short and its feet are very large." + +"What shortened its legs and made its feet become so large?" asked +Sagastao. + +It was too cold a day to remain any longer outside looking at the +wolverine, or to learn more about it, so the children were obliged to +return to their warm schoolroom, where their lessons were resumed. + +It was evident, however, that both Sagastao and Minnehaha were ready with a +couple of questions for Mary, and it was not long after school hours that +they sought her and asked: + +"Mary, what was it that shortened the legs of the wolverine? and what made +his feet so big?" + +"The wolverine," replied Mary, "was once the finest of all the different +kinds of wolves. He had the softest and nicest of fur. His legs were long, +and his feet were firm and handsome, but he was an awfully conceited +fellow. He fancied he was the handsomest creature in existence and looked +down with contempt on all the other kinds of wolves. He used to go to the +side of the clear transparent lake, where he could see his shadow reflected +in the water, and he would strut up and down and say: 'O dear, what a +lovely creature I am!' + +"It is true he was very clever in many ways. He was so swift that he could +run down even the antelope and the elk, and at all the great animal +gatherings, where the different creatures met in council, he was the +swiftest there, and easily won the chief prizes at the great races which +the animals used to hold. Indeed, he won so many races that at length he +could get no animal to compete with him. He even tried to get up races with +the birds, but they laughed at him for his conceit. + +"One day he happened to be hunting among the mountains. Near the top of +one he saw a large ball-like rock, standing there apart from the other big +rocks. Coming up close to this great round rock he said to it: + +"'Was that you I saw walking just now?' + +"'No; I cannot walk, I have lain here for a long time,' said the rock. + +"The wolverine retorted that he was sure he had seen the rock walking. + +"This made the rock angry and he told the wolverine that he was telling a +falsehood. Then the saucy wolverine replied: + +"'You need not speak to me in that way, for I have seen you walking.' + +"Then the wolverine ran off a little distance and challenged the rock to +catch him. But the rock did not reply to this and the bold wolverine came +close up to the rock, struck it with his paw, and said: + +"'Come, now, see if you can catch me!' + +"'I cannot run,' said the rock, 'but I can roll.' + +"At this the conceited wolverine began to laugh. 'That will do! All I want +is a race. You can run or roll, just as you like.' + +"Then the race began; the wolverine started down the mountain side at a +great rate, and the rock came rolling behind him. At first the big rock did +not move very fast, and the wolverine laughed as he looked back and saw the +rock was so far behind. But the rock came on faster and faster, and now it +made the wolverine do his very best to keep ahead of it. On they rushed, +over the sticks and stones and rough places, down--down that great, long +mountain side. At length, swift and strong as he was, the wolverine began +to get tired, and although he was running as he never did before in his +life the big rock was surely gaining on him. By and by he was so frightened +that in looking behind at the rock, now close at his heels, he tripped over +a stick and down he fell. The rock rolled over him and, just as it had +completely crushed him down to the earth, there it stopped. + +"Then the wolverine, whose head was not crushed under the rock, cried out: + +"'Get off! go away! you are hurting me. You are crushing my bones.' + +"But the rock replied: + +"'You tormented me and told me I was telling a falsehood, and you +challenged me to a race with you; and now that I have caught you I will not +stir until some one stronger comes and takes me off.' + +"Then the wolverine lifted up his voice and cried to his relatives, the +wolves and foxes, to come and remove the rock. + +"When these animals came and saw him in such a plight, they asked him: + +"'How came you to get under the rock?' + +"The wolverine replied: + +"'I challenged the rock to catch me, and it rolled on me.' + +"When the wolves and the foxes heard this they were not very sorry. They +knew how conceited the wolverine had been about his speed, indeed they +were all smarting because of the ease with which he had beaten them, and +so, instead of helping him at once, they said he deserved his punishment. + +"After a time, however, they began to be sorry for the poor wolverine, who +was crying out piteously for help, but they found they were not able to +remove the rock. They could not even stir it in the least. + +"'Get out of the way,' said the wolverine, 'and I will call my other +friends, the thunder and the lightning.' + +"In a few minutes a great black cloud was seen rapidly coming out of the +west. As it came rushing along the foxes and the wolves were very much +frightened by the great noise it made. However, they had courage enough to +ask the lightning to take off the fine coat of the wolverine but not to +kill him. Then they ran back and watched to see the lightning do its work. +The lightning promised to do what had been asked of him; for he had heard +of this proud, conceited wolverine, who had boasted that he could run like +lightning, and now he was just going to teach him a lesson. So he darted +back a distance to gather force, and then he came on with a rush and struck +the rock and knocked it into small pieces. He also completely stripped the +skin from the back of the wolverine but did not kill him. When the +wolverine got up and stood there naked, with all his beauty gone, he was +very angry at the lightning. + +"'You are like other so-called friends I have heard about,' he said; 'you +cannot do a thing but you must overdo it and spoil all. You had no need to +tear my beautiful fur coat from my back when you knew I only asked you to +come and strike the rock.' + +"Then the poor, shivering wolverine gathered the pieces of his coat and +carried them to his sister the frog, who dwelt in a marsh, and he asked her +to sew them together. The frog had sore eyes, and when she sewed them +together she did not do it properly. Hence the wolverine was very angry, +and he hit her a crack on the head and knocked her into the water. Then he +took up the coat and went and found his youngest sister, the mouse. He told +her of his troubles, and how the frog had so badly done her work. Then he +showed the mouse how he wanted the coat to be sewed. His little sister felt +badly for her big brother, and so she set to work and with great care sewed +all the pieces together in their right places. When the wolverine saw how +nicely she had done her work he was much pleased. + +"'You mice may live everywhere,' he said, in real gratitude, 'and in spite +of all your enemies you will never be destroyed.' + +"Then the wolverine tried to put on his coat, but, alas! he found his legs +had been shortened and his feet very much flattened out by the terrible +crushing he had had under that big stone which he had been so foolish as to +challenge to a race." + +"Guess he didn't run many more races," said Sagastao. + +"No, indeed," was the reply; "he was so mortified and angry that from that +day to this the wolverine has always been a sulking, solitary animal, and +playing all the mean tricks he can on all kinds of animals as though he had +a spite against them. He now has not one friend who ever cares for him, +unless it is his little sister the mouse." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun--How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters--Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. + +One pleasant summer day, when the children had the pleasure of a canoe +outing with Mary and Kennedy, they decided to visit the wigwam of their old +friends, Kinnesasis and his wife. They had not seen them for some time, and +as Souwanas was away on a long hunting excursion they could not expect any +Nanahboozhoo stories until his return. Kinnesasis was a capital +story-teller, and they were eager to reach his wigwam. There, after making +both him and his wife happy with some gifts, they knew they could get some +interesting stories in return. + +They met with a hearty welcome and spent a happy day there. Among the +stories Kinnesasis told them, as handed down by his forefathers, the +following is perhaps the most interesting: + +"Long ago there were great monsters on this earth. Some of them were +enormous animals and fiercer than any that now exist. Then there were +magicians, and other evil spirits, like windegoos, some of whom were tall, +giant cannibals, that filled the people with terror. They lay in wait and +caught the children, and even the grown-up people, as the wild beasts now +catch their prey. Then they kindled up great fires and roasted them and ate +them. + +"Often, when the parents went to look for their children, they also were +caught and eaten. + +"The people were rendered very miserable not only by these great monsters +in human form, but also by the attacks of the enormous animals that then +lived. Indeed they began to fear that they would all soon be killed, unless +help came to them. + +"These people were worshipers of the sun, whom they called the great Sun +Father, and some tribes still have their sun dances in his honor. When he +saw that the people were in such great trouble and were likely to be all +killed by their cruel enemies he resolved to deliver them from their foes. +So he disguised himself and came down to the earth and married a beautiful +woman of the Northland. They had lovely twin boys, whose names were +Sesigizit, the older, and Ooseemeeid, the younger. They grew so rapidly +that they were able to walk when only a few days old. Their sun father +disappeared as soon as they were born, going to the far Eastland. + +"Strange to say, although these two boys grew so rapidly at first, they as +suddenly ceased growing, and so remained quite small. But they were very +intelligent, and were ever asking questions. + +"'Who is our father?'" they inquired of their mother one day. + +[Illustration: Sun dance lodge of the Blood Indians.] + +But she ignored the question, and although they kept bothering her it was +a long time before she would give them any information at all, and that was +very little. However, she did tell them that they were more than ordinary +children and finer than other boys, but then there are lots of mothers who +say such things to their own little ones. + +"As they were now big enough, she brought out of hiding a couple of bows, +and quivers full of arrows, and some magic rabbit sticks, and gave them to +the boys. + +"'These were left for you by your father,' said the mother, ere he went +away, and he gave commands that they were to be given to you as soon as you +were able to use them.' + +"The children were, of course, anxious to try their bows and arrows and +these magic sticks. So very soon after they had received them they resolved +to go off on a hunting expedition. + +"The mother, who was anxious about them, warned them of the various +monsters in human shape, great windegoos and cannibals, that were ever +lying in wait to catch and roast and eat little boys. She also told them of +the animals that were so enormously large that they could catch them up and +swallow them as easily as a turkey does a grasshopper. + +"Thus she tried to put them on their guard against the terrible foes that +had devoured so many of their people. The boys, however, were not much +frightened, and they eagerly set off on their journey. + +"They were especially warned by their anxious mother not to go to the +east, as there was a narrow lake there to which many of these evil +creatures came for water, especially a great monster wolf that had devoured +many people. Yet they immediately started off in that direction, for, like +some other boys, they did not obey even their mother. It was noon before +they reached the lake. At first, as they examined it, everything seemed +very quiet and still. + +"'Mother must have been mistaken,' said Sesigizit; 'I do not see any living +thing here.' + +"But as they wandered farther along the shore, suddenly Ooseemeeid cried +out: + +"'O see that great wolf on the other side!' + +"They dropped down as quickly as they could, but the fierce brute had +already caught sight of them. He was very much larger than any of the +wolves that now howl in the dark forests. He not only destroyed many of the +people, but when he came to springs, or small streams, he either drank up +all the water or so spoiled it that it was unfit for use. + +"The boys shot their arrows at him, but his sides were so tough, for he had +bones like jointed armor upon them, that he was only slightly wounded. He +was, however, made very angry by their attacks, and he picked up a magic +stick and threw it at them. They would have fared badly if they had not so +suddenly thrown themselves upon the ground that it passed over them. + +"When the boys saw that their arrows were not swift enough to kill such a +great animal they decided to use the magic rabbit sticks which their +father, the sun, had given them, with orders that they were only to be used +when the arrows failed. + +"The wolf, when he saw that one of his magic sticks had missed its aim, was +more savage than ever, and he seized his remaining one, for he only had +two, and he threw it with all his power at the boys. This time they both +jumped high up from the ground and the stick passed under them. + +"It was their turn now, and so they both threw their magic sticks with such +force that the great bony armor of the wolf was crushed in and he was +killed. + +"Sesigizit quickly ran around the lake to the spot where the great body lay +and cut out the heart of the wolf, while Ooseemeeid secured the two magic +sticks that the wolf had thrown at them, as well as their own weapons, and +then with these trophies they returned to their own home. + +"'Where have you been?' asked the anxious mother when they appeared. + +"'We have been to the lake,' they replied. + +"She could hardly believe it. + +"'My boys,' she said, 'you surely are mistaken, for no one who goes there +returns. The great monsters that devour our people live there, and they let +no one escape.' + +"Then they told her of their battle with the great wolf, and how they had +killed him. They also showed her his heart, which they had brought home +with them. + +"She was very much excited. She called the people together, and there was +great rejoicing at the death of this terrible wolf which had been such a +scourge to them. + +"Some time after Sesigizit and Ooseemeeid asked their mother if she knew +where grew any good tough wood suitable for making bows and arrows. Her +answer was: + +"'Far away in the foothills is a canyon, or ravine, where a forest of just +such wood as you need is growing, but the path that leads to it is narrow, +and there sits guard a great monster giant who kills and throws into the +ravine everyone who has attempted to get any of that wood. And in addition +there is a fierce mountain lioness prowling around somewhere on the route, +and she has already killed many people and carried them off to her den.' + +"Ooseemeeid at once desired to set off and get a supply of this wood, but +Sesigizit, when he found out how fearful their mother was that they would +both be killed if they made the attempt, at first refused to go. His +objection, however, vanished when he saw his brother making ready to start, +and in spite of their mother's fears they started off. + +"They had not gone very far when they met the great mountain lioness. She +was out hunting food for her cubs. These she had hidden in a den which was +away up on a precipitous mountain side. + +"Ooseemeeid asked her if she knew the way to the canyon where grew the good +wood. + +"'Yes,' she replied. 'I am just going that way, and I will show you the +route.' She said this because she wished in this way to allure the two boys +to walk near to her den, and there she would kill them for food for her +cubs. + +"So she led them until they came to a place where the path was very +dangerous, because it was on a narrow, shelving rock around the mountain +side. Here the monster lioness asked the boys to walk on ahead of her, but +they refused, saying that they had been taught never to walk in front of +their elders. The lioness urged, but the boys were firm, and so she had to +yield and let them have their way. + +"When in the most dangerous part of the pass the boys pretended to be very +much alarmed, and asked to be permitted to walk between her and the +mountain side. At first she was suspicious, but they seemed now to be so +cowardly and afraid that she thought they were not able to do her any harm, +so she walked on the outer edge of the pass and let them have the inside, +and also allowed them to put their hands on her as though to steady +themselves. When they came to the most dangerous spot, where it was so +narrow that even a mountain lion had to be careful, they both suddenly drew +their magic sticks and, giving her a great shove, sent her over the side of +the narrow rocky ledge and down she fell--to be dashed to pieces thousands +of feet below. + +"With a shout of triumph the two boys carefully pushed on and, finding the +den, quickly killed the cubs and cut off the right forepaw from each one to +carry home. + +"From this high pass they could now see the canyon where grew the good +wood for which they were seeking. They also saw the lodge of the monster +giant who guarded the narrow path that led to it. They saw by its size that +he must be an enormous creature, and so they looked to see that their +arrows and magic sticks were all in good order and handy for use. + +"The great giant had heard their shout of triumph when they had destroyed +the mountain lioness and it made him very angry, for he hated any noise or +disturbance; his name, Nikoochis, which means solitude, indicated this. + +"When he saw the small boys he was at first inclined to laugh in derision +at them, but when they had come near enough to shoot their magic arrows at +him he soon began to roar with the stinging pain they gave him. + +"In vain he tried to catch the active little fellows; he was so big and +clumsy, and they were so quick in their movements, that it was an utter +impossibility for him to get his hands upon them. + +"Then he began tearing up great rocks and stones and tried to crush them by +hurling these at them. Here the boys' father, the sun, came to their help, +and he shone so fiercely into the eyes of the great monster that he was +unable to see very well, and the boys easily kept out of the way of the +rocks thrown at them. + +[Illustration: "They both threw their magic sticks."] + +"The monster was big and fat and unaccustomed to exertion, and he was soon +tired out. Indeed he was so big that the arrows of the boys seemed only +like pins and needles sticking into him, and the boys began to fear that +their quivers would be emptied before they had conquered him. Just then +they met an old witch with a bundle of sticks which she was carrying to her +wigwam. She was very angry with Nikoochis, for he would not allow her even +to gather the dry sticks that fell to the ground in the forest he was +guarding. The result was that she had to wander far away to get the little +fuel she needed in her wigwam. + +"The boys told her of their battle with this selfish old monster, and that +even now he was badly wounded by their arrows, which, however, did not seem +to reach any vital spot. She told them that the only place where their +weapons could be effectual in killing him was in the top of his skull. That +they must first in some way crack it with their magic rabbit sticks, and +then they could shoot their arrows into his brain. Hearing this they +quickly resumed their attack upon him. In vain he tore up great rocks and +hurled them with all his force at them. They either cleverly jumped on one +side or sprang up into the air out of the way. + +"Then, watching for their opportunity, they waited until he stooped down, +and when he was struggling to loosen from the earth a great rock as big as +a house Sesigizit threw, with all his power, his magic rabbit stick. It +struck the giant fair on the top of his head with such force that it broke +off a piece of his skull. The next instant Ooseemeeid fired one of his +arrows so accurately that it pierced into the brain through the spot thus +left exposed. + +"With a roar of rage and pain the great monster fell, rolled down into the +deep canyon, and died. + +"After securing his big flint knife, which dropped from his belt, the boys +hurried into the canyon and gathered a lot of fine wood for arrow shafts +and returned to their mother. When she asked them where they had been they +replied that they had been to the canyon, and that they had killed both the +mountain lioness and the great giant. + +"At first she could hardly believe this, but as they had brought the paws +of the cubs and the flint knife of the great giant, why, she just had to +believe it. Great indeed were the rejoicings of the people at being thus +rid of these creatures." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. + +One cold day Souwanas, who had not been seen by the children for some +time--he had been away on a long hunting excursion--quite unexpectedly +walked into the mission house during the school hours of Sagastao and +Minnehaha. The news of his coming was hailed with delight by the children, +and it required a certain amount of firmness on the part of the heads of +the household to keep them at their studies. They were, however, quickly +pacified, and returned with diligence to their lessons, when informed that +their old friend had been invited to stay all day and doubtless would have +a story of some kind for them when their studies were all over. + +The venison and bear's meat which he had brought were quickly purchased at +a price that well pleased him. Then he sat down for a rest and a smoke in +the kitchen. Of course he had his usual tiff with Mary, the nurse, who was +very jealous of him because he had so won the love and confidence of the +children. Souwanas was greatly amused at her jealousy of him, especially +since he was told by one of the Indian maids that the children had been +overheard gravely debating between themselves which was the better +story-teller, Mary or Souwanas. + +When peace again reigned some illustrated volumes from the library were +given to Souwanas for his inspection. He was not able to read English, but +he was very fond of looking at pictures. + +There was one book that had a special fascination for him, in fact when he +first examined it, and had had some of its illustrations explained to him, +it gave this superstitious Indian about the biggest fright he had ever +received. It was a book in which were pictured and described many of the +great extinct monsters of the old times. These enormous hideous creatures, +whose bones and fossil remains are still occasionally to be found, quite +alarmed him. Yet the book was generally about the first one he desired to +see. + +On this present visit, however, Souwanas, while as usual eager again to +inspect this book, was observed to look at it in a very different spirit. +The explanation came out later, when he had the children around him--indeed +almost the whole household--listening to a new Nanahboozhoo story which he +had secured from some famous old Indian whom he had met while far away on +his long hunting excursion. + +"Yes, it is true," he began, "that there did once live on this earth, both +in the land and in the water, great animals like those here shown in this +book. I have been to the wigwam of the great Shuniou and from him I have +learned much about them, as handed down in the tradition of our +forefathers. Great and terrible were they, and the people of those times +lived in great terror of them, for the bows and arrows and even the stone +war clubs of the strongest warriors were powerless to kill or even +dangerously wound such monsters. It was well for the inhabitants of the +earth in those days that these great monsters were few in number and that +they were constantly fighting among themselves, for so large and terrible +were they that only animals as big and fierce of other kinds could battle +with them. + +"But there was one great monster that lived in the water, and as he had no +enemies big enough to attack him he lived on, even long after the other +great animals were all killed off. + +"Shuniou said that the tradition was that a great rush of waters caused +many of the last of the great monsters that had tusks of ivory to be +carried to the far Northland, and there, as the terribly cold winter set +in, they were all frozen to death. + +"This must be true," added Souwanas, "for it was not many years ago that +the Hudson Bay Company sent their men there to get this ivory, which they +intended to ship to England. They came back with word that some of the dead +bodies had been seen where the ice broke up. But this great monster in the +water, as I have said, lived on after the rest were all supposed to have +died off or been killed. He was a terrible scourge to those Indians whose +wigwams were on the shores of the great sea in which he lived. They were +in mortal terror when they ventured out in their canoes to fish. This they +had to do, as they depended almost entirely on fish for their living, and +there were times when the fish left the shallow waters near the shore and +went out far from land. There the Indians had to follow and catch them or +they and their families would starve. + +"Happily for them, sometimes for months together no one would hear or see +anything of this great sea monster. Then, perhaps, suddenly he would rise +up right under a canoe in which were several Indians, whom he would easily +catch and swallow one by one. He would sometimes rush after a herd of deer +that had gone out swimming in the waters. He would catch and easily swallow +several of them." + +"Well, I should think that the big horns of a moose or reindeer would give +him some trouble to swallow," said Sagastao. + +"He was so large," said Souwanas, "that the horns or body of the largest +deer did not seem to bother him in the least degree." + +"I wonder if it were not one of his great grandfathers that swallowed +Jonah," said the observant Minnehaha. + +"The Indians at length came to be so much distressed by the loss of so many +of their number, and by their inability to slay the monster, that they +resolved to ask Nanahboozhoo to come and help them if he possibly could. + +"I ought to have told you," said Souwanas, "that this great monster was +called by the Indians Mooshekinnebik. + +"Nanahboozhoo at once responded to their request, for he was very angry +when he heard how many industrious fishermen had been swallowed by this +creature. He was doubly angry when he returned with the deputation who had +gone for him and further learned that, only the day before, Mooshekinnebik +had been mean enough to come near to the shore and catch and swallow some +boys and girls who had been out swimming that warm summer day. + +"When Nanahboozhoo informed Nokomis of the request of the people for his +help to deliver them from the long hated Mooshekinnebik she was very much +frightened, and more so when he told her of the strange and dangerous plan +he was going to adopt to carry out his purpose. It was this: he was going +to allow himself to be swallowed by this monster who had already destroyed +so many people." + +"O how dreadful!" said Minnehaha. "We will never hear any more nice stories +about Nanahboozhoo." + +"All a pack of lies; there never were any such monsters," snapped out old +Mary, who could not longer conceal her jealousy at seeing how interested +the children were in the story. + +"Hold on, Mary; not so fast," cried Sagastao, taking the book from Souwanas +and showing the pictures to Mary. + +"There, Sakehow," he said, using his favorite term of endearment, "look +for yourself and see those lovely creatures--some of them quite big enough +to swallow us all without winking." + +But Mary was stubborn, as well as jealous, and would not give in, even when +Kennedy, the favorite dog driver, who was present, told her that even now +there were some of the great tusks and bones of animals that the officers +called mammoths over at the Hudson Bay Company's fort ready to be shipped +to England next summer. She was, however, quickly silenced when Sagastao +sat down beside her and throwing his head into her lap said, very +coaxingly: + +"Now, Mary, just be quiet and let us hear Souwanas tell the rest of the +story of what Nanahboozhoo did to Mooshekinnebik." + +Peace being thus restored, Souwanas, who had been much amused by Mary's +ire, resumed his story: + +"When Nokomis heard her grandson describe how he was going to let the +monster swallow him she resolved to come and pitch her tent on the +seashore, among the people who had been so troubled, and there to await the +return of her grandson, if he should ever come back from such a perilous +adventure. + +"Nanahboozhoo asked his mother for some magic singing sticks, and also for +a very sharp knife. Then he made for himself a small raft of logs and, +bidding her good-bye for a short time, he sprang on it and was soon +floating out, in search of the dreaded creature, over the great waters. + +"When well out from the shore he began to make music with his magic sticks +and to sing a defiant song: + + "'Ho, ho! great fish down in the sea, + Come, if you dare, and swallow me. + My brothers all you're fond of eating, + 'Tis time some one gave you a beating. + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho! + + "'You see I am not far away, + So come and taste me while you may; + Yet not afraid am I, no, no! + So hurry up, old fish. Ho, ho! + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho!' + +"Nanahboozhoo sang this brave song over and over, to the weird harmony of +his magic music sticks, until he reached the place where the great fish was +resting. + +"When the great monster Mooshekinnebik heard the voice of Nanahboozhoo he +came up to the surface of the water to find out who was making all that +music and shouting out such defiant words. + +"When he saw that it was only one young man on a raft of dry logs, he +ordered one of his children to go and knock the raft to pieces and swallow +that noisy fellow. But this was not what Nanahboozhoo wanted, and so he +shouted out: + +"'I want the old father fish to eat me.' + +"This made old Mooshekinnebik very angry, and so, open mouthed, he rushed +furiously at Nanahboozhoo who, when the great monster was close enough, +took a leap into the open mouth and was immediately swallowed up. + +"For a short time after being swallowed Nanahboozhoo was unconscious, but +he soon recovered himself and was able to look around and see the queer +prison in which he was now confined. It was fortunate for him that he had +eyes like a cat, and so could see as well in the dark as in the light. He +found that he was not the only inmate of this queer prison; there were a +lot of creatures whom he called his brothers--the bear, the deer, the fox, +the beaver and even the squirrel. Nanahboozhoo inquired of them and they +told him how they had been captured and the length of time they had been in +that horrid place. They also informed him that many others who had been +captured were now dead. Nanahboozhoo found that they were quite hopeless, +and looked forward to nothing but death. However he called them around him +and informed them that he had willingly come among them for the purpose of +affording a speedy deliverance. + +"This was indeed good news. Then he explained to them the plan he had in +his mind, and said that it was necessary for them to kick up a rumpus in +the interior of this monster, that they would thus make him so very sick +that he would have to go near to land, and when they should have him there +he thought he had another plan that would enable them all to escape. + +[Illustration: "He took a leap into the open mouth."] + +"They all agreed to do anything they could to help on his plans, so +Nanahboozhoo took out his magic singing sticks and began to play and sing. + +"At once the bear, the deer, the fox, the beaver, and indeed all of the +creatures that were still alive, caught up the lively tune, and such a +dancing and jumping and flying around was hardly ever seen before. + +"This internal commotion very much disturbed Mooshekinnebik. He could not +make out what was the matter. He shook himself thoroughly, but that did no +good; then he darted off through the water at a great rate, but this also +was of no use. Then he rolled over and over and over in the water. This of +course stopped the dancing and hubbub inside for a time, but as the walls +of the prison were soft, also the floor and ceiling, nobody was hurt, and +so the instant it ceased they were up and at it again, harder than ever. +Mooshekinnebik never had such a turn in his life. He did not know what to +do. Still Nanahboozhoo kept singing louder and louder, while the dancers +kept up their wild antics around him. + +"At length Nanahboozhoo decided that the monster was about enough +frightened for him to do something else, and so he drew out his sharp knife +and gave Mooshekinnebik a good stab near his heart. + +"This threw him into convulsions and added to his terror, and he began +swimming toward the shore. When Nanahboozhoo knew this he kept stabbing him +more and more, until at length his body was heard to scrape on the shallow +sandy ground. At this Nanahboozhoo with a mighty effort plunged his knife +with all his power deep into the monster's heart. + +"The instant he did this Mooshekinnebik was thrown into a number of mighty +convulsions, and in one of them, with one tremendous effort, he fairly +threw himself out of the water on the shore, and there he died. + +"So great and terrible had been these dying convulsions that all the +creatures inside, and even Nanahboozhoo himself, had become unconscious +from being so knocked about. + +"How long they remained so they did not know. Nanahboozhoo was the first to +regain his senses, and he was indeed very sorry to see that all of his +comrades were still unconscious. He had some difficulty in getting out from +under the bodies of his comrades, who were piled up on him. He was glad +that the monster was dead, but he was uncertain whether they were on the +shore or at the bottom of the water. So he speedily determined to find out. +He climbed up over the bodies of his comrades to the place that he thought +was the thinnest, and there, with his keen knife, he began cutting through +the roof of this queer prison. + +"To his great delight he was soon able to see the sunshine coming through. +When he had cut a hole big enough to let in some air and sunshine he took +up his magic singing sticks and began singing, for the purpose of reviving +all those imprisoned with him. His song was not much to us, but it was a +great deal to those shut up in such a prison. It was: + + "'Kesik-in-na-win, + Kesik-in-na-win.' + (I see the sky, + I see the sky.) + +"As Nanahboozhoo continued to sing this over and over, one after another +his brothers sneezed and opened their eyes. They were indeed a happy lot at +the prospect of deliverance. + +"When Nanahboozhoo saw that they were all now recovered he again set to +work with his knife, and it was not long before he had a hole large enough +to permit all of the imprisoned creatures to make their escape. + +"The news soon spread, and it was not long before Nokomis, with others, +came to see the huge dead monster, and there were great rejoicings." + +"And this," added Souwanas, "is the tradition, as told by Shuniou, of how +Nanahboozhoo destroyed Mooshekinnebik." + +"What became of the little monsters?" asked Minnehaha. + +"The Indians," replied Souwanas, "under the leadership of Nanahboozhoo made +such a war upon them that they were soon annihilated." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Welcome Springtime in the Northland--How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians--The Revenge--The Flood--Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft--The Creation of a New World. + +The coming of the pleasant springtime was hailed with great delight. Seven +or eight months were found to be a very long spell of cold winter weather, +and so when with a rapidity unknown in more Southern climates the winter +broke up, and the welcome warm weather made its appearance, everybody +seemed to feel its genial influence. + +The first little wild flowers were looked for with intense interest, and +great indeed was the joy of the children when some were found. The sweet +singing birds that in the previous autumn, on the first signs of the coming +down from the colder North of the Frost King, had flitted away to the +summer Southland were now returning in multitudes. The air was full of +their melody, and as scores of them, fearless and trustful, made themselves +at home in the bird resorts around Wahkiegum, great indeed was the +children's delight as they welcomed them back to their haunts in the North. + +And really it did seem as though the birds were glad to be there again, +for it is only in the North that these birds sing their sweet love songs to +each other and build their nests and hatch out their little broods. + +The Whisky Jacks, that had been croaking out their hoarse cries all winter, +seemed to get sulky and vexed that they were now so little admired, and so +they flitted away farther north and buried themselves in the interior of +the deepest forests. + +In the joyousness of those happy days up in those high latitudes, when the +changes of every twenty-four hours can easily be noticed, Sagastao and +Minnehaha for a time troubled neither Souwanas nor Mary for Indian legends +or stories. There was in the rapid melting of the snow, the breaking up of +the immense ice fields on the lake, the appearance of the land, and then +the grass and flowers, and the planting of seeds in their little gardens, +enough to keep them busy and happy. + +But even all these things at length lost their interest. The flights of the +wild geese, swans, and ducks had all ceased. They, with many other kinds of +migrating birds, were busy nesting. The sweet songsters around the home +were everyday companions, and, while the children loved them as much as +ever, the excitement of their coming had died away. So when one day they +saw Souwanas coming over the now sparkling waters in his canoe they were +delighted to welcome him. As usual, when he reached the shore the contents +of his canoe were examined speedily. There the children found a couple of +beavers that had but lately been trapped, and a dozen or more muskrats that +Souwanas had speared in the marshes. These animals were the result of one +night's hunting, and now Souwanas was on his way home to have them skinned +and the pelts prepared for sale to the fur traders. + +The children's curiosity was much aroused by the sight of the beavers and +muskrats, and they questioned the old man about them. The queer, broad, +scaly tail of the beavers much interested them, and drew from Souwanas an +interesting account of the various purposes for which the clever, +industrious beavers use this apparently awkward appendage. + +"Do you know any Nanahboozhoo stories in which he tells anything about +beavers or muskrats?" asked Sagastao. + +"Yes, indeed," replied Souwanas; "in nearly all the stories that are told +about the forming of the new land after the great flood both the beaver and +the muskrat are mentioned, as well as the other animals." + +"Tell us one of the stories," urged little Minnehaha. + +The arrival of some other canoes at this point interrupted the +conversation. The newcomers were on their way to the wigwam of Souwanas, +who was their chief. He was about to go on with them, but when he saw the +look of disappointment on the faces of the children he, with his usual +thoughtful kindness, transferred the two beavers and the muskrats from his +own canoe to one of the late arrivals. Then telling the people to give them +to his wife, to have them all cooked and ready for dinner, by which time he +would join them, he sent the people on their way. Having lighted his +calumet, with the children seated near him, he began: + +"Nanahboozhoo's life commenced long before the great flood of waters that +covered the earth, about which all of our tribes have heard something. He +had his own wigwam and furnished it with everything he wanted. One day when +walking on the shore of a great river he saw some sea lions lying on the +sandy beach, basking in the sun. These animals, like the beaver, could live +as well in the water as on the land. As he closely watched them from a +distance, and saw the rich, shiny skins, he thought what a nice tobacco +pouch could be made out of one of them. When Nanahboozhoo once set his +heart on anything he at once began to work hard to secure it. He tried +various plans to capture one of these sea-lions, but none of them +succeeded. They were too clever to be caught as other animals are, and he +saw that he would have to adopt some unusual method. He decided that he +would go down very early to the spot on the bank of the river where they +were in the habit of sunning themselves and disguise himself as an old +stump of a tree, then, when they came out and were enjoying the sunshine, +he would shoot the fine old white one with the beautiful glossy skin that +he had so much admired. As on other days the lions came, and when they saw +this stump the white lion, which was a kind of king among them, said: + +"'I never saw that big stump before. I think it must be Nanahboozhoo.' + +"Another one said he thought the same thing. + +"Others only laughed, and said, 'It is only an old pine stump.' + +"However, as a number of them were suspicious, it was decided to go up and +shake it and see if it would move, and thus really find out. They went to +it, and three of them together used their greatest efforts to move it. + +"Nanahboozhoo had to make one of the hardest efforts of his life to hold +firm. However, he succeeded, and so the lions only said: + +"'It really is a stump of a tree, but it is very strange we did not notice +it before.' Then they rolled about on the warm sand in the sunshine until +one after another fell asleep. + +"Nanahboozhoo now noiselessly and quickly turned himself into a young +hunter, then taking up his bow and arrow he shot the white lion. His arrow +stuck fast in his body and badly wounded him, but did not kill him. At once +the lions all plunged into the river and disappeared. Nanahboozhoo was +sorry that he did not get the lion's skin, indeed he was greatly vexed and +annoyed to have to return to his wigwam without it. A day or two after, as +he was walking in the woods, he met with a very old woman. She had a bundle +of slippery elm bark, out of which poultices were made by the Indians for +wounds and bruises, and also some roots for medicine. + +"'Where are you going, nookoom (grandmother), and what are you going to do +with the bark and roots?' + +"'O' said she, 'you cannot imagine what trouble we are in, for Nanahboozhoo +has shot and badly wounded one of our chiefs, and great efforts are going +to be made to catch and kill him.' + +"She also told him that she had been honored in being sent for to come and +use all of her healing arts to try and restore the wounded chief to health +again, and that now she was on her way to his abode to poultice him with +the slippery elm bark, and to give him medicine, made by boiling the roots, +to allay the great fever from which he was suffering. + +"Nanahboozhoo thus discovered that these lions, as he had supposed them to +be, were wicked magicians who had been doing a great deal of harm, and who +when they chose to do so could change themselves into the form of lions and +live either under the water or on land, as best suited them, to escape from +being killed by those whom they had injured. As the old woman was very +talkative, Nanahboozhoo soon obtained from her all the information he +desired. Among other things she told him that sometimes people came to her +for bad medicines, to give to persons with whom they had quarreled, and in +this way they would kill them with the poisons which she made out of +toadstools and other deadly things. + +"Hearing these dreadful facts from her own lips Nanahboozhoo resolved to +kill her, but first he had her tell him where the wounded chief's abode +was, and all about what was expected of her when she arrived there. He then +speedily tomahawked her, and clothing himself in her garments he made +himself look exactly like her, after which he took up her bundle of bark +and roots and went to the dwelling of the chiefs. + +"There he found quite a crowd assembled, but all were in confusion and +excitement on account of the wounded chief. When they saw, as they thought, +the old woman coming, whom they were eagerly expecting, they made way for +her. Nanahboozhoo went straight to the place where the wounded chief lay. + +"He was surprised to see that the arrow which he had shot was still +sticking in his side. He made a great ado about preparing the poultices and +medicine, and set everybody around him doing something to help carry out +his plans. Then when all were hurrying, and none looking at him, +Nanahboozhoo pushed the arrow with such force into the body of the chief +that it killed him instantly. Then with a shout of triumph he made his +escape. + +[Illustration: "He ran away west, to the great mountains."] + +"There was, of course, great excitement among the people. They at once +called a council and consulted what they should do to destroy Nanahboozhoo. +They were, as I have told you, magicians, and had power to raise the +waters, and so they resolved to drown him. They accordingly called on the +waters to rise and rush over the plains and forests in the direction in +which he lived. Nanahboozhoo had traveled with great speed back to his +wigwam, but hardly had he reached it ere he heard the roar of the floods of +water that were coming to overwhelm him. He saw his great danger and he ran +away west, to the great mountains; but the floods of water continued rising +and drove him up higher and higher. When he saw that he was nearing the +highest peak he began to think what he must do next. Around him in the +raging waters were quantities of logs and trees, and among them, or on the +now small peak of land, were numbers of various animals. + +"With all his powers he set to work and it was not very long ere he had a +large raft made out of the floating logs. As the last spot of land was now +being overwhelmed by the flood, and he pitied the animals that were +swimming about, he took them on the raft with him. As Nanahboozhoo knew all +the animals and their languages he held a council on the raft. He told them +that if he could get even a very little of the old world that was drowned +he could make a new world for them all. He first asked the otter if he +would try, and see if he could dive down and bring up a little portion of +the earth. The otter at once made the attempt, but after a while he came up +to the surface apparently quite dead. Nanahboozhoo reached out and lifted +him in and placed him in a sunny spot on the raft. Then the beaver tried. +He took a great header and down he dived, resolved to succeed if possible, +but after a time even he came up apparently as lifeless as the otter. +Nanahboozhoo lifted his body up out of the water and laid it in the sun by +the side of the otter. The muskrat next volunteered to try what he could +do, so down he dived and, after a much longer time than the others had been +down, he too floated up senseless and cold. Nanahboozhoo took him up, and +as he did so he noticed that there was earth in his mouth and on his paws. +He carefully collected this in his hand, and then placed the body of the +muskrat beside the otter and the beaver. He then blew upon the earth and +thus made it dry and porous, so that when it was placed in the water it +would not sink but float. He then put a lively little mouse upon it, which +by running round and round upon the earth made it grow larger and larger. +Nanahboozhoo then put a squirrel upon it for the same object. Then the +marten and mink--for the new earth was now so extended that it could hold +up these light animals. + +"For a time Nanahboozhoo had to guard the now rapidly growing young world +from the larger animals with a stick, for fear they would sink it. They +were all very tired of having to remain huddled together so long on the +raft, and were eager to follow the smaller creatures that seemed so happy +on the new earth, even if it were not very large as yet. As there was much +to be done to fit this new world up for them to dwell upon, everyone had to +do what he could. The birds were sent to fly over the water to pick up +branches and seeds. + +"By and by Nanahboozhoo decided that the earth, which had now grown beyond +the reach of his eyes, was large enough, and so he revived the otter, the +beaver and the muskrat, and with them and all the other animals around him +he took possession of the new world. + +"In order to ascertain the size of the world he sent a wolf to run to the +end of it and then to return at once to him. The wolf easily made the +journey in one day. Nanahboozhoo then kept him with him for some time, and +again sent him off. The second journey took him five days, the third ten, +the fourth a month, then he was gone a year and then five years. Thus it +went on, until at length Nanahboozhoo started off a young wolf just able to +run on the long journey. This one died of old age ere he had completed the +trip. Nanahboozhoo then said that the world was large enough, and commanded +it to cease from growing." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Among the Briers and Wild Roses--Why the Roses have +Thorns--Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. + +One day as the children were out in the clearings back of their home, +gathering some of the wild strawberries that grew there and also some of +the wildflowers that bloomed during the short brilliant summer, they were +delighted to see Souwanas coming along the road with his gun on his +shoulder and some ducks and rabbits in his hand. + +Very cordial were their greetings, but soon the quick eyes of the kindly +Indian noticed that there were several long red scratches and even some +drops of partly dried blood on the hands of his little friends. It was +hardly necessary for him to ask the cause of the wounds, as the bunches of +sweet briers and wild roses, with their sharp needle-like thorns, in the +happy children's hands told the tale. + +Putting down his gun and game, Souwanas quickly gathered some of the sweet +fragrant grass which is there so abundant, and skillfully twisting it into +little coils he wound one around each of the bunches of flowers which the +children had gathered, and which they were still having trouble to hold on +account of the thorns. + +The bouquets thus arranged could now be carried without inflicting any +more wounds or pain. Amid their chat and laughter, for these white children +were taught, like Indian children, not to be afraid of a few scratches or a +little pain, Minnehaha, who was industriously wiping the blood from some +wounds on her little white hands with her apron, said: + +"How is it, Souwanas, that all these rosebushes and briers have such sharp +thorns on them?" + +"I suppose Mary would say that Nanahboozhoo, the rascal, had something to +do with it," put in Sagastao. + +At this reference to Mary there was a mischievous twinkle in the eyes of +the old Indian. + +"Yes," he replied, "Nanahboozhoo had lots to do with it, and yet when you +hear the story you will see that he was not such a rascal at the time he +did it as Mary would make out, but almost as good as her pet, Wakonda, who +gave the bees their stings." + +"O tell us all about it now," said Minnehaha. "We have this forenoon as a +half holiday, and papa is to join us in about an hour for a walk in the +woods." + +The kind-hearted old Indian had been pleased with the plucky way in which +the children had slighted their wounded hands, and before he began his +story he acted the part of the skillful physician. He found some soft juicy +leaves which he crushed and spread on the ugly red scratches. The effect +was magical, and the children who had so bravely treated their wounds with +indifference gratefully acknowledged the sudden cessation of the smart. + +Selecting a pretty spot under a clump of balsam trees, where some +boulder-like stones afforded them comfortable seats, the children cuddled +down with their old friend, to hear how the roses got their thorns. + +"Long ago the roses were the most abundant of flowers, but they grew on +bushes that were smooth and fragrant, and such delicious eating that all +the animals that eat grass or browse were constantly seeking for and +devouring not only the rose flowers but also the bushes on which they grew. +The result was that the roses of all kinds were in danger of being +exterminated. In those days trees and flowers and other things had greater +powers of thinking and acting than they have now, and so the roses of +different kinds met in council to decide what could be done to preserve +those of them that were still left in existence. It was decided that a +deputation of them should be sent to Nanahboozhoo to implore his +assistance. + +"He is such an eccentric fellow, and assumes so many disguises, that they +had a good deal of difficulty in finding him. They traveled long distances, +and inquired of the various wild animals they met and even consulted the +trees and hills. At length they were informed that he was now living in a +valley among the mountains and experimenting as a gardener. They hurried +away as fast as the fierce wind which they had hired to carry them could +blow them along. At first when they reached his abode they were very much +frightened, as it was easy to observe from the loud angry tones in which +Nanahboozhoo, although afar off, was speaking, that he was in a great rage. +However, they had come too far to be easily discouraged. They quietly drew +near, and hiding behind some dense balsam trees they carefully listened to +find out the cause of his anger. Fortunately, they could not have come at a +better time for themselves, for it seems that Nanahboozhoo had become very +much interested in his work as a gardener. All the things he had planted +had grown so well that in order to protect them from prowling wild animals +he had set all around the garden a fine hedge of rosebushes. So many were +required that Nanahboozhoo had been obliged to transplant bushes from a +great distance around, for they did not grow so abundantly as formerly. + +"The morning of the very day on which the deputation of the rosebushes +arrived Nanahboozhoo had returned from one of his short adventures. Fancy +his indignation at finding that in his absence all sorts of animals, from +the rabbit to the mountain elk, had visited his abode, and had not only +completely eaten that lovely hedge of rosebushes, but had also greatly +injured the beautiful garden, of which he was so proud! + +"When the deputation of roses understood the cause of his wrath they at +once left their hiding places and, aided by a sudden puff of wind, came +before Nanahboozhoo. The sight of them excited his curiosity, as it had +seemed to him that every rosebush had been destroyed. Before he could say a +word, however, the rosebushes, who were then able to talk, at once +presented their petition and pleaded for his powerful assistance to save +them from being exterminated by their enemies. + +"Nanahboozhoo listened to their petition, and after some consultation with +the rose bushes it was decided to cover the stocks and branches, up to the +very beautiful flowers, with small thorn-like prickles, so that every +animal henceforth would be afraid to either devour or closely approach +them, as they had been accustomed to do in the past. With this protection +granted them they were more than pleased, and so it now happens that roses +of many kinds still exist in various parts of the world." + +"Thank you very much for that story," said Minnehaha. "Even if Nanahboozhoo +did put prickles on the rosebushes he was not a rascal, for we would not +have had any roses at all but for what he did." + +For a wonder, Sagastao was silent for a time; but at length he found +something to say, and his words were a bit of a confession and promise of +amendment: + +"Now that I know why it is that the prickles are on the wild roses I'll not +get mad even if my fingers bleed when I am gathering a bouquet for mother." + +At this moment the two favorite dogs, Jack and Cuffy, came bounding up. By +this the children knew that their father was not far behind, and they were +not disappointed. At first he looked anxious when he saw the little hands +wrapped up in green leaves, but as with merry laughs they told him what the +leaves were for everything was bright again. + +Souwanas was greeted very cordially, as usual, and assured that at the +mission house he would find in the mistress a willing purchaser of his +ducks and rabbits. The children were always interested in the game, +although Minnehaha strongly declared that it was a pity to kill the pretty +creatures. Souwanas and their father were chatting together while the +children were turning the ducks and rabbits over. + +"See what red eyes some of the ducks have," said Sagastao. "They look as +though they had been crying." + +"Guess you would have cried too," rather indignantly replied Minnehaha, "if +you had been shot as they were." + +"Huh!" he replied with a tinge of contempt, "how could they cry after being +shot? I don't believe that is it at all. And, look here, Minnehaha, I am +going also to ask why it is that, while all the rabbits were so white in +winter, they are all now so brown in summer." + +Quickly the resolve was carried out, and so, while Minnehaha was telling +her father what a beautiful story they had heard about the roses, Sagastao, +with his hand on the shoulder of the old Indian, who was seated on a rock, +was eagerly firing at him his double-barreled question: "Why have some +ducks such red eyes, and why are the rabbits white in winter and brown in +summer?" + +"Both done by Nanahboozhoo," said the old man with a smile, as he took his +pipe out of his mouth. + +"Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted the lad. + +This outburst on the part of Sagastao at once attracted the attention of +the others to him and Minnehaha wanted to know what was the matter now. + +"Why, did you not hear? Souwanas says that Nanahboozhoo gave the ducks the +red eyes and makes the rabbits to be white in winter and brown in summer." +Then turning to Souwanas he asked, "How does Nanahboozhoo do it?" + +Here the father, while amused at the lad's enthusiasm, interposed, and +said: + +"You have already kept Souwanas a long time, and perhaps he is busy." + +"Busy!" said the irrepressible Sagastao, who was shrewd beyond his years. +"Busy! Why Souwanas would rather tell stories than do anything else--unless +to smoke his pipe." + +Then he glibly told Souwanas in Saulteaux what had passed between him and +his father in English, and added, "Is that not so, Souwanas?" + +The old Indian smiled, and said kindly: + +"How can I help enjoying telling stories when I have such good little +listeners?" + +"But what about his dinner?" asked the kind-hearted Minnehaha. "If we keep +him here telling stories he will be too late to get back to his wigwam for +his dinner. I think we had better take him home with us." + +This was quickly decided upon, and that there might be no mistake a piece +of bark was quickly cut from a birch tree and a few lines written upon it +telling the good mother in the home that they had met Souwanas, and that he +was entertaining the children with Nanahboozhoo stories and would be with +them to dinner. Then Jack, the great dog, was called and sent back with the +missive, with orders to give it to his mistress. + +As the dog dashed away homeward the mischievous Sagastao said: + +"My! don't I wish I was in the kitchen when Mary hears that we are out here +with Souwanas listening to stories about Nanahboozhoo! Won't she be hopping +mad!" + +"It will be better," said his father, "for Souwanas to tell his story than +for you to make any further remarks of that kind." + +At first Souwanas seemed to show some hesitancy in beginning his story in +the presence of his missionary, and he whispered to Sagastao his fears that +perhaps his father would not care for such trifles as Indian legends and +stories. + +With his usual bluntness, the lad declared: + +"O, you don't know our father if you think that way about him. He loves +nice stories as well as we do, and tells us lots of them; so go ahead, for +you are going home to dinner with us." + +Thus assured, the old man began: + +"I will tell you to-day about how it is that the rabbits are white in +winter. + +"Long ago they were always brown, just like those that are lying there +with the ducks. It is true that they increase very fast, but then it is +very true that they have many enemies. They have not many ways to defend +themselves against their foes, who are of so many kinds. Almost all the +animals that live on flesh are always hunting for rabbits, and so are the +foxes of all kinds, the wild cats, wolves, and wolverines, and even the +little weasels and ermine. Then there are fierce birds--the eagle, the +hawks of all kinds and the owls--that are always on the lookout for +rabbits, young or old. + +"The result was that with this war continually being waged against them the +poor rabbits had a hard time of it, and especially in winter; for they +found it very difficult to hide themselves when the leaves were off the +trees and the ground covered with snow. In those days in the long ago the +animals used to have a great council. There the great fathers or heads of +each kind of animal and bird used to meet together and talk about their +welfare and the welfare of each other. Then there was peace and friendship +among them while at the council. + +"They appointed a king, and he presided as a great head chief. All the +animals that had troubles or grievances had a right to come and speak about +them and, if possible, have them remedied. + +"Some queer things were said sometimes. At one council the bear found great +fault with the fox, who had deceived him, and had caused him to lose his +beautiful tail by telling him to go and catch fish in a big crack in the +ice. He sat there so long that the crack froze up solidly and to save his +life he had to break off his tail. + +"But all the things they talked about were not so funny as that. They had +their troubles and dangers, and they discussed various plans for improving +their condition and considered how they could best defeat the skill and +cleverness of the human hunters. + +"When the rabbit's turn came to be heard he had indeed a sorrowful tale to +tell. He said that his people were nearly all destroyed. The rest of the +world seemed combined against his race, and they were killing them by day +and night, in summer and winter, and they had but little power to fight +against their many enemies. They were almost discouraged, but had come to +the council to see if their brethren could suggest any remedy or plan to +save them from complete destruction. While the rabbit was speaking the +wolverine winked at the wildcat, while the fox, although he tried to look +solemn, could not keep his mouth from watering at the thought of the many +rabbits he intended yet to eat. + +"Thus it can be seen that the poor, harmless rabbit did not get much +sympathy from that part of the crowd that killed his race all the rest of +the year. + +"Still there were some animals, like the moose, and the reindeer, and the +mountain goat, that stood up in the council and spoke out bravely for the +rabbit. Indeed they told the animals that had only laughed at the rabbit's +sad story that, if nothing was done for the little rabbit and they went on +killing as they were doing, they would soon be the greatest sufferers, for +if the rabbits were all gone there was nothing else that they could get in +sufficient numbers to keep them alive. This, which is a fact, rather +sobered some of them at first; but they soon resumed their mocking at the +poor little rabbit and his story, and, as they were in the majority, the +council refused to do anything in the matter. + +"When the moose heard the decision of the council he was very sorry for his +poor little brother the rabbit, so after thinking it over he told the +rabbit to jump up on one of his flat horns while he was holding them down. +Then the moose carried him out some distance from the council meeting, and +said: + +"There is no hope for you here. The most of the animals live on you, and so +they will not do anything that will make it more difficult for you to be +caught than it is now. Your only chance is to go to Nanahboozhoo, and see +what he can do for you." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Sagastao. "I thought it would be to Nanahboozhoo after +all." + +Continuing, Souwanas said: + +"The moose encouraged the rabbit by saying, 'Nanahboozhoo's name was once +Manabush, or Keche-Wapoose, Great Rabbit, and so I am sure he will be your +friend, as I think he is a distant relation.' + +"Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route +described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was +stopping. The rabbit was such a timid creature that when he came near to +Nanahboozhoo he was much afraid that he would not be welcomed. However, +his case was desperate, and although his heart was thumping within him +with fear he hurried along to have the thing over as soon as possible. To +his great joy he found Nanahboozhoo in the best of humor and he was +received most kindly. + +"Nanahboozhoo saw how wearied and tired the rabbit was after the long +journey, and so he made him rest on some fragrant grass in the sunshine +while he went out and brought in for him to eat some of the choicest things +from his garden. Then afterward he had the rabbit tell of all his troubles +and of how he was treated at the council. + +"This part of the story, of how they acted at the council, made +Nanahboozhoo very angry. + +"'And that's the way they treated this little brother at the council we +have given them, where it is expected that the smallest and the weakest +shall have the same right to have his case heard and attended to as the +biggest and strongest! It is high time that somebody was coming to me with +council news if things are like this. Look out, Mister Fox, and Wolverine, +and Wild Cat, for if I get after you I will so straighten you out that you +will be sorry that the rabbit had to go to Nanahboozhoo for the help you +ought to have given him!' + +"Nanahboozhoo had worked himself up into such a furious temper that the +rabbit was almost frightened to death. But when he saw this Nanahboozhoo +only laughed at him, and said he was sorry to have scared him. + +"'I was so angry,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'at those animals for ill-treating +you that I forgot myself; and now, little brother, what do you want me to +do for you?' + +"They had a long talk about the matter and the decision was that there +should be two great changes. The first was that the eyes of the rabbit were +to be so increased in power that they should in future be able to see by +night as well as by day, and the second was that in all Northlands where +much snow falls during many months of the year rabbits shall change into a +beautiful white color, like the snow, and thus continue as long as the +winter lasts. And the rabbits now have a much better time than they had +formerly. They can glide away in the darkness from their enemies when in +the woods, and when out in the snow they are not easily seen and often +escape notice by remaining perfectly still." + +But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note +to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more +welcome than Souwanas. + +"But what about the red eyes of the ducks?" said the two children, whose +appetites for stories were simply--well, like those of other boys and +girls. + +Here the father had to interfere and say that there had been quite enough +for one day. However, before the walk homeward began, Souwanas was pledged +to tell the other story at the first convenient opportunity. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils--The Vain Woman--Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. + +As the home where Sagastao and Minnehaha lived was near a trail along which +numbers of Indian hunters were accustomed to travel when on their way to +the trading post with their furs, they frequently called in to see their +loved friends the palefaces. These hunters were always welcome, and as they +were very seldom in a hurry the children drew from them many a quaint +Indian legend or story of animal life. + +It was also a great pleasure for the children to have the hunters, +returning from a successful trip, open their fur packs and spread out +before them the rich furs and tell them stories about these animals--the +silver fox, the otter, beavers, minks, martens, ermines, and sometimes even +about great bears and wolves, whose skin they had often had. These valuable +furs were generally well dressed and prepared for shipment by the +industrious women before they were taken to the trading post. Sometimes, +however, a hunter when on the trail to the trading post would find in one +of his traps an animal just caught, and not having time to return to his +wigwam and have the skin dressed and dried he would carry the animal just +as it was and sell it to the fur traders. + +One day there called a number of Indians, and among them was a hunter with +a couple of martens which he had caught in his trap that very morning. +Sagastao and Minnehaha had never seen these little animals before, and they +handled them with much interest and asked several questions about them. + +"Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. + +The Indians looked at each other and a grim smile flitted over their +bronzed faces when they heard this question. + +Their conduct only the more excited the curiosity of the children and they +both clamored for the answer. Then one of the Indians said: + +"Ask Mary; she knows all about the story, and as a woman was in the affair +she can tell it better than we can." + +With this answer the children had to be content, for the hunters, having +drank their cups of tea, soon took their departure. + +When the children found Mary they at once demanded the story. + +"What story?" said Mary. + +"O, you know what we want, for you were in the kitchen and heard what was +said." + +[Illustration: Wigwams and Indians.] + +But Mary still protested her ignorance, and declared that she had been so +busy caring for Souwanaquenapeke that she had not listened to half the +chatter that had passed between them and the Indians. + +"O, I know you, sakehow Mary," said Sagastao. "You don't want to tell us +because there was a woman like yourself mixed up in it." + +Mary bridled up with indignation, but before she could utter a word the +arms of Sagastao were around her neck, and he cried: + +"Forgive me, sakehou! for speaking so foolishly. I do remember now that you +had left the kitchen with baby before Minnehaha asked the question." + +This prompt apology and the sweet word "sakehow" restored harmony, and Mary +was now anxious to please them. + +"What was the question which interested you?" asked Mary. + +"Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. + +"And the men told us to go to you because there was a woman in it," added +Sagastao. + +Mary smiled when she heard this. + +"Yes," she said, "there was a foolish woman mixed up in the story. It was +like this, as far as I can remember, and it is a story from the North +people. Long ago a man had a wife who was a very proud, vain woman. She was +not contented with having her husband and her own people saying nice things +about her, but she wanted to be flattered and admired by every creature. +You know that I have told you that, in old times, animals could talk and +do many things. Well, this conceited woman, with her silly foolish way, +began attracting the different animals around her. Almost everybody was +laughing at her, but she seemed to think it great fun to have so many +admirers. She got a lesson one day when flirting with the bear. They were +walking along together and she let him put his arm around her, but he gave +her such a hug that he broke two of her ribs. She was a long time getting +well and then her husband gave her a great lecturing. You would have +thought that this would have cured her, but not a bit of it. When she was +well again she was just as silly as ever, though she took good care not to +flirt with any animal that could hug like a bear. She next bewitched the +skunk with her foolishness. But one day, as they walked together, a dog +suddenly attacked the skunk and in his anger and excitement he so perfumed +the woman, instead of the dog, with his odor that her husband found her out +and gave her a beating. + +"Everybody was now laughing at her on account of her silly ways, and as her +husband had persons employed to see what creatures she went out walking +with she had to remain at home in her wigwam. But when a woman gets proud +and conceited and carries on like this one did she is hard to cure. The +fact was, her husband was too kind to her. He did not give her plenty of +work to keep her busy and out of mischief. Instead of making her chop the +wood and carry the water, and do other hard things, he did it for her, for +he was very proud of her and she was indeed a beautiful woman. He did, +however, make her stay in their wigwam instead of allowing her to go about +wherever she liked. + +"She spent most of her time in fixing herself up in her beautiful clothes +and thinking what a lovely creature she was. But she soon missed the +flattery of her admirers and resolved that, in spite of her husband, she +would try to hear it again. So vigilant, however, were her husband and his +friends that they were too clever for her. + +"One day her husband returned from hunting and visiting his traps and +snares. Among other animals that he had trapped was a beautiful marten. He +had caught it in what is called a dead-fall; that is, where a log is so +arranged that when the animal reaches the bait he is directly under the +log, which falls upon him the instant he pulls the bait. + +"When the woman took up the marten which her husband had thrown at her feet +she noticed that it was still quite warm, but she said nothing about it to +her husband, who, picking up an ax and blanket, said that he was going off +to visit his more distant traps and would not be back for some days. Before +he left he made her promise that she would not leave the wigwam until his +return. + +"The woman, as soon as she was sure that her husband was really gone, +picked up the marten. On examining it she was convinced that it was not +dead, only knocked senseless by the falling log, so she rubbed it, and +breathed into its nostrils, and then with a reed blew air into its lungs. + +"Sure enough, the life was in it, and the first sign it gave was a big +sneeze or two. At this the woman wrapped it up in a warm covering and held +it until it was well again. The marten, of course, was very much frightened +when it found itself in the hands of a woman. It was about to struggle to +get free, when the woman spoke to it in its own language. At this it was +very much surprised, and more so when the woman told it how she had given +it back its life, and that now in return it must do what she desired. + +"Any animal or human being would be willing to promise as much when its +life had been thus restored to it. + +"'I will do anything I can for you,' said the marten. + +"'I want you to go to your king marten,' said the woman, 'and tell him that +a beautiful lady has heard so many wonderful things about him that she is +very anxious to have a visit from him.' + +"This the marten promised to do, and it was not very long before the king +marten came. Of course he had to be very cautious, as he had been warned of +the many who were watching the silly woman. + +"Hardly, however, had he time to say much to her before the footsteps of +her husband were heard outside. The instant he opened the door of the +wigwam the king marten ran out, and disappeared in the forest. + +"'What was that?' asked the husband. + +"'O, dear, that was the marten you trapped. It must have come to life and +escaped,' said the woman, who thus cleverly saved herself and the king +marten. + +"The man was suspicious, but as the marten which he had trapped was not to +be found he could not find fault with her, except to say that she ought to +have skinned the marten soon after he had brought it in. + +"The king marten, who was a very conceited fellow, had been quite struck +with the beauty of the woman, and so, in spite of his narrow escape, he +resolved to go and see her again. By watching her husband's departure he +managed to have several brief visits, and at length became so infatuated +with her that he tried to coax her to run away with him. + +"When she heard this she was very angry, for, with all her foolishness, she +had only acted as she did because of her vanity and love of flattery. Now +that the marten had dared make such a request she resolved that he should +be punished; so one day, when he was sitting beside her and saying a lot of +foolish flattery, she heard the footsteps of her husband approaching, but +did not warn the king marten. + +"So the man thus caught the old marten sitting by the side of his wife. At +this he was much annoyed, and as the marten suddenly ran out the man asked +the woman what it meant. So she told him all that the marten had said, and +of his impertinence in asking her to leave him and become the marten's +wife. At this the man was very indignant, and so they arranged to punish +the marten. + +"The next time the man went off he told his wife to fill the kettle with +water and put it on the fire to boil. Then the man took his traps and +started off as though he were going on a long journey. But he only went a +little way, just far enough to throw the marten off his guard, and, sure +enough, while he was watching he saw the marten go into the wigwam. + +"Then the man came quietly to the door and listened. He heard the marten +urging his wife to leave and run away with him. Then he suddenly sprang +into the tent and shouted out: + +"'Old king marten, what are you doing here? How dare you talk to my wife?' + +"So saying, the man seized the kettle of boiling water and threw its +contents at the marten, severely scalding him. The marten tore at his +burning breast as he dashed away into the woods. And from that day to this +all martens have that whitish spot on their chests caused by that burn." + +"What became of the woman?" said Sagastao. + +"Never mind now. We have wasted too much time already on such a +good-for-nothing conceited flirt," said Mary. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Shooting Loons--Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet--Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner--Origin of Lichens--Why Some Willows are +Red--The Partridge. + +Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have the Indians take +them in their canoes for a couple of hours' trip on the bright waters of +the beautiful lake that spread out before their home. + +These pleasant outings were sometimes rendered exciting and doubly +interesting by the sight of a black bear or a deer wandering on the shore +or swimming from some point on the island. At other times there would be +numbers of loons, or great Northern divers, as they are generally called. +Their wonderful quickness in diving, then the length of time that they +could remain under the water and the great distance they would swim before +coming to the surface were watched with great interest by both Sagastao and +Minnehaha. + +The Indians did not often hunt loons. In fact they found it so difficult to +shoot one that more than its value in ammunition was generally expended in +the attempt. The Indians always declared that these clever birds could see +the flash of their guns and dive down out of danger before the shot reached +them. + +However, as some of them were desired for their beautiful feather-covered +skins, which make most valuable and beautiful caps and muffs, it was +decided that Souwanas and Kennedy should take the missionary's +breech-loading rifle, in addition to their own guns, and try to secure a +few. + +The children begged to be allowed to accompany them, and as the day was +unusually fine and the lake almost without a ripple they were given a +holiday and allowed the privilege of an all-day outing with these two +trusty and experienced men. + +A generous lunch, with the indispensable tea kettle, was placed in the +canoe by careful Mary, who, as usual, was angry that the children were to +be so long under the witchery of old Souwanas. + +With the merry shouts of laughter from the children as their accompaniment +the two Indians skillfully plied their paddles, and it was not long before +they were some miles distant and on the lookout for loons. It often happens +that the things desired are the last to come. So it was this day. Wild +ducks in goodly numbers, and even geese and some swans and pelicans were +frequently seen. At length, however, strange, mournful sounds far ahead +were heard, and the experienced Indians knew that the birds for which they +were looking were not far away. Still it was some time before the first +long white neck and black head were seen in the distance, for the cry of +the loon not only differs from that of any other bird, but is very +far-reaching. + +The excited children were now told to be very still and keep quiet, using +their eyes alone, and witness the contest between man's skill and the +birds' cleverness. + +So accustomed have some old loons become to being fired at and missed by +Indians using the old-fashioned flintlock shotgun, which makes such a flash +when fired, that they just barely keep out of range. The instant they see +the fire flash--down they go, and then as the shot or bullet strikes the +place where they were they bob up again serenely in the same spot, or in +one not very far distant. This risky sport some of them will keep up for +hours, or until the disheartened hunters have wasted nearly all their +ammunition. + +To-day, however, there was to be a new weapon tried against them, and, alas +for them, they were sadly worsted. Kennedy first loaded his old flintlock +shotgun and blazed away, but, as usual, they were out of sight under the +water before the shot struck the place where the loons had been. + +For a time the loons were shy, and swam quite a distance away. But after a +while, as they found that Kennedy's gunshots could be dodged, they did not +bother to swim very far away. This was just what Souwanas was waiting for. +He now took up the rifle, and as soon as a loon came to the surface he +fired from this new weapon, that gave no flash to warn the poor bird of the +deadly bullet that was so rapidly speeding on its way. Thus it happened +that loon after loon was struck and several beautiful birds were +secured--greatly to the sorrow of the children, who delighted in watching +their clever diving and sudden reappearance after Kennedy discharged his +old gun. Out of deference to their feelings the Indians soon ceased +shooting, although with this new rifle they could easily have secured many +more. + +"Let us now go ashore, on one of these islands," said Sagastao, "and have +our lunch." + +"And a Nanahboozhoo story after," put in Minnehaha. + +This plan was just what the Indians were thinking about, and so in a short +time they were all on the shore. Dry wood was abundant and a bright fire +was soon burning, and then, when the water was boiled and the tea made, the +lunch basket was opened and the meal was much enjoyed by all. + +"Now, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "we are all ready for the story at the +same time, and if your pipe goes out I'll hand you a burning stick with +which you can light it again." + +"Maybe I will keep you very busy," remarked the old man, much amused at the +offer--and so it proved, for his pipe to-day persisted in going out. + +"One day," began Souwanas, "as Nanahboozhoo was walking along the shore of +a lake he became hungry. He considered what it would be best for him to do +in order to procure something to eat. He decided to deceive the waterfowls. +He saw a duck swimming along near the shore and spoke to the bird in this +fashion: + +"'Come here, my brother.' + +"'What is it?' said the duck, as it approached Nanahboozhoo. + +"'Kesha Munedoo (Gracious Spirit) has revealed words to me to tell to all +the waterfowl some very important things. Go and tell all sorts of +waterfowl to come, and when they are all together I will inform you what +has been revealed to me.' + +"The duck obeyed Nanahboozhoo, who in the meantime made a very bare wigwam +of green boughs, or rather caused it to appear that he did, for he did not +exert much labor upon it. All sorts of waterfowl came to Nanahboozhoo and +they seemed anxious to hear what had been revealed. Nanahboozhoo received +them with great apparent friendliness and invited them to come into the +wigwam. When they had all entered, he said: + +"'You must all dance, first, before I tell you what has been revealed to +me. All of you must stand close together around inside of the wigwam and +put your necks close together while dancing, and all of you must flap your +wings at the same time.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo commenced singing: + + "'Pau-zau-gwa-be-she-moog, + Ke-ku-ma-mis-kwa-she-gun.' + + ("'Shut your eyes, + And I'll make you wise.') + +"These words Nanahboozhoo repeated three times. + +"All the fowl kept time to the music and words of the song, and danced, +shutting their eyes. Nanahboozhoo continued singing, changing to the +following words: + + "'Au-yun-ze-kwa-gau.' + +"All the time such was Nanahboozhoo's power over the birds that they kept +singing and dancing and at the same time holding their heads close +together. Nanahboozhoo's voice was singing in the center of the tent, his +drum beating at the same time, while he in person went around in the wigwam +or lodge wringing the necks of the waterfowl and throwing them on the side +of the lodge. The loon, the great diver bird, was dancing on the open door +side of the lodge. He suspected that Nanahboozhoo was up to some of his +tricks, doing something bad, so he opened his eyes and saw. At once he gave +the alarm, and shouted: + +"'Nanahboozhoo is killing us!' + +"All the fowl that were still alive when they heard these words at once +flew out at the top opening of the lodge, except the loon, or diver, and he +being at the door turned and ran out of the lodge as fast as he could +toward the shore of the lake. + +"Nanahboozhoo was so angry at him for daring to open his eyes, and then for +warning the others, enabling many of them to get away, that he ran after +him and stamped upon him as he had just reached the shore. Hence it is, +because of Nanahboozhoo's cruelty, that the loon has had a flat back and +red eyes, and its feet are so unlike those of any other waterfowl. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had made a large fire he took the waterfowls he had +killed before the diver gave the alarm, and covered them under the ashes, +leaving only their feet sticking out. While he was waiting for them to cook +he felt very sleepy, so he lay down to rest. + +"But before he went to sleep he said, 'My face side has always done all the +watching. This is not fair. I will make my back do its share of the +watching.' + +"So, as he cuddled down to have a sleep before the fire, he said to his +back: + +"'Now, you do the watching, you lazy, broad back, while I am sleeping.' +Then, being very tired, he fell into a heavy sleep. + +"After a time the watcher called out: + +"'Nanahboozhoo! Indians are coming!' + +"Nanahboozhoo slightly raised himself, but he saw no Indians, so he lay +down to sleep again. + +"But again and yet again, for three times, did his faithful watcher call +and warn him against his approaching enemies. Nanahboozhoo was now so +stupid with sleep that he only aroused himself a little, not enough to +enable him to detect the lurking enemy. So he became very angry with his +watcher, his broad back, and gave it a great thrashing, saying: + +"'There! take that, you great stupid watcher, for so disturbing me with +your false reports!' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo fell asleep again. The broad back was very much +offended at the treatment he had received, for he knew he was right, and +now, though the Indians were close at hand, he did not again warn +Nanahboozhoo, so the enemies came and stole all of his cooked fowls. The +Indians carefully lifted out the fowls by their legs, which Nanahboozhoo +left sticking up. When they had eaten the bodies of the fowls they stuck +back the legs in the ashes, as Nanahboozhoo had left them. + +"When at last his sleep was ended Nanahboozhoo arose ready for his meal of +nicely cooked fowl. Great, indeed, were his surprise and indignation when +he pulled out the feet from the ashes and found that the bodies of the +fowls were not there. + +"He flew into a passion and resolved to punish his back. So he made a fire +of big trees and stood with his back very close to it. When his flesh began +to be badly burned it blistered, and made a noise like the roasting of +meat. Nanahboozhoo did not at first seem to mind the pain, and only said: + +"'You may well say 'Zeeng, Zeeng,' in your burning. I will teach you a +lesson you will remember for not telling me that the Indians were stealing +my roasted waterfowl.' + +"Nanahboozhoo then went on his way, but in spite of his magic powers he +felt a sort of a soreness in his back. He twisted his head around and saw +the blisters that had been made by the fierce fire. So he thought how he +must get rid of them, for they bothered him, although nothing could injure +him for very long. While walking on the edge of a precipice he +slipped--and away he slid, far down the rocky side. When he reached the +bottom, he looked back, and there, on the rock, on which he had slid down, +he saw things which he had never seen before. + +"'My nephews,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'when they see these things on the rocks, +will call them Wau-konug (lichen), and although they are poor food they +will keep them from starving when they have nothing better.' + +"This is the Indian tradition of the origin of the patches of lichen +attached to the bare rocks. The Indians still call them 'no-scabs,' and +when boiled they make a kind of jelly food which is a little better than +starvation. + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, although his back was bleeding from his sliding down +the rough rocks, continued walking, sometimes along the shore and sometimes +in the thick bush. In one place where the thicket was very dense such was +his magic power that he pulled a lot of the thickets together and walked +over on their tops. When he looked back he saw that the blood from the +wounds in his back had given a red color to the bushes over which he had +walked. Then said Nanahboozhoo: + +"'My nephews will call these bushes "Me-squah-be-me-sheen" (red willows). +They will use them to stop bleeding when they meet with any severe +accidents;' and such the Indians still do when they live among them. + +"This is the tradition as to the origin of the red willow, once so common +in many of the Indian haunts. + +"The reason why the partridge is called Kosh-ko-e-wa-soo (one that +startles) is because one made even Nanahboozhoo give a big jump. It +happened in this way: + +"As Nanahboozhoo was walking along one day in the woods he saw a small +creature. This little thing thought it would be best for him to be brave in +the presence of Nanahboozhoo, and so when he was asked who he was he +answered: + +"'I am one who startles.' + +"'You cannot startle me,' said Nanahboozhoo. + +"The little creature suddenly flew away and Nanahboozhoo resumed his +journey. By and by he reached a dangerous rocky point on the shore. Just as +he was at the worst point the partridge suddenly flew almost from under his +feet with a rumbling noise, and so startled him that he jumped up, sprang +quickly aside, fell into the water, and got a great wetting. So even +Nanahboozhoo had to confirm the name of the little partridge." + +The return trip was not much enjoyed by the children. The dead loons in the +canoe did not look as attractive as they had appeared when swimming and +diving so gracefully in the lake. Souwanas was quick to notice their +depression of spirits, and he there and then resolved that he would never +again shoot any living thing in their presence, and he faithfully kept his +resolve. + +Mary met them as they landed and her quick eyes detected the change in +their spirits, and as they wore their hearts on their sleeves for her she +quickly found out the cause of their sorrow. She was not slow in availing +herself of the opportunity afforded of giving Souwanas and Kennedy a +vigorous scolding for nearly breaking the hearts of her precious darlings, +by killing in their presence some of the birds whose play they had often +watched for hours together. + +The two men took her scolding in their usual silent way, and then had a +quiet laugh together when her wrath had exhausted itself and she had +indignantly walked off with the children. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall--A Short-lived Triumph--Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. + +One beautiful warm day, when the leaves of the trees were all bright and +golden with their autumnal tints, the children were visiting at the tent of +Souwanas. + +The old man was making a beautiful little bow and a quiver full of arrows +for Sagastao while the old wife was manufacturing an elaborate baby cradle, +of the Indian pattern, for Minnehaha, in which she could carry her favorite +doll in the style popular among the Indian girls. + +The children were much interested in watching these highly-prized gifts +being prepared for them, and of course had much to say in the way of thanks +to those who were doing so much to add to their happiness. + +While they were thus busy several canoes were seen coming from the south. +As the wind was favorable sails had been improvised out of blankets, each +fastened to a couple of oars, and with these simple appliances they sped +rapidly along. Seeing Souwanas's wigwam on the point of land the Indians +came to the shore and smoked and chatted for a short time ere they +resumed their journey toward the north. + +[Illustration: The Indian story-teller.] + +They had in their canoes quite a variety of game, and among them a large +ill-smelling bird called a turkey-buzzard. It was said that the young +Indian hunter who had shot it thought at first that it really was a turkey, +but he found out his mistake when he went to lift it from the ground where +it had fallen. The odor was so offensive that at first he thought he would +leave it behind, but when he remembered that often some of the large +feathers were used in ornamental work he decided to bring it along. + +The children were interested in its appearance, as this was the first dead +turkey-buzzard they had ever seen. + +"Look, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "the poor birdie has no feathers on its +neck or head. It must be very cold there when the winter comes." + +"Well, I think that, as likely as not, it was its own fault that it lost +its feathers," said Sagastao, and then he added as he poked the rank bird +over with a stick: + +"I would not be surprised to hear that Nanahboozhoo had something to do +with it." + +"Nanahboozhoo had," said Souwanas, "and it was because of a mean trick that +the buzzard played upon him. And now that these Indians are off, who are in +a hurry to reach Poplar Point, if you will sit down on the rocks in the +warm sunshine I will tell you the story." + +No second invitation was necessary, so while the children seated +themselves near him on the; smooth granite rock the old man continued his +arrow making and told them the following story: + + +"One day when Nanahboozhoo was walking through the country he saw the +buzzard soaring up high in the air. Like an eagle, he was making graceful +circles round and round with very little effort. After a time the buzzard +flew down to the earth, and there he stood on a rock with his great wings +outstretched. Nanahboozhoo quietly approached and entered into conversation +with him. + +"'Brother Buzzard,' he said, 'you must be very happy when sailing around up +there in the blue sky where you can so easily see everything that is going +on down here on the world below you. I wish you would take me up there on +your back and let me see how this world looks from that high place in the +blue sky, where you live so much.' + +"The buzzard on hearing this request at once flew down to the side of +Nanahboozhoo and said: + +"'I will with pleasure take you up on my back and let you see, as you +desire, how the world looks from that high place.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, seeing how smooth was the back of the great bird, said: + +"'Brother Buzzard, your back is so smooth that I am afraid I will slip off, +so you must be careful not to sweep round too rapidly in your circles in +the sky.' + +"The buzzard told Nanahboozhoo that he would be very careful although at +the same time he was resolved, if it were possible, to play a trick on him; +for he had a grudge of some long standing against him which Nanahboozhoo +seemed to have forgotten. + +"Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard and held by his +feathers as well as he possibly could. The buzzard then took a short run, +sprang from the ground, and spreading his great strong wings speedily rose +up higher and higher in the sky. + +"Nanahboozhoo at first felt rather timid as he found himself thus rapidly +soaring through the air, especially as it was so difficult for him to keep +his seat. When the buzzard began circling round and round it was even more +difficult, for the body of the bird leaned over more and more as his speed +increased. But Nanahboozhoo was very clever, and after a while he became +more accustomed to his queer position and was very much interested in the +splendid sights of the great world beneath him, over which he could now see +for such a great distance. Lakes and rivers, forests and mountains, all +gave delight to Nanahboozhoo, who had wonderful powers of vision. + +"At length, as they rose up higher and higher in the blue sky, Nanahboozhoo +shouted out in his delight as far away in the distance he recognized the +wigwam of his grandmother, Nokomis. Indeed so delighted was he that for a +moment he let go his hold on the buzzard and swung up his arms in his +excitement. The treacherous buzzard noticed this, saw it was the +opportunity for which he had been watching, and circled round so suddenly +that his body was tilted over, and before Nanahboozhoo could regain his +grip he slipped off the smooth back and fell like a stone to the ground. So +terrible was the force with which he struck the earth that he was knocked +senseless, and lay there for a long time like one dead. + +"But, as I have told you, Nanahboozhoo was more than human and nothing +could really kill him. So it happened that after a while he recovered his +senses, but he was annoyed, disgusted, that he had allowed the buzzard to +play such a mean trick on him. + +"Then he prepared to resume his journey, and of course he looked up to see +if there were any sign of the buzzard. He had not far to look, for there, +up in the sky, not far off, was the old buzzard laughing at the trick he +had played upon Nanahboozhoo, and much pleased with his own cleverness in +deceiving one known to be so crafty. + +"'Laugh away, old buzzard,' said Nanahboozhoo. 'You have had the best of me +this time, but look out! For I will put a mark upon you for this trick of +yours that will enable your friends and your enemies to recognize you both +by day and by night.' + +"But the buzzard, from his high safe place in the sky, only laughed back in +derision, and said: + +"'No, indeed, Nanahboozhoo, you will do nothing of the kind. You have been +deceiving the other creatures, but in me you have found your match. You +cannot deceive me. And now, especially as you have threatened me, I will +always be on the watch for you.' + +[Illustration: "Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great +buzzard."] + +"Nanahboozhoo made no reply to this boastful speech, but he did a lot of +thinking, and he soon had his plans laid to teach Mr. Buzzard a lesson he +would never forget. + +"Resuming his journey he pushed on as though nothing had happened. + +"The buzzard was at first suspicious and watched him for some time. Then +seeing nothing unusual in his movements he flew away into the distant sky. + +"Nanahboozhoo, in order to carry out his plan to punish the buzzard, +resolved to turn himself into a dead deer. He knew that the buzzard lived +on dead animals of all kinds. He chose a high spot, visible from a great +distance, and there he laid himself down and changed himself into the body +of a great deer. It was not long before the various animals and birds that +subsist on such things began to gather round this dead body. + +"The buzzard, that has such wonderful eyes, to see great distances, saw +from afar this gathering of the birds and animals, and as he was ever on +the lookout for such things he soon joined the rest of the creatures around +the deer. He flew round and round it several times, for he was at first +somewhat suspicious. The closest inspection, however, showed him that it +was only a dead deer, and that was the unanimous opinion of all the other +animals and birds that gathered there. There could be no doubt in any +creature's mind but that it was a deer and that it was quite dead. + +"The buzzard, now that all his suspicions were gone, in his great greed to +get the best he could savagely began, with his powerful beak, tearing a +hole in the side of the body that he might get down to the rich fat that is +around the kidneys. This is what those fierce, greedy birds always try to +get first. Deeper and deeper into the flesh he tore, until at length he was +able to crowd in his head and neck to reach the dainty morsels he so much +prized. + +"This was just what Nanahboozhoo was waiting for, and when the head and +neck of the buzzard were completely hidden in the body up jumped the deer, +and as he did so the flesh closed up so tightly around the head and neck of +the buzzard that the greedy bird was there securely held. + +"'Ha, ha, old buzzard! I did catch you after all, as I said I would,' said +Nanahboozhoo. 'Now pull out your neck and head.' + +"The buzzard with very great difficulty at length succeeded in drawing his +head out of the side of the deer. The effort to do so, however, was so +great that he lost all of the beautiful feathers that once adorned his head +and neck. From that day they have never grown on him again, and there is +nothing there to be seen but the red rough-looking skin. + +"'Never again,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'will feathers cover your neck or head, +and so your friends and enemies, as they see you, will be reminded of how +Nanahboozhoo punished you for playing one of your tricks on him. And also +from this time forward your food will only be of the rankest kind, and the +disagreeable odor will so cling to you that even in the darkest nights your +hateful presence will be detected and shunned.' + +"Thus," added Souwanas, "the buzzard is the most despised of birds, because +he is such an ugly fellow, with his featherless head and neck, and because +his disagreeable odor taints the sweet air wherever he goes." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake--The Legend of the +Orphan Boy--His Appeal to the Man in the Moon--How +He Conquered His Enemies. + +Moonlight nights in the Northland are often very beautiful. There in the +summer time the gloaming continues until nearly midnight. Then nothing can +be more glorious than to glide along amid the beautiful fir-clad rocky +islands in a birch canoe over the still transparent waters. So large and +luminous are the full moons of July and August that, with the west aglow +and with the wondrous aurora flashing and blazing in the north, there is +practically little night and no darkness at all. + +Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have permission to go +with Mary and Kennedy in a large roomy birch canoe for a moonlight +excursion during one of those warm, brilliant nights. With plenty of rugs +or cushions, to make the coziest of seats in the center of the canoe, they +fairly reveled in the beauties of the romantic surroundings while they +floated on the moonlit lake. Often in some place of more than ordinary +beauty Kennedy would cease paddling, and then their very quietness added +to the charms of those happy outings. + +[Illustration: With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe.] + +"Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "I was reading in one of my books about the +'man in the moon.' Do you know anything about him?" + +"He is looking at us very kindly to-night," said Minnehaha. "I really +believe I saw him laughing, he is so pleased we have come out to see him +this lovely night." + +These remarks of the children caused all in the canoe to more closely scan +the great round moon that was shining with silvery whiteness straight in +front of them. + +"There are lots of stories about the moon among our people," said Mary, +"but not a great many about the man in the moon. There is, however, a queer +one about how he came down and helped a poor orphan boy." + +"O, tell it to us just now," said Minnehaha, "while he is watching and +listening." + +"Do, Mary," said Sagastao, "and Minnehaha and I will watch the old fellow +and see how he likes to be talked about." + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "Mary will be talking to him to his face, and not +behind his back, as people sometimes do when talking about others." + +Thus the children ran on with their prattle. Mary and Kennedy were much +amused. + +"Come, Mary, hurry up! Father said the gloaming would end about eleven, and +we must be at the shore by that time." + +"Pretty late hours for little children," said Kennedy. + +"Never mind that," said Sagastao; "we will make up for it in winter time, +when it gets dark at four o'clock." + +With Sagastao on one side of her in the big canoe and Minnehaha on the +other--their favorite positions when listening to her fascinating stories +as she crooned them out in her soft, musical Cree--Mary told them the +story. + +"Long ago," she began, "there was a poor orphan boy who had neither father +nor mother, uncle, aunt, nor any living relative that he knew of. He had a +very hard time of it, as the people did not seem to take kindly to him. So +he had to live just where he could. He managed to get along all right +during the pleasant summer time, but when the long cold winters began he +suffered very much. One winter some selfish people let him live with them +because he was willing to work hard for what little they did for him. They +treated him badly in many ways. They made him go out into the woods and cut +firewood, but when he brought it home they would only allow him to stay in +the cold entry-way which they had built to their winter dwelling. + +"They made him go and hunt different animals for food, and then when he +brought, them home they cooked and ate the best themselves, and just threw +the fragments and bones to him as they would to a dog. Every member of the +household treated him very cruelly, except a nice little girl, the youngest +daughter of the family. She felt very sorry for him. She would secretly +take him better food, and she furnished him with a knife with which he +could cut the tough pieces of meat. She had to be very careful not to be +discovered, for if found out she would have been severely punished. So her +pity had to show itself on the sly, and the few words she was able to tell +him of her sympathy had to be whispered as she passed him, when nobody was +looking or listening. The poor boy up to this time had no ambition to +better himself, but her kind words and deeds made him resolve that he must +begin and do something for himself. But what could he do? Everybody seemed +against him but this little girl, and she could do nothing in the way of +helping him to escape from these people, who, now that he was becoming so +useful to them, would not let him go. What, really, could he do? + +"Thus the days and weeks and months passed on and there seemed no chance of +escape. He had tried to run away, but had been caught and brought back and +beaten. + +"One night when it was not very cold he went outside of the narrow entry +where he generally had to sleep and threw himself on the ground and cried +in his sorrow and despair. He seemed to be utterly unable to better +himself. As he lay there he began looking up at the great bright moon that, +now so large and round, was, he thought, looking earnestly at him. Soon he +was able to see that there was a great man in the moon. As he watched him +he was glad to notice that he was not looking crossly at him, but kindly, +and so he began crying to the man in the moon to come and help him to +escape from the miserable life he was leading. Sure enough, as the boy kept +on crying and pleading he saw the man in the moon beginning to come down to +this world. He came to the very spot where the unhappy boy was lying, but +instead of helping him he made him stand up and then he gave him a good +sound thrashing, making the boy, however, strike back at him as vigorously +as he could. The beating he got very much disheartened and discouraged the +boy, for it was not what he had expected. On the following night, when he +had recovered a little, he began reproaching the man in the moon. + +"'I called for you,' he said, 'to come and help me against my enemies, and +now you have come and thrashed me.' + +"But these words, instead of softening the man in the moon, caused him to +come down again and give the poor boy a far worse thrashing than before, +but for every blow he made the boy return one as good as he had received. + +"Now for the first time the boy began to notice that the more he was beaten +the stronger he grew. Still he could not understand what the man in the +moon meant. So he came again, and they had another regular set-to, and the +boy had another good sound thrashing. He asked him what was the meaning of +his beating him thus. The man in the moon now spoke to him, but his words +were so much like a puzzle that at first the boy did not understand them. +This is what the man in the moon said: + + "'Would you triumph o'er the strong? + Be strong. + Would you let them no more conquer? + Conquer.' + +"For a time the boy repeated them over and over. He used to say that as the +result of these meetings with the man in the moon he had grown so strong +that he was nearly able to hold his own against his antagonist. Then one +day, when the man in the moon was puffing from the encounter, the latter +said: + +"'Now by hard knocks and exercise I have put you on the way of ending your +troubles. Be strong, and conquer. Farewell! I am not coming again, as you +do not need me any more.' + +"Then away he flew back to his place in the moon. + +"The boy seemed now to know that he was to use his strength for his own +deliverance. To test himself he began tossing up the stones that were so +numerous on the shore of the lake. First he began with quite small ones, +but soon he found that he could pick up and throw about great big ones, +that were like rocks. When he returned from this last contest with the man +in the moon it was nearly daylight. + +"At first the people began ordering him about as usual. But they soon had +reason to be sorry for their cruelty and abuse, for the boy seized one +after another of them and flung them with such violence against the rocks +that their brains were dashed out and their blood ran in streams down the +sides of the rocks--where it turned into seams in the rocks which can be +seen to this day. + +"One person only, of all who lived in that dwelling, did the now strong boy +leave alive, and that was, of course, the good-hearted little girl who used +to speak kind words to him and befriend him when she could. + +"They grew to be very fond of each other, and were afterward married and +lived in full possession of all the things that once belonged to the cruel +people for whom the little orphan boy had worked so long." + +"Well, sakehou," said Sagastao, "I have been watching the man in the moon +while you have been telling the story about his queer way of helping the +boy to help himself, and he was looking pleased all the time. So I am sure +he is well satisfied with the way you have told the story." + +Old Mary was delighted with these words from the lips of the lad she loved +with such a passionate devotion. + +"But what do you think about it, little sister?" said the lad, calling to +Minnehaha, who was cuddled down on the other side of Mary. + +But the darling gave no answer, for she had long ago slipped off into +Dreamland, and there she remained until the strong arms of Kennedy lifted +her up from the canoe and carried her home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke--How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake--How the +Rattlesnake got Its Rattle--The Origin of Tobacco--Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. + +Wahkiegun, as Souwanas named the home of his white friends, always had a +warm welcome for Souwanas. Little Souwanaquenapeke had learned to love him +and nothing gave the grave old man greater pleasure than to have charge of +her for hours at a time. He often carried her away to his wigwam and with +great delight explained to visiting Indians how his name was woven into +that of the first little paleface born among his people. + +Sagastao and Minnehaha, while of course pleased to see the love of the old +chief for their sweet little sister, were sometimes a little impatient when +they found that he would have his hour with her before they could draw a +Nanahboozhoo story out of him. + +"You are all right," he would say in his dry, humorous way, "as far as you +go; you are only Crees," he would add with a smile, referring to the fact +that they had been born among the Cree Indians farther north; "but +Souwanaquenapeke is better, as she is a pure Saulteaux." + +This of course would put Sagastao and Minnehaha on the defensive, for in +those days their own pride of birth was that they were Cree Indians. +Faithful old Mary, herself a Cree, would of course take their part, and it +was very amusing--laughable at times--to listen to the wordy strife. In +these discussions Mary was always the one to first lose her temper. When +this happened the penalty was to have the children throw a shawl over her +head and thus silence her. From their loving hands she quietly took her +punishment and was soon restored to good nature. Good-hearted Souwanas then +speedily responded to the call for a story. But the little Souwanaquenapeke +must be, if awake, in his arms, or, if asleep, in a little hammock or +native cradle beside him. + +"What is it to be about to-day?" asked the old man, as the children, full +of eager anticipation, drew a couple of chairs up before him. + +After some discussion Souwanas decided to tell them the Nanahboozhoo story +of how he lessened the power of the rattlesnakes to do harm. + +"Nanahboozhoo, in starting off one day from his grandmother's wigwam, had +put on the disguise of a fine young hunter. He had not gone many miles on +his journey before he came to a little tent on the edge of the forest where +he found a young Indian mother full of grief over her sick child. +Nanahboozhoo could not but feel very sorry for her, especially when he +heard her story that a snake had crawled noiselessly into her tent and had +bitten her little girl while she slept. Nanahboozhoo felt such pity, both +for the weeping mother and the bitten child, that at once he set to work to +counteract the sad doings of the snake. He hurriedly went into the forest, +and there finding a certain plant he said, 'From this day forward the root +of this plant shall be a remedy for all people against the bites of +snakes.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo showed the mother that the roots were to be pounded and +made into a drink and a poultice. The glad mother quickly carried out his +instructions and the little girl was soon well again. The Indians have ever +since been very thankful to Nanahboozhoo for letting them know of this +plant, which they still use for such purposes and which they call +snakeroot. Nanahboozhoo remained until he saw that the little girl was +quite recovered. Then he said: + +"'Now I will fix that snake so that he will not be able to do so much harm +in the future.' + +"Then going out he caught the king of the snakes and gave him a great +scolding for the meanness of that one of his family which had crawled into +the tent of the Indian mother and so cruelly bitten that little girl while +she slept. Then getting very angry, for Nanahboozhoo was very +quick-tempered, he said: + +"'Snakes, like other things, have the right to live. They are given their +place in the world, and their work. They are to keep down the mice, rats, +frogs, toads, and other things that might become too numerous. They have +their poisons given them to defend themselves if attacked. But they have no +right to go and kill or injure anyone doing them no harm. I'll teach you +snakes that in future you cannot quietly crawl about and bite innocent +people thus.' + +"So he took a piece of the wampum from one of the strings with which he had +decorated himself, and having carefully carved the hard shells of which +wampum is made, Nanahboozhoo firmly fastened them to the snake's tail, and +said: + +"'From this day forward may all snakes like you have those noisy rattles +upon them, so that all people will call you rattlesnakes. And may it be +that you can never move without making a noise with those rattles, so that +people will always be able to hear them and thus get ready to fight you, or +to get out of your way before you can do any harm.'" + +"Well done, Nanahboozhoo!" shouted little Sagastao. "He's the one for me. +But why did he not kill all the rattlesnakes at once?" + +Souwanas was, however, too clever to be caught trying to answer a question +that, although asked by a child, was beyond his knowledge, so he resorted +to his calumet, and as the smoke of it began to taint the air Sagastao +said, "Well, Souwanas, can you tell us where you Indians first got your +tobacco?" + +This question was more to the taste of the old Indian, so while he smoked +he related the tradition of the introduction of tobacco among his people. + +"Very many winters ago," said he, "as Nanahboozhoo was traveling on one of +his long journeys he visited a land of great high mountains. One day as he +was passing a great chasm in the mountains he saw some blue smoke slowly +coming up out of it. This excited his curiosity and he went to see what +caused it. As he drew near to it he was very much pleased with its odor. On +further investigation he found that the great cave from which the smoke +arose was inhabited by a giant who was the keeper of tobacco. + +"Nanahboozhoo, on searching, found him half asleep in this cave among great +bales and bags of tobacco. + +"The smell of the smoke of the tobacco had so pleased Nanahboozhoo that he +asked the giant to give him some. The giant refused in a very surly +fashion, saying that he only gave portions of it away to his friends the +Munedoos, who came once a year to smoke with him. + +"Nanahboozhoo, seeing that he was not going to be able to get any by thus +pleading for it, snatched up one of the well-filled tobacco bags, dashed +out with it, and fled away as rapidly as possible. The great giant was +fearfully enraged, and at once began the pursuit of this rash fellow who +had thus stolen his tobacco from under his very nose. + +"It was a fearful race. Nanahboozhoo had to jump from one mountain top to +the next, and so on and on from peak to peak. Closely behind him followed +the giant, and Nanahboozhoo had all he could do to keep from being +captured. Fortunately for him he now knew the mountains well, and he +remembered one ahead of him the opposite side of which was very steep. When +he reached this top he suddenly threw himself down upon the very edge, and +as the giant passed over him Nanahboozhoo suddenly sprang up and gave him +such a push that he tumbled down into the fearful chasm. He was so bruised +and wounded that, as he got up and hobbled away down the far-off valley, +Nanahboozhoo watching him saw that he looked just like a great grasshopper. +He burst out laughing, and then shouted to the giant: + +"'For your meanness and selfishness I change you into a grasshopper; +Pukaneh shall be your name and you will always have a dirty mouth.' + +"And so it is to this day, for every little boy who has caught grasshoppers +knows that their saliva is as though they had been chewing tobacco. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had rested himself a little he returned to the cave of +the giant and took possession of the great quantities of tobacco he found +there. He divided it among the Indian tribes, and from that time those who +live where it will grow have cultivated it and have supplied all the +others." + +"I wish," said Minnehaha, "that Nanahboozhoo had left Pukaneh and his +tobacco in the cave, for I don't think tobacco smoke is very nice in the +house." + +[Illustration: Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push.] + +Souwanas was amused with the little girl's opposition to his beloved weed, +and while she was talking took the opportunity to refill his calumet. When +it was in good smoking order he, urgently requested by Sagastao, resumed +his story-telling. + +"Sometimes it did not fare so well with Nanahboozhoo. There were times when +his cleverness seemed to forsake him, and he got into trouble' that at +other times he would easily have avoided. For example, one day in the +summer time as he was hurrying along he became very thirsty. Soon, however, +he came to a river which has many trees on its banks. He pushed his way +through them until he came to the bank. Just as he was stooping down to +drink he saw some nice ripe fruit in the water. Without seeming to think of +what he was doing he dived into the quite shallow water to get the fruit, +hit his head against the rocky bottom and was pretty badly hurt. He was +vexed and angry as well as disappointed, but he took a good drink of the +water and then he lay down on the grass in the shade of the trees to rest. +As he lay there on his back he saw above him on the branches of the trees +the fruit which he had at first thought was in the water. + +"Laughing at his own stupidity and climbing up into the trees he soon had +all the ripe fruit he could eat. + +"Then on he went, and as his head was quite sore from the bump he had got +when he dived into the shallow river he determined to visit some wigwams +which he saw not far off. + +"The people received him very kindly, with the exception of one surly, +cross old man. They quickly prepared some balsam and put it on his wounded +head. + +"Nanahboozhoo was well pleased with this kindness, and said that he would +be glad to perform for them some kindly act in return. + +"Before anyone else, however, could speak the cross old man sneered out: + +"'O, if you think you are clever enough to do anything, grant that I may +live forever!' + +"This request and the sneering way in which it was made caused the +quick-tempered Nanahboozhoo to become very angry, and he suddenly sprang up +and caught the Indian by the shoulders and violently throwing him on the +ground said: + +"'From this time you shall be a stone, and so your request is granted.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +The Dead Moose--The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests--The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe--The Haze of the Indian +Summer. + +The sight of four stalwart Indians dragging on a dog sled the body of an +enormous moose on the ice in front of their home very much interested the +children. + +Nothing would do but they must be wrapped up and allowed to go out and +examine it while the men rested and had a smoke. Its great horns, its +enormous ugly head, and then its coarse, bristle-like hair, had all to be +examined and commented upon. The opportune arrival of Souwanas, who had +been attracted by the sight of the moose, much pleased the children, and +just as soon as the investigation of the moose was over and the hunters had +proceeded on their journey the children insisted on Souwanas going home to +Wahkiegun with them and telling them something about the moose. They also +wanted to hear a wonderful story, which he knew, telling how Nanahboozhoo +helped the elks to conquer the moose. + +When there is a disposition to surrender we are easily conquered. So it was +with Souwanas on this occasion. The children in their love for their friend +pleaded so importunately that a good cup of tea was prepared for and much +enjoyed by him before he began his story, his interested auditors as close +as possible around him. + +"Once when Nanahboozhoo was journeying through the country," said Souwanas, +"he found a village of Indians who were very poor. They were called +Oomaskos, Elk people. They had nothing but the poorest of robes on their +backs, and they were nearly destitute of everything in the shape of traps, +weapons, and canoes. The village was strangely silent, for even the dogs, +that generally are around in such numbers, had disappeared. When +Nanahboozhoo saw this destitution and poverty he at once inquired the +reason, and was surprised and very angry to hear that they were great +gamblers. + +"Not far off from them was another village whose people were called Mooswa, +or Moose people, and Nanahboozhoo soon found out that, while the +inhabitants of these two villages were antagonistic to each other, they +frequently met to gamble, and that the Moose people were nearly always +successful and had won from the Elk people nearly everything they +possessed. The latter were very much humiliated at Nanahboozhoo's finding +them in such a wretched condition, but they told him they were convinced +that some trickery had been practiced upon them by their opponents. They +also informed Nanahboozhoo that they would be glad if he would help them to +get back their much needed possessions. + +"Nanahboozhoo promised that he would assist them on condition that after +their possessions were regained they should give up the pernicious habit of +gambling. This they unanimously promised to do. The first thing +Nanahboozhoo did was to disguise himself as a whisky-jack and fly over to +the village of the Moose people and try to discover how it was that they +had been so invariably successful when they gambled with the Elk people. It +was as he suspected. His old enemies the Anamakquis, the evil spirits that +had destroyed his brother Nahpootee, the wolf, had sent one of their number +among the Moose people, and he had enabled them to win nearly all of the +dogs, as well as other things, from the Elk people. Indeed, he himself had +generally been the one who had tossed the plum stones with which they +gambled, and they had won by his magic powers. + +"When Nanahboozhoo heard this he knew that his first work must be to secure +the magic muskamoot (medicine bag). So he flew round and round, and peering +in through the top of the wigwam, where the poles crossed each other, he +was fortunate enough to see the magic bag hanging up on a cross pole over +the place where the Anamakqui slept. He noticed also that it was well +guarded and that it would require some cleverness on his part to get it. + +"Nanahboozhoo was, as you know, a very clever fellow. He quickly flew back +to the village of the Elk people and ordered the most industrious of the +women, who were skillful in making fire bags, to make one exactly as he +described. This was, of course, similar to the magic muskamoot he had seen +hanging up in the tent. + +"Nanahboozhoo then put into it things that would have just the opposite +effect to those which were in the bag of the Anamakqui. He waited until it +was dark, and then, noiselessly flying back to the village of the Moose +people, he silently entered the wigwam at the top, where there was now a +wide opening, as it was in the warm summer time, very quickly exchanged the +bag he had with him for the magic muskamoot, and returned to the village of +the Elk people. It did not take him long to arrange his plans. The chief of +the Elks had a beautiful daughter, and it was given out that a fine young +chief from a far-away tribe had come to ask for her in marriage. The father +had welcomed this young chief--who was, of course, Nanahboozhoo--and as he +had brought costly gifts he was at once acknowledged as the accepted +son-in-law. + +"The news spread rapidly and it soon reached the Moose village. When they +heard of the many gifts which this rich young stranger had brought with him +they, of course, were greedy to win them, as they had won the rest of the +Elks' property. It was not many days before a company of them came over to +the Elks, and meeting the beautiful daughter of the chief they said: + +"'We have come over to have a game of plum stones with your lover, to see +if he is a better player than we are.' + +"The girl went at once into the wigwam and informed her intended husband, +Nanahboozhoo, of the challenge of these people. She also told him that they +were very clever but that they had no idea of him being anything else than +what he appeared to be. Then she added: + +"'Be sure to win; if you do not they will beat us with clubs and sticks. +For the custom is that the side that is defeated in the gambling must +submit to a beating by the conquerors.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo and the champion for the Moose people sat down on +opposite sides of the bowl in which were the plum stones, while the people +of each of the two villages ranged themselves behind their own champion. +When Nanahboozhoo shook the bowl, and then let the plum stones cease +rolling, it was seen that he had won every point. At this the Elks set up a +great shout of triumph. The Moose people shouted back: + +"'Don't be so fast; the game is to be the best three out of five; just wait +until our man has played.' + +"The plum stones were then handed to him and patting his medicine bag he +confidently shook them up, but when they had ceased rolling it was seen +that he had lost every point. + +"The victory was now so nearly won that the Elks began to say: + +"'Get your clubs ready to thrash the Moose people, for we are surely going +to be winners this day.' + +"The Moose people were, however, not yet quite discouraged. 'There are +three tries yet,' they said, 'and our man may yet win.' But their hopes +were soon gone, for when Nanahboozhoo threw the plum stones the third time +he was as successful as at the first. + +"This decided the game in favor of the Elks, who now rushed upon the Moose +people and thrashed them all the way back to their own village. + +"The Moose were very much humiliated at this defeat. They had not only had +a good beating but, according to the custom of the tribes, they were +obliged to restore much of the property which they had won from the Elks in +their previous contests. A council was called not long after and there was +quite a discussion among them as to the best plan to be adopted to defeat +the Elks and regain supremacy. They decided on a trial of strength, for in +such encounters they had generally been victorious. They had two high poles +erected with a crossbar on the top, and the contest was to see which side +could produce the man who should throw the heaviest stone over that bar. +They sent their challenge to the Elks to meet them if they dare. + +"The Elks quickly responded and were soon at the place where the Moose +people, who were awaiting them, had erected the high poles with the +crossbar. When everything had been arranged their strongest man took up a +heavy stone and, with a tremendous effort, succeeded in barely throwing it, +so that it struck the crossbar and carried it down to the ground. When the +crossbar had been replaced a son of the chief of the Elks went forward, as +though he would be the competitor on the side of the Elks. He pretended as +though he could not even lift the heavy stone which the Moose champion had +thrown. When the Moose people saw this they shouted out in triumph, and +began to get ready to give the Elks as good a beating as they had received +from them on a former occasion. + +"Seeing them thus coming, Nanahboozhoo rushed forward, seized the heavy +stone, and sent it high up and far over the tops of the poles--thus winning +the victory again for the Elks. With a shout of triumph the Elks again +attacked the Moose and drove them in disgrace back to their own village. +The Moose people were now more humiliated than ever, but they determined to +try another plan; for they were resolved not to give up to the Elks, whom +they had so often defeated. After much consultation they said: + +"'Let us have a contest at diving in the lake, that we may see if our +champion cannot remain longer under the water than any one of the Elks.' + +"So they went over to the village of the Elks and told them they had come +to have another contest with them. To the proposal of the Moose the Elks +all agreed, and both parties proceeded to the lake. Here a large hole was +cut in the ice and the champion of the Moose prepared to go down into the +water. One of the brothers of the beautiful Indian girl who had been +selected as Nanahboozhoo's bride said to Nanahboozhoo: + +"'As our bodies are tougher than yours you must let me compete this time.' + +"Nanahboozhoo would not let him do this. He said: + +"'I am not afraid of the cold water, and besides I have plenty of friends +down there.' + +"And, sure enough, the mud turtle came up and said, in words that only +Nanahboozhoo could understand: + +"'My brother, I have come up at the request of your brother, the wolf, to +aid you. Trust yourself in my care and no harm will come to you.' + +"Nanahboozhoo was well pleased to hear this, for he knew that his spirit +brother had sent his friend the mud turtle to help him in this trial. + +"The competitors now stripped themselves, and when the signal was given +they both dived into the water and disappeared. The Moose people had such +confidence in their champion that they had all brought with them very heavy +sticks with which they intended giving the Elks a great beating in return +for the two previous defeats. + +"The Elks, however, were not dismayed. They only said: + +"'Just wait until the contest is decided.' + +"In the meantime the competitors under the water were so near together at +first that the people on the land heard the Moose say, 'Elk, are you cold?' +To which the mud turtle, who had covered the Elk competitor over with his +shell, replied: + +"'No, Moose; but are you cold?' + +"As the people on the shore could not hear any answer to this question it +gave some alarm to the Moose people about their champion, who they feared +must be benumbed with the cold. This was really the case, for in a short +time he came to the surface of the water so nearly frozen to death that he +had to be helped out of the water. + +"When the mud turtle and Nanahboozhoo heard the shoutings of triumph of the +Elks they knew that the Moose champion had failed, and so they came up to +the surface. Nanahboozhoo swam ashore and joined in the pursuit of the +disheartened Moose people, who had again so signally failed. + +"These repeated defeats very much angered and humiliated the Moose people. +They almost quarreled among themselves in their vexation as they talked +them over at their councils. Still they were in no humor to give up. They +had two very swift runners among them, and they decided to challenge the +Elks to a foot race. So they again sent a number of their party over to the +tent of the Elk people and said: + +"'We are not at all satisfied yet, and we wish to know if the son of the +chief and his brother-in-law, the young stranger who has come into your +midst, will run a foot race against two of our young people.' + +"This challenge was at once accepted and soon all preparations were made +for the great race. It was decided that it should be run on the ice of the +frozen lake, which was several miles round. Much snow had fallen, but the +people of both sides turned out for days and cleared out a good track. They +made it near the shore, and so that the finishing spot would be near where +was the starting point. + +"The Moose felt quite certain of winning this time, because by their magic +their runners were to be turned into real Moose, with four legs, and they +argued that runners with four feet could surely beat those who had only +two. But there were others who had heard about this great race, and among +them was the wolf, the spirit brother of Nanahboozhoo, and so he came to +him the night before the race. + +"'My brother,' he said, 'I will come and help you in this race. You are the +only one that can see me, so I will be on the track, about half way round, +and when you come there you can get on my back and I will carry you at a +greater speed. But you must keep your legs moving as if rapidly running, or +the people will suspect something unusual.' + +"There was a great crowd to witness this race between the two great Moose, +to represent the Moose people, and the son of the chief and his unknown +brother-in-law to represent the Elks. When the signal was given away they +started over the icy trail. The Moose soon were at the front, with the +chief's son not far behind. Nanahboozhoo was purposely a little in the +rear, and so was able to spring upon the wolf's back without attracting +attention. + +[Illustration: They were excited at his coming.] + +"With this steed under him he sped along with marvelous rapidity. At the +half-way point of the race he overtook his brother-in-law, and giving him +his hand, they were soon far in front. When they rushed in ahead there +was great excitement. The Moose people were soon running back to their +village with the Elks whipping them to the very doors of their wigwams. + +"After this the Moose dare not challenge the Elks to any further contest, +but they were so furious that they meditated murder in their hearts toward +the young stranger, who had, they now saw, been the cause of their many +defeats. Nanahboozhoo, however, easily thwarted their evil schemes, but at +length some of them were so bad that his anger was aroused and he exerted +all his magic power. + +"'Moose you are by name,' he said to them, 'and for your bad deeds I change +you into the animals after whom you are named. Hereafter you will live in +the swamps, among the willows and young birch. On them you will have to +browse for a living. For a little variety in your food you may, in the +summer time, go out into the shallow waters and paw up and eat the great +roots of the water-lilies.' + +"Thus the Elks again had peace and quietness. Gambling was never again +allowed among them, and Nanahboozhoo, after receiving their grateful +thanks, returned to his own country." + +"What did he do after that?" asked Sagastao. + +"Not much, for a while; but after a time he decided to go away up North. +Each fall, however, he comes and looks around to see how everything is +going on. Then he rests on some of the mountains and has a big smoke, which +settles down on the hillsides and valleys and makes the beautiful hazy +time which we all call the Indian Summer." + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "if the smoke of Nanahboozhoo's big pipe of peace +makes the beautiful haze of the lovely Indian Summer, it is about the best +thing I have heard yet of tobacco smoke doing." + +And so say we all. + + + + +GLOSSARY + + * * * * * + +Ana-mak-qui, _Evil spirits or magicians_. + +An-nun-gi-tee, _The ghost with big ears_. + +Ja-koos, _Strong-armed_. + +Keche-Wapoose, _Great Rabbit_. + +Kin-ne-sa-sis, _Little Fish_. + +Kosh-ke-e-wa-see, _Partridge_. + +Ma-hei-gan, _Wolf_. + +Mani-boos or Manitoos or Munedoos, _Spirits_. + +Me-squah-be-me-sheen, _Red Willows_. + +Minne-ha-ha, _Laughing Waters_. + +Mis-ta-coo-sis, _Aspen Tree_. + +Mis-mis, _Grandfather_. + +Moos-wa, _Moose_. + +Moo-she-kin-ne-bik, _Sea Monster_. + +Musk-a-moot, _Medicine Bag_. + +Mud-je-kee-wis, _West Wind_. + +Na-nah-booz-hoo, _Son of Mud-je-kee-wis--West Wind_. + +Nah-poo-tee, _Wolf_. + +Ni-koo-chis, _Solitude--name of a giant_. + +Nokomis, _Grandmother_. + +Ome-mee, _Pigeon or Dove_. + +Oo-kis-ki-mu-ni-sew, _Kingfisher_. + +Oo-see-mee-id, _The Younger_. + +Se-si-giz-it, _The Older_. + +Pa-peu-pe-na-ses, _Laughing Bird_. + +Pug-a-mah-kon, _A hammer_. + +Puk-an-eh, _Grasshopper_. + +Sa-gas-ta-oo-ke-mou, shortened to Sagastao, _The Sunrise Gentleman_. + +Sa-ke-how, _Beloved_. + +Se-se-pask-wut, _Sugar_. + +Sis-tin-a-koo, _The magician who guarded the fire in the interior of the +earth_. + +Shu-ni-ou, _Money_. + +So-qua-a-tum, _Steadfast_. + +Sou-wa-nas, _South Wind, The great Story-teller_. + +Sou-wa-na-que-na-peke, _The Voice of the South Wind Birds_. + +Wah-ki-e-gun, _The House_. + +Wau-be-noo, _The East_. + +Wakonda, _A supernatural Person_. + +Wakontas, _Son of Wakonda_. + +Wau-konug, _Lichen_. + +Wenonah, _Daughter of Nokomis and mother of Nanahboozhoo_. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Algonquin Indian Tales, by Egerton R. Young + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10891 *** diff --git a/10891-h/10891-h.htm b/10891-h/10891-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9541eb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-h/10891-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7766 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Algonquin Indian Tales, + collected by Egerton R. Young . + </title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; background-color: white} + h1,h2,h3,h5 {text-align: center;} + .ind {margin-left: 10%; } + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} + .toc {text-align: center;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10891 ***</div> + +<h1> +ALGONQUIN INDIAN TALES +</h1> +<h3> +COLLECTED BY +</h3> +<h2> +EGERTON R. YOUNG +</h2> +<h5> +AUTHOR OF "BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN," "THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH,"<br /> +"THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND," ETC. +</h5> +<p> </p> +<a name="Illus001"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus001.jpg" width="250" height="339" +alt="The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles."> +</p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<h4>Copyright <br /> +1903</h4> +</center> +<p> </p> +<h2>CHIEF BIG CANOE'S LETTER</h2> +<p> +GEORGINA ISLAND, LAKE SIMCOE.<br /> +REV. EGERTON R. YOUNG. +</p> +<p> +DEAR FRIEND: Your book of stories gathered from among my tribe has very +much pleased me. The reading of them brings up the days of long time ago +when I was a boy and heard our old people tell these tales in the wigwams +and at the camp fire. +</p> +<p> +I am very glad that you are in this way saving them from being forgotten, +and I am sure that many people will be glad to read them. +</p> +With best wishes,<br /> +KECHE CHEMON (Charles Big Canoe),<br /> +Chief of the Ojibways. +<p> </p> +<h2> INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h2> +<p> +In all ages, from the remotest antiquity, the story-teller has flourished. +Evidences of his existence are to be found among the most ancient monuments +and writings in the Orient. In Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, and other ancient +lands he flourished, and in the homes of the noblest he was ever an honored +guest. +</p> +<p> +The oldest collection of folklore stories or myths now in existence is of +East Indian origin and is preserved in the Sanskrit. The collection is +called <i>Hitopadesa</i>, and the author was Veshnoo Sarma. Of this collection, +Sir William Jones, the great Orientalist, wrote, "The fables of Veshnoo are +the most beautiful, if not the most ancient, collection of apologues in the +world." As far back as the sixth century translations were made from them. +</p> +<p> +The same love for myths and legends obtains to-day in those Oriental lands. +There, where the ancient and historic so stubbornly resist any change—in +Persia, India, China, and indeed all over that venerable East—the man who +can recite the ancient apologues or legends of the past can always secure +an audience and command the closest attention. +</p> +<p> +While the general impression is that the recital of these old myths and +legends among Oriental nations was for the mere pastime of the crowds, it +is well to bear in mind that many of them were used as a means to convey +great truths or to reprove error. Hence the recital of them was not +confined to a merely inquisitive audience that desired to be amused. We +have a good example of this in the case of the recital by Jotham, as +recorded in the book of Judges, of the legend of the gathering of the trees +for the purpose of having one of them anointed king over the rest. Of this +legend Dr. Adam Clarke, the commentator, says, "This is the oldest and, +without exception, the best fable or apologue in the world." +</p> +<p> +The despotic nature of the governments of those Oriental nations caused the +people often to use the fable or myth as an indirect way to reprove or +censure when it would not have been safe to have used a direct form of +speech. The result was that it attained a higher degree of perfection there +than among any other people. An excellent example is Nathan's reproof of +David by the recital of the fable of the poor man's ewe lamb. +</p> +<p> +The red Indians of America have justly been famous for their myths and +legends. We have never heard of a tribe that did not have a store of them. +Even the hardy Eskimo in his igloo of ice is surprisingly rich in folklore +stories. A present of a knife or some other trifle that he desires will +cause him to talk by the hour to his guest, whether he be the daring trader +or adventurous explorer, on the traditions that have come down to him. The +interchange of visits between the northern Indians and the Eskimos has +resulted in the discovery that quite a number of the myths recited in +Indian wigwams are in a measure, if not wholly, of Eskimo origin. On the +other hand, the Eskimo has not failed to utilize and incorporate into his +own rich store some that are undoubtedly of Indian origin. +</p> +<p> + For thirty years or more we have been gathering up these myths and legends. + Sometimes a brief sentence or two of one would be heard in some + wigwam—just enough to excite curiosity—then years would elapse ere the + whole story could be secured. As the tribes had no written language, and + the Indians had to depend entirely upon their memory, it is not to be + wondered at that there were, at times, great divergences in the recital of + even the most familiar of their stories. We have heard the same legend + given by several story-tellers and no two agreed in many particulars. + Others, however, were told with very slight differences. +</p> +<p> + We have adopted the course of recording what seemed to us the most natural + version and most in harmony with the instincts and characteristics of the + pure Indian. The close scientific student of Indian folklore will see that + we have softened some expressions and eliminated some details that were + non-essential. The crude Indian languages, while absolutely free from + blasphemy, cannot always be literally translated. <i>Verbum sat sapienti</i>. +</p> +<p> + The method we have adopted, in the presentation of these myths and legends + in connection with the chatter and remarks of our little ones, while + unusual, will, we trust, prove attractive and interesting. We have + endeavored to make it a book for all classes. Here are some old myths in + new settings, and here are some, we venture to think, that have never + before been seen in English dress. These will interest the student of such + subjects, while the general style of the book will, we hope, make it + attractive to young readers. +</p> +<p> + Nanahboozhoo, the personage who occupies the principal part in these myths, + is the most widely known of all those beings of supposed miraculous birth + who played such prominent parts in Indian legends. He does not seem to have + been claimed by any one particular tribe. Doubtless legends of him were + transmitted down from the time when the division of tribes had not so + extensively taken place; when perhaps the Algonquin, now so subdivided, was + one great tribe, speaking one language. +</p> +<p> + The variety of names by which he is known is accounted for by these tribal + divisions and the rapid changes which took place in the language owing to + its having no written form to maintain its unity. +</p> +<p> + What his original name was, when legends about him first began to be told, + is of course unknown. However, since the white race began to gather up and + record these Indian myths he has been known as Misha-wabus, Manabush, + Jous-ke-ha, Messou, Manabozho, Nanahboozhoo, Hiawatha, Chiabo, + Singua-sew—and even some other names have been heard. We have given him in + this volume the name of Nanahboozhoo as that was the one most frequently + used by the Indians among whom we lived or visited. +</p> +<p> + There is more unanimity about his origin, among the tribes, than about his + name. The almost universal report is that he was the son of Mudjekeewis, + the West Wind. His mother was Wenonah, the daughter of Nokomis. +</p> +<p> + The author desires very gratefully to record his indebtedness, for + assistance or hints received in the pleasant work of here clustering these + Indian folklore stories, to many friends, among them such Indian + missionaries as Revs. Peter Jones, John Sunday, Henry Steinham, Allan Salt, + and also to his Indian friends and comrades at many a camp fire and in many + a wigwam. He also wishes in this way to express his appreciation of and + indebtedness to the admirable Reports of the Smithsonian Institution. He + has there obtained verification of and fuller information concerning many + an almost forgotten legend. +</p> +<p> + In regard to a number of the finest of the photographic illustrations in + the volume the author gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Canada + Pacific Railway Company, without whose assistance it would have been + impossible to reach many of the sublime and romantic places here portrayed; + until very recently known only to the adventurous red Indian hunter, but + now brought within the reach of any enterprising tourist. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH1"> +CHAPTER I. +</a> +</p> +<h4> + The Children Carried Off by the Indians—The Feast in + the Wigwam—Souwanas, the Story-teller—Nanahboozhoo, + the Indian Myth—How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and + Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred—Why the Raccoon + has Rings on His Tail. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH2"> +CHAPTER II. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Children's Return—Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse—Her Pathetic History—Her Love for the Children—The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH3"> +CHAPTER III. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +More about Mary and the Children—Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees—How the Bees Got Their Stings—What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH4"> +CHAPTER IV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Love Story of Wakontas—His Test of the Two +Maidens—His Choice—The Transformation of Misticoosis. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH5"> +CHAPTER V. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Startling Placard—What Happened to the Little +Runaways—The Rescue—Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows—How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH6"> +CHAPTER VI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo—How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf—Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH7"> +CHAPTER VII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Legend of the Bad Boy—How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH8"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Happy Christmas Holidays—Indians Made Glad with +Presents—Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH9"> +CHAPTER IX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Kinnesasis—How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH10"> +CHAPTER X. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Christmas Packet—The Distribution of Gifts—A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero—Souwanas Tells +How the Indians First Learned to Make Maple Sugar. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH11"> +CHAPTER XI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease—The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH12"> +CHAPTER XII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Naming of the Baby—A Canoe Trip—The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine—How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH13"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +In the Wigwam of Souwanas—How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH14"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo—The Treachery +of Gray Wolf—The Legend of the Whisky Jack. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH15"> +CHAPTER XV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock—How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened—A Punishment for +Conceit. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH16"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun—How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters—Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH17"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH18"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Welcome Springtime in the Northland—How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians—The Revenge—The Flood—Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft—The Creation of a New World. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH19"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Among the Briers and Wild Roses—Why the Roses have +Thorns—Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH20"> +CHAPTER XX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils—The Vain Woman—Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH21"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Shooting Loons—Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet—Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner—Origin of Lichens—Why Some Willows are Red—The +Partridge. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH22"> +CHAPTER XXII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall—A Short-lived Triumph—Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH23"> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake—The Legend of the +Orphan Boy—His Appeal to the Man in the Moon—How +He Conquered His Enemies. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH24"> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke—How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake—How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle—The Origin of Tobacco—Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH25"> +CHAPTER XXV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Dead Moose—The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests—The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe—The Haze of the Indian +Summer. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#GLOS"> +GLOSSARY +</a> +</p> +<p> </p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus001"> +The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus002"> +With the children cuddled around, Souwanas began his story +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus003"> +The wild and picturesque Ka-Ka-Be-Ka Falls +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus004"> +They howled with rage and terror +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus005"> +The startling placard +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus006"> +While her mate stood beside her +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus0007"> +Surrounding them were fierce Indian dogs +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus008"> +The beautiful reflections in the water +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus009"> +They tumbled the tall ghost over +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus010"> +Their dog trains were in constant demand +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus011"> +Where the fire was stolen +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus012"> +The coyote was too quick for them +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus013"> +Across a single log at a dizzy height +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus014"> +Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus015"> +Their babies with them +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus016"> +Gave him such a terrible beating +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus017"> +The big rock was surely gaining on him +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus018"> +Sun dance lodge of the blood Indians +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus0019"> +They both threw their magic sticks +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus020"> +He took a leap into the open mouth +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus021"> +He ran away West, to the great mountains +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus022"> +Wigwams and Indians +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus023"> +The Indian story-teller +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus024"> +Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus025"> +With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus026"> +Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus027"> +They were excited at his coming +</a></p> +<hr> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>Algonquin Indian Tales</h1> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH1"> CHAPTER I.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Children Carried Off by the Indians—The Feast in + the Wigwam—Souwanas, the Story-teller—Nanahboozhoo, + the Indian Myth—How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and + Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred—Why the Raccoon + has Rings on His Tail. +</h4> +<p> + Without even knocking at the door there noiselessly entered our northern + home two large, unhandsome Indians. They paid not the slightest attention + to the grown-up palefaces present, but in their ghostly way marched across + the room to the corner where the two little children were playing on the + floor. Quickly but gently picking them up they swung them to their + shoulders, and then, without a word of salutation or even a glance at the + parents, they noiselessly passed out of that narrow door and disappeared in + the virgin forest. They were pagan Saulteaux, by name Souwanas and Jakoos. +</p> +<p> + The Indian names by which these two children were called by the natives + were "Sagastaookemou," which means the "Sunrise Gentleman," and + "Minnehaha," "Laughing Waters." +</p> +<p> + To the wigwam of Souwanas, "South Wind," these children were being carried. + They had no fear of these big Indians, though the boy was only six years + old, and his little sister but four. They had learned to look with laughing + eyes even into the fiercest and ugliest of these red faces and had made + them their friends. +</p> +<p> + So even now, while being carried away among the dense trees, they merrily + laughed and shouted to each other. The bright patches of sunshine on the + ground, the singing birds, and the few brilliant-hued summer flowers, + brought forth their exclamations of delight, while all the time the grave, + silent Indians hurried them on deeper and deeper into the forest. Yet + carefully they guarded their precious loads, and as the antlered deer in + passing through the thick woods and under the low branches never strike + trunk or bough, so these sons of the forest glided swiftly on without + allowing any hurt to come to the children of the paleface, even if at times + the faint trail led them over slippery rocks and under low intertwining + branches. +</p> +<p> + The wigwam of Souwanas was pitched in a beautiful spot at the edge of the + great forest near the sandy, rocky eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. This + great lake is well called The Sea, which is the meaning of its Indian name. + It is about as long as Lakes Ontario and Erie combined and in some places + is eighty miles wide. +</p> +<p> + At the entrance of the wigwam, which was made of a couple of tanned + reindeerskins, the children were carefully lifted down from the men's + shoulders and then taken into this Indian abode. Coming in suddenly from + the bright sunshine it was some time before they could see distinctly. The + door flap of deerskin had dropped like a curtain behind them. All the light + there was came in through the hole in the top, where the poles of the + wigwam crossed each other. Presently, however, they were able to see a + circle of Indian children gathered around a small fire that smoldered on + the ground in the center of the tent. It was now in the pleasant summer + time, but the fire was needed for something else than warmth, as the little + Sagastao and Minnehaha discovered before long. They were soon seated in the + circle with the red children, who, young though they were, were a wee bit + startled at seeing these little palefaces. The white children, however, + simply laughed with glee. This outward demonstration seemed very improper + to the silent red children, who were taught to refrain from expressions of + their gladness or sorrow. +</p> +<p> + The Indians had brought the white children for a characteristic reason. + They had said among themselves, "If the white father and mother love us as + they say they do we will test them by taking away their children without + asking permission." They also wished to show their own love for the + children, and so had really brought them to a children's feast. +</p> +<p> + It was perhaps as queer a tea party as you ever heard of. There was no + table on which to put the good things prepared for the feast. No plates, no + cups and saucers, no knives, no spoons, not even a chair! There were no + cakes, no tarts, no jam, no pies, not even any bread and butter! +</p> +<p> + "Well, what a feast!" you say. "Without any place to sit, or good things to + eat!" Not too fast! There were both of these. There was the lap of mother + earth, and so down on the ground, with bearskins and deerskins on it for + rugs, the children sat. Then the deerskin door was again opened and in came + Indians with birch-bark dishes, called <i>rogans</i>, in which were nicely + prepared wild ducks, rabbits, and partridges. But as they were uncooked + they could not yet be eaten by the now expectant, hungry children. +</p> +<p> + Then began the preparation of the feast. Some of the Indians added dry wood + to the fire until there was a hot, smokeless blaze. Others took out their + sharp hunting knives and cleverly cut up the ducks, rabbits, and + partridges. Then these pieces were spitted on the ends of sharp points of + hard wood and skillfully broiled or toasted in the hot flames. As fast as + the dainty bits of meat were cooked and a little cooled they were given to + the children in their fingers, and in that way the little ones had their + feast. +</p> +<p> + Now, please don't turn up your noses at such a feast. Think of it: out in a + wigwam in the lovely forest, where the wild birds sing and the squirrels + chatter, where is heard the music of the waves playing on the shore but a + few yards away, with great friendly Indians as your waiters! The very air + of that northern summer gives you an appetite ready for anything. +</p> +<p> + Those little people, red and white, soon became the jolliest of friends, + and as the white children could speak the Indian language as well as their + own they were soon all chattering away most merrily while they daintily + picked the bones. Of course this way of eating was hard upon their hands, + faces, and clothing, but what healthy child ever gave a second thought—if + a first—to any of these things? +</p> +<p> + After a time this feast, as all feasts must, came to an end. Then the + question was, "What shall we do next for the children?" for the whole day + had been planned by the grown-up Indians for the entertainment of the + little people. Canoes had been collected on the shore of Winnipeg, handy if + it should be decided that they all should go for an afternoon outing on the + water. However, Souwanas, who had gone out to look at the sky and observe + the winds and waves, now came in and reported that he thought they would + better put off the canoe trip to some time when the lake was more calm. It + was then suggested that the children be asked what would please them most. + The little folks, white and red, were not slow in giving their decision. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us a story about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "Who shall be the story-teller?" +</p> +<p> + There was a hearty call for "Souwanas!" +</p> +<p> + On coming in from investigating the weather, but a few minutes before, + Souwanas had seated himself on a robe and was now enjoying his calumet, or + pipe. Stoical though he was, his dark eyes flashed with pleasure at the + unanimous call of the children, but, Indianlike, it would have been a great + breach of manners if he had let his delight be known. Then, again, + Indianlike, it would never have done to have seemed to be in a hurry. The + Indian children well knew this, but who ever heard of white children that + could sit like statues, grave and dignified, while the story-teller took + time to finish smoking a large pipe of tobacco? +</p> +<p> + So it was in this case. In their wild excitement and eagerness to have the + story begin, both Sagastao and Minnehaha sprang up and, rushing toward + Souwanas, vied with each other in seeing which could first pluck the + half-smoked calumet from his mouth. Such audacity appalled the Indian + children and fairly took the breath away from the older Indians. For was + not Souwanas a chief, and the calumet almost a sacred thing while between + his lips? +</p> +<p> + Souwanas, however, was greatly delighted. Here was a new experience, and + the very boldness of the children of the palefaces was an evidence of their + unbounded confidence and love. To little Sagastao the calumet was + surrendered, and, with the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his + story: +</p> +<a name="Illus002"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus002.jpg" width="250" height="354" +alt="'With the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his story.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Now, you must know that Nanahboozhoo was a queer fellow. He could make + himself as tall as a tree or as small as a turtle or snake. Nothing could + kill him. He could not be drowned even if dropped hundreds of feet into the + lake, nor burned to death even if he tumbled into the fire. He often met + with accidents, but he always came up right again and was ready for some + other adventure in some new shape. He has left his marks on the rocks and + trees, leaves and flowers. Almost anywhere we look we see signs that + Nanahboozhoo has been around. As his temper was very uncertain he sometimes + caused trouble and injured the appearance of things which were once more + beautiful than they are now. But in general he was the friend of our race + and worked changes that were for our good. +</p> +<p> + "One day, as Nanahboozhoo was walking along on a sandy shore, he felt very + hungry. It was now in the autumn of the year. As he wandered on he saw an + object moving toward him. He had not long to wait before he saw that this + object was a great black bear. He pulled up a young tree by the roots and + hid himself, preparing to kill the bear when he should come near. When the + bear came near Nanahboozhoo made a big jump out of his hiding place and + killed the bear with one blow. Then he built a big fire, and having singed + all the hair off the bear he cut him up and nicely roasted him. When the + meat was cooked Nanahboozhoo cut it up into fine pieces, for he intended to + enjoy his feast by eating leisurely. +</p> +<p> + "While he was thus busy preparing his feast he was annoyed by a strange + sound among the tree tops that rubbed together when the wind blew. + Nanahboozhoo was very quick-tempered, and as the noise continued he + determined to stop it. So he left his feast on the ground and climbed away + up one of those trees to the spot where the other pressed against it. He + was endeavoring to pull the two great trees apart when one of his hands got + caught between them and was firmly held. While struggling to get loose he + heard a pack of wolves running toward his bear meat. This made him struggle + the harder to get his hand free. The fierce wolves soon scented the food + and had a good time devouring it, in spite of the shoutings of + Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo at length got his hand free and came down he found + nothing left of his feast but the skull of the bear. He was very angry, not + only at the wolves that had eaten his feast but also at the trees that had + held him, the great Nanahboozhoo, in so tight a grip. As the wolves had run + away he could not, at present, punish them, but he resolved that he would + so punish these great birch trees that they would never give him such a + squeeze again. So he prepared a great whip and with it he severely thrashed + the trees. Up to this time the birch had been the most beautiful of trees. + Its great trunk was of the purest white, without any blemish or blotch upon + it. But ever since the thrashing Nanahboozhoo gave it it has had to carry + the marks of that terrible whipping; and that is why the white birch tree + is so covered with scars. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had ceased thrashing the trees he found himself so very + hungry that he resolved to eat the brains that were in the head of the + bear, that had been overlooked by the wolves. However, he found the skull + very hard. So he transformed himself into a little snake, and in this way + got inside of the bear's skull and enjoyed his feast. In fact he enjoyed it + too much, for when he was through with his eating he could not get out of + the skull, he was so full. However, he was able to roll along, skull and + all, but as he could not see where he was going he bumped along in a very + erratic manner until at length he tumbled into a big lake and sank at first + deep down under the waves. +</p> +<p> + "When he came up to the surface he just put a part of the head of the bear + out of the water, as does the bear when swimming. Then he listened + intently. It was not long before Nanahboozhoo heard voices saying: +</p> +<p> + "'Look! There is a bear swimming. Let us kill him." +</p> +<p> + "So there was a chase on the lake, and it was not long before the Indians + came up, in their canoe, and one of them with his stone ax struck the + bear's head such a blow that he split open the skull. +</p> +<p> + "This just suited Nanahboozhoo, and instantly he sprang out and made for + the shore. +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo journeyed on and again he began to feel very hungry. The + brains of the bear were not much to one who had had his mind set on eating + the whole carcass. It was not long before he met the raccoon awkwardly + carrying a birch <i>rogan</i> that he had stolen from a couple of blind men. + Seeing the merry smile on the raccoon's face, Nanahboozhoo bade him a good + day, and asked him what was amusing him. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon, who did not know that it was Nanahboozhoo with whom he was + talking, told him how he obtained the dish. When Nanahboozhoo heard this he + was very angry at the raccoon for his heartless trick. +</p> +<p> + "It seems that there was quite a large settlement of people who had among + them a couple of blind men. As these Indians were hunters they had to be on + the move a good deal of the time following the game. As the other people + were kind-hearted, instead of killing these old blind men, now that they + were unable to hunt, they arranged for them a wigwam in a safe, quiet + place, near the lake. Then they gave them a kettle and bowl and other + necessary things and cut a large pile of wood and placed it close at hand. + In order that they might be able to get water for their cooking and yet not + stumble into the water their friends fastened a rope, for their guidance, + from the door of the wigwam to a post on the edge of the lake. +</p> +<p> + "The old men were now quite comfortable. Their friends came frequently with + abundant supplies of food and the blind men were able to do their own work + and were happy together. They divided the day's work so that one day one + would be the cook while the other would bring in the wood and go for the + water. Next day they would change about. It gave each enough to do, and not + too much. +</p> +<p> + "For a long time the two men lived contented and happy. But it happened + that one day the raccoon was out prowling along the shore, looking for + something to eat, when he happened to find the end of the rope that was + tied to the post at the water's edge. +</p> +<p> + "Now you must know," said Souwanas, "that, next to the wolverine, the + raccoon is the biggest mischief in the woods. He is full of tricks, but he + is very cunning and suspicious. So before he interfered with the rope he + cautiously followed it up and found that its other end was at the wigwam of + these two old blind men. Hearing no noise, he cautiously peered into the + wigwam and saw them both sleeping near the fire. There was a smell of + something good to eat, and the raccoon decided to wait around to see if he + could not get hold of it. +</p> +<p> + "While he was thus waiting the old men woke up, and one said to the other, + 'My brother, I am feeling hungry; let us prepare our dinner.' +</p> +<p> + "'Very well,' said the other; 'it is your turn to go to the lake for water + while I make the fire.' +</p> +<p> + "When the raccoon heard this he ran down to the lake and quickly untied the + rope from the stake and, drawing it back, tied it to a clump of bushes on + the land. When the old man with the kettle felt his way along the rope + until he reached its end he tried to dip up the water as usual, but all in + vain. There was nothing but the dry earth and bushes. Not finding any water + he returned to his brother with the sad news that the lake had dried up, + and that already bushes were growing where yesterday there was plenty of + water. When his brother heard this doleful story he laughed at it, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'Why, that cannot be possible. No bushes could grow up in such a short + time.' +</p> +<p> + "However his brother declared it was the case, and so the other one said, + 'Well, let me go, and see if I can find some water.' +</p> +<p> + "When the tricky raccoon heard this he hurried back and at once untied the + rope from the bushes and refastened it to the post near the water. When the + second brother came along he easily found the water, and filling the kettle + he returned to the wigwam where he vigorously accused his brother of lying. + He, poor fellow, could not understand it and was much perplexed. +</p> +<p> + "The preparation of their dinner went on, and soon it was ready. There was, + however, another one present that the blind men had no suspicion of, and + that was the raccoon, who had now noiselessly come into the wigwam and + greedily sat watching the preparations. This dinner consisted of eight + pieces of meat which, when cooked, were placed in their <i>rogan</i>, or wooden + bowl. When ready they sat down with this bowl between them and began to + eat. Each took a piece of meat, and they talked of various things while + they ate. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon now noiselessly took four of the pieces of meat out of the + bowl and began eating them. Soon one of the men reached into the bowl, to + get another piece of meat, and finding only two pieces left, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'My brother, you must be very hungry, to eat so fast. I have only had one + piece of meat, and there are only two left.' +</p> +<p> + "'I have not taken them,' was the reply, 'but I suspect that you are the + greedy one who has eaten them.' +</p> +<p> + "This made the other brother very angry, and as they thus went on arguing, + the raccoon, to make matters worse, and to have, as he told Nanahboozhoo, + some more sport with the old blind fellows, hit each of them a smart blow + on the face. The poor old men, each believing that the other had struck + him, began to fight; and so they upset the <i>rogan</i> and lost the rest of + their dinner and nearly set the wigwam on fire. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon then seized the two remaining pieces of meat and the bowl, + and, with shouts of laughter, rushed out of the wigwam. The old men, + hearing this, perceived that they had been fooled, and they at once stopped + fighting and apologized to each other. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon's rascally trick made Nanahboozhoo very angry. Indeed he had + had a good deal of trouble to keep from letting the raccoon know who he + was. So just as soon as the raccoon had finished he said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am Nanahboozhoo. Those old blind men are my brothers, and I'll teach + you a lesson you will never forget!' +</p> +<p> + "So he seized the raccoon and killed him, and carried his body back to the + tent of the blind men and made out of it a great feast for them, and + declared that in future the old raccoons should have to carry as many + circles on their tails as pieces of meat that had been stolen out of the + <i>rogan</i> of the blind men." +</p> +<p> + "Good for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted Sagastao. "Mr. Raccoon couldn't play any + tricks on him. Now tell us another story." +</p> +<p> + But here Minnehaha interposed. +</p> +<p> + "I think," said she, "we had better go home now, for father and mother may + begin to think they have lost their little ones." +</p> +<p> + "Let us wait until dark," said Sagastao, "and then Mary won't see our dirty + clothes!" For their greasy fingers had soiled them badly. +</p> +<p> + The wishes of the little girl, however, prevailed, and so it was not long + ere the Indian salutations, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" were shouted to all, + and once more the two children were hoisted upon the shoulders of the big + Indians, and in the same manner in which they had been brought to the + wigwam in the forenoon they rode home in the beautiful gloaming. +</p> +<p> + Very tired were they, yet not so weary but that they were able with their + little hands to rub some of the paint off the faces of their big stalwart + carriers and daub it on their own. The effect was so ludicrous that their + merry laughter reached the ears of their expectant parents even before they + emerged from the gloom of the forest. +</p> +<p> </p> + <h3><a name="CH2"> CHAPTER II.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Children's Return—Indignation of Mary, the Indian + Nurse—Her Pathetic History—Her Love for the Children—The + Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. +</h4> +<p> + In reaching home the children were quietly received by their parents, who, + understanding Indian ways, had no desire to lessen their influence by + finding fault with them for carrying off the children. They treated the + matter as though it were one of everyday occurrence. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the Indian nurse, however, did not regard the incident so calmly. + When the children were brought back dirty, greasy, bedaubed, and so tired + that they could hardly hold up their little heads, her indignation knew no + bounds, and as she was perfectly fearless she couched her sentiments in the + most vigorous phrases of the expressive Cree language. +</p> +<p> + The history of Indian Mary was very strange. Indeed there was an incident + in her life so sad that from the day of her recovery she was considered to + be under the special care of the Good Spirit, so that even the most + influential chiefs or hunters had a superstitious fear of showing any + temper, or making any bitter retort, no matter what she might say. +</p> +<p> + Years before this time Mary was the wife of a cruel pagan Indian who bore + the English name of Robinson. Although she was slight of figure, and never + very strong, he exacted from Mary a great deal of hard work and was vexed + and angry if, when heavily burdened with the game he had shot, she did not + move as rapidly along on the trail as he did, carrying only his gun and + ammunition. +</p> +<p> + Once, when they were out in the woods some miles from his wigwam, he shot a + full-grown deer and ordered her to bring it into the camp on her back. + Picking up his gun he started on ahead, and being a large, stalwart man, + and moving with the usual rapidity of the Indians on the homeward trail, he + soon reached his wigwam. Unfortunately for him—and, as it turned out, for + Mary also—he found some free-traders<a href="#note-1"><small><sup>1</sup></small></a> at his abode awaiting his return. + They had few goods for trade in their outfit, but they had a keg of fire + water, which has ever been the scourge of the Indians. +</p> +<a name="note-1"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<sup><u>1</u></sup> [ Fur buyers who were not agents of the Fur Company.] +</p> +<p> + Robinson informed them of his success in shooting the deer and that it was + even now being brought in. The traders not only purchased what furs + Robinson had on hand but also the two hind quarters of the deer which Mary + was bringing home. Robinson at once began drinking the fire water which he + had received as part payment. +</p> +<p> + He was naturally irritable, and short-tempered even when sober, but he was + much more so when under the influence of spirituous liquors. The + unprincipled traders, knowing this, and wishing to see him in one of his + tantrums, began in a bantering way to question whether he had really shot a + deer, since his wife was so long in coming with it. +</p> +<p> + This made him simply furious, and when Mary did at length arrive, laboring + under the two-hundred-pound deer, she was met by her husband now wild with + passion and the white man's fire water. Little suspecting danger she threw + the deer from her shoulders, where it had been supported by the carrying + strap across her forehead. Weary and panting, she turned to go into the + wigwam for her skinning knife, but ere she had gone a dozen steps she was + startled by a yell from Robinson which caused her instantly to turn and + face him. The sight that met her eyes was appalling. Before her stood her + husband with an uplifted gleaming ax in his hands and curses on his tongue. + Seeing that there was no chance to fly from him she threw herself toward + him, hoping thereby to escape the blow. She succeeded in saving her head, + but the ax buried itself in her spine. +</p> +<p> + Mary's piercing screams speedily brought a number of Indians from + neighboring wigwams. When they found poor Mary lying there in agony, with + the ax still imbedded in the bones of her back, their indignation knew no + bounds. +</p> +<p> + Indians, as a rule, have great self-control, but this sight so stirred them + that there was very nearly a lynching. Robinson, now sobered by his fears, + clearly foresaw that terrible would be his punishment, and while the + Indians and traders turned to attend to Mary's wounds the wretched husband + stealthily slipped away into the forest and was never again seen there. + Rumors, however, at length reached Mary that he had fled away to the + distant Kaministiquia River, where for a time he lived, solitary and alone, + in a little bark wigwam. One day, when out shooting in his canoe, he was + caught in some treacherous rapids and carried over the wild and picturesque + Ka-ka-be-ka Falls, about which so many thrilling Indian legends cluster. +</p> +<p> + For seven years Mary was a helpless invalid. When she did recover her back + had so curved that she looked like a hunchback. As she was poor, and + utterly unable either to hunt or to fish, we helped her in various ways. + She was always grateful for kindness, and in return was very willing to do + what she could for us. She was exceedingly clever with her needle, and with + a little instruction was soon able to assist with the sewing required. + However, what especially won her to us and gave her a permanent place in + our home, was her great love and devotion to our little ones. +</p> +<a name="Illus003"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus003.jpg" width="260" height="219" +alt="'The wild and picturesque Ka-Ka-Be-Ka Falls.'"> +</p> +<p> + Little Sagastao was only a few months old when she installed herself as his + nurse, and for years she was a most watchful and devoted as well as + self-sacrificing guardian of our children in that Northern home. She seemed + to live and think solely for them. At times, especially in the matter of + parental discipline, there would be collisions between Mary and the mother + of the children; for the nurse, with her Indian ideas, could not accept of + the position of a disciplined servant, nor could she quietly witness the + punishment of children whom she thought absolutely perfect. Hence, if she + could not have things exactly as she wanted them, Mary would now and then + allow her fiery temper to obtain the mastery, and springing up in a rage + and throwing a shawl over her head she would fly out of the house and be + gone for days. +</p> +<p> + Her mistress paid no attention to these outbursts. She well knew that when + Mary had cooled down she would return, and it was often amusing to see the + way in which she would attract the children's attention to her, peering + around tree or corner, and then come meekly walking in with them as though + they had only been for a pleasant outing of an hour or so. +</p> +<p> + "Well, Mary," would be the greeting of her mistress, while Mary's quiet + response would be the Indian greeting of, "Wat cheer!" +</p> +<p> + Then things would go on as usual for perhaps another six months, when Mary + would indulge again in one of her tantrums, with the same happy results. +</p> +<p> + She dressed the children in picturesque Indian costumes—coats, dresses, + leggings, moccasins, and other articles of apparel of deer skin, tanned as + soft as kid, and beautifully embroidered with silk and bead work. Not a + spot could appear upon their garments without Mary's notice, and as she + always kept changes ready she was frequently disrobing and dressing them + up. +</p> +<p> + When Souwanas and Jakoos came that morning and picked up the children Mary + happened to be in another room. Had she been present she would doubtless + have interfered in their movements. As it was, when she missed the children + her indignation knew no bounds, and only the most emphatic commands of her + mistress restrained her from rushing after them. All day long she had to + content herself with muttering her protests while, as usual, she was busily + employed with her needle. When, however, the two stalwart Indians returned + in the evening with the children on their shoulders the storm broke, and + Mary's murmurings, at first mere protests, became loud and furious when the + happy children, so tired and dirty, were set down before her. The Indians, + knowing of the sad tragedy in Mary's life, would not show anger or even + annoyance under her scathing words, but, with the stoical nature of their + race, they quietly endured her wrath. This they were much better prepared + to do since neither of the parents of the white children seemed in the + slightest degree disturbed by their long absence or the tirade of the + indignant nurse. With high-bred courtesy they patiently listened to all + that Mary had to say, and when the storm had spent itself they turned and + noiselessly retired. +</p> +<p> + The children were worn out with their day's adventure, and their mother + intimated that Mary ought at once to bathe them and put them to bed. This, + however, did not satisfy Mary. It had become her custom to dress them up in + the afternoons and keep them appareled in their brightest costumes during + the rest of the day; therefore now the weary children, after being bathed, + were again dressed in their best and brought out for inspection and a light + supper before retiring. The bath and the supper had so refreshed them that + when Mary had tucked them into their beds they were wide awake and asked + her to tell them a story. But sleep was what they needed now more than + anything else, and she tried to quiet them without any further words, but + so thoroughly aroused were they that they declared that if she refused they + knew somebody who would be glad to have them visit him again, and that he + would tell them lots of beautiful things. +</p> +<p> + This hint that they might return to the wigwam of Souwanas was too much for + Mary, who very freely gave utterance to her sentiments about him. The + children gallantly came to the defense of the old Indian and also of + Nanahboozhoo, of whom Mary spoke most slightingly, saying that he was a + mean fellow who ought to be ashamed of many of his tricks. +</p> +<p> + "Well," replied Sagastao, "if you will tell us better stories than those + Souwanas can tell us about Nanahboozhoo, all right, we will listen to them. + But, mind you, we are going to hear his Nanahboozhoo stories too." +</p> +<p> + "O, indeed," said Mary, with a contemptuous toss of her head, "there are + many stories better than those of his old Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "Won't it be fun to see whose stories we like the best, Mary's or + Souwanas's!" said Minnehaha, who foresaw an interesting rivalry. +</p> +<p> + Mary had now committed herself, and so, almost without realizing what it + would come to, she found herself pitted against Souwanas, the great + story-teller of the tribe. However, being determined that Souwanas should + not rob her of the love of the children, she was tempted to begin her + story-telling even though the children were exhausted, and so it was that + when the lad asked a question Mary was ready. +</p> +<p> + "Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "the mosquitoes bit us badly to-day. Do you + know why it is that there are such troublesome little things? Is there any + story about them?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes. Wakonda, one of the strange spirits, sent them," said Mary, "because + a woman was lazy and would not keep the clothes of her husband and children + clean and nice." +</p> +<p> + "Tell us all about it," they both cried out. +</p> +<p> + Mary quieted them, and began the story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago, when the people all dressed in deerskins, there was a man whose + name was Pug-a-mah-kon. He was an industrious fellow, and had often to work + a good deal in dirty places. The result was that, although he had several + suits of clothes, he seemed never to have any clean ones. +</p> +<p> + "It was the duty of his wife to scrape and clean his garments and wash and + resmoke them as often as they needed it. But she neglected her work and + would go off gossiping among her neighbors. Her husband was patient with + her for a time, but at length, when he heard that Wakonda was coming to pay + a visit to the people, to see how they were getting along, he began to + bestir himself so as to be decently attired, in clean, handsome apparel, to + meet this powerful being, who was able to confer great favors on him, or, + if ill-disposed, to injure him greatly. +</p> +<p> + "He endeavored to get his wife to go to work and remove the dirt that had + gathered on his garments. She was so lazy that it was only from fear of a + beating that she ever did make any attempt to do as he desired. She took + the garments and began to clean them, but she was in a bad humor and did + her work in such a slovenly and half-hearted way that there was but very + little change for the better after the pretended cleaning. +</p> +<p> + "When the news was circulated that Wakonda was coming, the husband prepared + to dress himself in his best apparel, but great indeed was his anger and + disgust when he found that the garments which he had hoped to wear were + still disgracefully grimy. +</p> +<p> + "While the angry husband was chiding the woman for her indolence Wakonda + suddenly appeared. To him the man appealed, and asked for his advice in the + matter. +</p> +<p> + "Wakonda quickly responded, and said: 'A lazy, gossiping wife is not only a + disgrace to her husband, she is annoying to all around her; and so it will + be in this case.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Wakonda told her husband to take some of the dirt which still clung + to his garments, which she was supposed to have cleansed, and to throw it + at her. This the man did, and the particles of dirt at once changed into + mosquitoes. And so, ever since, especially in the warm days and nights of + early summer when the mosquitoes with their singing and stinging come + around to trouble us, we are reminded of this lazy, slovenly woman, who was + not only a trial to her husband, but by her lack of industry and care + brought such a scourge upon all the people." +</p> +<p> + "Didn't Wakonda do anything else?" murmured the little lad; but that + blessed thing called sleep now enfolded both the little ones, and with + mutterings of "Nanahboozhoo—Wakonda—Souwanas—Mary"—they were soon far + away in childhood's happy dreamland. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH3"> CHAPTER III.</a></h3> +<h4> + More about Mary and the Children—Minnehaha Stung by + the Bees—How the Bees Got Their Stings—What Happened + to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. +</h4> +<p> + The next morning while Mary was dressing them the children told her of + their adventures in the wigwam of the Indians. Mary was really interested, + though she pretended to be disgusted at the whole thing, and professed, in + her Indian way, to be quite shocked when they both confidentially informed + her that they had had such a good time that they were going again even if + they had to run away and be whipped for it. +</p> +<p> + This was terrible news for Mary, and placed her in an awkward position. To + tell the parents of the children's resolve was something she would never + do, as it might bring down upon them some of the punishment which was quite + contrary to her principles. Yet, on the other hand, to let them go and to + give no information might cause more trouble than she liked to think of. +</p> +<p> + Neither could she bear the thought of the two children returning from + another day's outing with their neat clothing and pretty faces soiled and + dirty. Do as they might, she had never once informed on them, and she had + no mind to begin now. She earnestly pleaded with them not to carry out + their resolve. The little ones were shrewd enough to see that they had + thoroughly alarmed her, and they were in no hurry to surrender the power + which they saw they had over her. +</p> +<p> + Mary never said a word in English. She understood a good deal that others + said, but she never expressed herself in other than the Indian language. + Hence both little Sagastao and Minnehaha always talked with her in her own + tongue. +</p> +<p> + Minnehaha, seeing Mary's anxiety at their determination to run away to the + Indians, thought of compromising the matter by insisting that Mary should + tell them more tales. If she would do this they "would not run away very + soon;" especially did she emphasize the "very soon." This was hardly + satisfactory to Mary, but as it was the best promise she could get she was + obliged to consent. +</p> +<p> + Little Sagastao, who was Mary's favorite, once more unsettled her when he + said, "Now, Mary, remember, we have only promised not to run away very + soon. That means that we intend to do it some time." +</p> +<p> + It seems that the little conspirators had talked it all over in the morning + in their beds, and had decided how they would get stories out of Mary + without really promising not to run away to the wigwam of Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + The children, being dressed, were taken down by Mary to prayers and + breakfast, after which an hour was allowed in summer-time for outdoor + amusement before the lessons began. Little Sagastao generally spent his + hour, either with his father or some trusty Indian, playing with and + watching the gambols of the great dogs, of which not a few were kept at + that mission home. Minnehaha was with her mother, and was interested in the + bestowal of gifts to the poor widows and children who generally came at + that hour. +</p> +<p> + Owing to the isolated situation of the mission, and the fact that there + were no organized schools within hundreds of miles, some hours of the + forenoon were devoted to the education of the children in the home. The + afternoons, according to the season, were devoted to reading and amusement. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the nurse, while able to read fluently in the Cree syllabics, had no + knowledge of English. As the children's education progressed they wanted to + teach Mary. She stubbornly resisted, however, declaring that if they taught + her to read English they would want to make her talk it. +</p> +<p> + The mother noted the unusual expectancy manifested by the children during + the day, and on inquiring the reason was promptly informed that Mary had + promised to tell them a story, or legend, and "had got to do it." +</p> +<p> + "Why has she <i>got</i> to do it?" said the loving mother, struck with the + emphasis which they had placed on the word. +</p> +<p> + The little mischiefs were cunning enough to see that they had nearly run + themselves into trouble, and were wisely silent. Mary also noticed this, + and at once her great loyalty to the little folk manifested itself, and + quickly turning to her mistress she said, with an emphasis which was quite + unusual: +</p> +<p> + "Mary has promised them a story, and as she always keeps her word she has + <i>got</i> to tell it." +</p> +<p> + Saying this she quickly sprang from the floor, where she had been sitting, + and taking a child by each hand she marched with them out of the room. +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for you, Mary! you saved us that time," said little Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + Mary would not have been sorry if in some way the parents received an + inkling of what was in the minds of the children, yet she had such peculiar + ideas that she would never herself be the one to convey that information. +</p> +<p> + During the brief summer months the pleasantest walks were along the shores + of the lake. Many were the cosy little cave-like retreats where Mary often + led the children. There, with the sunlit waters before them, and the + rippling waves making music at their feet, the old nurse crooned out many + an Indian legend or exciting story about the red men of the past. To-day, + however, she was perplexed by the attitude of the children and could not + select any story that she thought of sufficient interest to divert their + minds from Souwanas and Nanahboozhoo. So for a time they wandered on along + the pleasant shore, or turned aside to gather the brilliant wild flowers. +</p> +<p> + A scream of pain from Minnehaha interrupted their pleasure. In gathering + some wild lilies she was stung on both hands by some honey bees that were + in the flowers. Mary quickly made a batter of clay and bound up the wounded + hands in it. Then she sat down and took the child in her lap. +</p> +<p> + "Naughty bees to sting me like this," said Minnehaha, with tears streaming + down her cheeks. "I was not doing them any harm." +</p> +<p> + "Yes, you were, and so were we all," said the brother. "We were carrying + off the flowers from which they get their honey, which is their food." +</p> +<p> + "Well, they might let us have a few flowers without stinging us," replied + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The intense pain of the stings rapidly abated under Mary's homely but + skillful treatment, and as the child still retained her place in Mary's lap + she said, +</p> +<p> + "Can you tell us why such pretty little things as bees have such terrible + stings? My hands felt as if they were on fire when I was first stung, and I + could not help crying out with the pain." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Mary, "there was a time when the bees had no stings, and they + were as harmless as the house flies. They were just as industrious as they + are now, but they had any amount of trouble in keeping their honey from + being stolen from them, for every creature loves it. +</p> +<p> + "In vain they hid their combs away up in hollow trees and in the clefts of + high rocks. The bears, which are very fond of honey, were ever on the + lookout for it, and were very clever in getting it when once they found + where it was hidden away. Birds with long beaks would suck it out, and even + the little squirrels were always stealing it. The result was that whole + swarms often starved in the long winters, because all their honey, which is + their winter food, was stolen from them. The bees were in danger of being + destroyed. They gave up working in great numbers together, and scattered + into little companies, and in the most secret places tried to store away a + little honey, just enough to keep them alive from season to season. But + even these little hives were often discovered and the honey devoured. +</p> +<p> + "Things had come to such a pass with them that they had almost given up + hope of lasting much longer. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately for them, word was circulated that Wakonda, the strong + spirit—the one who sent the mosquitoes—was coming around on a tour, to + see how everything was progressing. He was greater than even Nanahboozhoo, + and was perhaps a relative of his, but he very seldom appeared, or did + anything for anyone. However, it happened that he had this year left his + beautiful home at Spirit Lake and was journeying through the country, and + he was willing to help all who were in real distress. +</p> +<p> + "So the bees resolved to apply to him for help. Wakonda received them very + graciously, and ate heartily of the present of beautiful honey which some + of them had made and had succeeded in keeping out of the way of bears and + their other enemies. +</p> +<p> + "When his feast of honey was over he listened to their tales of sorrow and + woe. He was indignant when he heard of the numbers of their enemies, and of + the persistency of their attacks upon such industrious little creatures. +</p> +<p> + "For a time Wakonda was uncertain as to the best method to adopt to help + them. He dismissed them for that day, and told them to come again on a day + he mentioned, saying that by that time he would know just what to do—for + help them he would. The bees were so delighted with this news that they + could not keep it to themselves but must go and tell their cousins, the + wasps and hornets, and even bumblebees. +</p> +<p> + "When the appointed time arrived the bees were on hand—and so were the + wasps, hornets, and bumblebees. Wakonda welcomed the bees most kindly, but + was a little suspicious about their visitors, and he asked some sharp + questions. But the bees were in such good humor about the help that was + coming that they did not refer to the bad habits of their cousins at all. + Then Wakonda made a speech to the bees, and told them how much he loved + them for their industrious habits, which he wished all creatures had. He + praised them for the fact that, instead of idly wasting the summer days, + they used them in gathering up food for the long, cold winter. +</p> +<p> + "Then he proceeded to give them the terrible stings which they have had + ever since, and as the wasps and hornets claimed to be their cousins + Wakonda was good-natured enough to give them the same sort of weapons. Some + people, especially boys, think this was a, great mistake, and would be very + glad if Wakonda had refused to give stings to the yellow wasp and the black + hornet." +</p> +<p> + "Well, what happened after the bees got their stings?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "A good deal happened," said Mary, "and that very soon. A lot of them, + without as much effort to conceal their nest as formerly, selected a tall, + hollow tree, and using a big knot hole as the door began secreting their + honey in it. They had made the combs, and were now filling them, when along + came a couple of bears. These animals, as you have been told, are great + honey thieves, but they always had hard work to find where the timid bees + had cunningly hid it away, and now they could hardly believe that right + here before them was a great swarm of bees filling the air with their + buzzing as they flew in and out of the knot hole. +</p> +<p> + "With saucy assurance they at once began climbing the tree, expecting to be + able to put their long paws into that big hole and draw out the combs. But + they never reached that knot hole. The noise they made in their climbing + alarmed the bees. Out they came in great numbers, and now, instead of + flying around in a panic, like so many house flies, and seeing their honey + devoured, they at once flew at their enemies, the bears. They stung them on + their noses and about their eyes and lips, and indeed in every spot where + they could possibly reach them with their terrible new weapons. +</p> +<p> + "The bears could not make out what the trouble was. They howled with rage + and terror, yet they were resolved to get that honey, and still tried to + crawl up higher on the tree. But at length the bees mustered in such vast + numbers—for those away gathering honey, as they returned, joined in the + attack—that the bears became wild with pain and fear, and had to give up + their effort and drop to the ground. Even then the bees gave them no peace, + and continued to sting them until they were obliged to run into the dark + forest for relief. +</p> +<p> + "Thus it happens now that almost all creatures that bother the bees are + similarly treated." +</p> +<a name="Illus004"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus004.jpg" width="245" height="345" +alt="'They howled with rage and terror.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "they need not have stung me because I was picking + a few flowers; but, after all, I am glad they have their stings or I + suppose we should never have any honey." +</p> +<p> + "They are not big enough to have much sense," replied Sagastao, "and so + they go for everyone that gets in their way." +</p> +<p> + Mary now carefully removed the clay poultices, which had effectually done + their work. A wash followed, in the waters of the lake which rippled at + their feet, and soon not the slightest trace of the sting remained. By the + time they reached home both pain and tears were well-nigh forgotten. +</p> +<p> + That evening before the children were sent to bed they overheard Jakoos, + who had come to the house with venison to sell, telling in the kitchen a + story that he had heard from Souwanas about a naughty fellow, called + Maheigan, who tried to capture a beautiful kind-hearted maiden, Waubenoo, + and of how Nanahboozhoo thrashed him, and then afterward, because of some + naughty children not holding their tongues, Waubenoo was turned into the + Whisky Jack. +</p> +<p> + What the little children overheard had very much excited their curiosity, + and so when Mary was putting them to bed they demanded from her the full + story. +</p> +<p> + As this was one of the Saulteaux Indian legends, while Mary was a Cree, she + was not familiar with it. She told the children that she knew nothing about + it, but this by no means set their curiosity at rest. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH4"> CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Love Story of Wakontas—His Test of the Two + Maidens—His Choice—The Transformation of Misticoosis. +</h4> +<p> + A few days later Mary was annoyed by having the children tell her frankly + that they did not think she was a first-class story-teller. For if she had + been she ought to have been able to answer Minnehaha's question about what + Nanahboozhoo did to Maheigan when he tried to catch Waubenoo. +</p> +<p> + Mary was vexed at herself that she was unable to answer the question, for + she well knew that the children would not rest satisfied until they had the + story told them by some one, possibly Souwanas himself. Indeed, knowing + them so well, she had fully resolved to post herself from one of the noted + story-tellers who have all the Indian legends at their tongue tips. But as + yet she was ignorant in this matter, and therefore fell considerably in the + children's estimation. Alary was somewhat hurt by noticing, perhaps for the + first time, Sagastao and Minnehaha whispering confidentially to each other. + The children conversed with Mary only in her own language, which at that + time they perhaps understood better than they did English. Now, much to + Mary's annoyance, their confidential whisperings were carried on in + English. Being sensitive and quick-tempered, when she saw this sudden break + in their affections toward her she was inclined to resent it, and asked the + reason why she was not allowed to know what they were talking about. +</p> +<p> + Blunt little Sagastao spoke up at once: +</p> +<p> + "Minnehaha and I have talked it over, and have decided that unless you tell + us better stories, and ones which you know all about, we're going to run + away to the wigwam of Souwanas." +</p> +<p> + This was humiliating and distressing news. Mary fancied she had told them a + good story, and that with a few others like it she could satisfy their + curiosity and keep them at home until the brief summer would have passed. + Not so, however, thought the children. They saw their advantage and were + resolved to keep it, and when their lessons were over and they were left + entirely in the charge of Mary they taxed the little woman in a way that + obliged her to exercise all her gifts as a story-teller, and she was far + from being a poor one. +</p> +<p> + One day she took them out in a graceful birch canoe among the picturesque + islands. They landed on one of these islands, and spent some time in + exploring its beauties and resting where grew a profusion of the fragrant + Indian grass. They were for a time much interested in the various wild + birds that then were so numerous and fearless. Beautiful gulls of different + varieties were there nesting, and by following Mary's directions the + children were delighted to find that they could approach very near to the + nests of some of them without disturbing the mother bird while her mate, in + fearless confidence, stood on guard beside her. +</p> +<a name="Illus005"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus005.jpg" width="200" height="276" +alt="The startling placard."> +<a name="Illus006"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus006.jpg" width="200" height="287" +alt="While her mate stood beside her."> +</p> +<p> + "Now, Mary, hurrah for a story!" cried the children, as they sat at lunch. +</p> +<p> + While Mary was wondering what she would tell them, Minnehaha, with all the + restless, inquisitive spirit of childhood, noticing the ceaseless rustling + movements of the leaves in the stately northern poplar while the leaves of + all the other trees were so still, said: +</p> +<p> + "Why is it, Mary, that even while the leaves on the other trees are so + quiet those almost round ones are ever stirring?" +</p> +<p> + Mary knew the Indian legend, and at once proceeded to narrate it. +</p> +<p> + "It is believed by our people," said Mary, "that there are other persons + just as clever as Nanahboozhoo, and as able to do wonderful things, but + they are very seldom heard of. Some of them were the children of Wakonda, + the powerful spirit who dwelt in the region of Spirit Lake, where they say + it is always sunshine. Many strange things have been told about them, but + everybody says they are kind-hearted, and never did anything to injure any + of our people unless it was well deserved. The story is that long ago one + of these sons of Wakonda, whose name was Wakontas, could not find a wife to + suit him in his own beautiful country, and so he came to the regions where + the Indians dwelt. +</p> +<p> + "For a long time he wandered throughout great regions of country before he + found anyone who interested him. However, in his journeyings Wakontas went + into the wigwam of some Indians where there were two lovely maidens, so + very beautiful that he fell in love with both of them. He was in the + disguise of a very fine-looking young hunter. So clever was he in the use + of his bow and arrow that at the end of every hunting excursion he returned + laden with the richest spoils of the chase. He fell more and more in love + with the two girls, and knowing, of course, that he could only get one of + them he found a great difficulty in making his choice. He had already gone + to the girl's father, and after finding out from him the price demanded for + his daughter, without mentioning which one, very quickly by his magic + powers he obtained the heavy price and laid it at the father's feet. Both + of the girls seemed equally pleased with him, and each one secretly hoped + that she might be the object of his choice. Still he hesitated, and + although he tried many experiments yet they so nearly equaled each other in + cleverness and beauty that he was still undecided. However, there was a + great difference in their dispositions. While one was proud and jealous, + and had a very bitter tongue, the other was just the opposite; while one + was very selfish, the other was generous and kind-hearted. But Wakontas was + not able to find this out at first, and after he had considered various + plans he decided that he would put on one of his many disguises and thus + try them. +</p> +<p> + "So he started off as though going on a hunting expedition, but soon after + he was out of sight he quickly assumed the form of a poor and aged Indian, + and came to the home of these two beautiful sisters, and asked for + assistance. Wakontas chose a time when he knew the rest of the family were + away from the wigwam, in order that he might see how the two sisters would + act toward him. +</p> +<p> + "When he walked into the wigwam, for nobody ever knocks at an Indian tent, + the maidens were a little startled at thus suddenly seeing this + rough-looking old beggar-man in their midst. The selfish, proud girl, whose + name was Misticoosis, at once began assailing him, and cried, 'Auwasta + kena!' (Get out; go away, you!) +</p> +<p> + "In vain he pleaded that he was aged and hungry. She would not listen to + him. +</p> +<p> + "Omemee, the other young Indian maiden, who had not said a word, but had + been pitying him from the first moment she saw how feeble and sad he + looked, now interfered, and remonstrated with her sister, whose tongue kept + up a constant stream of abuse. Taking the old man to her side of the wigwam + she seated him on a rug of deerskins and then built up before him a bright + fire. Then she quickly brought in venison, cooked it nicely, and gave him + the broth for drink and the meat for food. He thanked her gratefully, but + she checked his words and said that her greatest joy was in making others + happy. Not satisfied with what she had done, and noticing that his shoes + were old and worn, she took out of her beaded workbag a pair of splendidly + worked moccasins, and put them on his feet. +</p> +<p> + "All this time, while this good-hearted, generous Omemee was treating the + poor old man so kindly, the proud, selfish Misticoosis was talking as hard + and as fast as she could against such deeds of kindness to all old people. + In her opinion, when they had got so old and helpless as that old fellow + was, they ought to be killed by their relatives. +</p> +<p> + "The old man again expressed his thanks to the kind sister, and then went + his way. +</p> +<p> + "Soon the girls began to think of arraying themselves for the return of + their friend and lover. The proud, selfish Misticoosis spent all the time + in fixing herself up in the most elaborate manner. She had lately become + quite jealous of her sister, and she was resolved to so outshine her in + appearance that the handsome young hunter would surely prefer her. But + Omemee (a name which means a dove) thought to herself: +</p> +<p> + "'My father and mother and the rest of the family will soon be returning to + the wigwam, tired and hungry, and the best thing I can do will be to have a + good dinner ready for them all.' So, only taking time to comb and brush her + luxuriant hair and make herself neat and tidy for her work, she set about + cooking the meal. She skillfully prepared venison and bear's meat, and the + finest of fish. +</p> +<p> + "Hardly had she finished her work and seen everything nicely cooked before + she heard the happy shoutings of her younger brothers, and the sweet + birdcalls of her little sisters. +</p> +<p> + "As Omemee and her sister Misticoosis hurried out to greet them they were + surprised to see the handsome stranger gliding along in his beautiful canoe + alongside of the larger one of the family. Of course, the sight of their + lover excited the two girls. Misticoosis, who had spent all the hours in + arraying herself in her finery and adornment, boldly thrust herself to the + front, and crowded out the modest Omemee, who was flushed by the busy work + of cooking the dinner, and was wisely dressed in a costume which harmonized + with her face and with the work in which she had been engaged so + industriously. +</p> +<p> + "The instant the handsome young Indian landed—fancy the amazement of the + two girls to notice that he had on his feet the same beautiful moccasins + that, not many hours before, Omemee had given to the aged feeble man! + Before anyone could utter a word he came striding up to the girls, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'As an old, weary man, I came to your wigwam a few hours ago. Misticoosis + gave me nothing but abuse, yet my only crime was that I was old. Her tongue + went on and on without stopping, and all of her words were words of abuse + for the old man and anger that he should have been left to live so long. + But Omemee, kind-hearted Omemee, pitied the poor old man. She made him sit + down on a couch of deerskins, that he might rest his tired limbs. She built + a fire and warmed him. She took of the best of the venison, and made him + food and drink, and then ere he left she put on his feet the most beautiful + of her moccasins. All her gifts to the unknown old man were the best she + had. +</p> +<p> + "'See the beautiful moccasins, the gift of Omemee! +</p> +<p> + "'I was that old man—I am now the lover long seeking a bride. I have made + my choice. Two beautiful maidens for a time divided my heart. There is no + division now. By testing them I have found out that only one is lovely + within. +</p> +<p> + "'That no man may have to put up through life with the unceasing clatter of + the tongue of Misticoosis, she will be from this time the unbeautiful aspen + tree, while her tongue shall be the leaves that will never again be still + even in the gentlest breeze. The leaves of other trees shall rest at times, + but the aspen leaves, now the tongue of Misticoosis, shall ever be restless + and unquiet.' +</p> +<p> + "And even while he was speaking, Misticoosis, who was amazed and ashamed at + the words he spoke, became rooted to the ground, and gradually turned into + an aspen tree. +</p> +<p> + "Then, turning from her to the maiden of his choice, he exclaimed: +</p> +<p> + "'But Omemee, the loving, the tender, the kind-hearted, thou art my heart's + choice!' +</p> +<p> + "Saying this, the handsome hunter opened his arms, and Omemee sprang toward + him. For a moment he held her in his arms; then he said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am Wakontas, and to the beautiful home of Wakontas thou shalt be + taken.' +</p> +<p> + "Then there was a wonderful transformation; as quickly as a butterfly + bursts from its chrysalis, so suddenly was Omemee transformed into a + beautiful dove and the hunter as quickly assumed the same lovely form. + Together they arose into the air, and flew away to the unknown but + beautiful home of Wakontas, in the land of perpetual sunshine." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH5"> CHAPTER V</a></h3> +<h4> + The Startling Placard—What Happened to the Little + Runaways—The Rescue—Mary Tells Them the Legend of the + Swallows—How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased + an Orphan Boy. +</h4> +<p> + When Mary entered the children's bedroom one bright, pleasant morning she + was amazed at finding both of the beds empty and a piece of foolscap paper + pinned to the dressing table. The writing on it was beyond her power to + read. She remembered now that the children had begged her not to come very + early in the morning to wake them up, and as their requests were as a law + she had lingered as long as she dared, and indeed had only gone to call + them when her mistress had asked the reason for their nonappearance. Not + until she had shown the paper, with its inscription, to the kitchen maid, + who could read English, did its full meaning burst upon her. Of course, she + was very much troubled, and yet such was her loyalty to the children that + she hesitated about letting the parents know what had occurred. She was + fully aware that she could not long keep the startling news from them, and + yet she was still resolved that never should any information be imparted by + her that might bring down upon them any punishment, no matter how much + deserved. +</p> +<p> + It was a long, rough trail through the primitive forest to the wigwam of + Souwanas. How long the children had been away she could not tell. Mary, + with Indian shrewdness, had felt their beds, and had found them both quite + cold, so she knew the little mischiefs had been off at least an hour. She + interrogated not only the maid in the kitchen but also Kennedy, the man of + all work, outside. Neither of them had seen or heard anything of the + children, and as they did not share Mary's ideas the escapade of the + children was soon known. +</p> +<p> + The parents were naturally alarmed when they heard the news. At once the + father, accompanied by Kennedy and the dogs, Jack and Cuffy, started off on + the trail of the runaways. The intelligent dogs, having been shown a couple + of garments recently worn by the missing boy and girl and being told to + find them, at once took up the trail in the direction of the wigwam of + Souwanas, running with such rapidity that if they had not been restrained + by the voice of their master they would very quickly have left him and his + Indian attendant far behind. +</p> +<p> + At length, with a sudden start, both dogs, growling ominously, dashed off + ahead, utterly regardless of all efforts made by their master to restrain + them. This suspicious conduct on the part of the dogs of course alarmed the + father and his Indian companion, and as rapidly as the rough trail would + allow they hurried on in the direction taken by the dogs. Soon their ears + were greeted by a chorus of loud and angry yelping. Fear gave speed to both + the men, and soon they dashed out from the forest into the opening of an + Indian's clearing. Here was a sight that filled them with alarm, and almost + terror. Standing on a pile of logs were little Sagastao and Minnehaha. + Sagastao erect and fearless, with a club about as large as an ordinary + cane, while behind him, leaning against a high fallen log, was Minnehaha. + Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs, among whom Jack + and Cuffy, wild and furious, were now making dire havoc. One after another, + wounded and limping, the curs skulked away as the two men rushed up to the + children. +</p> +<p> + "Ha! ha! hurrah for our Jack and Cuffy; aren't they the boss dogs!" shouted + the fearless little runaways, and now that the victory was won they nimbly + sprang down from their high retreat and, apparently without the slightest + fear, congratulated both their father and the Indian on the superiority of + their own dogs. +</p> +<p> + Trembling with anxiety, the anxious father, thankful at the narrow escape + of his children, as he clasped them in his arms could not but be amazed at + the indifference of the little ones to the great danger from which they had + just escaped. After petting Jack and Cuffy for their great bravery and + courage the return journey was begun, much to the regret of the children, + who pleaded hard to be allowed to resume their trip to the wigwam of + Souwanas to hear the stories of Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<a name="Illus0007"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus007.jpg" width="240" height="195" +alt="'Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs.'"><br /> +'Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs.' +</p> +<p> + The father was perfectly amazed at this request, and of course it was + sternly refused. He had started off in pursuit of the runaways with a + resolve to punish them for this serious breach of home discipline, but his + alarm at their danger and his thankfulness for their escape had so stirred + him that he could not punish them nor even chide them at the time. All he + could do was to bring them safely home again and, as usual in such + emergencies, turn them over to the tender mercies of their mother. +</p> +<p> + Sturdily the children marched on ahead for a while, then Kennedy, the + Indian, took Minnehaha in his arms. He had not carried her many hundred + yards before the weary little one fell fast asleep, softly muttering as she + slipped off into the land of dreams, "Wanted to hear about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + Great was the excitement at home when the party returned. Sagastao rushed + into the arms of his mother, and without the slightest idea of having done + anything wrong began most dramatically to describe how "our Jack and Cuffy + thrashed those naughty Eskimo dogs" that chased Minnehaha and him upon that + great pile of logs. Mary in the meantime had taken from Kennedy's arms the + still sleeping Minnehaha, and almost smothered her with kisses as she bore + her away to bed. +</p> +<p> + There was great perplexity on the part of the parents to know just what to + do to impress upon the little ones that they had been very naughty in thus + running away, for it was very evident from the utterances of both that they + had not considered the matter in that light. Now, in view of the weariness + of Minnehaha, it was decided to leave the matter of discipline in abeyance + until a little of the excitement had passed away. +</p> +<p> + In the meantime Sagastao was ready to talk with everybody about the whole + affair. It seems that he and Minnehaha had decided that Mary was "no good" + in telling stories. He said her stories neither frightened them nor made + them cry, but Souwanas was the boss man to tell Nanahboozhoo stories. He + said they got up before anybody was stirring, that morning, and dressed + themselves so quietly that nobody heard them. They remembered the trail + along which Souwanas and Jakoos had carried them. After they had walked for + some time they came to where there was a larger trail, and they turned into + it, and came upon a lot of dogs that had been chasing some rabbits. Soon + the rabbits got away from the dogs, when they reached those trees that had + been chopped down. Minnehaha was the first to notice that the dogs had + turned back, and were coming after them, and she shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'O, look! those dogs think we are rabbits, and they are coming for us!'" +</p> +<p> + "When I saw they really were coming," said Sagastao, "Minnehaha and I + jumped up on the logs, and we climbed up as high as we could, and I took up + a stick, and then I stood up with Minnehaha behind me, and I shook the + stick at them, and—and I shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'A wus, atimuk!'" (Get away, you dogs!) +</p> +<p> + "They came so near on the logs that I hit one or two of them, while all of + the others on the ground kept barking at us. But I kept shouting back at + them, 'A wus, atimuk!' My! it was great fun. Then all at once we heard Jack + and Cuffy, and, I tell you! soon there was more fun, when our big dogs + sprang at them. Every time an Eskimo was tackled by Jack or Cuffy he went + down, and was soon howling from the way in which he was shaken. And they + had nearly thrashed the whole of them when papa and Kennedy came rushing + up. I wished they had been there sooner, to have seen all the fun." +</p> +<p> + Thus the lad's tongue rattled on, while it was evident he was utterly + unconscious of the danger they had been in. +</p> +<p> + After some deliberation it was decided that, in view of this runaway being + the first offense of the kind, the punishment should be confinement to + their own room the next day, until six o'clock in the evening, on a diet of + bread and water. At this Mary was simply furious. She well knew, however, + that it was necessary for her to control herself in her master's and + mistress's presence. She managed to hold her tongue, but her flashing eyes + and an occasional mutter, which would come out as she went about her usual + duties, showed the smoldering fire that was burning inside. The children + had been duly lectured for their breach of discipline and then, that + evening, consigned to their room for their imprisonment which was to last + until the next evening. That night Mary took up her mattress and blankets + and went and slept on the floor between the two beds of the children, and + in spite of orders, so the maid said, she secretly carried up a goodly + sized bundle from the kitchen. +</p> +<p> + The day was one of unusual quietness, as the lively pair, who generally + kept the house full of music, were now supposed to be away in humiliation + and disgrace. All regretted that the punishment had to be inflicted and the + children made to realize their naughtiness in thus running away, and all + were looking forward to the hour of six o'clock with pleasant anticipation. + When it arrived word was sent to the children that their hours of + imprisonment were over, and that they were to present themselves in the + library. Quick and prompt was the response, and noisily and hurriedly the + two darlings came rushing down the stairs, followed by Mary. They were + arrayed in their most beautiful apparel, and were evidently prepared by + their nurse to go with her for a walk. +</p> +<p> + The father, feeling that it was necessary, began to make a few remarks + expressive of regret that he had thus been obliged to punish them, when he + was interrupted by little Sagastao with the honest and candid remark, + spoken in a way which, while perfectly fearless, was yet devoid of all + rudeness or impertinence: +</p> +<p> + "O, father dear, you needn't feel badly about us at all, as Mary has been + with us all day and has told us lovely stories." +</p> +<p> + "And Mary brought us taffy candy," broke in darling Minnehaha, with equal + candor; "and some currant cakes and other nice things, so we got on very + well after all." +</p> +<p> + These candid utterances on the part of the two children not only amazed but + amused the parents, and were another revelation of Mary's wonderful love + for the children and her defiance of disciplinary measures which she + thought might cause the slightest pain or sorrow. And here she stood in the + open door, and as soon as their father's words and their own rather + startling "confessions" were ended she called them to her and away they + went for a long walk along the beautiful shore of the lake, leaving their + parents to conjecture whether the punishment that had been inflicted would + produce any very salutary results. +</p> +<p> + When the children were gathered that evening in the study with their + parents little Sagastao said: +</p> +<p> + "Papa, Minnehaha and I have been talking it all over with Mary and she has + shown us that it was naughty on our parts to run away as we did; and we are + sorry that we did anything that caused you and mamma sorrow and anxiety + about us, and so, ... Well, we know you will forgive us." And as the four + little arms went twining around the parents' necks there was joy and + gladness all round, and it was evident that there was no danger of the + escapade being repeated. +</p> +<p> + The following are a couple of the legends that Mary told them while they + were prisoners in their own room that day. +</p> +<h5> + THE LEGEND OF THE SWALLOWS. +</h5> +<p> + "Long ago," said Mary, "there were some Indian families who lived on the + top of a very high hill, like a mountain. They had quite a number of small + children, and I am sorry to say they were very naughty and would often + disobey their parents. One of their bad deeds was to run away, and thus + make the father and mother very unhappy until they returned. Their parents + were very much afraid that some of the Windegoos or wild animals would + catch them when they thus ran away by themselves, with no strong man to + guard them. +</p> +<p> + "So the parents tried to make their homes as nice as possible for them. + They made all sorts of toys for them and gave them nice little bows and + arrows, and other things, that ought to have amused them and kept them + happy at home. All the efforts of their parents, however, were of no use. + They soon were tired of their home amusements, and when their parents' + backs were turned they would run away. +</p> +<p> + "At length their conduct became so bad, and the parents found themselves so + powerless to prevent it, that they decided to appeal to the Indian Council + for assistance. For a time the stern commands of the Chief were listened to + and obeyed. Then they neglected his words, and about as frequently as ever + they were found playing truant from their homes and parents. +</p> +<p> + "At length, on one occasion when they had all run away and had been off for + several days and could not be found, their fathers and mothers called upon + Wakonda to look for them and to send them home. Wakonda was very angry when + he heard about these naughty children running away so much, and so he set + off in a hurry to find them. After a long search he discovered them on the + bank of a muddy river making mud huts and mud animals. He was so angry at + them that he at once turned them into swallows, and said, 'From this time + forward you will ever be wanderers and your homes will always be made of + mud,' and so it has been." +</p> +<p> + "I say, Mary, did you remember that yarn because Minnehaha and I ran away?" + said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Well, we were not making mud huts," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + Mary was not to be caught, however, even if she did love them so much, and + she did not answer Sagastao's question, although in her heart she was not + sorry if he saw something in the legend that would deter him from again + running away. +</p> +<h5> +HOW SOME CRUEL MEN WERE PUNISHED WHO TEASED AN ORPHAN BOY. +</h5> +<p> + "There was once an old grandmother who was left alone with only an orphan + grandson. All of her other relatives were dead. This boy was a very + industrious little fellow, and did all that he could to help his + grandmother. They both had to work very hard to have sufficient to keep + them from starving. Together they would go out in their canoe and catch + fish. They also set many snares in the forest to catch rabbits, partridges, + and other small game. +</p> +<p> + "Because they were so poor the clothing of this orphan boy was made partly + of rabbitskins and partly of the skins of birds. When he was not busy + helping his grandmother he, like other little boys, was pleased to go out + and play with the other children of the village. Some of the men of the + village were very fond of teasing him, and some were even cruel to him, + because of the poor clothing he had to wear. Often the poor boy would + return to the wigwam of his grandmother crying and weeping because the men + of the village had not only teased him on account of his poor clothing but + had almost torn his coat into pieces. His grandmother entreated the men to + stop teasing the poor boy, who could not help his poverty. She would + patiently mend his poor torn clothes and try to cheer him up with the hope + that soon these foolish, cruel men would see how wrong it was to treat him + thus. +</p> +<p> + "But they only seemed to get worse instead of better, and so the + grandmother got very angry at last and determined to have it stopped. +</p> +<p> + "So she went off to Wakonda and told him all about it. Wakonda was very + busy just then, but he gave her some of his magical powers and told her + what to do when she reached her home. +</p> +<p> + "When she arrived there she found her grandson almost naked from the abuse + of the cruel men, who, finding that she was absent, had been more cruel + than ever to him. She then informed him that she was able now to put a stop + to all their cruel actions. So she told him to dive into a pool of water + that was near at hand. He did as she had commanded, and there he found an + underground channel that led out into the great lake. +</p> +<p> + "When he came up to the top of the water in the lake he found himself + transformed into a beautiful seal. He at once begun playing about in the + waves as seals are often seen doing. +</p> +<p> + "It was not long before he was seen by the people of the village, and, of + course, the men were very anxious to secure this valuable seal. Canoes were + quickly launched and away the men paddled with their spears to try and + capture it. But the boy, now transformed into the seal, quickly swam away + from them, as instructed by his grandmother, and so kept them busy paddling + on and on farther from the shore. When they seemed almost discouraged the + seal would suddenly dive down, and then reappear in the water just behind + them. Then, before the men could turn around and spear him, he as suddenly + dived under the water again. The pursuit was so exciting that these cruel + men did not notice how far out from land they had now come. They did, + however, after a time see their danger, for suddenly a fierce gale sprang + up, and the waves rose in such fury that they upset the canoes and all of + the wicked men were drowned. When the old grandmother saw this she once + more exerted the magical powers with which she had been intrusted by + Wakonda, and calling to her grandson to return home he instantly complied + with her request. He speedily swam back to her, and she at once transformed + him into his human form. +</p> +<p> + "Thus freed from his tormentors, he very rapidly grew up to manhood and + became a great hunter, and was kind to his grandmother as long as she + lived." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH6"> CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of + Nanahboozhoo—How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, + the Wolf—Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. +</h4> +<p> + "Who was this Nanahboozhoo that we are hearing so much about?" +</p> +<p> + Thus was the old story-teller addressed by Sagastao, who always was anxious + to learn about those who interested him. +</p> +<p> + The old man began in this way: +</p> +<p> + "When the great mountains are wrapped in the clouds we do not see them very + well. So it is with Nanahboozhoo. The long years that have passed since he + lived have, like the fogs and mists, made it less easy to say exactly who + he really was, but I will try to tell you. Nanahboozhoo was not from one + tribe only, but from all the Indians. Hence it is that his very name is so + different. +</p> +<p> + "The Ojibway call him Mishawabus—Great Rabbit; the Menomini call him + Manabush. He had other names also. One tribe called him Jouskeha, another + Messou, another Manabozho, and another Hiawatha. His father was + Mudjekeewis, the West Wind. There was an old woman named Nokomis, the + granddaughter of the moon, who had a daughter whose name was Wenonah. She + was the mother of twin boys, but at their birth she died and so did one of + the boys. Nokomis wrapped the living child in soft dry grass, laid it on + the ground at one end of her wigwam, and placed over it a great wooden bowl + to protect it from harm. Then in her grief she took up the body of Wenonah, + her daughter, and buried it, with the dead child, at some distance from her + wigwam. When she returned from thus laying away her dead she sat down in + her wigwam, and for four days mourned her loss. At the end of that time she + heard a slight noise in her wigwam, which she soon found came from that + wooden bowl. Then as the bowl moved she suddenly remembered the living + child, which she had forgotten in her great grief at the loss of its + mother. When she removed the bowl from its place, instead of there being + the baby boy she had placed there she beheld a little white rabbit, and on + taking it up she said, 'O my dear little rabbit, my Manabush!' Nokomis took + great care of it and it grew very rapidly. +</p> +<p> + "One day, when Manabush was quite large, it sat up on its haunches and + hopped slowly across the floor of the wigwam, and caused the earth to + tremble. +</p> +<p> + "When the bad Windegoos, or evil spirits who dwell underground, felt the + earth to thus tremble they said, 'What is the matter? What has happened? A + great Munedoo (spirit) is born somewhere.' And at once they began to devise + means by which they might kill Manabush, or Nanahboozhoo, as he was now + called, when they should find him. +</p> +<p> + "But Nanahboozhoo did not long continue to look like a rabbit. As he was + superior to other people he could change himself to any form he liked. He + was most frequently seen as a fine strong young Indian hunter. He called + the people his uncles. When he grew up he said to his grandmother, the old + Nokomis, that the time had come when he should prepare himself to go and + help his uncles, the people, to better their condition. This he was able to + do, seeing he was more than human, for his father was the West Wind and his + mother a great-granddaughter of the moon. Sometimes he was the beautiful + white rabbit; then he would be a wolf or a wolverine; then he would be a + lovely bird. He could even change himself to look like a dry old stump or a + beautiful tree. Sometimes he would be like a little half-frozen rabbit; + then he would be a mighty magician, and often a little snake. He was just + as changeable in his disposition as in his outward appearance. Sometimes he + was doing the best things imaginable for his uncles, the Indian people, and + at other times he was full of mischief and trickery. But on the whole he + was a friend, and although quick-tempered and fiery yet he did lots of fine + things for the people, for he was really one of the best of the Munedoos of + the early times. +</p> +<p> + "When the time came for him to leave his grandmother's wigwam he built one + for himself, and then he asked Nokomis to prepare for him the sacred + magical musical sticks which she alone could make. His grandmother made him + four sticks, and with these he used to beat time when singing his queer + songs. Some of them were very queer, and ended up with 'He! he! ho! ho! ha! + ha! hi! hi!' Others were in reference to some special benefits he would + confer on his uncles. In one of them, referring to his going to steal the + fire for them, he sings: +</p> +<p> + "'Help to my uncles I'm bringing,<br /> + Their sorrows I'll change into singing.<br /> + From their enemies the fire I'll steal,<br /> + That its warmth the children may feel. + </p> + <p> + "'Disguised will be Nanahboozhoo,<br /> + That his work may the better be done;<br /> + But his jolly deeds ever will tell who<br /> + Has been sporting around in his fun.' +</p> +<p> + "At first he was a jolly fellow, full of fun, and did lots of good things + for his uncles. He showed them the plants and roots good for food, and + taught them the arts of surgery and medicine, but as the years went by he + did some things that caused him to be feared very much. His uncles always + went to him when they got into trouble, but whether he would help them or + not depended much on the humor he was in when they came. +</p> +<a name="Illus008"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus008.jpg" width="245" height="329" +alt="The beautiful reflections in the water. "> +</p> +<p> + "After he had lived for years in the first wigwam which he had built, and + taught the people of the earth many things, his father, the West Wind, held + a council with the North Wind and the South Wind and the East Wind, and as + Nanahboozhoo was never married, and was living such a lonely life, they + determined to restore to life, and give to reside with him, his twin + brother who had died at his birth. The name of this brother was Nahpootee, + which means the Skillful Hunter. Nanahboozhoo was very fond of him, and + took great care of him. He grew very rapidly, and he and Nanahboozhoo were + very great friends. Like Nanahboozhoo, Nahpootee could disguise himself in + any form he chose. One favorite form he often assumed was that of a wolf, + as he was often away on hunting excursions. The evil spirits, or Windegoos, + who dwell under the land and sea, had never been able to do much harm to + Nanahboozhoo, he was too clever for them; and although they often tried he + generally worsted them. Now they were doubly angry when they heard that + Nahpootee had been restored to life and was living with him. Nanahboozhoo + warned his brother of their enmity, and of the necessity of being on his + guard against them. +</p> +<p> + "These brothers moved far away and built their wigwam in a lonely country + on the shore of a great lake which is now called Mirror Lake, because of + its beautiful reflections. Here, as he was a hunter, Nahpootee was kept + busy supplying the wigwam with food. Once, while he was away hunting, + Nanahboozhoo discovered that some of the evil Munedoos dwelt in the bottom + of the very lake on the shores of which they had built their wigwam. So he + warned his brother, Nahpootee, never to cross that lake, but always to go + around on the shore, and for some time he remembered this warning and was + not attacked. But one cold winter day, when he had been out for a long time + hunting, he found himself exactly on the opposite side of the lake from the + wigwam. The ice seemed strong, and as the distance was shorter he decided + that, rather than walk around on the shore, he would cross on the ice. When + about half-way across the lake the ice broke, he was seized by the evil + Munedoos and drowned. +</p> +<p> + "When Nahpootee failed to return to the wigwam Nanahboozhoo was filled with + alarm and at once began searching everywhere for his loved, lost brother. + One day when he was walking under some trees at the lake he beheld, high up + among the branches, Ookiskimunisew, the kingfisher. +</p> +<p> + "'What are you doing there?' asked Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "'The bad Munedoos have killed Nahpootee,' Ookiskimunisew replied, 'and + soon they are going to throw his body up on the shore and I am going to + feast on it!' +</p> +<p> + "This answer made Nanahboozhoo very angry, but he concealed his feelings. +</p> +<p> + "'Come down here, handsome bird,' he said, 'and I'll give you this collar + to hang on your neck.' +</p> +<p> + "The kingfisher suspected that the speaker was Nanahboozhoo, the brother of + Nahpootee, and he was afraid to descend. +</p> +<p> + "'Come down, and have no fear,' said Nanahboozhoo, in a friendly tone. 'I + only want to give you this beautiful necklace to wear, with the white shell + hanging from it.' +</p> +<p> + "On hearing this the kingfisher came down, but suspecting that Nanahboozhoo + would be up to some of his tricks he kept a sharp watch on him. + Nanahboozhoo placed the necklace about the neck of the bird so that the + beautiful white shell should be over the breast. Then he pretended to tie + the ends behind, but just as he had made a half knot in the cord, and was + going to tighten it and strangle the bird, the latter was too quick for him + and suddenly slipped away and escaped. He kept the necklace, however, and + the white spot may be seen on the breast of the kingfisher to this day. +</p> +<p> + "Soon after this the shade or ghost of Nahpootee appeared to Nanahboozhoo + and told him that, as his death was the result of his own carelessness, in + not keeping on the land, he would not be restored to live here, but was + even now on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds, in the Land of the + Setting Sun, beyond the Great Mountains. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was deeply moved by the loss of his brother, who had been + such a pleasant companion to him. So great was his grief that at times the + earth trembled and the evil spirits dwelling under the land or water were + much terrified, for they knew they would be terribly punished by + Nanahboozhoo if he should ever get them in his power. But it was a long + time before he had an opportunity to get his revenge on them for the death + of his brother. How he did it I will tell you at some future time." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH7"> CHAPTER VII.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Legend of the Bad Boy—How He was Carried Away + by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. +</h4> +<p> + "Tell us, Mary, a story about the boys of the old times among the Indians," + said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "About bad boys," said Minnehaha with a mischievous look in her eyes; "for + this morning brother and papa had to have a 'settlement,' and it might do + Sagastao good to hear about other bad boys and what was done with them." +</p> +<p> + These words of Minnehaha made Mary very angry. She thought more of Sagastao + than she did of any other member of the family, and nothing threw her into + a rage quicker than for anyone to cross him or even to question the wisdom + of anything he said. Now, indignant that his father had been obliged to + call him into his study for some misdemeanor, Mary was greatly annoyed to + hear these words. +</p> +<p> + "O, pshaw, Sakehow," said Sagastao; "do not be so touchy. I deserved the + talking to that papa gave me. It was wrong of me to whack that Indian boy + with my bat as I did, and I ought to have been punished; so if you have any + jolly good stories about bad Indian boys, and how they were punished, why, + let us have one." +</p> +<p> + This confession of her favorite, who, after his temper cooled, was always + quick to admit that he had been in the wrong, quite pacified Mary, and she + settled down on the wolfskin rug with the children and began her story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago all the Indians believed in Windegoos and other spirits that were + more or less friendly to good people. Some were man-eaters and, of course, + were always to be feared. Some Indians were in such fear of these cannibals + that they would never leave the wigwam after dark for fear of being gobbled + up by some of the monsters that might be skulking about. +</p> +<p> + "There was one great creature called Annungitee, or Two Faced. He had a + great habit of looking out for bad boys, very bad boys. It was said that he + could not see really good boys; that they were like glass, and he could not + see them. But when a boy became very bad he was then so black that he was + easily seen, and Annungitee could espy him a long way off and was very + likely to come after him. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately Annungitee always made a noise when he was passing along. This + was a good thing for bad boys, for it gave them time to scurry into the + wigwams, out of his way. He was so big that when he set one of his feet + down on the ground there would be sounds like the ringing of bells and the + hooting of owls. When he put the other foot down the sound was like the + roaring of buffalo bulls when they are going to fight each other. Even when + he tried to move softly there would be sounds like birds and beasts crying + out. All the Indians who had heard this great terrible fellow were afraid + of him, and yet no two were able to give the same description of him. But + they did agree on one thing, and that was that when he caught a very wicked + man, which he did sometimes, or very bad boys, which he often did, he just + threw him into one of his big ears and held him there. Indeed, it was + believed that he could hold three big men or six bad boys in one of his + ears at the same time. Nobody knew where he lived, as no one had been found + brave enough to follow and see, and no daring hunter had ever found his + abode in any of his hunting expeditions. +</p> +<p> + "Now a certain Indian man and his wife who lived in a wigwam quite apart + from other families had one boy. He was their only child. He had been a + very bad, cruel, unkind boy. His father had to work hard as a hunter to + obtain sufficient game to keep them from starving. His mother cut the wood, + carried up the water from the distant river, dressed the skins of the + animals that were shot by her husband, and did all the work of the wigwam. + The boy would not lift a finger to help in any way. One day the mother, who + was quite sick, asked him to go for some water. He refused, and was very + saucy to her. Then she asked him if he would please bring in some wood for + her, as she felt cold. No, he would not do anything of the kind. She then + became quite angry with him, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'If you do not be a better boy I will put you out of the wigwam, and + Annungitee will toss you into his ear.' +</p> +<p> + "All the same, she did not really believe he would, as she had not heard of + Annungitee or any other kind of ghost being around for a long, long time. + She only said what she did to frighten the bad boy into obedience. Indeed + she had often said to him, when she was angry with him, 'I do hope a ghost + will catch you.' But the more she talked to him the worse he became. So one + day when he had been very lazy and very rude to her she sprang up and, + seizing him by the arm, undertook to put him out of the wigwam. He became + much frightened at this and began to cry. But she, knowing that he deserved + to be punished, pushed him out and securely fastened the doorway, calling + out: +</p> +<p> + "'May Annungitee catch you!' +</p> +<p> + "She did not really mean it, of course. No mother could wish her boy to + have such a terrible misfortune. The frightened boy then began running + round and round the wigwam, trying to find some place where he could get + in, but he could find no opening. After a while his crying and his efforts + to get into the wigwam ceased, and all became still and silent. His mother + listened attentively, and every moment expected to hear his voice again, + but there was no sound except something like the sound of the singing of + birds and the rattling of small bells dying away in the distance. At this + she became very much frightened and began to cry, and to call for her boy. + She threw open the door flap and began to search all around her wigwam for + her son. But all in vain! He was nowhere to be found. +</p> +<p> + "When the father came home from his hunting she told him of the sudden + disappearance of their boy, and he, too, was very much alarmed. They set + out and visited the lodges of all the people around. But no one had seen or + heard anything of the missing boy. They returned to their own silent wigwam + very sorrowful, and for days they mourned over the loss of their son. One + night, as the mother was weeping on account of her great loss, she heard + some one crying out to her: +</p> +<p> + "'Hi! Hi!' and at the same time she heard the sounds of bells ringing and + owls hooting. This happened several nights, and then one night there was a + voice saying: +</p> +<p> + "'You said, "Ghost, take that boy." Hi! Hi!' +</p> +<p> + "Next morning the wife told her husband what she had heard during the + previous night, and she added: +</p> +<p> + "'I believe the ghost Annungitee has taken our boy.' +</p> +<p> + "Her husband was very angry when he heard this, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'Yes, a ghost has taken our boy. You gave him to him, and he has taken you + at your word. So why should you complain? It serves you right.' +</p> +<a name="Illus009"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus009.jpg" width="250" height="365" +alt="'They tumbled the tall ghost over.'"> +</p> +<p> + "At this the mother lifted up her voice and cried out so loud that it could + be heard a great distance. +</p> +<p> + "'Husband,' she said, 'I deserve what you have said, but I am going to try + and get back our boy, and so to-night I will hide in the pile of wood that + is outside the wigwam, and if the ghost comes along again, as he has been + coming, I will catch him by the leg, and you must rush out and try to + rescue our son.' +</p> +<p> + "So that night she hid herself in the wood pile, and, sure enough, after a + while she heard the sound of bells ringing and animals softly crying out, + and then a loud 'Hi! Hi!' after which all was still. +</p> +<p> + "Then, as she cautiously looked out from her hiding place, there before her + was a great creature standing beside the wigwam. He was so tall that his + head was higher than the smoke hole at the top, and he was peeping down + into the wigwam. But, big as he was, she had a mother's loving heart after + all, and as she thought of her boy fastened up there in one of his big ears + she was determined to rescue him if possible. So she cautiously moved along + until she was able to seize one of his legs, which she did with all her + strength, and at the same instant she shouted for her husband to come and + help. Out he rushed, and between them they tumbled the tall ghost over and, + sure enough, in one of his big ears they found their little boy. +</p> +<p> + "Poor little fellow. He was half-starved, and so thin and weak that he + could hardly stand. But they helped him into the wigwam and gave him some + soup, made out of some birds that his father had killed that day. +</p> +<p> + "The tall ghost was so frightened by the sudden way in which he had been + seized that as soon as he could get up he hurried away, and was never seen + in that part of the country again. Some tribes say he went South, and + there, when he was stealing children and carrying them off in his ears, he + was caught by the angry parents and burned to death on a big wood pile." +</p> +<p> + "Did the little boy get better?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "O yes, he did, after a while; but he was a long time in getting over the + fright he had had. It did him good, however, for after that he was never + rude and saucy to his mother and did all he could to help her." +</p> +<p> + "Did it do the mother any good?" asked Sagastao, who had not been + altogether satisfied with her treatment of the boy. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, indeed," said Mary; "for after that terrible fright she was never + known to shout out at her boy such words as, 'I hope the ghost will catch + you,' or any other of the unpleasant ones which she sometimes had used when + she was angry with him." +</p> +<p> + "Thank you, Sakehow," said both the children. "A pretty good story, that." +</p> +<p> + Then what a jolly romp they had with Jack and Cuffy! The two splendid dogs + were the children's special protectors and companions. +</p> +<a name="Illus010"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus010.jpg" width="245" height="208" +alt="'Their dog trains were in almost constant demand.'"> +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH8"> CHAPTER VIII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Happy Christmas Holidays—Indians Made Glad with + Presents—Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the + Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. +</h4> +<p> + The Christmas holidays were times of innocent festivities and gladness + among the Indians and their white friends, both at the mission and at the + trading post. +</p> +<p> + The gifts which it was possible to give to the Indians were not of very + great value, but they were articles much needed and were always prized by + the recipients even if they were never very profuse in their words of + thanks. Minnehaha and Sagastao were wild with delight at these times, and + were eager to be the almoners of the mission, and carry the gifts to the + Indians whom they loved so well. The fact that the temperature of those + bright, cold Northern winters kept steadily many degrees below zero did not + chill their ardor nor lessen their enthusiasm. Their dog trains were in + almost constant demand, for they kept flying over the various icy trails + until in the different wigwams all had been remembered with some useful + gift. +</p> +<p> + Faithful Mary had made for them the warmest of fur and blanket suits. + Dressed in these, and tucked in among the robes in the cariole by their + careful driver, they sped along the trails. They made the woods echo with + their merry shouts and laughter—unless it was so bitterly cold that they + had to be completely covered up. It is not to be wondered at that there + were times when, on reaching some distant wigwam, there were little hard, + white spots on their cheeks or noses which told the watchful Indians that + the Frost King had been at work and that speedily those frostbites must be + removed. Little cared they for the momentary pain that ensued, when the + frozen parts were being thawed out. They were out for a good time, and they + had too much grit and courage to let such trifles as a few frostbites + disturb their happiness. The bright fires burning in the center of the + wigwams, or in the fireplaces at the end or side of the little Indian + houses, were of course always welcome after a long run in the bitter cold. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us, Souwanas," said Sagastao one very cold day, as they were gathered + around his wigwam fire, "how it was that Nanahboozhoo stole the fire from + those who were guarding it and gave it to the Indians." +</p> +<p> + "It must not be too long a story," said Minnehaha, "as we have yet to go to + the wigwam of Kinnesasis, Little Fish, with his presents, and it would be + too bad to be late when they know we are coming." +</p> +<p> + So Souwanas pledged himself to make the story as short as he could without + spoiling it, and then, after a few more whiffs from his beloved calumet, he + began: +</p> +<p> + "It was long ago, when there were fewer people in the forests and on the + prairies than now. They did not have as many comforts as they have now, and + one of the rarest things among them was fire. Sometimes when the + lightning's flash set a tree on fire they would have it for a little while, + but they did not seem to be able to keep it going, and they were often very + cold and generally had to eat their food without cooking it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was then still living with his grandmother, Nokomis, and was + sorry to see that she often suffered from the cold and that the food was + miserable because it was not cooked. So he set his wits to work and decided + that something must be done. As he should now have to deal with the Muche + Munedoos, evil spirits, he had to be very careful. He put himself in + various disguises and at length he heard all about how the coyote had + stolen some of the fire from the watchers in the underground world, who + possess enormous quantities of it. It frightened him a little when he heard + that there was so much fire in the world under us, but he was not apt to be + afraid very long and so as he went on searching, and on the sly listening + to the talks of windegoos and others, he found that the fire for which he + had been so long searching was in the possession of a fierce old medicine + warrior who guarded it with the greatest care. Those who had employed the + coyote to get it had intrusted its keeping to him. In those days they had + an idea that fire was such a dangerous thing that it would be almost + certain destruction to the race if it was given to all. This old warrior + had his two daughters, who were great, fierce women, to assist him in + guarding the fire. +</p> +<p> + "Several attempts had been made to steal the fire ere Nanahboozhoo resolved + to see what he could do. All of these other efforts had failed, and the + parties who tried them were killed. Nokomis heard of these unsuccessful + attempts and tried to dissuade her grandson, Nanahboozhoo, from such a + dangerous enterprise. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, however, was a very skillful fellow, and although this was + one of his first great undertakings, for it was long ago, he was not to be + stopped by her fears, and so away he went. As the ice was not yet on the + waters he took his birch canoe and paddled eastward as far as he could. + Then he hid his canoe where he could easily find it on his return. +</p> +<p> + "The next thing he did was to transform himself into a rabbit, and in that + shape he hurried on until he saw in the distance the sacred wigwam where + dwelt the old guardian of the fire and his two daughters, who were famous + for their height and their strength. To excite the pity of these daughters + Nanahboozhoo jumped into some water, and then crawling out, wet and cold, + he slowly approached the wigwam. Here the two daughters found him, and he + looked so miserable that they took pity on him and at once carried him into + the wigwam and set him down near the sacred fire, that he might soon get + warm and dry." +</p> +<a name="Illus011"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus011.jpg" width="245" height="209" +alt="'Where the fire was stolen out of the center of the earth.'"> +</p> +<p> + "How very kind that was of the old man's daughters," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "I don't know about that," said the more matter-of-fact Sagastao; "folks + sometimes get into trouble by taking up everything that comes along. + Remember that old rascal that humbugged father." +</p> +<p> + But Souwanas, remembering his promise, adroitly shunted off the youngsters + and resumed his story. +</p> +<p> + "The two girls, after seeing how contented and happy the rabbit seemed to + be as it warmed itself by the fire, again returned to their duties in + different parts of the large wigwam. The rabbit soon after hopped a little + nearer to the fire, that he might be able to seize hold of a burning stick + or brand, but as he moved the ground shook and trembled under him so that + it awoke the old man, who had fallen into a heavy sleep. Thus disturbed, he + called out to his daughters in alarm: +</p> +<p> + "'My daughters, what was it that caused the ground to tremble?' +</p> +<p> + "The girls replied that they did not know. They had done nothing beyond + their usual work except to bring in to warm a poor little shivering + half-frozen rabbit that they had found outside. At first the old man was a + little suspicious and, rolling over, he took a good look at Nanahboozhoo. + But he had made himself into such a poor little wretched half-drowned + rabbit that the old man's suspicions were completely dispelled, and he + turned over again and went to sleep. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was pleased to hear the old man snoring again, and he only + waited now until the two girls should both be busy in the wigwam on the + opposite side from the door; then he suddenly changed himself into a fleet + young Indian runner, and quickly seizing hold of a burning stick he dashed + out of the wigwam and away he rushed toward the place where he had left his + canoe. +</p> +<p> + "Of course there was instant pursuit. The two daughters, although they were + magicians, like their father, well knew that they would be punished by the + superior evil spirits if they allowed any of the sacred fire to be stolen, + and they were furious at the cunning and deceitful Nanahboozhoo, whom they + now recognized, for playing such a trick upon them. Shouting to their + father, to arouse him, they immediately ran after the retreating + Nanahboozhoo, who with the burning brand in his hand was speeding rapidly + over the trail. But, fleet as he was, he soon discovered that the two + girls, by their magic, were rapidly gaining upon him. They were the + fleetest of runners, even if they were girls, and it was for that reason + that they and their father were intrusted with the sacred fire. Great + honors were to be theirs if they guarded it to the satisfaction of those + who had intrusted it to them, while, on the other hand, great would be + their disgrace if they failed in their duty. +</p> +<p> + "When they found that they were gaining on Nanahboozhoo, and were likely to + regain possession of the firebrand, with shouts and threats they declared + that severe indeed would be his punishment, when he fell into their hands, + for his abuse of their kindness and his trickery. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo felt that he was indeed in a tight place. He did not, + however, intend to be overtaken, and he sped on, if possible faster than + ever, until there was only a large dried-up, barren meadow between him and + the spot where he had tied his canoe on the shore of the lake. The girls + were only a few hundred yards behind him, and he resolved to fight them + with this sacred fire. So, as he rapidly continued his flight, he plunged + the now blazing firebrand into the dry grass, here and there, on each side + of the trail. The wind was in his face, and it carried back the fierce + blaze and dense black smoke and not only quickly hid him from the sight of + his pursuers but also made it very dangerous for them to follow him. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo thus succeeded in reaching his canoe, and fixing the burning + brand in one end of the boat he was soon rapidly paddling over the waters + toward his distant home. The flying sparks of the torch burnt him badly in + several places, but he did not much mind this, and he dared not stop to + dress his wounds for fear that his pursuers would yet overtake him. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately he succeeded in reaching his distant home. There at the shore + to welcome his return was Nokomis, who had been full of anxiety about him. + She carefully dressed his burnt face and hands and gladly received the gift + of the fire, which has been such a blessing to the Indians ever since. +</p> +<p> + "At first there was a good deal of trouble among the Indians to keep the + fire burning. Sometimes the watchers appointed to look after it, especially + in the summer months, would forget to add fresh fuel, or would go to sleep + and neglect it. Then they would have to send off to some perhaps distant + wigwam, where the people had been more careful, and secure some live coals + from them. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was troubled about this. He feared that if it were allowed to + die out at the same time in all of the wigwams he might not be so + successful again if he had to try to get a fresh supply from the fierce old + man and his now wrathful daughters. So he went out into the woods and at + length a good spirit came to him in a dream and told him of various ways in + which the fire could be obtained. He showed him how it could be made, by + rapid friction, with dry sticks. Another way he revealed to him was by the + striking together of a flint stone and a piece of iron; sparks of fire + could thus be produced which, caught in punk, would soon become a blaze. So + now the Indians do not have to cover up the fires as they were formerly + obliged to do; thanks to Nanahboozhoo's dreams, they can make it fresh + whenever they want it." +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo for his good work this time!" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Well, I think he was a mean fellow, to so fool those two nice girls who + took him in and warmed him when he was a poor little wet shivering rabbit!" + said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Took him in?" the lad retorted. "Well, I guess it was well he was able to + take them in as he did, by setting fire to that old grass in the meadow, + for if he had not done so they would soon have had his scalp." +</p> +<p> + But here Minnehaha appealed to Souwanas, and said: +</p> +<p> + "I have been wondering how it was the old man and his daughters got the + fire in the first place from out of the underground. Will you not tell us + that story some time?" +</p> +<p> + The old man looked grave and was silent for a minute or two, then he + replied: +</p> +<p> + "I think you had better ask Kinnesasis. He knows the story better than I + do, for in his youth he traveled far West, into the land of the high + mountains, where the legend is that the fire was stolen out of the center + of the earth." +</p> +<p> + "All right. Thank you, Souwanas. We are going to take Kinnesasis some + presents, and while there we will ask him for the story." +</p> +<p> + Here an Indian lad rushed into the wigwam with the word that Kennedy was + coming with their cariole. The children were well wrapped up, and soon with + their usual happy, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" they were speeding homeward. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH9"> CHAPTER IX.</a></h3> + <h4> + Kinnesasis—How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the + Interior of the Earth. +</h4> +<p> + A great time the children had in the wigwam of Kinnesasis. He was such a + jolly little old Indian, and he was specially happy to-day when the + children opened out the gifts and presented them. He was more than + delighted with a suit of black clothes sent him from a distance by friends + who had heard about him and his needs. He quickly put on the whole suit, + which fitted him very nicely, and then much amused the children by saying: +</p> +<p> + "I am sure the man who made these clothes is in heaven, or, if not yet + dead, he will go to heaven when he dies." +</p> +<p> + "Why, Kinnesasis, it is the kind friends who sent you these clothes you + ought to thank, and not make such a fuss over the man who made them; he was + paid for making them," said Sagastao. But Kinnesasis could only think of + the man who made the suit of which he was so proud. +</p> +<p> + Kinnesasis's old wife was, if possible, still more delighted with her + presents than the old man with his. She and Minnehaha were always the best + of friends, and now as the child handed her gift after gift of warm + clothing and food her joy knew no bounds, and, old as she was, when some + warm shoes were given her, she sprang up and began singing an Indian song, + while with all the agility of a young maiden she spun around the wigwam in + rhythmic measure to her words, which, roughly translated, are as follows: +</p> +<p> + "The Good Spirit has pity on me,<br /> + Though for days I had little to eat,<br /> + I was wretched and sad in my heart,<br /> + I was cold, O so cold! in my feet. + </p> + <p> + "But now I have plenty of meat,<br /> + Clothes for my body, shoes for my feet,<br /> + I'll not grumble, nor sorrow, but praise<br /> + The Good Spirit the rest of my days." +</p> +<p> + "Well done!" shouted the children when the old woman stopped. They were + greatly delighted with her performance. Kinnesasis, however, who, as well + as his wife, was now a church member, professed to be much shocked at + seeing her thus dancing, as though in the wild excitement of the Ghost + Dance. But both Sagastao and Minnehaha stood up for the old wife. They said + the words she sang were good enough for the church, any day, and they were + sure nobody could find fault with her thus showing how glad and thankful + she was. +</p> +<p> + And nobody ever did find fault and soon was the affair almost forgotten, + for now the merry jingling of more dog bells was heard, and who should come + into the wigwam of Kinnesasis but the parents of Sagastao and Minnehaha! +</p> +<p> + Cordially were they greeted. At first it was difficult for them to + recognize the staid little gentleman in his full suit of broadcloth as the + lively but generally ill-clothed Kinnesasis. The visitors—who quickly saw + and were delighted with the transformation—greeted him as though he were + some distinguished stranger. This vastly amused the children. Screaming + with laughter at Kinnesasis's pretense of keeping up the farce, they + shouted out, "Why, this is only our dear old Kinnesasis. He is no great + stranger. It is only Kinnesasis with his new clothes." +</p> +<p> + "Well," then was asked, "who is that charming old lady over there with such + a fine shawl and brilliant handkerchief on, and such fancy new shoes on her + feet? Surely she is a stranger." +</p> +<p> + "No! No!" the children again shouted. "Why, that is Kinnesasis's wife, with + her new presents on! My! doesn't she look nice!" +</p> +<p> + Here the little ones seized hold of the happy old Indian woman and made her + get up and show herself off in her new apparel, of which she was just as + proud as Kinnesasis. +</p> +<p> + "And she gave us such a jolly dance in them, papa! Wouldn't you like to see + her do it again?" cried Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + But here Kinnesasis, pretending to be shocked beyond measure, in a most + diplomatic manner directed the attention of the parents to some other + matter, and so the mischievous child did not succeed in making a church + scandal by inducing one of the flock to dance before the missionary. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us, Kinnesasis," said Sagastao, "how it was that that old man and his + daughters first obtained the fire which Nanahboozhoo so cleverly stole from + them and gave to the Indians long ago." +</p> +<p> + At first Kinnesasis hesitated about telling the old legend, saying that he + did not think the father and mother of the children would care for such + stories. +</p> +<p> + "Don't they, though!" cried the children. "You don't know them very well, + then, if you don't know that they like stories just about as well as we + do." +</p> +<p> + And with this they at once appealed to the parents, who of course sided + with them and expressed their desire to listen to this story that the + children had told them they were to hear from dear old Kinnesasis. +</p> +<p> + Throwing some more logs on the fire, around which the white visitors with + the Indians gathered, Kinnesasis began: +</p> +<p> + "It was long ago, when I was a young lad, that I heard the story from the + old story-tellers of our people. I had traveled with my father for many + days far toward the setting sun. We reached the land of the great + mountains, and there, with our people of those regions, we spent some + moons. It was while we were among them that I heard from the ancient + story-teller the legend of how the fire was stolen from the center of the + earth, where it was kept hidden away from the human family. +</p> +<p> + "That there was such a thing as fire was well known. It had been seen + bursting out of the tops of distant mountains, and there had been times in + great thunderstorms, when the lightning had set fire to dead trees—and + indeed in this latter way the Indians had become acquainted with its value + to the human race. But they had not taken care to keep it burning, and no + one had been appointed to specially look after it. +</p> +<p> + "The reason why fire had not been from the first given to men was because + when the race was created the fire was not much needed. The earth was then + much warmer than it is now. There was no snow or ice ever seen except on + the tops of the very highest mountains. Great animals now all dead, and + others that could only live in the hottest countries, lived all over these + great lands. Then there was abundance of fruit and nuts and roots that were + all very good for food. Then some great disaster happened to the world and + soon it began to grow colder and many animals, and even families, perished. + Snow and ice appeared where they were never seen before. There was great + suffering from the cold. The hunters began to kill the animals for food. + They were now not satisfied with the fruit and roots, they wanted something + better. +</p> +<p> + "So the fire was much needed. But where it was, or how to get it, was the + question. Fortunately an old dreamer dreamed a dream about it. As the + council assembled to hear his dream he told them that the fire was + preserved in the heart of the earth by a magician called Sistinakoo, and + that it was kept very carefully surrounded by four walls, one within the + other, in each of which was a single door. At the first door a great snake + kept guard. At the second door a mountain lion or panther was the guardian. + A grizzly bear guarded the third door, and at the fourth and last door + Sistinakoo himself kept watchful care over the precious fire that smoldered + on a stone altar just inside this last wall. +</p> +<p> + "When the council heard all this they were almost discouraged. They thought + it would be impossible for anyone to get by all of these guards and steal + the fire. +</p> +<p> + "They first asked the fox to try, but he only reached the first door when + the great snake nearly made a meal of him. Thoroughly frightened, he rushed + back to the top of the earth and told of his narrow escape. +</p> +<p> + "For a time nothing more was done to try and get the fire. The people + continued to suffer, for the earth kept getting colder and colder and ice + and snow were now to be found in lands that had previously been comfortably + warm. So the council was called again, and the question again raised as to + what could be done. +</p> +<p> + "It happened that there came to the council a very old man who remembered a + tradition, handed down from his forefathers, which said that part of the + earth beneath us was hollow, and that some of the animals, even the great + buffaloes, had dwelt in those underground regions before they came to dwell + on the surface of the earth. He said that the coyote, the prairie wolf, was + the last one to leave, and that he was sure that he still remembered the + route to the very spot where Sistinakoo, the head chief of the regions, + guarded the fire so jealously." +</p> +<p> + "Why should they so guard the fire, and be so careful about letting people + have it, when we know how good it is?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Because," replied Kinnesasis, "there was a tradition that at some time or + other the fire should get the mastery over men, and the whole world be + burned by it, and they thought that they would carefully guard it from + getting scattered about by careless people who might set the world on + fire." +</p> +<p> + "Well, go on, Kinnesasis, and tell us the rest of the story," said the + impatient Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "So when the Indian council heard this story they sent for the king of the + coyotes and told him of their wish that he should return to that underworld + and bring up the fire for their use. +</p> +<p> + "To their surprise and great delight the coyote said he would go, and he + immediately began his preparations for the journey. So greatly had the cold + increased that he found the dark mouth of the entrance under the mountains + almost surrounded by snow and ice. After traveling for some time in the + darkness he reached the outer wall, where he waited, a little distance from + the door, until the snake was taking his usual sleep. Then he quickly + stepped past him. Knowing the habits of the other animals, he waited until + they were asleep and then he noiselessly passed them all. Even Sistinakoo + himself was sound asleep. So the coyote crept silently up to the fire and + lighted the large brand or torch that was securely fastened to his tail. + The instant it began to blaze up, as the coyote rushed out through the + first door, Sistinakoo shouted, 'Who is there? Some one has been here and + has stolen the fire!' +</p> +<a name="Illus012"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus012.jpg" width="250" height="201" +alt="'The coyote was too quick for them all.'"> +</p> +<p> + "He at once began to make a great row and loudly called to the different + keepers to close the doors in the walls. But the coyote was too quick for + them all, and ere the sleepers were wide enough awake to do anything he had + passed through all the doors and was far on his way to the top of the + ground. The fire was gladly received by the people, but after some time, + when some big prairies and forests had been burned up by it, the men got + fearful that the world might be destroyed and so they intrusted it to the + care of the old magician and his two daughters, with orders to be very + careful to whom they gave any. It was from them Nanahboozhoo stole it, to + scatter it once more freely among the people as we now have it. +</p> +<p> + "But the tradition was still believed in the days of my grandfather that, + good as the fire was to warm us, and cook our food, it would yet become our + master, and do the world much harm." +</p> +<p> + Kinnesasis was thanked by all for his recital of this suggestive legend, + especially by his older listeners, who saw much in it that was in harmony + with the earlier beliefs of other nationalities. +</p> +<p> + By this time, however, the dogs in their trains were impatiently barking, + and longing to get back home for their suppers. So, after farewell + greetings to Kinnesasis and his wife, one cariole after another was loaded, + and away the happy ones sped over the icy expanse of the frozen lake. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH10"> CHAPTER X.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Christmas Packet—The Distribution of Gifts—A Visit + by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero—Souwanas Tells + How the Indians first Learned to Make Maple Sugar. +</h4> +<p> + How great the excitement was which attended the arrival of the Christmas + packet can hardly be realized by persons who have never been exposed to the + privations of a land which the mail reaches every six months, and where + they wait half a year for the daily paper. After this long waiting it is no + wonder that a great shout was raised when far away in the distance the + long-expected, heavily-loaded dog-trains were seen that for several hundred + miles had carried the precious messages of love and the tokens of good will + from dear ones far away. +</p> +<p> + This year an extra train well loaded with much-needed supplies for the + mission was among the arrivals. Its coming was hailed with special delight + by the children; for even in that Northland Santa Claus was not unexpected, + and it was surmised by some of the wee ones that possibly some of his gifts + would arrive about that time. +</p> +<p> + And they were not disappointed, for loved ones far away in more favored + lands had remembered these little ones in their Northern home, where the + Frost King reigns, and many and varied were the gifts which they now + received. +</p> +<p> + "I am going to take Souwanas some of my candies," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "And I am going to give him a nice red silk handkerchief," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The children had by this time pretty well learned his weakness for these + things, and it was a pleasure now for them to think that they had it in + their power to make him happy. +</p> +<p> + The next morning was, as usual, bright and cloudless, but it was bitterly + cold. The mercury was frozen in one thermometer, and in the other one the + spirit indicated fifty-five below zero. Yet so impatient were these + spirited children to be off with their gifts to Souwanas, and with + something also for each member of the family, that their pleadings + prevailed. A cariole with plenty of fur robes was soon at the door, and + with old Kennedy as their driver they were soon speeding away behind a + train of dogs. +</p> +<p> + Indians are naturally alert and watchful, and so the merry jingle of the + silvery bells was heard while the cariole was still at some distance on the + trail. Cordially were they welcomed, and strong arms speedily carried them + into the cosy wigwam where, in the center, burned a great fire of dry + spruce and birch wood. +</p> +<p> + As the cold was so intense, and the children had permission to remain for + two hours, it was decided that Kennedy should return home at once with the + dogs, as it would have been cruel to have kept them out in the cold so + long. +</p> +<p> + The heavy wraps were soon removed and the children were comfortably seated + on the fur rugs provided for them. Then they very proudly opened their + parcels and distributed the contents—their own gifts as well as those + which had been sent to Souwanas and his family from the mission. Minnehaha + reserved her special gift for the last. When all of her others had been + bestowed she unfolded the beautiful red silk handkerchief and, going over + to Souwanas, she did her best to tie it nicely around his neck. +</p> +<p> + The old man, genuine Indian that he was, was much moved by her winsome ways + and handsome gift. +</p> +<p> + He said but little, but there was a soft, kindly look in his eyes that + showed his gratitude more than any words could have done. It meant a good + deal more than perhaps he would like to admit and those who saw it were + thankful that they had observed it, knowing that it meant so much. + Sagastao, who had already given him several presents, had held on to his + box of candies. He had learned that for such things the old man could be + coaxed to do almost anything, and now he held them out, and said: +</p> +<p> + "Now, Souwanas, as all the presents have been passed around, I have got + some fine sweeties for you, but we must have a first-class Nanahboozhoo + story for them." +</p> +<p> + "O yes!" said Minnehaha. "And as it is to be for sweeties let us have a + nice sweet story of Nanahboozhoo this time." +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story you want? Well, before I begin let us fix up the fire and + all get comfortably seated around it." +</p> +<p> + Then, as they usually did, the two white children cuddled as close to the + inimitable story-teller as they could. Little cared they for the cold + without or even for the occasional puffs of smoke which seemed at times to + prefer to enter the eyes of the listeners rather than to go out at the + orifice at the top of the wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story," musingly said the old man, "in this land of fish, and + bears, and wolves, and wildcats, and wolverines!" Then he paused long + enough to fill his mouth again with the candies which he enjoyed so much. +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story. Then it must be of a land, south of this, where for some + years I dwelt, many, many moons ago. A land where the Se-se-pask-wut-a-tik + (sugar maple tree) grows and flourishes in all its beauty. +</p> +<p> + "There, in those wigwams, long ago lived the people whom we call the + Hurons, the Dakotahs and the Ojibways. These Ojibways are cousins of my own + people, the Saulteaux. Well, the story I want to tell you had its beginning + long, long ago. One day there came a great embassage of Indians from the + far South with words of peace and good will. They said that in their + country they had no cold weather, and very seldom saw any snow. They said + that the trees were different, and that many things grew there that they + did not see in our Northern country. They brought with them many presents + and were kindly received by our people, and then, after some weeks of + feasting and speech-making, they returned home laden with the best gifts + our tribes could bestow. +</p> +<p> + "Among the presents which these Southern Indians brought was a large + quantity of sugar. This was the first time it was ever seen among the + Indians of the North. It was very much prized, and was very carefully + divided among the people so that each one had a small quantity. It did not + last very long, for everybody was fond of it. When it was all gone the + people were sorry, and the question was asked, 'Why cannot we send a + company of our own people and get more of it?' +</p> +<p> + "This suggestion met with the favor of the tribes, and a large party of the + best runners was selected, and being well supplied with rich presents and + pipes of peace they started off to find the Southland and to obtain + abundance of the sugar. Some weeks passed by before word was heard from + them, and the news was very bad. Fierce wars had broken out among the + tribes that lived between ours and those who dwelt in that far South. Our + Indians had to fight for their lives. Many of them were killed, others were + badly wounded, and of the large company that started out not more than half + ever returned to their homes. The expedition was a complete failure. +</p> +<p> + "Still there was the memory of the sugar among them, and it happened that + one day in the council somebody said: +</p> +<p> + "'Why not send to Nanahboozhoo?' +</p> +<p> + "Good!" shouted Minnehaha; "that is just what I thought they would do." +</p> +<p> + "Well, hold on," said her more matter-of-fact brother; "just as like as not + Nanahboozhoo would give them salt instead of sugar, if he were in one of + his tantrums." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was not displeased at this interruption on the part of the + children, and gladly availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to + once more help himself to the sweets. +</p> +<p> + Earnestly appealing to Souwanas, Minnehaha, who always looked on the bright + side of things, and who had a quick intuition quite beyond her years, said: +</p> +<p> + "It could not be a sweet story if Nanahboozhoo gave them salt instead of + sugar; could it, Souwanas?" +</p> +<p> + The old man, as soon as his mouth was sufficiently emptied to resume his + story, amused by the earnestness with which the child appealed to him, + replied with the words, "Tapwa, tapwa!" (Verily, verily!) +</p> +<p> + Sagastao, however, unwilling to give in, retorted, "O 'tapwa, tapwa' + doesn't mean anything, anyway." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas only laughed at this criticism, and proceeded with his story. +</p> +<a name="Illus013"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus013.jpg" width="250" height="199" +alt="Across a single log at a dizzy height."> +</p> +<p> + "So it was decided to send a deputation to Nanahboozhoo to tell him of the + wish of the tribes to have Se-se-pask-wut (sugar), as had the tribes of the + Southland. +</p> +<p> + "The deputation who started off to find Nanahboozhoo had a great deal of + difficulty in finding him. It seems that a great strife had arisen between + Nanahboozhoo and some of the underground Muche Munedoos—bad spirits, + sometimes called the Ana-mak-quin—who had determined to kill Nokomis, the + grandmother of Nanahboozhoo, because of their spiteful hatred of + Nanahboozhoo, whom they knew they could not kill because he had + supernatural powers. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had, as usual, been playing some of his pranks on them, and + that was why they were determined to kill Nokomis." +</p> +<p> + "What were some of the tricks that Nanahboozhoo had been up to this time?" + asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "It would take me too long to tell you now," replied Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo dearly loved his grandmother, although he was often giving + her great frights, just as other grandsons sometimes do. So when he heard + of what the Muche Munedoos were threatening he took up his grandmother on + his strong back and carried her far away and made for her a tent of maples + in a great forest among the mountains. The only access to it was across a + single log at a dizzy height over a wild rushing river. +</p> +<p> + "It was now in the fall of the year, and the leaves of these trees were all + crimson and yellow, so brilliant that when seen from a long distance they + looked like a great fire. Thus it happened that when the bad spirits + following after Nanahboozhoo and Nokomis saw the brilliant colors through + the haze of that Indian Summer day they thought the whole country was on + fire, and they turned back and troubled them no more. Nanahboozhoo was + pleased that the beautiful maple trees had been of so much assistance to + him. He decided to dwell among them for some time, so he prepared a very + comfortable wigwam for himself and his grandmother. +</p> +<p> + "It was in the wigwam among the maples that the deputation found + Nanahboozhoo. He received them kindly, and listened to their story and + their request. +</p> +<p> + "At first Nanahboozhoo was perplexed. He was such a great traveler that he + had often been down in the great Southland, and well knew how the sugar was + there made. He had seen the fields of sugar cane, and knew the whole + process by which the juice was squeezed out and then boiled down into + sugar. He also knew that it required a lot of hard work before the sugar + was made. +</p> +<p> + "When Nokomis heard the request of the deputation to her grandson she was + very much interested—for had not Nanahboozhoo several times, when + returning from those trips to the South, brought back to her some of the + sugar?—and she had liked it very much; and so now she added her pleadings + to theirs that he would in some way grant them their request. +</p> +<p> + "Of course Nanahboozhoo could not refuse now, so he told them that, as the + beautiful maple trees had been so good to him and Nokomis, from this time + forward they should, like the sugar cane of the South, yield the sweet sap + that when boiled down would make the sugar they liked so much. +</p> +<p> + "He told them, however, that it was not for the lazy ones to have, but only + for those who were industrious and would carry out his commands. Then + Nanahboozhoo described to them the whole process of sugar making. He told + them that only in the spring of the year would the sweet sap flow. Then + they were to have ready their tapping gouges, their spiles and buckets. + Great fireplaces were to be built and here, as fast as the sap was gathered + from the trees, it was to be boiled down in their little kettles into the + nice molasses; and then a little more, so that when it cooled it would + harden into sugar. +</p> +<p> + "'Now,' added Nanahboozhoo, 'go back to your people and tell them that it + depends on their industry between now and the spring who shall have the + most of the sugar you love so well.' Then he skillfully modeled out a stone + tapping gouge of the shape required to make the incision in the tree from + which the sap would flow. With his knife he made a sample spile of cedar, + the thin end of which was to be driven into the hole made by the gouge and + along which the sap would flow. Then he told them to make plenty of buckets + of birch bark, and thus be ready when the time came to secure an abundant + supply of sap. Thus the art of making maple sugar first came to be known. + Nanahboozhoo gave it to the Indians long ago. Then when the palefaces came + they followed the same process. That is the way Nanahboozhoo showed us how + to get the maple sugar." +</p> +<p> + But here the sound of the barking of the dogs, and the sweet tones of the + silvery bells on the collars of the dogs that had come for the children, + told that the two hours had passed away. +</p> +<p> + "Thank you ever so much," said the grateful Minnehaha, as she rose to have + loving hands carefully wrap her up for the return ride, "for that sweet, + sweet story. It was so good of Nanahboozhoo to tell them about the sap in + the maple trees, even if it is only there in the spring time." +</p> +<p> + "I think old Nokomis deserves a good deal of the credit," said Sagastao. + "It seems to me that Nanahboozhoo would not have done it if she had not + made him." +</p> +<p> + "Well, Nanahboozhoo did it, anyway, and so we and the Indians have our + maple sugar and molasses, and I am glad. And so, hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" + Thus replied Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + Here Souwanas lifted the well-wrapped-up child, and carried her out to the + cariole, where she and her brother were speedily covered and tucked in + among the warm robes. +</p> +<p> + "Marche! Marche!" was shouted to the dogs by the driver, and away they sped + over the icy trail with such speed that it was not long ere they were again + safe and happy in their own cozy home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH11"> CHAPTER XI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease—The + Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common + Enemy, Man. +</h4> +<p> + "Mary, how is it that I get sick sometimes," said Sagastao the following + summer, "and have to take medicine that I dislike? Why can't we always be + well?" +</p> +<p> + For the last week or ten days Mary had been most devoted and faithful in + watchful care over her restless charge, who had been very sick but was now + rapidly recovering. +</p> +<p> + "As soon as you are a little stronger I will tell you the legends of + sickness and medicine, as handed down by our Indian forefathers," said + Mary, "but now you must only rest, and eat, and sleep." +</p> +<p> + "Well, Sakehow" (beloved), his pet name for his faithful nurse, "I will try + and mind you; don't forget." +</p> +<p> + The next week was one of rapid recovery, and very proud, indeed, was Mary + when she led forth the two children, in the bright sunshine of a delightful + summer day, to a cozy resting place among the rocks where the waves of Lake + Winnipeg rippled on the sandy beach at their feet. +</p> +<p> + Minnehaha was eager for a story about the sweet birdies or the brilliant + flowers, but the young invalid had his way this time, and Mary proceeded to + tell the story of the Indians' idea as to the origin of sickness and + disease. +</p> +<p> + "Long, long ago," said Mary, "all the animals and birds on this earth lived + in peace and harmony with the human family. Then there was food for all in + abundance without any shedding of blood. Even the wild animals, that now + live by killing and devouring each other, found plenty of food in the + fruits and vegetables that then were so abundant. +</p> +<p> + "Men and women also lived on similar things, and were contented and happy. + But as the years went on the people became so numerous, and their + settlements spread over so much of the earth, that many of the poor animals + began to be cramped for room. +</p> +<p> + "Even this could have been borne, but by and by men began to make bows and + arrows, spears and knives, and other weapons, and began to use them on the + defenseless animals. Then soon they began to eat the flesh of the animals, + and presently they found that they preferred the meat thus obtained to the + fruits and vegetables of the earth. +</p> +<p> + "Formerly they had made their garments out of the fiber of the trees and + plants, which the women carefully prepared and wove; but after a while they + discovered that the skins of the buffalo and deer and other animals, when + well prepared, made better and more durable garments and wigwams than the + materials they had previously used. As time went on the destruction of the + larger animals increased, and men became so much more cruel than formerly + that even the frogs and worms, that in the earlier days were never harmed, + were now destroyed without mercy, or by sheer carelessness or contempt. + Thus the animals came to be in such a sad plight that it was resolved by + them to call great councils of their members together to consult upon what + could be done for their common safety. +</p> +<p> + "The bears were the first to assemble. They gathered together on the peak + of a great smoky mountain, which the white men now call Cathedral mountain, + and the great white bear from the Northland was appointed chairman." +</p> +<a name="Illus014"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus014.jpg" width="240" height="211" +alt="'Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Well, that was funny," said Minnehaha. "Just fancy a big white bear + sitting up in a chair! Why, he would need a whole sofa to hold him." +</p> +<p> + "Don't be silly, child," said the patronizing brother. "It was a bears' + council and, of course, the chairs used were bears' and not men's." +</p> +<p> + When Mary was appealed to to settle the question she could only say, "As + the council was held on the top of a mountain perhaps the bears sat on the + rocks. But never mind; let me go on with the story. +</p> +<p> + "After the white bear had made his speech he took his seat and said he was + now ready to hear the statements of the different bears who had assembled + to lodge their complaints against the way in which men killed their + relatives, devoured their flesh for food, and made garments and robes out + of their skins. +</p> +<p> + "Nearly every kind of bear had grievous statements to make, and so + blood-curdling were some of their recitals that it was decided to begin war + at once against the human race. +</p> +<p> + "Then the question was asked, 'What weapons shall we use against them?' + After some discussion it was decided to use bows and arrows, the favorite + weapons of their enemies. +</p> +<p> + "'And what are they made of?' was the next question. +</p> +<p> + "This was soon answered by a bear who had been caught when young and kept + captive for a couple of years in the wigwam of one of their enemies. He had + often seen the process of making bows, and he was now able to tell all + about it, and even to do the work himself. It was not long before the first + bow, with some arrows, was manufactured, and there was great excitement + when the first trial of it was made. A large strong bear was selected to + shoot the first arrow. To their great disappointment the trial was not a + success, for it was found that when the bear let the arrow fly, after + drawing back the bow, his long claws caught in the string and spoiled the + shot. Other bears tried, but they all had long claws, and they all failed. + Then some one suggested that this difficulty could be overcome by their + cutting off their long claws. But here the chairman, the white bear, + interposed, saying that it was very necessary that they should have their + long claws in order to climb trees, or up steep rocky places. 'It is + better,' said he, 'for us to trust to our claws and teeth than to man's + weapons, which certainly were not designed for us.' +</p> +<p> + "The bears remained in council until they got very hungry, but think as + much as they might they could not devise any satisfactory plan, for they + are stupid animals after all, and they dispersed to their different homes + no better able to fight the human race than before. +</p> +<p> + "Then the deer next held a council. Representatives of all the different + kinds of deer, from the great elk and moose down to the smallest species in + existence, assembled in a beautiful forest glade. The moose was selected as + chief. After a long discussion it was resolved that in revenge for man's + tyranny they would inflict rheumatism, lumbago, and similar diseases upon + every hunter who should kill one of their number unless he took great care + to ask pardon for the offense. That is the reason why so many hunters say, + just before they shoot, 'I beg your pardon, Mr. Deer, but shoot you I must, + for I want your flesh for food.' They know that if they do this they are + safe. +</p> +<p> + "The Cree legend is that it is the bear that has to be propitiated by + gentlemanly expressions when he is being approached to be killed. I well + remember being with a couple of hunters closely following up a bear, and + just before they fired they kept saying, 'Excuse us for shooting you, + Brother Bear, but we must do it. We want your warm fur robe, our families + want your meat, our girls want your grease to put on their heads, so you + must excuse us, Brother Bear. Please do, Brother Bear; please do.' Thus + they went on at a great rate until he was killed. +</p> +<p> + "But many forget it, and the spirit of their chief knows it and is angry, + and he strikes those hunters, or their relatives, down with rheumatism or + some other painful disease. +</p> +<p> + "Next the fishes and snakes and other reptiles held their council, and they + decided that as the human race had now become such enemies to them they + would trouble them with 'fearful dreams' of snakes twining about them, and + blowing their poisonous breath in their faces, by which they would lose + their appetites and die, while others of them would seek opportunity to + make the water they drank, or even the air they breathed, unwholesome. The + poisonous ones were also directed to use every opportunity to kill with + their deadly bites whenever possible. +</p> +<p> + "The birds also held a council, over which the crow was appointed chairman. + The eagle objected, and wanted the place, but he was voted down because + there were so few of his kind, and these were only hunted for their + feathers to adorn the war bonnets of the great chiefs and warriors. The + crow was appointed because he was always with the human race and knew the + various schemes and tricks they were inventing to injure the birds and + animals of various kinds. After much deliberation the birds decided to give + colds, and coughs, and throat diseases, and consumption, to the human race, + and to thus lessen their numbers that there might be room for all + creatures. +</p> +<p> + "The insects and smaller animals then held their council, and the grubworm + was appointed to preside over the gathering. He was so elated over his + election, and that they had arranged a scheme which should be fatal + especially to women, that he fell over backward and could not get on his + feet again. So from that time the grubworm has only been able to wiggle in + that way. There was any amount of talking and buzzing among the crowd. The + frog was especially noisy and angry in his remarks. +</p> +<p> + "'It is high time,' said he, 'that we began to do something against this + cruel human race, or we will soon be swept off the earth. See how my back + is ugly with lumps and sores because men have so kicked and knocked me + about!' +</p> +<p> + "Others followed in the same strain of indignant protest against man's + cruelty. Even the flies and mosquitoes had something to complain of. +</p> +<p> + "Well, after the buzzing, and the croakings, and the hummings and angry + talkings were over, they settled down to business. +</p> +<p> + "Some were appointed to poison the waters so that malarias and fevers + should attack the now hated race. Others, such as the flies and mosquitoes, + were to carry in their bites and stings many diseases. Thus it has come to + pass that there is more damage done to the hated human beings by these + bites and stings than the mere smarting pain caused at the time of the + bite. Thus, because the human race changed from being all kindness to the + rest of the creatures, both great and small, into being cruel and savage, + all these various creatures have combined to bring dreadful diseases among + men in revenge for their own wrongs." +</p> +<p> + "That is too bad," said Minnehaha. "Why could they not have kept on loving + each other all the time, instead of things being as they are now?" +</p> +<p> + Sagastao, who had laughed at the idea of the mosquitoes coming to a + council, and of their having anything to complain of, said, "I would like + to know what mosquitoes lived on in those good old days you speak about. + Now they are after me lively enough." And he slowly lifted up his hand, on + the back of which a couple were rapidly filling themselves with his blood. +</p> +<p> + But Mary, who, Indian like, was wise and observant, only said, "Wait a + minute or two and I will show you." Then she quickly hurried back into a + swampy place and soon returned with a thick juicy leaf, to the under side + of which several mosquitoes were still clinging, with their bodies + distended with its juice. +</p> +<p> + "There," she said, as she carefully held the leaf sideways, "that is what + most of the mosquitoes still live on. They attack our race in revenge for + our being so cruel as to kill so many of the animals, large and small, but + this, as you can easily see, is their natural food." +</p> +<p> + This appeal to the eye quite silenced the children, who had considered the + whole story as only an Indian legend to be amused with. +</p> +<p> + Mary, who had often been worsted by the sharp criticisms and inquiries with + which they were apt to receive her pet Indian legends, was quite delighted + at her apparent triumph, so she hastily sprang up, saying: +</p> +<p> + "It is time we were going home. Some other day I will tell you the story of + how the medicines came." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH12"> CHAPTER XII.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Naming of the Baby—A Canoe Trip—The Legend of + the Discovery of Medicine—How the Chipmunk Carried the + Good News. +</h4> +<p> + There was great excitement among a number of Indian men and women who had + gathered on the shore in front of the mission one pleasant summer morning. + Grave Indians, with Souwanas in their midst, were calmly discussing some + object of interest, while Mary and a party of women, some of whom had their + babies with them, were much more noisy, talking rapidly about something + which was evidently a matter of exciting interest. Even Sagastao and + Minnehaha were rushing in and out of the house and running from one group + of Indians to the other, full of eager inquiries and pleasant + anticipations. What could it all be about? +</p> +<p> + Let us ask the children, for such little people often know more than we are + likely to give them credit for. Here comes Minnehaha, and we ask her the + cause of such an early gathering of the Indians, and the reason why they + are so unusually interested in some matter unknown to us. +</p> +<a name="Illus015"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus015.jpg" width="240" height="395" +alt="'Their babies with them.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Why, don't you know?" the bright little girl promptly replies. "They have + come to form a Naming Council, to give my little baby sister an Indian + name. You see," she added, "Sagastao and I were born among the Cree + Indians, but baby was born here among the Saulteaux. Just think: the first + little white baby born among them! And they want to give her a nice + Saulteaux name. The reason why they are talking so much now, before they + form the council, is that lots of them have pet names they want to give our + baby, but of course she can only have one." +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Sagastao, "and our old Mary is trying to get the women to + oppose the name that Souwanas will offer, just because she is down on him. + But I'll bet he will beat her yet." +</p> +<p> + "You should not say, 'I'll bet.' Mother has often told you that it was very + rude," reprovingly said little Minnehaha. "You never learned it from father + or mother. You must have picked that up from some rough trader." +</p> +<p> + "Well, all right, I'll not say it again, but I'll bet—no, I mean—hurrah! + for Souwanas and his side, anyway," and off he ran. +</p> +<p> + "Dear me!" said the little sister. "I do have so much trouble with that + boy!" +</p> +<p> + Soon the council assembled. The men and women arranged themselves in a big + circle and spent some time in drinking some strong, well-sweetened tea that + had been prepared for them. They had been desirous of having their usual + pagan ceremonies, but of course this could not be allowed, so the + ceremonies of tea drinking and their usual smoking were substituted. Then + the little baby was brought in by her nurse and handed to one of the oldest + women. She took the child, and after kissing her and uttering some words of + endearment passed her on to the woman on her left. She in her turn kissed + her, uttered some kindly words, and passed her on to the next. So baby went + from hand to hand until she had made the complete circle of women and men. + This was the ceremony of adopting the child into the tribe. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the nurse of the older children, was excluded from this circle as she + was of another tribe. After some more tea had been drunk the child was + again sent on her rounds. This time each person, as he or she held the + child, pronounced some Indian name that he or she wished the babe to be + called. Mary, who had now crowded herself into the circle, persisted in + having a voice in the matter. She wanted the child to be called + Papewpenases (Laughing Bird), but she was voted down by the crowd, who + said: +</p> +<p> + "No, that is Cree; we must have Saulteaux." +</p> +<p> + With a certain amount of decorum each name suggested was discussed, only to + be rejected. +</p> +<p> + For a time there was quite a deadlock, as no name could be decided upon. +</p> +<p> + "Now that you have all spoken," said Souwanas, "and cannot come to any + agreement, I, as chief, will make the final decision. This is the first + white child born among us, as Sagastao and Minnehaha, whom we all love, + were born at Norway House, among the Crees. Most of the names which you + have suggested have some reference to birds and their sweet songs. A + compound name, which will include these ideas and mine, Souwanas (South + Wind), can surely be found." +</p> +<p> + This suggestion was well received, as Florence was born in the spring of + the year, when the birds, returning from the South, filled the air with + melody after the long stillness of that almost Arctic winter. +</p> +<p> + So busy brains and wagging tongues were at work, and the result was the + formation of the following expressive name, which was quickly bestowed upon + the child. It was first loudly announced by Souwanas himself: + Souwanaquenapeke; which in English is, "The Voice of the South Wind Birds." +</p> +<p> + At once all the Indians took it up and uttered it over and over again, so + that it would not be forgotten. Even Sagastao and Minnehaha, who could talk + as well in the Indian language as in English, took up the word and shouted + out, Souwanaquenapeke, until they had it as thoroughly as their own. +</p> +<p> + Mary alone was vexed, and so annoyed that she could not conceal her + disappointment. This was particularly noticed by Sagastao, and as soon as + Minnehaha joined them they slipped quietly away together. Having obtained + permission they took a canoe and went for a paddle on the quiet lake. Mary, + like all other Indians, was passionately fond of the water, and in spite of + her crooked back was a strong and skillful paddler. +</p> +<p> + The children were placed in the center of the canoe, on a fur rug, while + Mary seated herself in the stern and paddled them over the beautiful sunlit + waves. +</p> +<p> + For a time but little was heard, for the children were absorbed in the + scenes of rarest beauty or watched some fish, principally the active gold + eyes, sporting in the water around them. +</p> +<p> + After a while the children began to clamor for a story, but Mary would not + speak a word. Sagastao suspected the cause of Mary's unusual silence. +</p> +<p> + "What is the use, sakehou," he protested, "of your being in a pet because + baby was not named Papewpenases? The name they gave her pleased everybody + else; you must be pleased too." +</p> +<p> + "If you are cross and won't speak to us we will go and run away to + Souwanas; won't we?" said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + This was too much for Mary, and she quickly surrendered and made an excuse + about thinking of some beautiful story to tell them when they should land + on that little rocky island just ahead of them. +</p> +<p> + "Very well," said Sagastao, "let us have the one about how medicines were + discovered and given to the Indians to cure diseases." +</p> +<p> + "Just the one I was thinking about," said Mary; "and while we rest on the + lovely white sand I will tell you the story." +</p> +<p> + A few vigorous strokes of the paddle sent the canoe well up on the sandy + shore, and soon they all landed. A good romp relieved them of the stiffness + caused by the cramped position in the canoe. Then as they cuddled down in + the warm sand Mary began her story. +</p> +<p> + "You remember, little sweethearts, how the animals of various kinds held + councils and decided to be revenged on the human family for their cruelty + by sending diseases among them. Well, these creatures did as they said they + would and the result was that lots of men died, and also the women and + children, that did the creatures no harm, were getting different kinds of + sicknesses and many of them were dying. +</p> +<p> + "Were there no diseases among them before these times?" inquired Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "No; not what you might call diseases," replied Mary. "The people lived + such simple lives that, with the exception of accident, such as being + drowned in great storms or killed by falling trees, or something that way, + nearly all the people died of old age." +</p> +<p> + "Then they had no doctors in those days?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No; there were no medicine men in those times. Although there were those + skillful to set broken limbs or attend to any who happened to be + accidentally wounded, but that was nearly all. Then all at once these + diseases sent by the angry animals began to appear among them, and, of + course, there was much alarm. The people did not know what had brought + them, nor how to get rid of them. Many people were sick and numbers of them + died. +</p> +<p> + "You see, the animals held their councils in secret, and away from the + presence of men, and so it would never have been known if the ground + squirrel, called by some the chipmunk, had not gone and told all about the + councils to the men. He had always been friendly to the human race. He had + attended a number of the councils and was the only animal that had ventured + to say anything in the favor of man. By doing this he so enraged the other + animals that some of them fell upon him with great fury, and would have + torn him in pieces if he had not been able to escape into his hole in the + ground. As it was, they so tore and wounded him with their teeth and claws + that the stripes remain in his back to this day. +</p> +<p> + "Well, when he was healed enough to get around again he visited the abodes + of the human race and was very sorry to find that the diseases sent by the + other angry animals were causing much suffering and many deaths, so he + revealed the whole thing to a number of men and told them to be on their + guard. But even this was not sufficient. It was felt that, now that these + diseases were spreading among them, they must have some remedies for the + cure of them or they would all soon be destroyed. +</p> +<p> + "While thus wondering what they should do their little friend the ground + squirrel came to their help again. He went about among the trees and + plants, who were always friendly to man, and he told them of the sad + calamities that had come to the human race. +</p> +<p> + "When the trees and plants heard what had been done by the animals to + injure and destroy their friends they speedily held councils among + themselves and resolved that they would do all they could to overcome the + evil. +</p> +<p> + "First the great trees held their councils, talked over the matter, and + decided what they could do in the way of furnishing remedies to cure these + diseases that were doing so much injury. The pine and the spruce and the + balsam trees said, 'We will give of our gums and balsams.' The slippery elm + said it would give of its bark to make the soothing healing drink. The + sassafras said it would give of its roots to make the healthful tea that + will bring back health again. The prickly ash and the sumach and others + volunteered their help, and spoke of the wonderful healing power there was + in them, if rightly used. +</p> +<p> + "When the plants came to their council the numbers that wanted to help were + very great. No one was able to keep a record of them and of the healing + powers they professed to have. There was the mandrake, with its May apples, + and the wintergreen, with its pretty red berries; the catnip and the + bone-set, which are so good for colds; the lobelia, which is such a quick + emetic; the spikenard, the peppermint, the snakeroot, sarsaparilla, + gentian, wild ginger, raspberry, and scores of others. All cheerfully + offered assistance. +</p> +<p> + "When the ground squirrel, who had for days been attending the council of + the trees and plants, had made out his list of what remedies each tree and + plant could furnish he was very much delighted, and then, thanking them for + their offered assistance, he rapidly returned to the abodes of mankind and + informed them of his great success. +</p> +<p> + "Of course they were very much pleased, and very grateful to the ground + squirrel for his kindness and his interest in their happiness. This is the + reason why the chipmunk, or ground squirrel, lives near the homes of men. + You never see an Indian shoot them or the boys or girls try to snare them. + They are always welcome among the trees and the wigwams. The Indians love + them because they spoke up for man when the other animals turned against + him, and because it was one of their ancestors that made the trees and + plants reveal their good medicines for the cure of the sick." +</p> +<p> + "Now I know why it was, when I was out with the Indian boys, that they + never would shoot an arrow at a chipmunk, even when I asked them to," said + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Mary, "all of the Indians have heard their fathers tell of the + kindness of the old father chipmunk in the days when the animals knew so + much and could talk, and so they warn the children against injuring these + pretty little creatures." +</p> +<p> + But it was now time they were returning. The light canoe was once more + pushed down into the lake, and soon they were merrily gliding along over + the clear, transparent waters to their cozy home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH13"> CHAPTER XIII.</a></h3> +<h4> + In the Wigwam of Souwanas—How Gray Wolf Persecuted + Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. +</h4> +<p> + "We have come to-day for a nice story about Nanahboozhoo," said Minnehaha, + as she and Sagastao lifted the deerskin door at the wigwam of Souwanas, and + entered with all the assurance of children who knew they were welcome. +</p> +<p> + "Did he ever do anything to punish bad fellows who were cruel to their + wives and children?" asked Sagastao. "Because, if he did, I wish he would + come and thrash old Wakoo, that bad fellow who has been thrashing his wife + again because he said she did not snare enough rabbits to suit him." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas, who was one of the kind-hearted Indians, never cruel to any of + his family, was much amused at the fire and indignation with which the + young lad spoke. So after he had had comfortable seats arranged for the + children among the robes and blankets he endeavored to satisfy their + demands. "Nanahboozhoo," he said, "did such things long ago, but once, when + he was giving a good thrashing to a man who had been very cruel to his + wife, the wife, as soon as she was able, sprang up from the place where her + husband had knocked her to, seized a paddle and attacked Nanahboozhoo with + such fury that he resolved never to interfere again, if he could help it, + in a quarrel between man and wife. And," added the old man, with a merry + twinkle in his eye, "it is best for everybody, if possible, to keep out of + such quarrels." +</p> +<p> + "Yes, but, mismis" (grandfather, Minnehaha's pet name for Souwanas), "you + surely know a nice story in which Nanahboozhoo helped some one without + getting into trouble himself." +</p> +<p> + "Of course I do, my grandchild," said the old man, "and I know you will be + pleased with it. +</p> +<p> + "My story is about a lovely Indian maiden who was bothered by a cruel + hunter. He was determined that she should marry him, although she did not + like him, and Nanahboozhoo came to her rescue. +</p> +<p> + "The maiden's name was Waubenoo. She had the misfortune to lose both her + father and mother when she was about eighteen years old. There were four + children, all much younger than she, left in her sole care. They had no + uncles or aunts, or other relatives, near, to take care of them, and so + Waubenoo had to hunt and fish to get food for her little brothers and + sisters. Fortunately her father had left a number of good traps and nets, + and plenty of twine for snares, and so the industrious girl got on fairly + well. The great lake near her wigwam was well supplied with fish, and the + forests all round had in them many rabbits and partridges and other small + game. When great storms arose on the big lake, and Waubenoo could not go + out alone in her birch bark canoe to visit her nets, some of the Indians, + who were pleased to see how kind and industrious she was, would overhaul + her nets and bring in what fish were caught. Thus she toiled on, and with + the assistance of these kind Indians she did very nicely. Her little + brothers and sisters loved her dearly, and did what they could to help in + the simpler and easier part of the work. Every decent person among the + Indians was pleased with her industrious habits, and often, in their quiet + way, had some cheery words of encouragement for her. +</p> +<p> + "But there was one exception, and this was a selfish Indian hunter who, + seeing what a fine-looking, strong woman she had become, and so clever in + her work with both nets and traps, resolved that she should be his wife, to + work for him and do his bidding. This man had been married before and, if + the reports were true which had been told, it was likely that his wife had + died because of his cruelties to her. So he resolved, in his selfishness, + to take Waubenoo from caring for her brothers and sisters to be his wife, + and to hunt and fish for him, that he might live a life of idleness. +</p> +<p> + "Her parents being dead this selfish young Indian did not have to go to her + father to buy her to be his wife. All he thought he had to do was to go and + tell her she had to be his wife and come and do as he commanded her. So + harsh and cold were his words, and so very rough and forbidding his looks, + that, while Waubenoo was frightened, she was grave and high spirited enough + to indignantly refuse his request, and to order him never to trouble her + again. +</p> +<p> + "This, of course, made him very angry. He refused to go, and continued to + insist on her going with him. +</p> +<p> + "Fearing that he might revenge himself upon her by doing her or the + children some harm, she told him that it was her duty to stay with the + little ones whom the death of the parents had left in her care; that they + might perish if she now left them. +</p> +<p> + "But nothing would turn away his anger, and if it had not happened just + then that some friendly Indians came along he would have cruelly beaten + her. Before them he durst not strike her, and so, muttering some threats, + he sulkily strode away into the forest. +</p> +<p> + "Poor Waubenoo was now sadly troubled. Lighthearted and free, she had + cheerfully worked and toiled for her loved ones, but now here comes this + cruel, fierce-looking man, whom she could only look on with fear and dread, + and threatens to drag her away from them all. Gray Wolf, for that was his + name, had a bad reputation among the Indians. The young men shunned him and + the maidens took good care to be out of the way when he was around. That he + would persist in his attempts to get Waubenoo all were convinced, but that + he should succeed no one desired. Still, while Indian ideas on some of + these things are so peculiar that no one seemed disposed to interfere, at + the same time some of them were generally on the lookout for her + protection. As for brave Waubenoo, while certain that he would still + trouble her, she was resolved never to submit to him. +</p> +<p> + "Thus the weeks rolled on, with Gray Wolf looking for some opportunity to + carry her off, and making several attempts to do so, which Waubenoo, ever + alert and watchful, succeeded in preventing. +</p> +<p> + "At length his persistent attempts became so annoying that she was obliged + to neglect much of her work in order to keep on her guard. Food was getting + scarce because she dared not now go far from her wigwam to hunt for the + partridges and rabbits and other small creatures she was so clever in + snaring. +</p> +<p> + "At length she resolved to go to Nanahboozhoo and seek his aid in getting + rid of this troublesome fellow. When Nanahboozhoo heard her sad story he + became very angry. He was indignant that such a commendable maiden, one who + had been so kind to her little brothers and sisters, should be bothered by + a big, selfish, lazy fellow who only wanted her because she was so + industrious and so clever at her work. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had heard much about her kindly treatment of the children, + and of her skill in providing for their wants, so he lost no time in going + back with her to her wigwam. At first the younger children were much afraid + of him, as they, like all other Indian children, had heard such wonderful + tales about him. But he was in such a jolly good humor that day, and was so + delighted with everything he saw about Waubenoo's wigwam and with the + proofs of her industry that he soon made friends with all the children. How + to go to work to give Gray Wolf such a lesson that he would never trouble + them any more he hardly knew at first. However, he had not been there many + hours before he had to come to a decision, for one of the little children + came rushing into the wigwam with the terrible news that Gray Wolf, + carrying a big dog whip and looking very angry, was coming along the trail. + Nanahboozhoo only laughed when he heard this, and he very quickly decided + what to do. 'Sit down there,' he said to Waubenoo, 'in that dark side of + the wigwam, with a blanket over your head, and keep perfectly still until I + call you; and you, children, must keep quiet. Do not be frightened or say a + word, no matter what happens.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, who, as you know, could change himself into any form he + liked, suddenly transformed himself so as to look exactly like Waubenoo. So + perfect was his resemblance to her, even to his dress, that her brothers + and sisters could not have detected the disguise. Indeed, the young ones + could not help looking over to the spot where the real Waubenoo sat in the + gloom with the blanket drawn over her head. But they were Indian children, + early trained to be quiet and do as they were told, and so they fully + obeyed his commands. +</p> +<p> + "Of course, when Gray Wolf came into the wigwam he was completely deceived, + and now, thinking that he had caught Waubenoo when there were no friendly + Indians around, he at once began speaking very fiercely to her: +</p> +<p> + "'I have asked you for the last time,' he said, 'and now I have come with + my dog whip and I intend giving you a good thrashing and then driving you + to my wigwam. I intend to call you Atim, my dog, and like a dog I am going + to thrash you.' +</p> +<a name="Illus016"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus016.jpg" width="240" height="334" +alt="'Gave him such a terrible beating.'"> +</p> +<p> + "He then savagely raised the whip to strike, as he thought Waubenoo, but + the blow never reached its victim, or even Nanahboozhoo in his disguise, at + whom it was aimed, for Nanahboozhoo was so enraged that anybody in the + shape of a man could be so cruel and selfish as to come and threaten a kind + young woman like Waubenoo that he suddenly sprang at Gray Wolf, and seizing + him by his scalp lock he dragged him out of the wigwam, and then wrenching + the heavy whip out of his hand gave him such a terrible beating that he + remembered it as long as he lived. Then roughly throwing him to the ground, + Nanahboozhoo, still in the disguise of Waubenoo, hurried into the wigwam + and said to the real Waubenoo: +</p> +<p> + "'Now, while he is weak and cowed, go out and talk sternly to him, and tell + him that if he ever troubles you again it will be worse for him than this + has been.' +</p> +<p> + "When Waubenoo came out her appearance so terrified Gray Wolf that he tried + to get up and skulk away, weak as he was. Waubenoo, glad that her enemy was + so conquered that he would not be likely to trouble her much more, did as + Nanahboozhoo requested her. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was heartily thanked by Waubenoo and the children for thus + ridding them of this bad Indian, who had for so long made their lives + miserable. Ere he left Nanahboozhoo warned the children to say nothing + about his coming, 'for,' said he, 'if Gray Wolf finds out who it was that + thrashed him he may yet be troublesome.' +</p> +<p> + "Well would it have been for all if the children had remembered this + advice," added Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "O tell us what they did, and what happened," shouted Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Not to-day," said the old man; "it is time you both were back at your + lessons, and as I am going that way with some whitefish I will take you + with me in my canoe." +</p> +<p> + "But is that all about the story of Waubenoo and the children?" said + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Souwanas, "until we come to the next. For a long time after + Gray Wolf received the beating he kept away from them, although his heart + was full of anger and revenge. Although he was a big fellow he feared to + again threaten her who, although she seemed but an ordinary-sized Indian + maiden, possessed the strength that had enabled her to give him such a + thrashing." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH14"> CHAPTER XIV.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo—The Treachery + of Gray Wolf—The Legend of the Whisky Jack. +</h4> +<p> + "It came about in this way," said Souwanas, "and it is such a sad story + about beautiful Waubenoo." +</p> +<p> + "Will it make me cry?" said the tender-hearted Minnehaha. "If so, I do not + think I want to hear it." +</p> +<p> + "Stay and hear it, you little pussy," said Sagastao. "I am sure it is not + worse than the Babes in the Wood." +</p> +<p> + "Well, you always cry first, when we read that story together," said + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + At this the lad had nothing to say, for in spite of his apparent + brusqueness his heart melted more quickly, and his eyes filled easier with + tears, at a pathetic story, than did his sister's. +</p> +<p> + "Well, go ahead, Souwanas," said Sagastao. "We each have a pocket + handkerchief, and when they are used up you can lend us a blanket." +</p> +<p> + At this quaint speech everybody laughed, and then the old man began his + second story about Waubenoo. "It all came about because little children + have long tongues, and this story should warn little children that, while + they have two eyes and two ears, they have but one tongue, and that they + should not at any time talk about or repeat half of what they have seen and + heard. +</p> +<p> + "The little brothers and sisters of Waubenoo had been warned that they + should say nothing about the visit of Nanahboozhoo to their wigwam. In + fact, Nanahboozhoo was such a queer fellow that he did not at any time want + people to be gossiping about him, and, if he had done any good deed for + anyone, he did not wish them to be ever speaking about it. Then another + reason why Nanahboozhoo did not want them to talk about his visit and help + was the fear that Gray Wolf, finding out how it was that he had received + such a beating, would be more bitter and revengeful against Waubenoo and + would again try to get her in his power. The little children were, of + course, delighted that their wigwam was no longer visited by Gray Wolf, + whose coming had always filled them with terror, while Waubenoo was so + pleased at having thus got rid of him that she was happier and brighter + than she had been for a long time. It was not long before some of the other + Indians noticed the change. They were surprised that Gray Wolf had so + suddenly stopped his visits, and that he seemed so dejected and sullen. + Naturally their curiosity was excited, and they were anxious to find out + what had happened." +</p> +<p> + "Better to have been minding their own business," broke in young Sagastao, + who seemed to see the drift of the story. +</p> +<p> + "Be quiet, and do not interrupt Souwanas," said Minnehaha, who often felt + called upon to restrain her brother's impulsiveness. +</p> +<p> + "Of course," Souwanas continued, "Gray Wolf had so suffered that he had + very little to say, and if ever teased about Waubenoo he fell into a great + passion. +</p> +<p> + "Waubenoo herself was too sensible to gratify their idle curiosity, but the + very return of her brightness, and her unwillingness to talk about the + matter, only added to the foolish desires of outsiders to find out what had + really occurred. So some of these naughty busybodies began questioning the + children when they could get them away from Waubenoo, for in her presence + they were as mute as she was. They pestered and bothered the children and + tried in various ways before they succeeded. But one day, while Waubenoo + was away overhauling her traps, some of those wicked meddlers visited her + wigwam and succeeded in getting one of the smallest ones—I just forget now + whether it was a boy or a girl." +</p> +<p> + "A girl, of course," shouted Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No, indeed; I am sure it was a naughty boy," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Well, no matter which; but one of them said: 'Nanahboozhoo!' +</p> +<p> + "This one word, Nanahboozhoo, was quite enough to startle and alarm them, + for Nanahboozhoo was also much feared, as he sometimes did dreadful things. +</p> +<p> + "The fact that Nanahboozhoo had been in their very midst, although they + were a long time in hearing anything more than the one word from the now + frightened children, was quite enough to excite the whole village, for the + news was soon spread abroad by the tattlers. +</p> +<p> + "Such busybodies could not be satisfied with only hearing that Nanahboozhoo + had visited the wigwam of Waubenoo. Of course they wanted to hear about + what he said and did, and I am sorry to have to say that after a while, + with coaxing and presents, they managed to get from the children the whole + delightfully exciting story. +</p> +<p> + "When Gray Wolf, who was so jeered and laughed at by all who dare, heard + from the gossipers how it had happened that he had received such a + thrashing he was doubly wild and furious. +</p> +<p> + "When Waubenoo found out that all was known about how Nanahboozhoo had + helped her she was very sorry that her little brothers and sisters had been + so naughty and disobedient. She also knew that now she would have to be + more careful than ever against the movements of Gray Wolf. But the fact was + that he had been so cowed by his beating that he was afraid to openly + attack her, lest she should get Nanahboozhoo to help her again and it might + be worse for him than it was at his first meeting. But he treasured up + revengeful feelings in his heart and resolved that at some time or other he + would dreadfully punish her. +</p> +<p> + "Some years passed by, and the older children, next to Waubenoo, were able + to do most of the hunting and fishing as well as to be on guard against any + of the evil doings of Gray Wolf. Thus they were able, in a measure, to + repay their sister, whom they dearly loved, although they were so + thoughtless, for all her great kindness to them. +</p> +<p> + "One fall there came to the village a splendid Indian hunter. He was of the + same tribe, but lived with his people, most of the time, at a distant part + of the country. He was so pleased with this village, where dwelt Waubenoo, + that he decided to remain for the winter and hunt. He was such a very + pleasant fellow and such a great hunter that he soon made many friends. + Gray Wolf was the only man who seemed to hate him, and he was even so rash + as to insult him openly in an Indian gathering. +</p> +<p> + "Soquaatum, for this was the young warrior's name, stood the insults of + Gray Wolf for some time, then, when he saw that some of the young hunters + began to think he was afraid of Gray Wolf, he suddenly sprang at him and + knocked him down, and then seizing him by his belt, he shook him as easily + and thoroughly as a wildcat would a rabbit. Then he threw him from him and + sat down among the people as though nothing had happened. +</p> +<p> + "That evening, when he and the relatives with whom he lived were seated + around the fire in the wigwam, he heard for the first time the story of + Waubenoo: of her great industry, her love for her little brothers and + sisters, and how she had been threatened by Gray Wolf and then befriended + by Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "This story very much interested Soquaatum, and especially as in his + hunting he had met her younger brother, now a fine strapping hunter, and + had become very fond of him, although he was much younger. So he resolved + that as soon as he could he would visit her wigwam and seek her + acquaintance." +</p> +<p> + "Ho! Ho! So this is to be a love story," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Be quiet, do," said his sister. "All love stories do not end well. + Remember, there was Gray Wolf!" +</p> +<p> + Souwanas profited by the interruption, for it gave him an opportunity to + light his pipe with flint and steel, and he then resumed the story. +</p> +<p> + "Soon after Soquaatum arrayed himself in his most attractive costume and + called at the tent of Waubenoo. His excuse was that he wanted to see her + brother and arrange some hunting excursion. +</p> +<p> + "Waubenoo, who had often heard her brother speak of his great skill as a + hunter, and had also heard how easily and thoroughly he had handled Gray + Wolf, received him most kindly and at once made him welcome. +</p> +<p> + "Well, it is not surprising that he should soon fall in love with Waubenoo, + and so pleased was she with his manner, as well as his attractive + appearance, that she became very fond of him, and it was not many days + after their first meeting before it was noised abroad that Soquaatum and + Waubenoo were lovers. +</p> +<p> + "Soquaatum remained until about the middle of the winter. Then he returned + to his distant home to make all preparations for receiving his wife, for + whom he was to come in the spring. +</p> +<p> + "Gray Wolf was, of course, furious when he heard that Waubenoo was to be + married, and to the man who had humiliated him in the presence of so many + people. Though angry and revengeful, he was at heart a cowardly fellow, and + now that Waubenoo's brother was full-grown he was afraid of him, as well as + of Soquaatum while he was in the neighborhood. But his fears did not + prevent him from thinking of schemes for revenge which, however, came to + nothing, because the friends of Waubenoo were so vigilant and well + prepared. +</p> +<p> + "At length one of his plans succeeded, and this is how it happened: +</p> +<p> + "Gray Wolf enlisted a young Indian who was equally bad with himself to help + him. As Soquaatum had now been gone for some weeks to his home, which was + far east from that region, Gray Wolf and his wicked companion went a good + long distance—many miles—in that direction. There they made a hunting + lodge and laid their plans to capture Waubenoo. Then Gray Wolf's companion + went back and remained secreted near the wigwam of Waubenoo. One night he + saw her two brothers leave, about midnight, for some distant traps that + would take them all day to reach. +</p> +<p> + "As soon as this bad fellow was satisfied that they were well out of sight + and hearing he rushed up to the tent of Waubenoo and hastily aroused her + from her sleep. He had arrayed himself as though he was gaining on her, she + began calling: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' Alas! he was far away, but there was + another who, fortunately, was near. Nanahboozhoo had been out hunting and + he had a sled which he was dragging, loaded with game. He was surprised as + he heard this calling, 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' and as he continued + listening it became hoarse and then only like a whisper. He could stand it + no longer; he rushed through the woods and there he saw Waubenoo, dashing + along on snow-shoes, calling in a low whisper: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' + while not a hundred feet behind her was Gray Wolf, yelling in triumph that + he would soon capture her. Unfortunately Nanahboozhoo was not in a very + good humor that day. He had heard of some little children that had been + tattling about him, and he had heard that the children in the tent of + Waubenoo had told about his visit. +</p> +<p> + "However, when he saw who it was that was in danger, and heard her cry to + him for help when she saw him, and especially when he saw who it was that + was after her, he quickly turned Waubenoo into a bird and without any + trouble she quickly flew up into a tree out of the reach of danger. +</p> +<p> + "Ever since that Waubenoo has been the Whisky Jack, and if you will listen + to Whisky Jack when he is not scolding or clamoring at your camp for food + his voice is like that of the lost Indian maiden, with a bad cold, calling + for her lover." +</p> +<p> + "What did Nanahboozhoo do to Gray Wolf?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Hush," said Minnehaha. "Don't you know Nanahboozhoo doesn't like to have + children talk about him?" +</p> +<p> + This excessive caution on the part of the little girl vastly amused + Souwanas. Then he told them that Nanahboozhoo turned Gray Wolf into a dog + and made him draw home his heavy load of meat. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH15"> CHAPTER XV.</a></h3> +<h4> + A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock—How the + Wolverine's Legs were Shortened—A Punishment for + Conceit. +</h4> +<p> + There was great excitement one morning among the children in the schoolroom + when Mary came in with the word that some hunters with their dog sleds had + called, and that they had with them a great wolverine which had been killed + in the woods not very far away. The children ran out to look at it. +</p> +<p> + Now the wolverine is known to be such a cunning, clever animal that the + killing of one is quite an event among the Indians, and the lucky hunter + who succeeds in destroying one is the hero of the hour. A man may on one + hunting trip kill several bears or wolves, or many other animals, and there + is not much said about it, but to kill a wolverine, that pest and scourge + of the hunters, is indeed a feat that any man is proud of. +</p> +<p> + "Why is it called a wolverine?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Because it was once like a wolf, and had small feet and long legs, but now + its legs are short and its feet are very large." +</p> +<p> + "What shortened its legs and made its feet become so large?" asked + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + It was too cold a day to remain any longer outside looking at the + wolverine, or to learn more about it, so the children were obliged to + return to their warm schoolroom, where their lessons were resumed. +</p> +<p> + It was evident, however, that both Sagastao and Minnehaha were ready with a + couple of questions for Mary, and it was not long after school hours that + they sought her and asked: +</p> +<p> + "Mary, what was it that shortened the legs of the wolverine? and what made + his feet so big?" +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine," replied Mary, "was once the finest of all the different + kinds of wolves. He had the softest and nicest of fur. His legs were long, + and his feet were firm and handsome, but he was an awfully conceited + fellow. He fancied he was the handsomest creature in existence and looked + down with contempt on all the other kinds of wolves. He used to go to the + side of the clear transparent lake, where he could see his shadow reflected + in the water, and he would strut up and down and say: 'O dear, what a + lovely creature I am!' +</p> +<p> + "It is true he was very clever in many ways. He was so swift that he could + run down even the antelope and the elk, and at all the great animal + gatherings, where the different creatures met in council, he was the + swiftest there, and easily won the chief prizes at the great races which + the animals used to hold. Indeed, he won so many races that at length he + could get no animal to compete with him. He even tried to get up races with + the birds, but they laughed at him for his conceit. +</p> +<p> + "One day he happened to be hunting among the mountains. Near the top of one + he saw a large ball-like rock, standing there apart from the other big + rocks. Coming up close to this great round rock he said to it: +</p> +<p> + "'Was that you I saw walking just now?' +</p> +<p> + "'No; I cannot walk, I have lain here for a long time,' said the rock. +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine retorted that he was sure he had seen the rock walking. +</p> +<p> + "This made the rock angry and he told the wolverine that he was telling a + falsehood. Then the saucy wolverine replied: +</p> +<p> + "'You need not speak to me in that way, for I have seen you walking.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine ran off a little distance and challenged the rock to + catch him. But the rock did not reply to this and the bold wolverine came + close up to the rock, struck it with his paw, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'Come, now, see if you can catch me!' +</p> +<p> + "'I cannot run,' said the rock, 'but I can roll.' +</p> +<p> + "At this the conceited wolverine began to laugh. 'That will do! All I want + is a race. You can run or roll, just as you like.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the race began; the wolverine started down the mountain side at a + great rate, and the rock came rolling behind him. At first the big rock did + not move very fast, and the wolverine laughed as he looked back and saw the + rock was so far behind. But the rock came on faster and faster, and now it + made the wolverine do his very best to keep ahead of it. On they rushed, + over the sticks and stones and rough places, down—down that great, long + mountain side. At length, swift and strong as he was, the wolverine began + to get tired, and although he was running as he never did before in his + life the big rock was surely gaining on him. By and by he was so frightened + that in looking behind at the rock, now close at his heels, he tripped over + a stick and down he fell. The rock rolled over him and, just as it had + completely crushed him down to the earth, there it stopped. +</p> +<a name="Illus017"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus017.jpg" width="250" height="339" +alt="The big rock was surely gaining on him."> +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine, whose head was not crushed under the rock, cried out: +</p> +<p> + "'Get off! go away! you are hurting me. You are crushing my bones.' +</p> +<p> + "But the rock replied: +</p> +<p> + "'You tormented me and told me I was telling a falsehood, and you + challenged me to a race with you; and now that I have caught you I will not + stir until some one stronger comes and takes me off.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine lifted up his voice and cried to his relatives, the + wolves and foxes, to come and remove the rock. +</p> +<p> + "When these animals came and saw him in such a plight, they asked him: +</p> +<p> + "'How came you to get under the rock?' +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine replied: +</p> +<p> + "'I challenged the rock to catch me, and it rolled on me.' +</p> +<p> + "When the wolves and the foxes heard this they were not very sorry. They + knew how conceited the wolverine had been about his speed, indeed they were + all smarting because of the ease with which he had beaten them, and so, + instead of helping him at once, they said he deserved his punishment. +</p> +<p> + "After a time, however, they began to be sorry for the poor wolverine, who + was crying out piteously for help, but they found they were not able to + remove the rock. They could not even stir it in the least. +</p> +<p> + "'Get out of the way,' said the wolverine, 'and I will call my other + friends, the thunder and the lightning.' +</p> +<p> + "In a few minutes a great black cloud was seen rapidly coming out of the + west. As it came rushing along the foxes and the wolves were very much + frightened by the great noise it made. However, they had courage enough to + ask the lightning to take off the fine coat of the wolverine but not to + kill him. Then they ran back and watched to see the lightning do its work. + The lightning promised to do what had been asked of him; for he had heard + of this proud, conceited wolverine, who had boasted that he could run like + lightning, and now he was just going to teach him a lesson. So he darted + back a distance to gather force, and then he came on with a rush and struck + the rock and knocked it into small pieces. He also completely stripped the + skin from the back of the wolverine but did not kill him. When the + wolverine got up and stood there naked, with all his beauty gone, he was + very angry at the lightning. +</p> +<p> + "'You are like other so-called friends I have heard about,' he said; 'you + cannot do a thing but you must overdo it and spoil all. You had no need to + tear my beautiful fur coat from my back when you knew I only asked you to + come and strike the rock.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the poor, shivering wolverine gathered the pieces of his coat and + carried them to his sister the frog, who dwelt in a marsh, and he asked her + to sew them together. The frog had sore eyes, and when she sewed them + together she did not do it properly. Hence the wolverine was very angry, + and he hit her a crack on the head and knocked her into the water. Then he + took up the coat and went and found his youngest sister, the mouse. He told + her of his troubles, and how the frog had so badly done her work. Then he + showed the mouse how he wanted the coat to be sewed. His little sister felt + badly for her big brother, and so she set to work and with great care sewed + all the pieces together in their right places. When the wolverine saw how + nicely she had done her work he was much pleased. +</p> +<p> + "'You mice may live everywhere,' he said, in real gratitude, 'and in spite + of all your enemies you will never be destroyed.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine tried to put on his coat, but, alas! he found his legs + had been shortened and his feet very much flattened out by the terrible + crushing he had had under that big stone which he had been so foolish as to + challenge to a race." +</p> +<p> + "Guess he didn't run many more races," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No, indeed," was the reply; "he was so mortified and angry that from that + day to this the wolverine has always been a sulking, solitary animal, and + playing all the mean tricks he can on all kinds of animals as though he had + a spite against them. He now has not one friend who ever cares for him, + unless it is his little sister the mouse." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH16"> CHAPTER XVI.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun—How They + Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters—Their Great + Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. +</h4> +<p> + One pleasant summer day, when the children had the pleasure of a canoe + outing with Mary and Kennedy, they decided to visit the wigwam of their old + friends, Kinnesasis and his wife. They had not seen them for some time, and + as Souwanas was away on a long hunting excursion they could not expect any + Nanahboozhoo stories until his return. Kinnesasis was a capital + story-teller, and they were eager to reach his wigwam. There, after making + both him and his wife happy with some gifts, they knew they could get some + interesting stories in return. +</p> +<p> + They met with a hearty welcome and spent a happy day there. Among the + stories Kinnesasis told them, as handed down by his forefathers, the + following is perhaps the most interesting: +</p> +<p> + "Long ago there were great monsters on this earth. Some of them were + enormous animals and fiercer than any that now exist. Then there were + magicians, and other evil spirits, like windegoos, some of whom were tall, + giant cannibals, that filled the people with terror. They lay in wait and + caught the children, and even the grown-up people, as the wild beasts now + catch their prey. Then they kindled up great fires and roasted them and ate + them. +</p> +<p> + "Often, when the parents went to look for their children, they also were + caught and eaten. +</p> +<p> + "The people were rendered very miserable not only by these great monsters + in human form, but also by the attacks of the enormous animals that then + lived. Indeed they began to fear that they would all soon be killed, unless + help came to them. +</p> +<p> + "These people were worshipers of the sun, whom they called the great Sun + Father, and some tribes still have their sun dances in his honor. When he + saw that the people were in such great trouble and were likely to be all + killed by their cruel enemies he resolved to deliver them from their foes. + So he disguised himself and came down to the earth and married a beautiful + woman of the Northland. They had lovely twin boys, whose names were + Sesigizit, the older, and Ooseemeeid, the younger. They grew so rapidly + that they were able to walk when only a few days old. Their sun father + disappeared as soon as they were born, going to the far Eastland. +</p> +<p> + "Strange to say, although these two boys grew so rapidly at first, they as + suddenly ceased growing, and so remained quite small. But they were very + intelligent, and were ever asking questions. +</p> +<p> + "'Who is our father?'" they inquired of their mother one day. +</p> +<a name="Illus018"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus018.jpg" width="250" height="200" +alt="Sun dance lodge of the blood Indians."> +</p> +<p> + But she ignored the question, and although they kept bothering her it was a + long time before she would give them any information at all, and that was + very little. However, she did tell them that they were more than ordinary + children and finer than other boys, but then there are lots of mothers who + say such things to their own little ones. +</p> +<p> + "As they were now big enough, she brought out of hiding a couple of bows, + and quivers full of arrows, and some magic rabbit sticks, and gave them to + the boys. +</p> +<p> + "'These were left for you by your father,' said the mother, ere he went + away, and he gave commands that they were to be given to you as soon as you + were able to use them.' +</p> +<p> + "The children were, of course, anxious to try their bows and arrows and + these magic sticks. So very soon after they had received them they resolved + to go off on a hunting expedition. +</p> +<p> + "The mother, who was anxious about them, warned them of the various + monsters in human shape, great windegoos and cannibals, that were ever + lying in wait to catch and roast and eat little boys. She also told them of + the animals that were so enormously large that they could catch them up and + swallow them as easily as a turkey does a grasshopper. +</p> +<p> + "Thus she tried to put them on their guard against the terrible foes that + had devoured so many of their people. The boys, however, were not much + frightened, and they eagerly set off on their journey. +</p> +<p> + "They were especially warned by their anxious mother not to go to the east, + as there was a narrow lake there to which many of these evil creatures came + for water, especially a great monster wolf that had devoured many people. + Yet they immediately started off in that direction, for, like some other + boys, they did not obey even their mother. It was noon before they reached + the lake. At first, as they examined it, everything seemed very quiet and + still. +</p> +<p> + "'Mother must have been mistaken,' said Sesigizit; 'I do not see any living + thing here.' +</p> +<p> + "But as they wandered farther along the shore, suddenly Ooseemeeid cried + out: +</p> +<p> + "'O see that great wolf on the other side!' +</p> +<p> + "They dropped down as quickly as they could, but the fierce brute had + already caught sight of them. He was very much larger than any of the + wolves that now howl in the dark forests. He not only destroyed many of the + people, but when he came to springs, or small streams, he either drank up + all the water or so spoiled it that it was unfit for use. +</p> +<p> + "The boys shot their arrows at him, but his sides were so tough, for he had + bones like jointed armor upon them, that he was only slightly wounded. He + was, however, made very angry by their attacks, and he picked up a magic + stick and threw it at them. They would have fared badly if they had not so + suddenly thrown themselves upon the ground that it passed over them. +</p> +<p> + "When the boys saw that their arrows were not swift enough to kill such a + great animal they decided to use the magic rabbit sticks which their + father, the sun, had given them, with orders that they were only to be used + when the arrows failed. +</p> +<p> + "The wolf, when he saw that one of his magic sticks had missed its aim, was + more savage than ever, and he seized his remaining one, for he only had + two, and he threw it with all his power at the boys. This time they both + jumped high up from the ground and the stick passed under them. +</p> +<p> + "It was their turn now, and so they both threw their magic sticks with such + force that the great bony armor of the wolf was crushed in and he was + killed. +</p> +<p> + "Sesigizit quickly ran around the lake to the spot where the great body lay + and cut out the heart of the wolf, while Ooseemeeid secured the two magic + sticks that the wolf had thrown at them, as well as their own weapons, and + then with these trophies they returned to their own home. +</p> +<p> + "'Where have you been?' asked the anxious mother when they appeared. +</p> +<p> + "'We have been to the lake,' they replied. +</p> +<p> + "She could hardly believe it. +</p> +<p> + "'My boys,' she said, 'you surely are mistaken, for no one who goes there + returns. The great monsters that devour our people live there, and they let + no one escape.' +</p> +<p> + "Then they told her of their battle with the great wolf, and how they had + killed him. They also showed her his heart, which they had brought home + with them. +</p> +<p> + "She was very much excited. She called the people together, and there was + great rejoicing at the death of this terrible wolf which had been such a + scourge to them. +</p> +<p> + "Some time after Sesigizit and Ooseemeeid asked their mother if she knew + where grew any good tough wood suitable for making bows and arrows. Her + answer was: +</p> +<p> + "'Far away in the foothills is a canyon, or ravine, where a forest of just + such wood as you need is growing, but the path that leads to it is narrow, + and there sits guard a great monster giant who kills and throws into the + ravine everyone who has attempted to get any of that wood. And in addition + there is a fierce mountain lioness prowling around somewhere on the route, + and she has already killed many people and carried them off to her den.' +</p> +<p> + "Ooseemeeid at once desired to set off and get a supply of this wood, but + Sesigizit, when he found out how fearful their mother was that they would + both be killed if they made the attempt, at first refused to go. His + objection, however, vanished when he saw his brother making ready to start, + and in spite of their mother's fears they started off. +</p> +<p> + "They had not gone very far when they met the great mountain lioness. She + was out hunting food for her cubs. These she had hidden in a den which was + away up on a precipitous mountain side. +</p> +<p> + "Ooseemeeid asked her if she knew the way to the canyon where grew the good + wood. +</p> +<p> + "'Yes,' she replied. 'I am just going that way, and I will show you the + route.' She said this because she wished in this way to allure the two boys + to walk near to her den, and there she would kill them for food for her + cubs. +</p> +<p> + "So she led them until they came to a place where the path was very + dangerous, because it was on a narrow, shelving rock around the mountain + side. Here the monster lioness asked the boys to walk on ahead of her, but + they refused, saying that they had been taught never to walk in front of + their elders. The lioness urged, but the boys were firm, and so she had to + yield and let them have their way. +</p> +<p> + "When in the most dangerous part of the pass the boys pretended to be very + much alarmed, and asked to be permitted to walk between her and the + mountain side. At first she was suspicious, but they seemed now to be so + cowardly and afraid that she thought they were not able to do her any harm, + so she walked on the outer edge of the pass and let them have the inside, + and also allowed them to put their hands on her as though to steady + themselves. When they came to the most dangerous spot, where it was so + narrow that even a mountain lion had to be careful, they both suddenly drew + their magic sticks and, giving her a great shove, sent her over the side of + the narrow rocky ledge and down she fell—to be dashed to pieces thousands + of feet below. +</p> +<p> + "With a shout of triumph the two boys carefully pushed on and, finding the + den, quickly killed the cubs and cut off the right forepaw from each one to + carry home. +</p> +<p> + "From this high pass they could now see the canyon where grew the good wood + for which they were seeking. They also saw the lodge of the monster giant + who guarded the narrow path that led to it. They saw by its size that he + must be an enormous creature, and so they looked to see that their arrows + and magic sticks were all in good order and handy for use. +</p> +<p> + "The great giant had heard their shout of triumph when they had destroyed + the mountain lioness and it made him very angry, for he hated any noise or + disturbance; his name, Nikoochis, which means solitude, indicated this. +</p> +<p> + "When he saw the small boys he was at first inclined to laugh in derision + at them, but when they had come near enough to shoot their magic arrows at + him he soon began to roar with the stinging pain they gave him. +</p> +<p> + "In vain he tried to catch the active little fellows; he was so big and + clumsy, and they were so quick in their movements, that it was an utter + impossibility for him to get his hands upon them. +</p> +<p> + "Then he began tearing up great rocks and stones and tried to crush them by + hurling these at them. Here the boys' father, the sun, came to their help, + and he shone so fiercely into the eyes of the great monster that he was + unable to see very well, and the boys easily kept out of the way of the + rocks thrown at them. +</p> +<a name="Illus0019"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus019.jpg" width="260" height="213" +alt="'They both threw their magic sticks.'"> +</p> +<p> + "The monster was big and fat and unaccustomed to exertion, and he was soon + tired out. Indeed he was so big that the arrows of the boys seemed only + like pins and needles sticking into him, and the boys began to fear that + their quivers would be emptied before they had conquered him. Just then + they met an old witch with a bundle of sticks which she was carrying to her + wigwam. She was very angry with Nikoochis, for he would not allow her even + to gather the dry sticks that fell to the ground in the forest he was + guarding. The result was that she had to wander far away to get the little + fuel she needed in her wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "The boys told her of their battle with this selfish old monster, and that + even now he was badly wounded by their arrows, which, however, did not seem + to reach any vital spot. She told them that the only place where their + weapons could be effectual in killing him was in the top of his skull. That + they must first in some way crack it with their magic rabbit sticks, and + then they could shoot their arrows into his brain. Hearing this they + quickly resumed their attack upon him. In vain he tore up great rocks and + hurled them with all his force at them. They either cleverly jumped on one + side or sprang up into the air out of the way. +</p> +<p> + "Then, watching for their opportunity, they waited until he stooped down, + and when he was struggling to loosen from the earth a great rock as big as + a house Sesigizit threw, with all his power, his magic rabbit stick. It + struck the giant fair on the top of his head with such force that it broke + off a piece of his skull. The next instant Ooseemeeid fired one of his + arrows so accurately that it pierced into the brain through the spot thus + left exposed. +</p> +<p> + "With a roar of rage and pain the great monster fell, rolled down into the + deep canyon, and died. +</p> +<p> + "After securing his big flint knife, which dropped from his belt, the boys + hurried into the canyon and gathered a lot of fine wood for arrow shafts + and returned to their mother. When she asked them where they had been they + replied that they had been to the canyon, and that they had killed both the + mountain lioness and the great giant. +</p> +<p> + "At first she could hardly believe this, but as they had brought the paws + of the cubs and the flint knife of the great giant, why, she just had to + believe it. Great indeed were the rejoicings of the people at being thus + rid of these creatures." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH17"> CHAPTER XVII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo + Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. +</h4> +<p> + One cold day Souwanas, who had not been seen by the children for some + time—he had been away on a long hunting excursion—quite unexpectedly + walked into the mission house during the school hours of Sagastao and + Minnehaha. The news of his coming was hailed with delight by the children, + and it required a certain amount of firmness on the part of the heads of + the household to keep them at their studies. They were, however, quickly + pacified, and returned with diligence to their lessons, when informed that + their old friend had been invited to stay all day and doubtless would have + a story of some kind for them when their studies were all over. +</p> +<p> + The venison and bear's meat which he had brought were quickly purchased at + a price that well pleased him. Then he sat down for a rest and a smoke in + the kitchen. Of course he had his usual tiff with Mary, the nurse, who was + very jealous of him because he had so won the love and confidence of the + children. Souwanas was greatly amused at her jealousy of him, especially + since he was told by one of the Indian maids that the children had been + overheard gravely debating between themselves which was the better + story-teller, Mary or Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + When peace again reigned some illustrated volumes from the library were + given to Souwanas for his inspection. He was not able to read English, but + he was very fond of looking at pictures. +</p> +<p> + There was one book that had a special fascination for him, in fact when he + first examined it, and had had some of its illustrations explained to him, + it gave this superstitious Indian about the biggest fright he had ever + received. It was a book in which were pictured and described many of the + great extinct monsters of the old times. These enormous hideous creatures, + whose bones and fossil remains are still occasionally to be found, quite + alarmed him. Yet the book was generally about the first one he desired to + see. +</p> +<p> + On this present visit, however, Souwanas, while as usual eager again to + inspect this book, was observed to look at it in a very different spirit. + The explanation came out later, when he had the children around him—indeed + almost the whole household—listening to a new Nanahboozhoo story which he + had secured from some famous old Indian whom he had met while far away on + his long hunting excursion. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, it is true," he began, "that there did once live on this earth, both + in the land and in the water, great animals like those here shown in this + book. I have been to the wigwam of the great Shuniou and from him I have + learned much about them, as handed down in the tradition of our + forefathers. Great and terrible were they, and the people of those times + lived in great terror of them, for the bows and arrows and even the stone + war clubs of the strongest warriors were powerless to kill or even + dangerously wound such monsters. It was well for the inhabitants of the + earth in those days that these great monsters were few in number and that + they were constantly fighting among themselves, for so large and terrible + were they that only animals as big and fierce of other kinds could battle + with them. +</p> +<p> + "But there was one great monster that lived in the water, and as he had no + enemies big enough to attack him he lived on, even long after the other + great animals were all killed off. +</p> +<p> + "Shuniou said that the tradition was that a great rush of waters caused + many of the last of the great monsters that had tusks of ivory to be + carried to the far Northland, and there, as the terribly cold winter set + in, they were all frozen to death. +</p> +<p> + "This must be true," added Souwanas, "for it was not many years ago that + the Hudson Bay Company sent their men there to get this ivory, which they + intended to ship to England. They came back with word that some of the dead + bodies had been seen where the ice broke up. But this great monster in the + water, as I have said, lived on after the rest were all supposed to have + died off or been killed. He was a terrible scourge to those Indians whose + wigwams were on the shores of the great sea in which he lived. They were in + mortal terror when they ventured out in their canoes to fish. This they had + to do, as they depended almost entirely on fish for their living, and there + were times when the fish left the shallow waters near the shore and went + out far from land. There the Indians had to follow and catch them or they + and their families would starve. +</p> +<p> + "Happily for them, sometimes for months together no one would hear or see + anything of this great sea monster. Then, perhaps, suddenly he would rise + up right under a canoe in which were several Indians, whom he would easily + catch and swallow one by one. He would sometimes rush after a herd of deer + that had gone out swimming in the waters. He would catch and easily swallow + several of them." +</p> +<p> + "Well, I should think that the big horns of a moose or reindeer would give + him some trouble to swallow," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "He was so large," said Souwanas, "that the horns or body of the largest + deer did not seem to bother him in the least degree." +</p> +<p> + "I wonder if it were not one of his great grandfathers that swallowed + Jonah," said the observant Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "The Indians at length came to be so much distressed by the loss of so many + of their number, and by their inability to slay the monster, that they + resolved to ask Nanahboozhoo to come and help them if he possibly could. +</p> +<p> + "I ought to have told you," said Souwanas, "that this great monster was + called by the Indians Mooshekinnebik. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo at once responded to their request, for he was very angry + when he heard how many industrious fishermen had been swallowed by this + creature. He was doubly angry when he returned with the deputation who had + gone for him and further learned that, only the day before, Mooshekinnebik + had been mean enough to come near to the shore and catch and swallow some + boys and girls who had been out swimming that warm summer day. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo informed Nokomis of the request of the people for his + help to deliver them from the long hated Mooshekinnebik she was very much + frightened, and more so when he told her of the strange and dangerous plan + he was going to adopt to carry out his purpose. It was this: he was going + to allow himself to be swallowed by this monster who had already destroyed + so many people." +</p> +<p> + "O how dreadful!" said Minnehaha. "We will never hear any more nice stories + about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "All a pack of lies; there never were any such monsters," snapped out old + Mary, who could not longer conceal her jealousy at seeing how interested + the children were in the story. +</p> +<p> + "Hold on, Mary; not so fast," cried Sagastao, taking the book from Souwanas + and showing the pictures to Mary. +</p> +<p> + "There, Sakehow," he said, using his favorite term of endearment, "look for + yourself and see those lovely creatures—some of them quite big enough to + swallow us all without winking." +</p> +<p> + But Mary was stubborn, as well as jealous, and would not give in, even when + Kennedy, the favorite dog driver, who was present, told her that even now + there were some of the great tusks and bones of animals that the officers + called mammoths over at the Hudson Bay Company's fort ready to be shipped + to England next summer. She was, however, quickly silenced when Sagastao + sat down beside her and throwing his head into her lap said, very + coaxingly: +</p> +<p> + "Now, Mary, just be quiet and let us hear Souwanas tell the rest of the + story of what Nanahboozhoo did to Mooshekinnebik." +</p> +<p> + Peace being thus restored, Souwanas, who had been much amused by Mary's + ire, resumed his story: +</p> +<p> + "When Nokomis heard her grandson describe how he was going to let the + monster swallow him she resolved to come and pitch her tent on the + seashore, among the people who had been so troubled, and there to await the + return of her grandson, if he should ever come back from such a perilous + adventure. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo asked his mother for some magic singing sticks, and also for + a very sharp knife. Then he made for himself a small raft of logs and, + bidding her good-bye for a short time, he sprang on it and was soon + floating out, in search of the dreaded creature, over the great waters. +</p> +<p> + "When well out from the shore he began to make music with his magic sticks + and to sing a defiant song: +</p> +<p> + "'Ho, ho! great fish down in the sea,<br /> + Come, if you dare, and swallow me.<br /> + My brothers all you're fond of eating,<br /> + 'Tis time some one gave you a beating.<br /> + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho! +</p> +<p> + "'You see I am not far away,<br /> + So come and taste me while you may;<br /> + Yet not afraid am I, no, no!<br /> + So hurry up, old fish. Ho, ho!<br /> + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo sang this brave song over and over, to the weird harmony of + his magic music sticks, until he reached the place where the great fish was + resting. +</p> +<p> + "When the great monster Mooshekinnebik heard the voice of Nanahboozhoo he + came up to the surface of the water to find out who was making all that + music and shouting out such defiant words. +</p> +<p> + "When he saw that it was only one young man on a raft of dry logs, he + ordered one of his children to go and knock the raft to pieces and swallow + that noisy fellow. But this was not what Nanahboozhoo wanted, and so he + shouted out: +</p> +<p> + "'I want the old father fish to eat me.' +</p> +<p> + "This made old Mooshekinnebik very angry, and so, open mouthed, he rushed + furiously at Nanahboozhoo who, when the great monster was close enough, + took a leap into the open mouth and was immediately swallowed up. +</p> +<p> + "For a short time after being swallowed Nanahboozhoo was unconscious, but + he soon recovered himself and was able to look around and see the queer + prison in which he was now confined. It was fortunate for him that he had + eyes like a cat, and so could see as well in the dark as in the light. He + found that he was not the only inmate of this queer prison; there were a + lot of creatures whom he called his brothers—the bear, the deer, the fox, + the beaver and even the squirrel. Nanahboozhoo inquired of them and they + told him how they had been captured and the length of time they had been in + that horrid place. They also informed him that many others who had been + captured were now dead. Nanahboozhoo found that they were quite hopeless, + and looked forward to nothing but death. However he called them around him + and informed them that he had willingly come among them for the purpose of + affording a speedy deliverance. +</p> +<p> + "This was indeed good news. Then he explained to them the plan he had in + his mind, and said that it was necessary for them to kick up a rumpus in + the interior of this monster, that they would thus make him so very sick + that he would have to go near to land, and when they should have him there + he thought he had another plan that would enable them all to escape. +</p> +<a name="Illus020"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus020.jpg" width="255" height="191" +alt="'He took a leap into the open mouth.'"> +</p> +<p> + "They all agreed to do anything they could to help on his plans, so + Nanahboozhoo took out his magic singing sticks and began to play and sing. +</p> +<p> + "At once the bear, the deer, the fox, the beaver, and indeed all of the + creatures that were still alive, caught up the lively tune, and such a + dancing and jumping and flying around was hardly ever seen before. +</p> +<p> + "This internal commotion very much disturbed Mooshekinnebik. He could not + make out what was the matter. He shook himself thoroughly, but that did no + good; then he darted off through the water at a great rate, but this also + was of no use. Then he rolled over and over and over in the water. This of + course stopped the dancing and hubbub inside for a time, but as the walls + of the prison were soft, also the floor and ceiling, nobody was hurt, and + so the instant it ceased they were up and at it again, harder than ever. + Mooshekinnebik never had such a turn in his life. He did not know what to + do. Still Nanahboozhoo kept singing louder and louder, while the dancers + kept up their wild antics around him. +</p> +<p> + "At length Nanahboozhoo decided that the monster was about enough + frightened for him to do something else, and so he drew out his sharp knife + and gave Mooshekinnebik a good stab near his heart. +</p> +<p> + "This threw him into convulsions and added to his terror, and he began + swimming toward the shore. When Nanahboozhoo knew this he kept stabbing him + more and more, until at length his body was heard to scrape on the shallow + sandy ground. At this Nanahboozhoo with a mighty effort plunged his knife + with all his power deep into the monster's heart. +</p> +<p> + "The instant he did this Mooshekinnebik was thrown into a number of mighty + convulsions, and in one of them, with one tremendous effort, he fairly + threw himself out of the water on the shore, and there he died. +</p> +<p> + "So great and terrible had been these dying convulsions that all the + creatures inside, and even Nanahboozhoo himself, had become unconscious + from being so knocked about. +</p> +<p> + "How long they remained so they did not know. Nanahboozhoo was the first to + regain his senses, and he was indeed very sorry to see that all of his + comrades were still unconscious. He had some difficulty in getting out from + under the bodies of his comrades, who were piled up on him. He was glad + that the monster was dead, but he was uncertain whether they were on the + shore or at the bottom of the water. So he speedily determined to find out. + He climbed up over the bodies of his comrades to the place that he thought + was the thinnest, and there, with his keen knife, he began cutting through + the roof of this queer prison. +</p> +<p> + "To his great delight he was soon able to see the sunshine coming through. + When he had cut a hole big enough to let in some air and sunshine he took + up his magic singing sticks and began singing, for the purpose of reviving + all those imprisoned with him. His song was not much to us, but it was a + great deal to those shut up in such a prison. It was: +</p> +<p> + "'Kesik-in-na-win,<br /> + Kesik-in-na-win.'<br /> + (I see the sky,<br /> + I see the sky.) +</p> +<p> + "As Nanahboozhoo continued to sing this over and over, one after another + his brothers sneezed and opened their eyes. They were indeed a happy lot at + the prospect of deliverance. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo saw that they were all now recovered he again set to + work with his knife, and it was not long before he had a hole large enough + to permit all of the imprisoned creatures to make their escape. +</p> +<p> + "The news soon spread, and it was not long before Nokomis, with others, + came to see the huge dead monster, and there were great rejoicings." +</p> +<p> + "And this," added Souwanas, "is the tradition, as told by Shuniou, of how + Nanahboozhoo destroyed Mooshekinnebik." +</p> +<p> + "What became of the little monsters?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "The Indians," replied Souwanas, "under the leadership of Nanahboozhoo made + such a war upon them that they were soon annihilated." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH18"> CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Welcome Springtime in the Northland—How Nanahboozhoo + Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the + Magicians—The Revenge—The Flood—Escape of Nanahboozhoo + and the Animals on the Raft—The Creation of a New World. +</h4> +<p> + The coming of the pleasant springtime was hailed with great delight. Seven + or eight months were found to be a very long spell of cold winter weather, + and so when with a rapidity unknown in more Southern climates the winter + broke up, and the welcome warm weather made its appearance, everybody + seemed to feel its genial influence. +</p> +<p> + The first little wild flowers were looked for with intense interest, and + great indeed was the joy of the children when some were found. The sweet + singing birds that in the previous autumn, on the first signs of the coming + down from the colder North of the Frost King, had flitted away to the + summer Southland were now returning in multitudes. The air was full of + their melody, and as scores of them, fearless and trustful, made themselves + at home in the bird resorts around Wahkiegum, great indeed was the + children's delight as they welcomed them back to their haunts in the North. +</p> +<p> + And really it did seem as though the birds were glad to be there again, for + it is only in the North that these birds sing their sweet love songs to + each other and build their nests and hatch out their little broods. +</p> +<p> + The Whisky Jacks, that had been croaking out their hoarse cries all winter, + seemed to get sulky and vexed that they were now so little admired, and so + they flitted away farther north and buried themselves in the interior of + the deepest forests. +</p> +<p> + In the joyousness of those happy days up in those high latitudes, when the + changes of every twenty-four hours can easily be noticed, Sagastao and + Minnehaha for a time troubled neither Souwanas nor Mary for Indian legends + or stories. There was in the rapid melting of the snow, the breaking up of + the immense ice fields on the lake, the appearance of the land, and then + the grass and flowers, and the planting of seeds in their little gardens, + enough to keep them busy and happy. +</p> +<p> + But even all these things at length lost their interest. The flights of the + wild geese, swans, and ducks had all ceased. They, with many other kinds of + migrating birds, were busy nesting. The sweet songsters around the home + were everyday companions, and, while the children loved them as much as + ever, the excitement of their coming had died away. So when one day they + saw Souwanas coming over the now sparkling waters in his canoe they were + delighted to welcome him. As usual, when he reached the shore the contents + of his canoe were examined speedily. There the children found a couple of + beavers that had but lately been trapped, and a dozen or more muskrats that + Souwanas had speared in the marshes. These animals were the result of one + night's hunting, and now Souwanas was on his way home to have them skinned + and the pelts prepared for sale to the fur traders. +</p> +<p> + The children's curiosity was much aroused by the sight of the beavers and + muskrats, and they questioned the old man about them. The queer, broad, + scaly tail of the beavers much interested them, and drew from Souwanas an + interesting account of the various purposes for which the clever, + industrious beavers use this apparently awkward appendage. +</p> +<p> + "Do you know any Nanahboozhoo stories in which he tells anything about + beavers or muskrats?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, indeed," replied Souwanas; "in nearly all the stories that are told + about the forming of the new land after the great flood both the beaver and + the muskrat are mentioned, as well as the other animals." +</p> +<p> + "Tell us one of the stories," urged little Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The arrival of some other canoes at this point interrupted the + conversation. The newcomers were on their way to the wigwam of Souwanas, + who was their chief. He was about to go on with them, but when he saw the + look of disappointment on the faces of the children he, with his usual + thoughtful kindness, transferred the two beavers and the muskrats from his + own canoe to one of the late arrivals. Then telling the people to give them + to his wife, to have them all cooked and ready for dinner, by which time he + would join them, he sent the people on their way. Having lighted his + calumet, with the children seated near him, he began: +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo's life commenced long before the great flood of waters that + covered the earth, about which all of our tribes have heard something. He + had his own wigwam and furnished it with everything he wanted. One day when + walking on the shore of a great river he saw some sea lions lying on the + sandy beach, basking in the sun. These animals, like the beaver, could live + as well in the water as on the land. As he closely watched them from a + distance, and saw the rich, shiny skins, he thought what a nice tobacco + pouch could be made out of one of them. When Nanahboozhoo once set his + heart on anything he at once began to work hard to secure it. He tried + various plans to capture one of these sea-lions, but none of them + succeeded. They were too clever to be caught as other animals are, and he + saw that he would have to adopt some unusual method. He decided that he + would go down very early to the spot on the bank of the river where they + were in the habit of sunning themselves and disguise himself as an old + stump of a tree, then, when they came out and were enjoying the sunshine, + he would shoot the fine old white one with the beautiful glossy skin that + he had so much admired. As on other days the lions came, and when they saw + this stump the white lion, which was a kind of king among them, said: +</p> +<p> + "'I never saw that big stump before. I think it must be Nanahboozhoo.' +</p> +<p> + "Another one said he thought the same thing. +</p> +<p> + "Others only laughed, and said, 'It is only an old pine stump.' +</p> +<p> + "However, as a number of them were suspicious, it was decided to go up and + shake it and see if it would move, and thus really find out. They went to + it, and three of them together used their greatest efforts to move it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had to make one of the hardest efforts of his life to hold + firm. However, he succeeded, and so the lions only said: +</p> +<p> + "'It really is a stump of a tree, but it is very strange we did not notice + it before.' Then they rolled about on the warm sand in the sunshine until + one after another fell asleep. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo now noiselessly and quickly turned himself into a young + hunter, then taking up his bow and arrow he shot the white lion. His arrow + stuck fast in his body and badly wounded him, but did not kill him. At once + the lions all plunged into the river and disappeared. Nanahboozhoo was + sorry that he did not get the lion's skin, indeed he was greatly vexed and + annoyed to have to return to his wigwam without it. A day or two after, as + he was walking in the woods, he met with a very old woman. She had a bundle + of slippery elm bark, out of which poultices were made by the Indians for + wounds and bruises, and also some roots for medicine. +</p> +<p> + "'Where are you going, nookoom (grandmother), and what are you going to do + with the bark and roots?' +</p> +<p> + "'O' said she, 'you cannot imagine what trouble we are in, for Nanahboozhoo + has shot and badly wounded one of our chiefs, and great efforts are going + to be made to catch and kill him.' +</p> +<p> + "She also told him that she had been honored in being sent for to come and + use all of her healing arts to try and restore the wounded chief to health + again, and that now she was on her way to his abode to poultice him with + the slippery elm bark, and to give him medicine, made by boiling the roots, + to allay the great fever from which he was suffering. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo thus discovered that these lions, as he had supposed them to + be, were wicked magicians who had been doing a great deal of harm, and who + when they chose to do so could change themselves into the form of lions and + live either under the water or on land, as best suited them, to escape from + being killed by those whom they had injured. As the old woman was very + talkative, Nanahboozhoo soon obtained from her all the information he + desired. Among other things she told him that sometimes people came to her + for bad medicines, to give to persons with whom they had quarreled, and in + this way they would kill them with the poisons which she made out of + toadstools and other deadly things. +</p> +<p> + "Hearing these dreadful facts from her own lips Nanahboozhoo resolved to + kill her, but first he had her tell him where the wounded chief's abode + was, and all about what was expected of her when she arrived there. He then + speedily tomahawked her, and clothing himself in her garments he made + himself look exactly like her, after which he took up her bundle of bark + and roots and went to the dwelling of the chiefs. +</p> +<p> + "There he found quite a crowd assembled, but all were in confusion and + excitement on account of the wounded chief. When they saw, as they thought, + the old woman coming, whom they were eagerly expecting, they made way for + her. Nanahboozhoo went straight to the place where the wounded chief lay. +</p> +<p> + "He was surprised to see that the arrow which he had shot was still + sticking in his side. He made a great ado about preparing the poultices and + medicine, and set everybody around him doing something to help carry out + his plans. Then when all were hurrying, and none looking at him, + Nanahboozhoo pushed the arrow with such force into the body of the chief + that it killed him instantly. Then with a shout of triumph he made his + escape. +</p> +<a name="Illus021"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus021.jpg" width="240" height="324" +alt="'He ran away west, to the great mountains.'"> +</p> +<p> + "There was, of course, great excitement among the people. They at once + called a council and consulted what they should do to destroy Nanahboozhoo. + They were, as I have told you, magicians, and had power to raise the + waters, and so they resolved to drown him. They accordingly called on the + waters to rise and rush over the plains and forests in the direction in + which he lived. Nanahboozhoo had traveled with great speed back to his + wigwam, but hardly had he reached it ere he heard the roar of the floods of + water that were coming to overwhelm him. He saw his great danger and he ran + away west, to the great mountains; but the floods of water continued rising + and drove him up higher and higher. When he saw that he was nearing the + highest peak he began to think what he must do next. Around him in the + raging waters were quantities of logs and trees, and among them, or on the + now small peak of land, were numbers of various animals. +</p> +<p> + "With all his powers he set to work and it was not very long ere he had a + large raft made out of the floating logs. As the last spot of land was now + being overwhelmed by the flood, and he pitied the animals that were + swimming about, he took them on the raft with him. As Nanahboozhoo knew all + the animals and their languages he held a council on the raft. He told them + that if he could get even a very little of the old world that was drowned + he could make a new world for them all. He first asked the otter if he + would try, and see if he could dive down and bring up a little portion of + the earth. The otter at once made the attempt, but after a while he came up + to the surface apparently quite dead. Nanahboozhoo reached out and lifted + him in and placed him in a sunny spot on the raft. Then the beaver tried. + He took a great header and down he dived, resolved to succeed if possible, + but after a time even he came up apparently as lifeless as the otter. + Nanahboozhoo lifted his body up out of the water and laid it in the sun by + the side of the otter. The muskrat next volunteered to try what he could + do, so down he dived and, after a much longer time than the others had been + down, he too floated up senseless and cold. Nanahboozhoo took him up, and + as he did so he noticed that there was earth in his mouth and on his paws. + He carefully collected this in his hand, and then placed the body of the + muskrat beside the otter and the beaver. He then blew upon the earth and + thus made it dry and porous, so that when it was placed in the water it + would not sink but float. He then put a lively little mouse upon it, which + by running round and round upon the earth made it grow larger and larger. + Nanahboozhoo then put a squirrel upon it for the same object. Then the + marten and mink—for the new earth was now so extended that it could hold + up these light animals. +</p> +<p> + "For a time Nanahboozhoo had to guard the now rapidly growing young world + from the larger animals with a stick, for fear they would sink it. They + were all very tired of having to remain huddled together so long on the + raft, and were eager to follow the smaller creatures that seemed so happy + on the new earth, even if it were not very large as yet. As there was much + to be done to fit this new world up for them to dwell upon, everyone had to + do what he could. The birds were sent to fly over the water to pick up + branches and seeds. +</p> +<p> + "By and by Nanahboozhoo decided that the earth, which had now grown beyond + the reach of his eyes, was large enough, and so he revived the otter, the + beaver and the muskrat, and with them and all the other animals around him + he took possession of the new world. +</p> +<p> + "In order to ascertain the size of the world he sent a wolf to run to the + end of it and then to return at once to him. The wolf easily made the + journey in one day. Nanahboozhoo then kept him with him for some time, and + again sent him off. The second journey took him five days, the third ten, + the fourth a month, then he was gone a year and then five years. Thus it + went on, until at length Nanahboozhoo started off a young wolf just able to + run on the long journey. This one died of old age ere he had completed the + trip. Nanahboozhoo then said that the world was large enough, and commanded + it to cease from growing." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH19"> CHAPTER XIX.</a></h3> +<h4> + Among the Briers and Wild Roses—Why the Roses have + Thorns—Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. +</h4> +<p> + One day as the children were out in the clearings back of their home, + gathering some of the wild strawberries that grew there and also some of + the wildflowers that bloomed during the short brilliant summer, they were + delighted to see Souwanas coming along the road with his gun on his + shoulder and some ducks and rabbits in his hand. +</p> +<p> + Very cordial were their greetings, but soon the quick eyes of the kindly + Indian noticed that there were several long red scratches and even some + drops of partly dried blood on the hands of his little friends. It was + hardly necessary for him to ask the cause of the wounds, as the bunches of + sweet briers and wild roses, with their sharp needle-like thorns, in the + happy children's hands told the tale. +</p> +<p> + Putting down his gun and game, Souwanas quickly gathered some of the sweet + fragrant grass which is there so abundant, and skillfully twisting it into + little coils he wound one around each of the bunches of flowers which the + children had gathered, and which they were still having trouble to hold on + account of the thorns. +</p> +<p> + The bouquets thus arranged could now be carried without inflicting any more + wounds or pain. Amid their chat and laughter, for these white children were + taught, like Indian children, not to be afraid of a few scratches or a + little pain, Minnehaha, who was industriously wiping the blood from some + wounds on her little white hands with her apron, said: +</p> +<p> + "How is it, Souwanas, that all these rosebushes and briers have such sharp + thorns on them?" +</p> +<p> + "I suppose Mary would say that Nanahboozhoo, the rascal, had something to + do with it," put in Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + At this reference to Mary there was a mischievous twinkle in the eyes of + the old Indian. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," he replied, "Nanahboozhoo had lots to do with it, and yet when you + hear the story you will see that he was not such a rascal at the time he + did it as Mary would make out, but almost as good as her pet, Wakonda, who + gave the bees their stings." +</p> +<p> + "O tell us all about it now," said Minnehaha. "We have this forenoon as a + half holiday, and papa is to join us in about an hour for a walk in the + woods." +</p> +<p> + The kind-hearted old Indian had been pleased with the plucky way in which + the children had slighted their wounded hands, and before he began his + story he acted the part of the skillful physician. He found some soft juicy + leaves which he crushed and spread on the ugly red scratches. The effect + was magical, and the children who had so bravely treated their wounds with + indifference gratefully acknowledged the sudden cessation of the smart. +</p> +<p> + Selecting a pretty spot under a clump of balsam trees, where some + boulder-like stones afforded them comfortable seats, the children cuddled + down with their old friend, to hear how the roses got their thorns. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago the roses were the most abundant of flowers, but they grew on + bushes that were smooth and fragrant, and such delicious eating that all + the animals that eat grass or browse were constantly seeking for and + devouring not only the rose flowers but also the bushes on which they grew. + The result was that the roses of all kinds were in danger of being + exterminated. In those days trees and flowers and other things had greater + powers of thinking and acting than they have now, and so the roses of + different kinds met in council to decide what could be done to preserve + those of them that were still left in existence. It was decided that a + deputation of them should be sent to Nanahboozhoo to implore his + assistance. +</p> +<p> + "He is such an eccentric fellow, and assumes so many disguises, that they + had a good deal of difficulty in finding him. They traveled long distances, + and inquired of the various wild animals they met and even consulted the + trees and hills. At length they were informed that he was now living in a + valley among the mountains and experimenting as a gardener. They hurried + away as fast as the fierce wind which they had hired to carry them could + blow them along. At first when they reached his abode they were very much + frightened, as it was easy to observe from the loud angry tones in which + Nanahboozhoo, although afar off, was speaking, that he was in a great rage. + However, they had come too far to be easily discouraged. They quietly drew + near, and hiding behind some dense balsam trees they carefully listened to + find out the cause of his anger. Fortunately, they could not have come at a + better time for themselves, for it seems that Nanahboozhoo had become very + much interested in his work as a gardener. All the things he had planted + had grown so well that in order to protect them from prowling wild animals + he had set all around the garden a fine hedge of rosebushes. So many were + required that Nanahboozhoo had been obliged to transplant bushes from a + great distance around, for they did not grow so abundantly as formerly. +</p> +<p> + "The morning of the very day on which the deputation of the rosebushes + arrived Nanahboozhoo had returned from one of his short adventures. Fancy + his indignation at finding that in his absence all sorts of animals, from + the rabbit to the mountain elk, had visited his abode, and had not only + completely eaten that lovely hedge of rosebushes, but had also greatly + injured the beautiful garden, of which he was so proud! +</p> +<p> + "When the deputation of roses understood the cause of his wrath they at + once left their hiding places and, aided by a sudden puff of wind, came + before Nanahboozhoo. The sight of them excited his curiosity, as it had + seemed to him that every rosebush had been destroyed. Before he could say a + word, however, the rosebushes, who were then able to talk, at once + presented their petition and pleaded for his powerful assistance to save + them from being exterminated by their enemies. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo listened to their petition, and after some consultation with + the rose bushes it was decided to cover the stocks and branches, up to the + very beautiful flowers, with small thorn-like prickles, so that every + animal henceforth would be afraid to either devour or closely approach + them, as they had been accustomed to do in the past. With this protection + granted them they were more than pleased, and so it now happens that roses + of many kinds still exist in various parts of the world." +</p> +<p> + "Thank you very much for that story," said Minnehaha. "Even if Nanahboozhoo + did put prickles on the rosebushes he was not a rascal, for we would not + have had any roses at all but for what he did." +</p> +<p> + For a wonder, Sagastao was silent for a time; but at length he found + something to say, and his words were a bit of a confession and promise of + amendment: +</p> +<p> + "Now that I know why it is that the prickles are on the wild roses I'll not + get mad even if my fingers bleed when I am gathering a bouquet for mother." +</p> +<p> + At this moment the two favorite dogs, Jack and Cuffy, came bounding up. By + this the children knew that their father was not far behind, and they were + not disappointed. At first he looked anxious when he saw the little hands + wrapped up in green leaves, but as with merry laughs they told him what the + leaves were for everything was bright again. +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was greeted very cordially, as usual, and assured that at the + mission house he would find in the mistress a willing purchaser of his + ducks and rabbits. The children were always interested in the game, + although Minnehaha strongly declared that it was a pity to kill the pretty + creatures. Souwanas and their father were chatting together while the + children were turning the ducks and rabbits over. +</p> +<p> + "See what red eyes some of the ducks have," said Sagastao. "They look as + though they had been crying." +</p> +<p> + "Guess you would have cried too," rather indignantly replied Minnehaha, "if + you had been shot as they were." +</p> +<p> + "Huh!" he replied with a tinge of contempt, "how could they cry after being + shot? I don't believe that is it at all. And, look here, Minnehaha, I am + going also to ask why it is that, while all the rabbits were so white in + winter, they are all now so brown in summer." +</p> +<p> + Quickly the resolve was carried out, and so, while Minnehaha was telling + her father what a beautiful story they had heard about the roses, Sagastao, + with his hand on the shoulder of the old Indian, who was seated on a rock, + was eagerly firing at him his double-barreled question: "Why have some + ducks such red eyes, and why are the rabbits white in winter and brown in + summer?" +</p> +<p> + "Both done by Nanahboozhoo," said the old man with a smile, as he took his + pipe out of his mouth. +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted the lad. +</p> +<p> + This outburst on the part of Sagastao at once attracted the attention of + the others to him and Minnehaha wanted to know what was the matter now. +</p> +<p> + "Why, did you not hear? Souwanas says that Nanahboozhoo gave the ducks the + red eyes and makes the rabbits to be white in winter and brown in summer." + Then turning to Souwanas he asked, "How does Nanahboozhoo do it?" +</p> +<p> + Here the father, while amused at the lad's enthusiasm, interposed, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "You have already kept Souwanas a long time, and perhaps he is busy." +</p> +<p> + "Busy!" said the irrepressible Sagastao, who was shrewd beyond his years. + "Busy! Why Souwanas would rather tell stories than do anything else—unless + to smoke his pipe." +</p> +<p> + Then he glibly told Souwanas in Saulteaux what had passed between him and + his father in English, and added, "Is that not so, Souwanas?" +</p> +<p> + The old Indian smiled, and said kindly: +</p> +<p> + "How can I help enjoying telling stories when I have such good little + listeners?" +</p> +<p> + "But what about his dinner?" asked the kind-hearted Minnehaha. "If we keep + him here telling stories he will be too late to get back to his wigwam for + his dinner. I think we had better take him home with us." +</p> +<p> + This was quickly decided upon, and that there might be no mistake a piece + of bark was quickly cut from a birch tree and a few lines written upon it + telling the good mother in the home that they had met Souwanas, and that he + was entertaining the children with Nanahboozhoo stories and would be with + them to dinner. Then Jack, the great dog, was called and sent back with the + missive, with orders to give it to his mistress. +</p> +<p> + As the dog dashed away homeward the mischievous Sagastao said: +</p> +<p> + "My! don't I wish I was in the kitchen when Mary hears that we are out here + with Souwanas listening to stories about Nanahboozhoo! Won't she be hopping + mad!" +</p> +<p> + "It will be better," said his father, "for Souwanas to tell his story than + for you to make any further remarks of that kind." +</p> +<p> + At first Souwanas seemed to show some hesitancy in beginning his story in + the presence of his missionary, and he whispered to Sagastao his fears that + perhaps his father would not care for such trifles as Indian legends and + stories. +</p> +<p> + With his usual bluntness, the lad declared: +</p> +<p> + "O, you don't know our father if you think that way about him. He loves + nice stories as well as we do, and tells us lots of them; so go ahead, for + you are going home to dinner with us." +</p> +<p> + Thus assured, the old man began: +</p> +<p> + "I will tell you to-day about how it is that the rabbits are white in + winter. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago they were always brown, just like those that are lying there with + the ducks. It is true that they increase very fast, but then it is very + true that they have many enemies. They have not many ways to defend + themselves against their foes, who are of so many kinds. Almost all the + animals that live on flesh are always hunting for rabbits, and so are the + foxes of all kinds, the wild cats, wolves, and wolverines, and even the + little weasels and ermine. Then there are fierce birds—the eagle, the + hawks of all kinds and the owls—that are always on the lookout for + rabbits, young or old. +</p> +<p> + "The result was that with this war continually being waged against them the + poor rabbits had a hard time of it, and especially in winter; for they + found it very difficult to hide themselves when the leaves were off the + trees and the ground covered with snow. In those days in the long ago the + animals used to have a great council. There the great fathers or heads of + each kind of animal and bird used to meet together and talk about their + welfare and the welfare of each other. Then there was peace and friendship + among them while at the council. +</p> +<p> + "They appointed a king, and he presided as a great head chief. All the + animals that had troubles or grievances had a right to come and speak about + them and, if possible, have them remedied. +</p> +<p> + "Some queer things were said sometimes. At one council the bear found great + fault with the fox, who had deceived him, and had caused him to lose his + beautiful tail by telling him to go and catch fish in a big crack in the + ice. He sat there so long that the crack froze up solidly and to save his + life he had to break off his tail. +</p> +<p> + "But all the things they talked about were not so funny as that. They had + their troubles and dangers, and they discussed various plans for improving + their condition and considered how they could best defeat the skill and + cleverness of the human hunters. +</p> +<p> + "When the rabbit's turn came to be heard he had indeed a sorrowful tale to + tell. He said that his people were nearly all destroyed. The rest of the + world seemed combined against his race, and they were killing them by day + and night, in summer and winter, and they had but little power to fight + against their many enemies. They were almost discouraged, but had come to + the council to see if their brethren could suggest any remedy or plan to + save them from complete destruction. While the rabbit was speaking the + wolverine winked at the wildcat, while the fox, although he tried to look + solemn, could not keep his mouth from watering at the thought of the many + rabbits he intended yet to eat. +</p> +<p> + "Thus it can be seen that the poor, harmless rabbit did not get much + sympathy from that part of the crowd that killed his race all the rest of + the year. +</p> +<p> + "Still there were some animals, like the moose, and the reindeer, and the + mountain goat, that stood up in the council and spoke out bravely for the + rabbit. Indeed they told the animals that had only laughed at the rabbit's + sad story that, if nothing was done for the little rabbit and they went on + killing as they were doing, they would soon be the greatest sufferers, for + if the rabbits were all gone there was nothing else that they could get in + sufficient numbers to keep them alive. This, which is a fact, rather + sobered some of them at first; but they soon resumed their mocking at the + poor little rabbit and his story, and, as they were in the majority, the + council refused to do anything in the matter. +</p> +<p> + "When the moose heard the decision of the council he was very sorry for his + poor little brother the rabbit, so after thinking it over he told the + rabbit to jump up on one of his flat horns while he was holding them down. + Then the moose carried him out some distance from the council meeting, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "There is no hope for you here. The most of the animals live on you, and so + they will not do anything that will make it more difficult for you to be + caught than it is now. Your only chance is to go to Nanahboozhoo, and see + what he can do for you." +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah!" shouted Sagastao. "I thought it would be to Nanahboozhoo after + all." +</p> +<p> + Continuing, Souwanas said: +</p> +<p> + "The moose encouraged the rabbit by saying, 'Nanahboozhoo's name was once + Manabush, or Keche-Wapoose, Great Rabbit, and so I am sure he will be your + friend, as I think he is a distant relation.' +</p> +<p> + "Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route + described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was + stopping. The rabbit was such a timid creature that when he came near to + Nanahboozhoo he was much afraid that he would not be welcomed. However, his + case was desperate, and although his heart was thumping within him with + fear he hurried along to have the thing over as soon as possible. To his + great joy he found Nanahboozhoo in the best of humor and he was received + most kindly. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo saw how wearied and tired the rabbit was after the long + journey, and so he made him rest on some fragrant grass in the sunshine + while he went out and brought in for him to eat some of the choicest things + from his garden. Then afterward he had the rabbit tell of all his troubles + and of how he was treated at the council. +</p> +<p> + "This part of the story, of how they acted at the council, made + Nanahboozhoo very angry. +</p> +<p> + "'And that's the way they treated this little brother at the council we + have given them, where it is expected that the smallest and the weakest + shall have the same right to have his case heard and attended to as the + biggest and strongest! It is high time that somebody was coming to me with + council news if things are like this. Look out, Mister Fox, and Wolverine, + and Wild Cat, for if I get after you I will so straighten you out that you + will be sorry that the rabbit had to go to Nanahboozhoo for the help you + ought to have given him!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had worked himself up into such a furious temper that the + rabbit was almost frightened to death. But when he saw this Nanahboozhoo + only laughed at him, and said he was sorry to have scared him. +</p> +<p> + "'I was so angry,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'at those animals for ill-treating + you that I forgot myself; and now, little brother, what do you want me to + do for you?' +</p> +<p> + "They had a long talk about the matter and the decision was that there + should be two great changes. The first was that the eyes of the rabbit were + to be so increased in power that they should in future be able to see by + night as well as by day, and the second was that in all Northlands where + much snow falls during many months of the year rabbits shall change into a + beautiful white color, like the snow, and thus continue as long as the + winter lasts. And the rabbits now have a much better time than they had + formerly. They can glide away in the darkness from their enemies when in + the woods, and when out in the snow they are not easily seen and often + escape notice by remaining perfectly still." +</p> +<p> + But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note + to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more + welcome than Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "But what about the red eyes of the ducks?" said the two children, whose + appetites for stories were simply—well, like those of other boys and + girls. +</p> +<p> + Here the father had to interfere and say that there had been quite enough + for one day. However, before the walk homeward began, Souwanas was pledged + to tell the other story at the first convenient opportunity. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH20"> CHAPTER XX.</a></h3> + <h4> + Passing Hunters and Their Spoils—The Vain Woman—Why + the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. +</h4> +<p> + As the home where Sagastao and Minnehaha lived was near a trail along which + numbers of Indian hunters were accustomed to travel when on their way to + the trading post with their furs, they frequently called in to see their + loved friends the palefaces. These hunters were always welcome, and as they + were very seldom in a hurry the children drew from them many a quaint + Indian legend or story of animal life. +</p> +<p> + It was also a great pleasure for the children to have the hunters, + returning from a successful trip, open their fur packs and spread out + before them the rich furs and tell them stories about these animals—the + silver fox, the otter, beavers, minks, martens, ermines, and sometimes even + about great bears and wolves, whose skin they had often had. These valuable + furs were generally well dressed and prepared for shipment by the + industrious women before they were taken to the trading post. Sometimes, + however, a hunter when on the trail to the trading post would find in one + of his traps an animal just caught, and not having time to return to his + wigwam and have the skin dressed and dried he would carry the animal just + as it was and sell it to the fur traders. +</p> +<p> + One day there called a number of Indians, and among them was a hunter with + a couple of martens which he had caught in his trap that very morning. + Sagastao and Minnehaha had never seen these little animals before, and they + handled them with much interest and asked several questions about them. +</p> +<p> + "Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The Indians looked at each other and a grim smile flitted over their + bronzed faces when they heard this question. +</p> +<p> + Their conduct only the more excited the curiosity of the children and they + both clamored for the answer. Then one of the Indians said: +</p> +<p> + "Ask Mary; she knows all about the story, and as a woman was in the affair + she can tell it better than we can." +</p> +<p> + With this answer the children had to be content, for the hunters, having + drank their cups of tea, soon took their departure. +</p> +<p> + When the children found Mary they at once demanded the story. +</p> +<p> + "What story?" said Mary. +</p> +<p> + "O, you know what we want, for you were in the kitchen and heard what was + said." +</p> +<a name="Illus022"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus022.jpg" width="245" height="194" +alt="Wigwams and Indians."> +</p> +<p> + But Mary still protested her ignorance, and declared that she had been so + busy caring for Souwanaquenapeke that she had not listened to half the + chatter that had passed between them and the Indians. +</p> +<p> + "O, I know you, sakehow Mary," said Sagastao. "You don't want to tell us + because there was a woman like yourself mixed up in it." +</p> +<p> + Mary bridled up with indignation, but before she could utter a word the + arms of Sagastao were around her neck, and he cried: +</p> +<p> + "Forgive me, sakehou! for speaking so foolishly. I do remember now that you + had left the kitchen with baby before Minnehaha asked the question." +</p> +<p> + This prompt apology and the sweet word "sakehow" restored harmony, and Mary + was now anxious to please them. +</p> +<p> + "What was the question which interested you?" asked Mary. +</p> +<p> + "Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "And the men told us to go to you because there was a woman in it," added + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + Mary smiled when she heard this. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," she said, "there was a foolish woman mixed up in the story. It was + like this, as far as I can remember, and it is a story from the North + people. Long ago a man had a wife who was a very proud, vain woman. She was + not contented with having her husband and her own people saying nice things + about her, but she wanted to be flattered and admired by every creature. + You know that I have told you that, in old times, animals could talk and do + many things. Well, this conceited woman, with her silly foolish way, began + attracting the different animals around her. Almost everybody was laughing + at her, but she seemed to think it great fun to have so many admirers. She + got a lesson one day when flirting with the bear. They were walking along + together and she let him put his arm around her, but he gave her such a hug + that he broke two of her ribs. She was a long time getting well and then + her husband gave her a great lecturing. You would have thought that this + would have cured her, but not a bit of it. When she was well again she was + just as silly as ever, though she took good care not to flirt with any + animal that could hug like a bear. She next bewitched the skunk with her + foolishness. But one day, as they walked together, a dog suddenly attacked + the skunk and in his anger and excitement he so perfumed the woman, instead + of the dog, with his odor that her husband found her out and gave her a + beating. +</p> +<p> + "Everybody was now laughing at her on account of her silly ways, and as her + husband had persons employed to see what creatures she went out walking + with she had to remain at home in her wigwam. But when a woman gets proud + and conceited and carries on like this one did she is hard to cure. The + fact was, her husband was too kind to her. He did not give her plenty of + work to keep her busy and out of mischief. Instead of making her chop the + wood and carry the water, and do other hard things, he did it for her, for + he was very proud of her and she was indeed a beautiful woman. He did, + however, make her stay in their wigwam instead of allowing her to go about + wherever she liked. +</p> +<p> + "She spent most of her time in fixing herself up in her beautiful clothes + and thinking what a lovely creature she was. But she soon missed the + flattery of her admirers and resolved that, in spite of her husband, she + would try to hear it again. So vigilant, however, were her husband and his + friends that they were too clever for her. +</p> +<p> + "One day her husband returned from hunting and visiting his traps and + snares. Among other animals that he had trapped was a beautiful marten. He + had caught it in what is called a dead-fall; that is, where a log is so + arranged that when the animal reaches the bait he is directly under the + log, which falls upon him the instant he pulls the bait. +</p> +<p> + "When the woman took up the marten which her husband had thrown at her feet + she noticed that it was still quite warm, but she said nothing about it to + her husband, who, picking up an ax and blanket, said that he was going off + to visit his more distant traps and would not be back for some days. Before + he left he made her promise that she would not leave the wigwam until his + return. +</p> +<p> + "The woman, as soon as she was sure that her husband was really gone, + picked up the marten. On examining it she was convinced that it was not + dead, only knocked senseless by the falling log, so she rubbed it, and + breathed into its nostrils, and then with a reed blew air into its lungs. +</p> +<p> + "Sure enough, the life was in it, and the first sign it gave was a big + sneeze or two. At this the woman wrapped it up in a warm covering and held + it until it was well again. The marten, of course, was very much frightened + when it found itself in the hands of a woman. It was about to struggle to + get free, when the woman spoke to it in its own language. At this it was + very much surprised, and more so when the woman told it how she had given + it back its life, and that now in return it must do what she desired. +</p> +<p> + "Any animal or human being would be willing to promise as much when its + life had been thus restored to it. +</p> +<p> + "'I will do anything I can for you,' said the marten. +</p> +<p> + "'I want you to go to your king marten,' said the woman, 'and tell him that + a beautiful lady has heard so many wonderful things about him that she is + very anxious to have a visit from him.' +</p> +<p> + "This the marten promised to do, and it was not very long before the king + marten came. Of course he had to be very cautious, as he had been warned of + the many who were watching the silly woman. +</p> +<p> + "Hardly, however, had he time to say much to her before the footsteps of + her husband were heard outside. The instant he opened the door of the + wigwam the king marten ran out, and disappeared in the forest. +</p> +<p> + "'What was that?' asked the husband. +</p> +<p> + "'O, dear, that was the marten you trapped. It must have come to life and + escaped,' said the woman, who thus cleverly saved herself and the king + marten. +</p> +<p> + "The man was suspicious, but as the marten which he had trapped was not to + be found he could not find fault with her, except to say that she ought to + have skinned the marten soon after he had brought it in. +</p> +<p> + "The king marten, who was a very conceited fellow, had been quite struck + with the beauty of the woman, and so, in spite of his narrow escape, he + resolved to go and see her again. By watching her husband's departure he + managed to have several brief visits, and at length became so infatuated + with her that he tried to coax her to run away with him. +</p> +<p> + "When she heard this she was very angry, for, with all her foolishness, she + had only acted as she did because of her vanity and love of flattery. Now + that the marten had dared make such a request she resolved that he should + be punished; so one day, when he was sitting beside her and saying a lot of + foolish flattery, she heard the footsteps of her husband approaching, but + did not warn the king marten. +</p> +<p> + "So the man thus caught the old marten sitting by the side of his wife. At + this he was much annoyed, and as the marten suddenly ran out the man asked + the woman what it meant. So she told him all that the marten had said, and + of his impertinence in asking her to leave him and become the marten's + wife. At this the man was very indignant, and so they arranged to punish + the marten. +</p> +<p> + "The next time the man went off he told his wife to fill the kettle with + water and put it on the fire to boil. Then the man took his traps and + started off as though he were going on a long journey. But he only went a + little way, just far enough to throw the marten off his guard, and, sure + enough, while he was watching he saw the marten go into the wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "Then the man came quietly to the door and listened. He heard the marten + urging his wife to leave and run away with him. Then he suddenly sprang + into the tent and shouted out: +</p> +<p> + "'Old king marten, what are you doing here? How dare you talk to my wife?' +</p> +<p> + "So saying, the man seized the kettle of boiling water and threw its + contents at the marten, severely scalding him. The marten tore at his + burning breast as he dashed away into the woods. And from that day to this + all martens have that whitish spot on their chests caused by that burn." +</p> +<p> + "What became of the woman?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Never mind now. We have wasted too much time already on such a + good-for-nothing conceited flirt," said Mary. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH21"> CHAPTER XXI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Shooting Loons—Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red + Eyes, and Such Queer Feet—Nanahboozhoo Loses His + Dinner—Origin of Lichens—Why Some Willows are + Red—The Partridge. +</h4> +<p> + Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have the Indians take + them in their canoes for a couple of hours' trip on the bright waters of + the beautiful lake that spread out before their home. +</p> +<p> + These pleasant outings were sometimes rendered exciting and doubly + interesting by the sight of a black bear or a deer wandering on the shore + or swimming from some point on the island. At other times there would be + numbers of loons, or great Northern divers, as they are generally called. + Their wonderful quickness in diving, then the length of time that they + could remain under the water and the great distance they would swim before + coming to the surface were watched with great interest by both Sagastao and + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The Indians did not often hunt loons. In fact they found it so difficult to + shoot one that more than its value in ammunition was generally expended in + the attempt. The Indians always declared that these clever birds could see + the flash of their guns and dive down out of danger before the shot reached + them. +</p> +<p> + However, as some of them were desired for their beautiful feather-covered + skins, which make most valuable and beautiful caps and muffs, it was + decided that Souwanas and Kennedy should take the missionary's + breech-loading rifle, in addition to their own guns, and try to secure a + few. +</p> +<p> + The children begged to be allowed to accompany them, and as the day was + unusually fine and the lake almost without a ripple they were given a + holiday and allowed the privilege of an all-day outing with these two + trusty and experienced men. +</p> +<p> + A generous lunch, with the indispensable tea kettle, was placed in the + canoe by careful Mary, who, as usual, was angry that the children were to + be so long under the witchery of old Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + With the merry shouts of laughter from the children as their accompaniment + the two Indians skillfully plied their paddles, and it was not long before + they were some miles distant and on the lookout for loons. It often happens + that the things desired are the last to come. So it was this day. Wild + ducks in goodly numbers, and even geese and some swans and pelicans were + frequently seen. At length, however, strange, mournful sounds far ahead + were heard, and the experienced Indians knew that the birds for which they + were looking were not far away. Still it was some time before the first + long white neck and black head were seen in the distance, for the cry of + the loon not only differs from that of any other bird, but is very + far-reaching. +</p> +<p> + The excited children were now told to be very still and keep quiet, using + their eyes alone, and witness the contest between man's skill and the + birds' cleverness. +</p> +<p> + So accustomed have some old loons become to being fired at and missed by + Indians using the old-fashioned flintlock shotgun, which makes such a flash + when fired, that they just barely keep out of range. The instant they see + the fire flash—down they go, and then as the shot or bullet strikes the + place where they were they bob up again serenely in the same spot, or in + one not very far distant. This risky sport some of them will keep up for + hours, or until the disheartened hunters have wasted nearly all their + ammunition. +</p> +<p> + To-day, however, there was to be a new weapon tried against them, and, alas + for them, they were sadly worsted. Kennedy first loaded his old flintlock + shotgun and blazed away, but, as usual, they were out of sight under the + water before the shot struck the place where the loons had been. +</p> +<p> + For a time the loons were shy, and swam quite a distance away. But after a + while, as they found that Kennedy's gunshots could be dodged, they did not + bother to swim very far away. This was just what Souwanas was waiting for. + He now took up the rifle, and as soon as a loon came to the surface he + fired from this new weapon, that gave no flash to warn the poor bird of the + deadly bullet that was so rapidly speeding on its way. Thus it happened + that loon after loon was struck and several beautiful birds were + secured—greatly to the sorrow of the children, who delighted in watching + their clever diving and sudden reappearance after Kennedy discharged his + old gun. Out of deference to their feelings the Indians soon ceased + shooting, although with this new rifle they could easily have secured many + more. +</p> +<p> + "Let us now go ashore, on one of these islands," said Sagastao, "and have + our lunch." +</p> +<p> + "And a Nanahboozhoo story after," put in Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + This plan was just what the Indians were thinking about, and so in a short + time they were all on the shore. Dry wood was abundant and a bright fire + was soon burning, and then, when the water was boiled and the tea made, the + lunch basket was opened and the meal was much enjoyed by all. +</p> +<p> + "Now, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "we are all ready for the story at the + same time, and if your pipe goes out I'll hand you a burning stick with + which you can light it again." +</p> +<p> + "Maybe I will keep you very busy," remarked the old man, much amused at the + offer—and so it proved, for his pipe to-day persisted in going out. +</p> +<p> + "One day," began Souwanas, "as Nanahboozhoo was walking along the shore of + a lake he became hungry. He considered what it would be best for him to do + in order to procure something to eat. He decided to deceive the waterfowls. + He saw a duck swimming along near the shore and spoke to the bird in this + fashion: +</p> +<p> + "'Come here, my brother.' +</p> +<p> + "'What is it?' said the duck, as it approached Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "'Kesha Munedoo (Gracious Spirit) has revealed words to me to tell to all + the waterfowl some very important things. Go and tell all sorts of + waterfowl to come, and when they are all together I will inform you what + has been revealed to me.' +</p> +<p> + "The duck obeyed Nanahboozhoo, who in the meantime made a very bare wigwam + of green boughs, or rather caused it to appear that he did, for he did not + exert much labor upon it. All sorts of waterfowl came to Nanahboozhoo and + they seemed anxious to hear what had been revealed. Nanahboozhoo received + them with great apparent friendliness and invited them to come into the + wigwam. When they had all entered, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'You must all dance, first, before I tell you what has been revealed to + me. All of you must stand close together around inside of the wigwam and + put your necks close together while dancing, and all of you must flap your + wings at the same time.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo commenced singing: +</p> +<p> + "'Pau-zau-gwa-be-she-moog,<br /> + Ke-ku-ma-mis-kwa-she-gun.' + </p> + <p> + ("'Shut your eyes,<br /> + And I'll make you wise.') +</p> +<p> + "These words Nanahboozhoo repeated three times. +</p> +<p> + "All the fowl kept time to the music and words of the song, and danced, + shutting their eyes. Nanahboozhoo continued singing, changing to the + following words: +</p> +<p> +"'Au-yun-ze-kwa-gau.' +</p> +<p> + "All the time such was Nanahboozhoo's power over the birds that they kept + singing and dancing and at the same time holding their heads close + together. Nanahboozhoo's voice was singing in the center of the tent, his + drum beating at the same time, while he in person went around in the wigwam + or lodge wringing the necks of the waterfowl and throwing them on the side + of the lodge. The loon, the great diver bird, was dancing on the open door + side of the lodge. He suspected that Nanahboozhoo was up to some of his + tricks, doing something bad, so he opened his eyes and saw. At once he gave + the alarm, and shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'Nanahboozhoo is killing us!' +</p> +<p> + "All the fowl that were still alive when they heard these words at once + flew out at the top opening of the lodge, except the loon, or diver, and he + being at the door turned and ran out of the lodge as fast as he could + toward the shore of the lake. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was so angry at him for daring to open his eyes, and then for + warning the others, enabling many of them to get away, that he ran after + him and stamped upon him as he had just reached the shore. Hence it is, + because of Nanahboozhoo's cruelty, that the loon has had a flat back and + red eyes, and its feet are so unlike those of any other waterfowl. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had made a large fire he took the waterfowls he had + killed before the diver gave the alarm, and covered them under the ashes, + leaving only their feet sticking out. While he was waiting for them to cook + he felt very sleepy, so he lay down to rest. +</p> +<p> + "But before he went to sleep he said, 'My face side has always done all the + watching. This is not fair. I will make my back do its share of the + watching.' +</p> +<p> + "So, as he cuddled down to have a sleep before the fire, he said to his + back: +</p> +<p> + "'Now, you do the watching, you lazy, broad back, while I am sleeping.' + Then, being very tired, he fell into a heavy sleep. +</p> +<p> + "After a time the watcher called out: +</p> +<p> + "'Nanahboozhoo! Indians are coming!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo slightly raised himself, but he saw no Indians, so he lay + down to sleep again. +</p> +<p> + "But again and yet again, for three times, did his faithful watcher call + and warn him against his approaching enemies. Nanahboozhoo was now so + stupid with sleep that he only aroused himself a little, not enough to + enable him to detect the lurking enemy. So he became very angry with his + watcher, his broad back, and gave it a great thrashing, saying: +</p> +<p> + "'There! take that, you great stupid watcher, for so disturbing me with + your false reports!' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo fell asleep again. The broad back was very much offended + at the treatment he had received, for he knew he was right, and now, though + the Indians were close at hand, he did not again warn Nanahboozhoo, so the + enemies came and stole all of his cooked fowls. The Indians carefully + lifted out the fowls by their legs, which Nanahboozhoo left sticking up. + When they had eaten the bodies of the fowls they stuck back the legs in the + ashes, as Nanahboozhoo had left them. +</p> +<p> + "When at last his sleep was ended Nanahboozhoo arose ready for his meal of + nicely cooked fowl. Great, indeed, were his surprise and indignation when + he pulled out the feet from the ashes and found that the bodies of the + fowls were not there. +</p> +<p> + "He flew into a passion and resolved to punish his back. So he made a fire + of big trees and stood with his back very close to it. When his flesh began + to be badly burned it blistered, and made a noise like the roasting of + meat. Nanahboozhoo did not at first seem to mind the pain, and only said: +</p> +<p> + "'You may well say 'Zeeng, Zeeng,' in your burning. I will teach you a + lesson you will remember for not telling me that the Indians were stealing + my roasted waterfowl.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then went on his way, but in spite of his magic powers he + felt a sort of a soreness in his back. He twisted his head around and saw + the blisters that had been made by the fierce fire. So he thought how he + must get rid of them, for they bothered him, although nothing could injure + him for very long. While walking on the edge of a precipice he slipped—and + away he slid, far down the rocky side. When he reached the bottom, he + looked back, and there, on the rock, on which he had slid down, he saw + things which he had never seen before. +</p> +<p> + "'My nephews,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'when they see these things on the rocks, + will call them Wau-konug (lichen), and although they are poor food they + will keep them from starving when they have nothing better.' +</p> +<p> + "This is the Indian tradition of the origin of the patches of lichen + attached to the bare rocks. The Indians still call them 'no-scabs,' and + when boiled they make a kind of jelly food which is a little better than + starvation. +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, although his back was bleeding from his sliding down + the rough rocks, continued walking, sometimes along the shore and sometimes + in the thick bush. In one place where the thicket was very dense such was + his magic power that he pulled a lot of the thickets together and walked + over on their tops. When he looked back he saw that the blood from the + wounds in his back had given a red color to the bushes over which he had + walked. Then said Nanahboozhoo: +</p> +<p> + "'My nephews will call these bushes "Me-squah-be-me-sheen" (red willows). + They will use them to stop bleeding when they meet with any severe + accidents;' and such the Indians still do when they live among them. +</p> +<p> + "This is the tradition as to the origin of the red willow, once so common + in many of the Indian haunts. +</p> +<p> + "The reason why the partridge is called Kosh-ko-e-wa-soo (one that + startles) is because one made even Nanahboozhoo give a big jump. It + happened in this way: +</p> +<p> + "As Nanahboozhoo was walking along one day in the woods he saw a small + creature. This little thing thought it would be best for him to be brave in + the presence of Nanahboozhoo, and so when he was asked who he was he + answered: +</p> +<p> + "'I am one who startles.' +</p> +<p> + "'You cannot startle me,' said Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "The little creature suddenly flew away and Nanahboozhoo resumed his + journey. By and by he reached a dangerous rocky point on the shore. Just as + he was at the worst point the partridge suddenly flew almost from under his + feet with a rumbling noise, and so startled him that he jumped up, sprang + quickly aside, fell into the water, and got a great wetting. So even + Nanahboozhoo had to confirm the name of the little partridge." +</p> +<p> + The return trip was not much enjoyed by the children. The dead loons in the + canoe did not look as attractive as they had appeared when swimming and + diving so gracefully in the lake. Souwanas was quick to notice their + depression of spirits, and he there and then resolved that he would never + again shoot any living thing in their presence, and he faithfully kept his + resolve. +</p> +<p> + Mary met them as they landed and her quick eyes detected the change in + their spirits, and as they wore their hearts on their sleeves for her she + quickly found out the cause of their sorrow. She was not slow in availing + herself of the opportunity afforded of giving Souwanas and Kennedy a + vigorous scolding for nearly breaking the hearts of her precious darlings, + by killing in their presence some of the birds whose play they had often + watched for hours together. +</p> +<p> + The two men took her scolding in their usual silent way, and then had a + quiet laugh together when her wrath had exhausted itself and she had + indignantly walked off with the children. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH22"> CHAPTER XXII.</a></h3> +<h4> + Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who + Lets Him Fall—A Short-lived Triumph—Why the Buzzard + has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. +</h4> +<p> + One beautiful warm day, when the leaves of the trees were all bright and + golden with their autumnal tints, the children were visiting at the tent of + Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + The old man was making a beautiful little bow and a quiver full of arrows + for Sagastao while the old wife was manufacturing an elaborate baby cradle, + of the Indian pattern, for Minnehaha, in which she could carry her favorite + doll in the style popular among the Indian girls. +</p> +<p> + The children were much interested in watching these highly-prized gifts + being prepared for them, and of course had much to say in the way of thanks + to those who were doing so much to add to their happiness. +</p> +<p> + While they were thus busy several canoes were seen coming from the south. + As the wind was favorable sails had been improvised out of blankets, each + fastened to a couple of oars, and with these simple appliances they sped + rapidly along. Seeing Souwanas's wigwam on the point of land the Indians + came to the shore and smoked and chatted for a short time ere they resumed + their journey toward the north. +</p> +<a name="Illus023"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus023.jpg" width="240" height="359" +alt="The Indian story-teller."> +</p> +<p> +They had in their canoes quite a variety of game, and among them a large + ill-smelling bird called a turkey-buzzard. It was said that the young + Indian hunter who had shot it thought at first that it really was a turkey, + but he found out his mistake when he went to lift it from the ground where + it had fallen. The odor was so offensive that at first he thought he would + leave it behind, but when he remembered that often some of the large + feathers were used in ornamental work he decided to bring it along. +</p> +<p> + The children were interested in its appearance, as this was the first dead + turkey-buzzard they had ever seen. +</p> +<p> + "Look, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "the poor birdie has no feathers on its + neck or head. It must be very cold there when the winter comes." +</p> +<p> + "Well, I think that, as likely as not, it was its own fault that it lost + its feathers," said Sagastao, and then he added as he poked the rank bird + over with a stick: +</p> +<p> + "I would not be surprised to hear that Nanahboozhoo had something to do + with it." +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had," said Souwanas, "and it was because of a mean trick that + the buzzard played upon him. And now that these Indians are off, who are in + a hurry to reach Poplar Point, if you will sit down on the rocks in the + warm sunshine I will tell you the story." +</p> +<p> + No second invitation was necessary, so while the children seated themselves + near him on the; smooth granite rock the old man continued his arrow making + and told them the following story: +</p> +<p> + "One day when Nanahboozhoo was walking through the country he saw the + buzzard soaring up high in the air. Like an eagle, he was making graceful + circles round and round with very little effort. After a time the buzzard + flew down to the earth, and there he stood on a rock with his great wings + outstretched. Nanahboozhoo quietly approached and entered into conversation + with him. +</p> +<p> + "'Brother Buzzard,' he said, 'you must be very happy when sailing around up + there in the blue sky where you can so easily see everything that is going + on down here on the world below you. I wish you would take me up there on + your back and let me see how this world looks from that high place in the + blue sky, where you live so much.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard on hearing this request at once flew down to the side of + Nanahboozhoo and said: +</p> +<p> + "'I will with pleasure take you up on my back and let you see, as you + desire, how the world looks from that high place.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, seeing how smooth was the back of the great bird, said: +</p> +<p> + "'Brother Buzzard, your back is so smooth that I am afraid I will slip off, + so you must be careful not to sweep round too rapidly in your circles in + the sky.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard told Nanahboozhoo that he would be very careful although at + the same time he was resolved, if it were possible, to play a trick on him; + for he had a grudge of some long standing against him which Nanahboozhoo + seemed to have forgotten. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard and held by his + feathers as well as he possibly could. The buzzard then took a short run, + sprang from the ground, and spreading his great strong wings speedily rose + up higher and higher in the sky. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo at first felt rather timid as he found himself thus rapidly + soaring through the air, especially as it was so difficult for him to keep + his seat. When the buzzard began circling round and round it was even more + difficult, for the body of the bird leaned over more and more as his speed + increased. But Nanahboozhoo was very clever, and after a while he became + more accustomed to his queer position and was very much interested in the + splendid sights of the great world beneath him, over which he could now see + for such a great distance. Lakes and rivers, forests and mountains, all + gave delight to Nanahboozhoo, who had wonderful powers of vision. +</p> +<p> + "At length, as they rose up higher and higher in the blue sky, Nanahboozhoo + shouted out in his delight as far away in the distance he recognized the + wigwam of his grandmother, Nokomis. Indeed so delighted was he that for a + moment he let go his hold on the buzzard and swung up his arms in his + excitement. The treacherous buzzard noticed this, saw it was the + opportunity for which he had been watching, and circled round so suddenly + that his body was tilted over, and before Nanahboozhoo could regain his + grip he slipped off the smooth back and fell like a stone to the ground. So + terrible was the force with which he struck the earth that he was knocked + senseless, and lay there for a long time like one dead. +</p> +<p> + "But, as I have told you, Nanahboozhoo was more than human and nothing + could really kill him. So it happened that after a while he recovered his + senses, but he was annoyed, disgusted, that he had allowed the buzzard to + play such a mean trick on him. +</p> +<p> + "Then he prepared to resume his journey, and of course he looked up to see + if there were any sign of the buzzard. He had not far to look, for there, + up in the sky, not far off, was the old buzzard laughing at the trick he + had played upon Nanahboozhoo, and much pleased with his own cleverness in + deceiving one known to be so crafty. +</p> +<p> + "'Laugh away, old buzzard,' said Nanahboozhoo. 'You have had the best of me + this time, but look out! For I will put a mark upon you for this trick of + yours that will enable your friends and your enemies to recognize you both + by day and by night.' +</p> +<p> + "But the buzzard, from his high safe place in the sky, only laughed back in + derision, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'No, indeed, Nanahboozhoo, you will do nothing of the kind. You have been + deceiving the other creatures, but in me you have found your match. You + cannot deceive me. And now, especially as you have threatened me, I will + always be on the watch for you.' +</p> +<a name="Illus024"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus024.jpg" width="260" height="194" +alt="'Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo made no reply to this boastful speech, but he did a lot of + thinking, and he soon had his plans laid to teach Mr. Buzzard a lesson he + would never forget. +</p> +<p> + "Resuming his journey he pushed on as though nothing had happened. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard was at first suspicious and watched him for some time. Then + seeing nothing unusual in his movements he flew away into the distant sky. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, in order to carry out his plan to punish the buzzard, + resolved to turn himself into a dead deer. He knew that the buzzard lived + on dead animals of all kinds. He chose a high spot, visible from a great + distance, and there he laid himself down and changed himself into the body + of a great deer. It was not long before the various animals and birds that + subsist on such things began to gather round this dead body. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard, that has such wonderful eyes, to see great distances, saw + from afar this gathering of the birds and animals, and as he was ever on + the lookout for such things he soon joined the rest of the creatures around + the deer. He flew round and round it several times, for he was at first + somewhat suspicious. The closest inspection, however, showed him that it + was only a dead deer, and that was the unanimous opinion of all the other + animals and birds that gathered there. There could be no doubt in any + creature's mind but that it was a deer and that it was quite dead. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard, now that all his suspicions were gone, in his great greed to + get the best he could savagely began, with his powerful beak, tearing a + hole in the side of the body that he might get down to the rich fat that is + around the kidneys. This is what those fierce, greedy birds always try to + get first. Deeper and deeper into the flesh he tore, until at length he was + able to crowd in his head and neck to reach the dainty morsels he so much + prized. +</p> +<p> + "This was just what Nanahboozhoo was waiting for, and when the head and + neck of the buzzard were completely hidden in the body up jumped the deer, + and as he did so the flesh closed up so tightly around the head and neck of + the buzzard that the greedy bird was there securely held. +</p> +<p> + "'Ha, ha, old buzzard! I did catch you after all, as I said I would,' said + Nanahboozhoo. 'Now pull out your neck and head.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard with very great difficulty at length succeeded in drawing his + head out of the side of the deer. The effort to do so, however, was so + great that he lost all of the beautiful feathers that once adorned his head + and neck. From that day they have never grown on him again, and there is + nothing there to be seen but the red rough-looking skin. +</p> +<p> + "'Never again,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'will feathers cover your neck or head, + and so your friends and enemies, as they see you, will be reminded of how + Nanahboozhoo punished you for playing one of your tricks on him. And also + from this time forward your food will only be of the rankest kind, and the + disagreeable odor will so cling to you that even in the darkest nights your + hateful presence will be detected and shunned.' +</p> +<p> + "Thus," added Souwanas, "the buzzard is the most despised of birds, because + he is such an ugly fellow, with his featherless head and neck, and because + his disagreeable odor taints the sweet air wherever he goes." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH23"> CHAPTER XXIII.</a></h3> +<h4> + A Moonlight Trip on the Lake—The Legend of the + Orphan Boy—His Appeal to the Man in the Moon—How + He Conquered His Enemies. +</h4> +<p> + Moonlight nights in the Northland are often very beautiful. There in the + summer time the gloaming continues until nearly midnight. Then nothing can + be more glorious than to glide along amid the beautiful fir-clad rocky + islands in a birch canoe over the still transparent waters. So large and + luminous are the full moons of July and August that, with the west aglow + and with the wondrous aurora flashing and blazing in the north, there is + practically little night and no darkness at all. +</p> +<p> + Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have permission to go + with Mary and Kennedy in a large roomy birch canoe for a moonlight + excursion during one of those warm, brilliant nights. With plenty of rugs + or cushions, to make the coziest of seats in the center of the canoe, they + fairly reveled in the beauties of the romantic surroundings while they + floated on the moonlit lake. Often in some place of more than ordinary + beauty Kennedy would cease paddling, and then their very quietness added to + the charms of those happy outings. +</p> +<a name="Illus025"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus025.jpg" width="245" height="203" +alt="With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe."> +</p> +<p> + "Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "I was reading in one of my books about the + 'man in the moon.' Do you know anything about him?" +</p> +<p> + "He is looking at us very kindly to-night," said Minnehaha. "I really + believe I saw him laughing, he is so pleased we have come out to see him + this lovely night." +</p> +<p> + These remarks of the children caused all in the canoe to more closely scan + the great round moon that was shining with silvery whiteness straight in + front of them. +</p> +<p> + "There are lots of stories about the moon among our people," said Mary, + "but not a great many about the man in the moon. There is, however, a queer + one about how he came down and helped a poor orphan boy." +</p> +<p> + "O, tell it to us just now," said Minnehaha, "while he is watching and + listening." +</p> +<p> + "Do, Mary," said Sagastao, "and Minnehaha and I will watch the old fellow + and see how he likes to be talked about." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "Mary will be talking to him to his face, and not + behind his back, as people sometimes do when talking about others." +</p> +<p> + Thus the children ran on with their prattle. Mary and Kennedy were much + amused. +</p> +<p> + "Come, Mary, hurry up! Father said the gloaming would end about eleven, and + we must be at the shore by that time." +</p> +<p> + "Pretty late hours for little children," said Kennedy. +</p> +<p> + "Never mind that," said Sagastao; "we will make up for it in winter time, + when it gets dark at four o'clock." +</p> +<p> + With Sagastao on one side of her in the big canoe and Minnehaha on the + other—their favorite positions when listening to her fascinating stories + as she crooned them out in her soft, musical Cree—Mary told them the + story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago," she began, "there was a poor orphan boy who had neither father + nor mother, uncle, aunt, nor any living relative that he knew of. He had a + very hard time of it, as the people did not seem to take kindly to him. So + he had to live just where he could. He managed to get along all right + during the pleasant summer time, but when the long cold winters began he + suffered very much. One winter some selfish people let him live with them + because he was willing to work hard for what little they did for him. They + treated him badly in many ways. They made him go out into the woods and cut + firewood, but when he brought it home they would only allow him to stay in + the cold entry-way which they had built to their winter dwelling. +</p> +<p> + "They made him go and hunt different animals for food, and then when he + brought, them home they cooked and ate the best themselves, and just threw + the fragments and bones to him as they would to a dog. Every member of the + household treated him very cruelly, except a nice little girl, the youngest + daughter of the family. She felt very sorry for him. She would secretly + take him better food, and she furnished him with a knife with which he + could cut the tough pieces of meat. She had to be very careful not to be + discovered, for if found out she would have been severely punished. So her + pity had to show itself on the sly, and the few words she was able to tell + him of her sympathy had to be whispered as she passed him, when nobody was + looking or listening. The poor boy up to this time had no ambition to + better himself, but her kind words and deeds made him resolve that he must + begin and do something for himself. But what could he do? Everybody seemed + against him but this little girl, and she could do nothing in the way of + helping him to escape from these people, who, now that he was becoming so + useful to them, would not let him go. What, really, could he do? +</p> +<p> + "Thus the days and weeks and months passed on and there seemed no chance of + escape. He had tried to run away, but had been caught and brought back and + beaten. +</p> +<p> + "One night when it was not very cold he went outside of the narrow entry + where he generally had to sleep and threw himself on the ground and cried + in his sorrow and despair. He seemed to be utterly unable to better + himself. As he lay there he began looking up at the great bright moon that, + now so large and round, was, he thought, looking earnestly at him. Soon he + was able to see that there was a great man in the moon. As he watched him + he was glad to notice that he was not looking crossly at him, but kindly, + and so he began crying to the man in the moon to come and help him to + escape from the miserable life he was leading. Sure enough, as the boy kept + on crying and pleading he saw the man in the moon beginning to come down to + this world. He came to the very spot where the unhappy boy was lying, but + instead of helping him he made him stand up and then he gave him a good + sound thrashing, making the boy, however, strike back at him as vigorously + as he could. The beating he got very much disheartened and discouraged the + boy, for it was not what he had expected. On the following night, when he + had recovered a little, he began reproaching the man in the moon. +</p> +<p> + "'I called for you,' he said, 'to come and help me against my enemies, and + now you have come and thrashed me.' +</p> +<p> + "But these words, instead of softening the man in the moon, caused him to + come down again and give the poor boy a far worse thrashing than before, + but for every blow he made the boy return one as good as he had received. +</p> +<p> + "Now for the first time the boy began to notice that the more he was beaten + the stronger he grew. Still he could not understand what the man in the + moon meant. So he came again, and they had another regular set-to, and the + boy had another good sound thrashing. He asked him what was the meaning of + his beating him thus. The man in the moon now spoke to him, but his words + were so much like a puzzle that at first the boy did not understand them. + This is what the man in the moon said: +</p> +<p> + "'Would you triumph o'er the strong?<br /> + + + + + Be strong.<br /> + Would you let them no more conquer?<br /> + + + + + Conquer.' + </p> +<p> + "For a time the boy repeated them over and over. He used to say that as the + result of these meetings with the man in the moon he had grown so strong + that he was nearly able to hold his own against his antagonist. Then one + day, when the man in the moon was puffing from the encounter, the latter + said: +</p> +<p> + "'Now by hard knocks and exercise I have put you on the way of ending your + troubles. Be strong, and conquer. Farewell! I am not coming again, as you + do not need me any more.' +</p> +<p> + "Then away he flew back to his place in the moon. +</p> +<p> + "The boy seemed now to know that he was to use his strength for his own + deliverance. To test himself he began tossing up the stones that were so + numerous on the shore of the lake. First he began with quite small ones, + but soon he found that he could pick up and throw about great big ones, + that were like rocks. When he returned from this last contest with the man + in the moon it was nearly daylight. +</p> +<p> + "At first the people began ordering him about as usual. But they soon had + reason to be sorry for their cruelty and abuse, for the boy seized one + after another of them and flung them with such violence against the rocks + that their brains were dashed out and their blood ran in streams down the + sides of the rocks—where it turned into seams in the rocks which can be + seen to this day. +</p> +<p> + "One person only, of all who lived in that dwelling, did the now strong boy + leave alive, and that was, of course, the good-hearted little girl who used + to speak kind words to him and befriend him when she could. +</p> +<p> + "They grew to be very fond of each other, and were afterward married and + lived in full possession of all the things that once belonged to the cruel + people for whom the little orphan boy had worked so long." +</p> +<p> + "Well, sakehou," said Sagastao, "I have been watching the man in the moon + while you have been telling the story about his queer way of helping the + boy to help himself, and he was looking pleased all the time. So I am sure + he is well satisfied with the way you have told the story." +</p> +<p> + Old Mary was delighted with these words from the lips of the lad she loved + with such a passionate devotion. +</p> +<p> + "But what do you think about it, little sister?" said the lad, calling to + Minnehaha, who was cuddled down on the other side of Mary. +</p> +<p> + But the darling gave no answer, for she had long ago slipped off into + Dreamland, and there she remained until the strong arms of Kennedy lifted + her up from the canoe and carried her home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH24"> CHAPTER XXIV.</a></h3> +<h4> +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke—How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake—How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle—The Origin of Tobacco—Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. +</h4> +<p> + Wahkiegun, as Souwanas named the home of his white friends, always had a + warm welcome for Souwanas. Little Souwanaquenapeke had learned to love him + and nothing gave the grave old man greater pleasure than to have charge of + her for hours at a time. He often carried her away to his wigwam and with + great delight explained to visiting Indians how his name was woven into + that of the first little paleface born among his people. +</p> +<p> + Sagastao and Minnehaha, while of course pleased to see the love of the old + chief for their sweet little sister, were sometimes a little impatient when + they found that he would have his hour with her before they could draw a + Nanahboozhoo story out of him. +</p> +<p> + "You are all right," he would say in his dry, humorous way, "as far as you + go; you are only Crees," he would add with a smile, referring to the fact + that they had been born among the Cree Indians farther north; "but + Souwanaquenapeke is better, as she is a pure Saulteaux." +</p> +<p> + This of course would put Sagastao and Minnehaha on the defensive, for in + those days their own pride of birth was that they were Cree Indians. + Faithful old Mary, herself a Cree, would of course take their part, and it + was very amusing—laughable at times—to listen to the wordy strife. In + these discussions Mary was always the one to first lose her temper. When + this happened the penalty was to have the children throw a shawl over her + head and thus silence her. From their loving hands she quietly took her + punishment and was soon restored to good nature. Good-hearted Souwanas then + speedily responded to the call for a story. But the little Souwanaquenapeke + must be, if awake, in his arms, or, if asleep, in a little hammock or + native cradle beside him. +</p> +<p> + "What is it to be about to-day?" asked the old man, as the children, full + of eager anticipation, drew a couple of chairs up before him. +</p> +<p> + After some discussion Souwanas decided to tell them the Nanahboozhoo story + of how he lessened the power of the rattlesnakes to do harm. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, in starting off one day from his grandmother's wigwam, had + put on the disguise of a fine young hunter. He had not gone many miles on + his journey before he came to a little tent on the edge of the forest where + he found a young Indian mother full of grief over her sick child. + Nanahboozhoo could not but feel very sorry for her, especially when he + heard her story that a snake had crawled noiselessly into her tent and had + bitten her little girl while she slept. Nanahboozhoo felt such pity, both + for the weeping mother and the bitten child, that at once he set to work to + counteract the sad doings of the snake. He hurriedly went into the forest, + and there finding a certain plant he said, 'From this day forward the root + of this plant shall be a remedy for all people against the bites of + snakes.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo showed the mother that the roots were to be pounded and + made into a drink and a poultice. The glad mother quickly carried out his + instructions and the little girl was soon well again. The Indians have ever + since been very thankful to Nanahboozhoo for letting them know of this + plant, which they still use for such purposes and which they call + snakeroot. Nanahboozhoo remained until he saw that the little girl was + quite recovered. Then he said: +</p> +<p> + "'Now I will fix that snake so that he will not be able to do so much harm + in the future.' +</p> +<p> + "Then going out he caught the king of the snakes and gave him a great + scolding for the meanness of that one of his family which had crawled into + the tent of the Indian mother and so cruelly bitten that little girl while + she slept. Then getting very angry, for Nanahboozhoo was very + quick-tempered, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'Snakes, like other things, have the right to live. They are given their + place in the world, and their work. They are to keep down the mice, rats, + frogs, toads, and other things that might become too numerous. They have + their poisons given them to defend themselves if attacked. But they have no + right to go and kill or injure anyone doing them no harm. I'll teach you + snakes that in future you cannot quietly crawl about and bite innocent + people thus.' +</p> +<p> + "So he took a piece of the wampum from one of the strings with which he had + decorated himself, and having carefully carved the hard shells of which + wampum is made, Nanahboozhoo firmly fastened them to the snake's tail, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'From this day forward may all snakes like you have those noisy rattles + upon them, so that all people will call you rattlesnakes. And may it be + that you can never move without making a noise with those rattles, so that + people will always be able to hear them and thus get ready to fight you, or + to get out of your way before you can do any harm.'" +</p> +<p> + "Well done, Nanahboozhoo!" shouted little Sagastao. "He's the one for me. + But why did he not kill all the rattlesnakes at once?" +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was, however, too clever to be caught trying to answer a question + that, although asked by a child, was beyond his knowledge, so he resorted + to his calumet, and as the smoke of it began to taint the air Sagastao + said, "Well, Souwanas, can you tell us where you Indians first got your + tobacco?" +</p> +<p> + This question was more to the taste of the old Indian, so while he smoked + he related the tradition of the introduction of tobacco among his people. +</p> +<p> + "Very many winters ago," said he, "as Nanahboozhoo was traveling on one of + his long journeys he visited a land of great high mountains. One day as he + was passing a great chasm in the mountains he saw some blue smoke slowly + coming up out of it. This excited his curiosity and he went to see what + caused it. As he drew near to it he was very much pleased with its odor. On + further investigation he found that the great cave from which the smoke + arose was inhabited by a giant who was the keeper of tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, on searching, found him half asleep in this cave among great + bales and bags of tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "The smell of the smoke of the tobacco had so pleased Nanahboozhoo that he + asked the giant to give him some. The giant refused in a very surly + fashion, saying that he only gave portions of it away to his friends the + Munedoos, who came once a year to smoke with him. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, seeing that he was not going to be able to get any by thus + pleading for it, snatched up one of the well-filled tobacco bags, dashed + out with it, and fled away as rapidly as possible. The great giant was + fearfully enraged, and at once began the pursuit of this rash fellow who + had thus stolen his tobacco from under his very nose. +</p> +<p> + "It was a fearful race. Nanahboozhoo had to jump from one mountain top to + the next, and so on and on from peak to peak. Closely behind him followed + the giant, and Nanahboozhoo had all he could do to keep from being + captured. Fortunately for him he now knew the mountains well, and he + remembered one ahead of him the opposite side of which was very steep. When + he reached this top he suddenly threw himself down upon the very edge, and + as the giant passed over him Nanahboozhoo suddenly sprang up and gave him + such a push that he tumbled down into the fearful chasm. He was so bruised + and wounded that, as he got up and hobbled away down the far-off valley, + Nanahboozhoo watching him saw that he looked just like a great grasshopper. + He burst out laughing, and then shouted to the giant: +</p> +<p> + "'For your meanness and selfishness I change you into a grasshopper; + Pukaneh shall be your name and you will always have a dirty mouth.' +</p> +<p> + "And so it is to this day, for every little boy who has caught grasshoppers + knows that their saliva is as though they had been chewing tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had rested himself a little he returned to the cave of + the giant and took possession of the great quantities of tobacco he found + there. He divided it among the Indian tribes, and from that time those who + live where it will grow have cultivated it and have supplied all the + others." +</p> +<p> + "I wish," said Minnehaha, "that Nanahboozhoo had left Pukaneh and his + tobacco in the cave, for I don't think tobacco smoke is very nice in the + house." +</p> +<a name="Illus026"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus026.jpg" width="245" height="357" +alt="Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push."> +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was amused with the little girl's opposition to his beloved weed, + and while she was talking took the opportunity to refill his calumet. When + it was in good smoking order he, urgently requested by Sagastao, resumed + his story-telling. +</p> +<p> + "Sometimes it did not fare so well with Nanahboozhoo. There were times when + his cleverness seemed to forsake him, and he got into trouble' that at + other times he would easily have avoided. For example, one day in the + summer time as he was hurrying along he became very thirsty. Soon, however, + he came to a river which has many trees on its banks. He pushed his way + through them until he came to the bank. Just as he was stooping down to + drink he saw some nice ripe fruit in the water. Without seeming to think of + what he was doing he dived into the quite shallow water to get the fruit, + hit his head against the rocky bottom and was pretty badly hurt. He was + vexed and angry as well as disappointed, but he took a good drink of the + water and then he lay down on the grass in the shade of the trees to rest. + As he lay there on his back he saw above him on the branches of the trees + the fruit which he had at first thought was in the water. +</p> +<p> + "Laughing at his own stupidity and climbing up into the trees he soon had + all the ripe fruit he could eat. +</p> +<p> + "Then on he went, and as his head was quite sore from the bump he had got + when he dived into the shallow river he determined to visit some wigwams + which he saw not far off. +</p> +<p> + "The people received him very kindly, with the exception of one surly, + cross old man. They quickly prepared some balsam and put it on his wounded + head. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was well pleased with this kindness, and said that he would + be glad to perform for them some kindly act in return. +</p> +<p> + "Before anyone else, however, could speak the cross old man sneered out: +</p> +<p> + "'O, if you think you are clever enough to do anything, grant that I may + live forever!' +</p> +<p> + "This request and the sneering way in which it was made caused the + quick-tempered Nanahboozhoo to become very angry, and he suddenly sprang up + and caught the Indian by the shoulders and violently throwing him on the + ground said: +</p> +<p> + "'From this time you shall be a stone, and so your request is granted.'" +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH25"> CHAPTER XXV.</a></h3> +<h4> +The Dead Moose—The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests—The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe—The Haze of the Indian +Summer. +</h4> +<p> + The sight of four stalwart Indians dragging on a dog sled the body of an + enormous moose on the ice in front of their home very much interested the + children. +</p> +<p> + Nothing would do but they must be wrapped up and allowed to go out and + examine it while the men rested and had a smoke. Its great horns, its + enormous ugly head, and then its coarse, bristle-like hair, had all to be + examined and commented upon. The opportune arrival of Souwanas, who had + been attracted by the sight of the moose, much pleased the children, and + just as soon as the investigation of the moose was over and the hunters had + proceeded on their journey the children insisted on Souwanas going home to + Wahkiegun with them and telling them something about the moose. They also + wanted to hear a wonderful story, which he knew, telling how Nanahboozhoo + helped the elks to conquer the moose. +</p> +<p> + When there is a disposition to surrender we are easily conquered. So it was + with Souwanas on this occasion. The children in their love for their friend + pleaded so importunately that a good cup of tea was prepared for and much + enjoyed by him before he began his story, his interested auditors as close + as possible around him. +</p> +<p> + "Once when Nanahboozhoo was journeying through the country," said Souwanas, + "he found a village of Indians who were very poor. They were called + Oomaskos, Elk people. They had nothing but the poorest of robes on their + backs, and they were nearly destitute of everything in the shape of traps, + weapons, and canoes. The village was strangely silent, for even the dogs, + that generally are around in such numbers, had disappeared. When + Nanahboozhoo saw this destitution and poverty he at once inquired the + reason, and was surprised and very angry to hear that they were great + gamblers. +</p> +<p> + "Not far off from them was another village whose people were called Mooswa, + or Moose people, and Nanahboozhoo soon found out that, while the + inhabitants of these two villages were antagonistic to each other, they + frequently met to gamble, and that the Moose people were nearly always + successful and had won from the Elk people nearly everything they + possessed. The latter were very much humiliated at Nanahboozhoo's finding + them in such a wretched condition, but they told him they were convinced + that some trickery had been practiced upon them by their opponents. They + also informed Nanahboozhoo that they would be glad if he would help them to + get back their much needed possessions. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo promised that he would assist them on condition that after + their possessions were regained they should give up the pernicious habit of + gambling. This they unanimously promised to do. The first thing + Nanahboozhoo did was to disguise himself as a whisky-jack and fly over to + the village of the Moose people and try to discover how it was that they + had been so invariably successful when they gambled with the Elk people. It + was as he suspected. His old enemies the Anamakquis, the evil spirits that + had destroyed his brother Nahpootee, the wolf, had sent one of their number + among the Moose people, and he had enabled them to win nearly all of the + dogs, as well as other things, from the Elk people. Indeed, he himself had + generally been the one who had tossed the plum stones with which they + gambled, and they had won by his magic powers. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo heard this he knew that his first work must be to secure + the magic muskamoot (medicine bag). So he flew round and round, and peering + in through the top of the wigwam, where the poles crossed each other, he + was fortunate enough to see the magic bag hanging up on a cross pole over + the place where the Anamakqui slept. He noticed also that it was well + guarded and that it would require some cleverness on his part to get it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was, as you know, a very clever fellow. He quickly flew back + to the village of the Elk people and ordered the most industrious of the + women, who were skillful in making fire bags, to make one exactly as he + described. This was, of course, similar to the magic muskamoot he had seen + hanging up in the tent. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then put into it things that would have just the opposite + effect to those which were in the bag of the Anamakqui. He waited until it + was dark, and then, noiselessly flying back to the village of the Moose + people, he silently entered the wigwam at the top, where there was now a + wide opening, as it was in the warm summer time, very quickly exchanged the + bag he had with him for the magic muskamoot, and returned to the village of + the Elk people. It did not take him long to arrange his plans. The chief of + the Elks had a beautiful daughter, and it was given out that a fine young + chief from a far-away tribe had come to ask for her in marriage. The father + had welcomed this young chief—who was, of course, Nanahboozhoo—and as he + had brought costly gifts he was at once acknowledged as the accepted + son-in-law. +</p> +<p> + "The news spread rapidly and it soon reached the Moose village. When they + heard of the many gifts which this rich young stranger had brought with him + they, of course, were greedy to win them, as they had won the rest of the + Elks' property. It was not many days before a company of them came over to + the Elks, and meeting the beautiful daughter of the chief they said: +</p> +<p> + "'We have come over to have a game of plum stones with your lover, to see + if he is a better player than we are.' +</p> +<p> + "The girl went at once into the wigwam and informed her intended husband, + Nanahboozhoo, of the challenge of these people. She also told him that they + were very clever but that they had no idea of him being anything else than + what he appeared to be. Then she added: +</p> +<p> + "'Be sure to win; if you do not they will beat us with clubs and sticks. + For the custom is that the side that is defeated in the gambling must + submit to a beating by the conquerors.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo and the champion for the Moose people sat down on + opposite sides of the bowl in which were the plum stones, while the people + of each of the two villages ranged themselves behind their own champion. + When Nanahboozhoo shook the bowl, and then let the plum stones cease + rolling, it was seen that he had won every point. At this the Elks set up a + great shout of triumph. The Moose people shouted back: +</p> +<p> + "'Don't be so fast; the game is to be the best three out of five; just wait + until our man has played.' +</p> +<p> + "The plum stones were then handed to him and patting his medicine bag he + confidently shook them up, but when they had ceased rolling it was seen + that he had lost every point. +</p> +<p> + "The victory was now so nearly won that the Elks began to say: +</p> +<p> + "'Get your clubs ready to thrash the Moose people, for we are surely going + to be winners this day.' +</p> +<p> + "The Moose people were, however, not yet quite discouraged. 'There are + three tries yet,' they said, 'and our man may yet win.' But their hopes + were soon gone, for when Nanahboozhoo threw the plum stones the third time + he was as successful as at the first. +</p> +<p> + "This decided the game in favor of the Elks, who now rushed upon the Moose + people and thrashed them all the way back to their own village. +</p> +<p> + "The Moose were very much humiliated at this defeat. They had not only had + a good beating but, according to the custom of the tribes, they were + obliged to restore much of the property which they had won from the Elks in + their previous contests. A council was called not long after and there was + quite a discussion among them as to the best plan to be adopted to defeat + the Elks and regain supremacy. They decided on a trial of strength, for in + such encounters they had generally been victorious. They had two high poles + erected with a crossbar on the top, and the contest was to see which side + could produce the man who should throw the heaviest stone over that bar. + They sent their challenge to the Elks to meet them if they dare. +</p> +<p> + "The Elks quickly responded and were soon at the place where the Moose + people, who were awaiting them, had erected the high poles with the + crossbar. When everything had been arranged their strongest man took up a + heavy stone and, with a tremendous effort, succeeded in barely throwing it, + so that it struck the crossbar and carried it down to the ground. When the + crossbar had been replaced a son of the chief of the Elks went forward, as + though he would be the competitor on the side of the Elks. He pretended as + though he could not even lift the heavy stone which the Moose champion had + thrown. When the Moose people saw this they shouted out in triumph, and + began to get ready to give the Elks as good a beating as they had received + from them on a former occasion. +</p> +<p> + "Seeing them thus coming, Nanahboozhoo rushed forward, seized the heavy + stone, and sent it high up and far over the tops of the poles—thus winning + the victory again for the Elks. With a shout of triumph the Elks again + attacked the Moose and drove them in disgrace back to their own village. + The Moose people were now more humiliated than ever, but they determined to + try another plan; for they were resolved not to give up to the Elks, whom + they had so often defeated. After much consultation they said: +</p> +<p> + "'Let us have a contest at diving in the lake, that we may see if our + champion cannot remain longer under the water than any one of the Elks.' +</p> +<p> + "So they went over to the village of the Elks and told them they had come + to have another contest with them. To the proposal of the Moose the Elks + all agreed, and both parties proceeded to the lake. Here a large hole was + cut in the ice and the champion of the Moose prepared to go down into the + water. One of the brothers of the beautiful Indian girl who had been + selected as Nanahboozhoo's bride said to Nanahboozhoo: +</p> +<p> + "'As our bodies are tougher than yours you must let me compete this time.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo would not let him do this. He said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am not afraid of the cold water, and besides I have plenty of friends + down there.' +</p> +<p> + "And, sure enough, the mud turtle came up and said, in words that only + Nanahboozhoo could understand: +</p> +<p> + "'My brother, I have come up at the request of your brother, the wolf, to + aid you. Trust yourself in my care and no harm will come to you.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was well pleased to hear this, for he knew that his spirit + brother had sent his friend the mud turtle to help him in this trial. +</p> +<p> + "The competitors now stripped themselves, and when the signal was given + they both dived into the water and disappeared. The Moose people had such + confidence in their champion that they had all brought with them very heavy + sticks with which they intended giving the Elks a great beating in return + for the two previous defeats. +</p> +<p> + "The Elks, however, were not dismayed. They only said: +</p> +<p> + "'Just wait until the contest is decided.' +</p> +<p> + "In the meantime the competitors under the water were so near together at + first that the people on the land heard the Moose say, 'Elk, are you cold?' + To which the mud turtle, who had covered the Elk competitor over with his + shell, replied: +</p> +<p> + "'No, Moose; but are you cold?' +</p> +<p> + "As the people on the shore could not hear any answer to this question it + gave some alarm to the Moose people about their champion, who they feared + must be benumbed with the cold. This was really the case, for in a short + time he came to the surface of the water so nearly frozen to death that he + had to be helped out of the water. +</p> +<p> + "When the mud turtle and Nanahboozhoo heard the shoutings of triumph of the + Elks they knew that the Moose champion had failed, and so they came up to + the surface. Nanahboozhoo swam ashore and joined in the pursuit of the + disheartened Moose people, who had again so signally failed. +</p> +<p> + "These repeated defeats very much angered and humiliated the Moose people. + They almost quarreled among themselves in their vexation as they talked + them over at their councils. Still they were in no humor to give up. They + had two very swift runners among them, and they decided to challenge the + Elks to a foot race. So they again sent a number of their party over to the + tent of the Elk people and said: +</p> +<p> + "'We are not at all satisfied yet, and we wish to know if the son of the + chief and his brother-in-law, the young stranger who has come into your + midst, will run a foot race against two of our young people.' +</p> +<p> + "This challenge was at once accepted and soon all preparations were made + for the great race. It was decided that it should be run on the ice of the + frozen lake, which was several miles round. Much snow had fallen, but the + people of both sides turned out for days and cleared out a good track. They + made it near the shore, and so that the finishing spot would be near where + was the starting point. +</p> +<p> + "The Moose felt quite certain of winning this time, because by their magic + their runners were to be turned into real Moose, with four legs, and they + argued that runners with four feet could surely beat those who had only + two. But there were others who had heard about this great race, and among + them was the wolf, the spirit brother of Nanahboozhoo, and so he came to + him the night before the race. +</p> +<p> + "'My brother,' he said, 'I will come and help you in this race. You are the + only one that can see me, so I will be on the track, about half way round, + and when you come there you can get on my back and I will carry you at a + greater speed. But you must keep your legs moving as if rapidly running, or + the people will suspect something unusual.' +</p> +<p> + "There was a great crowd to witness this race between the two great Moose, + to represent the Moose people, and the son of the chief and his unknown + brother-in-law to represent the Elks. When the signal was given away they + started over the icy trail. The Moose soon were at the front, with the + chief's son not far behind. Nanahboozhoo was purposely a little in the + rear, and so was able to spring upon the wolf's back without attracting + attention. +</p> +<a name="Illus027"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus027.jpg" width="245" height="200" +alt="They were excited at his coming."> +</p> +<p> + "With this steed under him he sped along with marvelous rapidity. At the + half-way point of the race he overtook his brother-in-law, and giving him + his hand, they were soon far in front. When they rushed in ahead there was + great excitement. The Moose people were soon running back to their village + with the Elks whipping them to the very doors of their wigwams. +</p> +<p> + "After this the Moose dare not challenge the Elks to any further contest, + but they were so furious that they meditated murder in their hearts toward + the young stranger, who had, they now saw, been the cause of their many + defeats. Nanahboozhoo, however, easily thwarted their evil schemes, but at + length some of them were so bad that his anger was aroused and he exerted + all his magic power. +</p> +<p> + "'Moose you are by name,' he said to them, 'and for your bad deeds I change + you into the animals after whom you are named. Hereafter you will live in + the swamps, among the willows and young birch. On them you will have to + browse for a living. For a little variety in your food you may, in the + summer time, go out into the shallow waters and paw up and eat the great + roots of the water-lilies.' +</p> +<p> + "Thus the Elks again had peace and quietness. Gambling was never again + allowed among them, and Nanahboozhoo, after receiving their grateful + thanks, returned to his own country." +</p> +<p> + "What did he do after that?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Not much, for a while; but after a time he decided to go away up North. + Each fall, however, he comes and looks around to see how everything is + going on. Then he rests on some of the mountains and has a big smoke, which + settles down on the hillsides and valleys and makes the beautiful hazy time + which we all call the Indian Summer." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "if the smoke of Nanahboozhoo's big pipe of peace + makes the beautiful haze of the lovely Indian Summer, it is about the best + thing I have heard yet of tobacco smoke doing." +</p> +<p> + And so say we all. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="GLOS"> GLOSSARY</a></h3> +<p> + Ana-mak-qui, <i>Evil spirits or magicians</i>. +</p> +<p> + An-nun-gi-tee, <i>The ghost with big ears</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ja-koos, <i>Strong-armed</i>. +</p> +<p> + Keche-Wapoose, <i>Great Rabbit</i>. +</p> +<p> + Kin-ne-sa-sis, <i>Little Fish</i>. +</p> +<p> + Kosh-ke-e-wa-see, <i>Partridge</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ma-hei-gan, <i>Wolf</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mani-boos or Manitoos or Munedoos, <i>Spirits</i>. +</p> +<p> + Me-squah-be-me-sheen, <i>Red Willows</i>. +</p> +<p> + Minne-ha-ha, <i>Laughing Waters</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mis-ta-coo-sis, <i>Aspen Tree</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mis-mis, <i>Grandfather</i>. +</p> +<p> + Moos-wa, <i>Moose</i>. +</p> +<p> + Moo-she-kin-ne-bik, <i>Sea Monster</i>. +</p> +<p> + Musk-a-moot, <i>Medicine Bag</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mud-je-kee-wis, <i>West Wind</i>. +</p> +<p> + Na-nah-booz-hoo, <i>Son of Mud-je-kee-wis—West Wind</i>. +</p> +<p> + Nah-poo-tee, <i>Wolf</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ni-koo-chis, <i>Solitude—name of a giant</i>. +</p> +<p> + Nokomis, <i>Grandmother</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ome-mee, <i>Pigeon or Dove</i>. +</p> +<p> + Oo-kis-ki-mu-ni-sew, <i>Kingfisher</i>. +</p> +<p> + Oo-see-mee-id, <i>The Younger</i>. +</p> +<p> + Se-si-giz-it, <i>The Older</i>. +</p> +<p> + Pa-peu-pe-na-ses, <i>Laughing Bird</i>. +</p> +<p> + Pug-a-mah-kon, <i>A hammer</i>. +</p> +<p> + Puk-an-eh, <i>Grasshopper</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sa-gas-ta-oo-ke-mou, shortened to Sagastao, <i>The Sunrise Gentleman</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sa-ke-how, <i>Beloved</i>. +</p> +<p> + Se-se-pask-wut, <i>Sugar</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sis-tin-a-koo, <i>The magician who guarded the fire in the interior of the + earth</i>. +</p> +<p> + Shu-ni-ou, <i>Money</i>. +</p> +<p> + So-qua-a-tum, <i>Steadfast</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sou-wa-nas, <i>South Wind, The great Story-teller</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sou-wa-na-que-na-peke, <i>The Voice of the South Wind Birds</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wah-ki-e-gun, <i>The House</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wau-be-noo, <i>The East</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wakonda, <i>A supernatural Person</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wakontas, <i>Son of Wakonda</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wau-konug, <i>Lichen</i>. Wenonah, <i>Daughter of Nokomis and mother of + Nanahboozhoo</i>. +</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10891 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/10891-h/images/Illus001.jpg b/10891-h/images/Illus001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cbcf871 --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-h/images/Illus001.jpg diff --git a/10891-h/images/Illus002.jpg b/10891-h/images/Illus002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77d6ca7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-h/images/Illus002.jpg diff --git a/10891-h/images/Illus003.jpg b/10891-h/images/Illus003.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..afedabd --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-h/images/Illus003.jpg diff --git a/10891-h/images/Illus004.jpg b/10891-h/images/Illus004.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..827005e --- /dev/null +++ b/10891-h/images/Illus004.jpg diff --git a/10891-h/images/Illus005.jpg b/10891-h/images/Illus005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c36fc8 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10891 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10891) diff --git a/old/10891-h.zip b/old/10891-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbff849 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10891-h.zip diff --git a/old/10891-h/10891-h.htm b/old/10891-h/10891-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a714854 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10891-h/10891-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8215 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Algonquin Indian Tales, + collected by Egerton R. Young . + </title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; background-color: white} + h1,h2,h3,h5 {text-align: center;} + .ind {margin-left: 10%; } + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} + .toc {text-align: center;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Algonquin Indian Tales, by Egerton R. Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Algonquin Indian Tales + +Author: Egerton R. Young + +Release Date: February 21, 2004 [EBook #10891] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALGONQUIN INDIAN TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Andrea Ball and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1> +ALGONQUIN INDIAN TALES +</h1> +<h3> +COLLECTED BY +</h3> +<h2> +EGERTON R. YOUNG +</h2> +<h5> +AUTHOR OF "BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN," "THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH,"<br /> +"THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND," ETC. +</h5> +<p> </p> +<a name="Illus001"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus001.jpg" width="250" height="339" +alt="The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles."> +</p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<h4>Copyright <br /> +1903</h4> +</center> +<p> </p> +<h2>CHIEF BIG CANOE'S LETTER</h2> +<p> +GEORGINA ISLAND, LAKE SIMCOE.<br /> +REV. EGERTON R. YOUNG. +</p> +<p> +DEAR FRIEND: Your book of stories gathered from among my tribe has very +much pleased me. The reading of them brings up the days of long time ago +when I was a boy and heard our old people tell these tales in the wigwams +and at the camp fire. +</p> +<p> +I am very glad that you are in this way saving them from being forgotten, +and I am sure that many people will be glad to read them. +</p> +With best wishes,<br /> +KECHE CHEMON (Charles Big Canoe),<br /> +Chief of the Ojibways. +<p> </p> +<h2> INTRODUCTORY NOTE</h2> +<p> +In all ages, from the remotest antiquity, the story-teller has flourished. +Evidences of his existence are to be found among the most ancient monuments +and writings in the Orient. In Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, and other ancient +lands he flourished, and in the homes of the noblest he was ever an honored +guest. +</p> +<p> +The oldest collection of folklore stories or myths now in existence is of +East Indian origin and is preserved in the Sanskrit. The collection is +called <i>Hitopadesa</i>, and the author was Veshnoo Sarma. Of this collection, +Sir William Jones, the great Orientalist, wrote, "The fables of Veshnoo are +the most beautiful, if not the most ancient, collection of apologues in the +world." As far back as the sixth century translations were made from them. +</p> +<p> +The same love for myths and legends obtains to-day in those Oriental lands. +There, where the ancient and historic so stubbornly resist any change—in +Persia, India, China, and indeed all over that venerable East—the man who +can recite the ancient apologues or legends of the past can always secure +an audience and command the closest attention. +</p> +<p> +While the general impression is that the recital of these old myths and +legends among Oriental nations was for the mere pastime of the crowds, it +is well to bear in mind that many of them were used as a means to convey +great truths or to reprove error. Hence the recital of them was not +confined to a merely inquisitive audience that desired to be amused. We +have a good example of this in the case of the recital by Jotham, as +recorded in the book of Judges, of the legend of the gathering of the trees +for the purpose of having one of them anointed king over the rest. Of this +legend Dr. Adam Clarke, the commentator, says, "This is the oldest and, +without exception, the best fable or apologue in the world." +</p> +<p> +The despotic nature of the governments of those Oriental nations caused the +people often to use the fable or myth as an indirect way to reprove or +censure when it would not have been safe to have used a direct form of +speech. The result was that it attained a higher degree of perfection there +than among any other people. An excellent example is Nathan's reproof of +David by the recital of the fable of the poor man's ewe lamb. +</p> +<p> +The red Indians of America have justly been famous for their myths and +legends. We have never heard of a tribe that did not have a store of them. +Even the hardy Eskimo in his igloo of ice is surprisingly rich in folklore +stories. A present of a knife or some other trifle that he desires will +cause him to talk by the hour to his guest, whether he be the daring trader +or adventurous explorer, on the traditions that have come down to him. The +interchange of visits between the northern Indians and the Eskimos has +resulted in the discovery that quite a number of the myths recited in +Indian wigwams are in a measure, if not wholly, of Eskimo origin. On the +other hand, the Eskimo has not failed to utilize and incorporate into his +own rich store some that are undoubtedly of Indian origin. +</p> +<p> + For thirty years or more we have been gathering up these myths and legends. + Sometimes a brief sentence or two of one would be heard in some + wigwam—just enough to excite curiosity—then years would elapse ere the + whole story could be secured. As the tribes had no written language, and + the Indians had to depend entirely upon their memory, it is not to be + wondered at that there were, at times, great divergences in the recital of + even the most familiar of their stories. We have heard the same legend + given by several story-tellers and no two agreed in many particulars. + Others, however, were told with very slight differences. +</p> +<p> + We have adopted the course of recording what seemed to us the most natural + version and most in harmony with the instincts and characteristics of the + pure Indian. The close scientific student of Indian folklore will see that + we have softened some expressions and eliminated some details that were + non-essential. The crude Indian languages, while absolutely free from + blasphemy, cannot always be literally translated. <i>Verbum sat sapienti</i>. +</p> +<p> + The method we have adopted, in the presentation of these myths and legends + in connection with the chatter and remarks of our little ones, while + unusual, will, we trust, prove attractive and interesting. We have + endeavored to make it a book for all classes. Here are some old myths in + new settings, and here are some, we venture to think, that have never + before been seen in English dress. These will interest the student of such + subjects, while the general style of the book will, we hope, make it + attractive to young readers. +</p> +<p> + Nanahboozhoo, the personage who occupies the principal part in these myths, + is the most widely known of all those beings of supposed miraculous birth + who played such prominent parts in Indian legends. He does not seem to have + been claimed by any one particular tribe. Doubtless legends of him were + transmitted down from the time when the division of tribes had not so + extensively taken place; when perhaps the Algonquin, now so subdivided, was + one great tribe, speaking one language. +</p> +<p> + The variety of names by which he is known is accounted for by these tribal + divisions and the rapid changes which took place in the language owing to + its having no written form to maintain its unity. +</p> +<p> + What his original name was, when legends about him first began to be told, + is of course unknown. However, since the white race began to gather up and + record these Indian myths he has been known as Misha-wabus, Manabush, + Jous-ke-ha, Messou, Manabozho, Nanahboozhoo, Hiawatha, Chiabo, + Singua-sew—and even some other names have been heard. We have given him in + this volume the name of Nanahboozhoo as that was the one most frequently + used by the Indians among whom we lived or visited. +</p> +<p> + There is more unanimity about his origin, among the tribes, than about his + name. The almost universal report is that he was the son of Mudjekeewis, + the West Wind. His mother was Wenonah, the daughter of Nokomis. +</p> +<p> + The author desires very gratefully to record his indebtedness, for + assistance or hints received in the pleasant work of here clustering these + Indian folklore stories, to many friends, among them such Indian + missionaries as Revs. Peter Jones, John Sunday, Henry Steinham, Allan Salt, + and also to his Indian friends and comrades at many a camp fire and in many + a wigwam. He also wishes in this way to express his appreciation of and + indebtedness to the admirable Reports of the Smithsonian Institution. He + has there obtained verification of and fuller information concerning many + an almost forgotten legend. +</p> +<p> + In regard to a number of the finest of the photographic illustrations in + the volume the author gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Canada + Pacific Railway Company, without whose assistance it would have been + impossible to reach many of the sublime and romantic places here portrayed; + until very recently known only to the adventurous red Indian hunter, but + now brought within the reach of any enterprising tourist. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH1"> +CHAPTER I. +</a> +</p> +<h4> + The Children Carried Off by the Indians—The Feast in + the Wigwam—Souwanas, the Story-teller—Nanahboozhoo, + the Indian Myth—How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and + Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred—Why the Raccoon + has Rings on His Tail. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH2"> +CHAPTER II. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Children's Return—Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse—Her Pathetic History—Her Love for the Children—The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH3"> +CHAPTER III. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +More about Mary and the Children—Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees—How the Bees Got Their Stings—What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH4"> +CHAPTER IV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Love Story of Wakontas—His Test of the Two +Maidens—His Choice—The Transformation of Misticoosis. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH5"> +CHAPTER V. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Startling Placard—What Happened to the Little +Runaways—The Rescue—Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows—How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH6"> +CHAPTER VI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo—How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf—Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH7"> +CHAPTER VII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Legend of the Bad Boy—How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH8"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Happy Christmas Holidays—Indians Made Glad with +Presents—Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH9"> +CHAPTER IX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Kinnesasis—How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH10"> +CHAPTER X. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Christmas Packet—The Distribution of Gifts—A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero—Souwanas Tells +How the Indians First Learned to Make Maple Sugar. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH11"> +CHAPTER XI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease—The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH12"> +CHAPTER XII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Naming of the Baby—A Canoe Trip—The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine—How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH13"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +In the Wigwam of Souwanas—How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH14"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo—The Treachery +of Gray Wolf—The Legend of the Whisky Jack. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH15"> +CHAPTER XV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock—How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened—A Punishment for +Conceit. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH16"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun—How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters—Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH17"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH18"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Welcome Springtime in the Northland—How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians—The Revenge—The Flood—Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft—The Creation of a New World. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH19"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Among the Briers and Wild Roses—Why the Roses have +Thorns—Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH20"> +CHAPTER XX. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils—The Vain Woman—Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH21"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Shooting Loons—Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet—Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner—Origin of Lichens—Why Some Willows are Red—The +Partridge. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH22"> +CHAPTER XXII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall—A Short-lived Triumph—Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH23"> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake—The Legend of the +Orphan Boy—His Appeal to the Man in the Moon—How +He Conquered His Enemies. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH24"> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke—How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake—How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle—The Origin of Tobacco—Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#CH25"> +CHAPTER XXV. +</a> +</p> +<h4> +The Dead Moose—The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests—The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe—The Haze of the Indian +Summer. +</h4> +<p class="toc"><a href="#GLOS"> +GLOSSARY +</a> +</p> +<p> </p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus001"> +The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus002"> +With the children cuddled around, Souwanas began his story +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus003"> +The wild and picturesque Ka-Ka-Be-Ka Falls +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus004"> +They howled with rage and terror +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus005"> +The startling placard +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus006"> +While her mate stood beside her +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus0007"> +Surrounding them were fierce Indian dogs +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus008"> +The beautiful reflections in the water +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus009"> +They tumbled the tall ghost over +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus010"> +Their dog trains were in constant demand +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus011"> +Where the fire was stolen +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus012"> +The coyote was too quick for them +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus013"> +Across a single log at a dizzy height +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus014"> +Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus015"> +Their babies with them +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus016"> +Gave him such a terrible beating +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus017"> +The big rock was surely gaining on him +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus018"> +Sun dance lodge of the blood Indians +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus0019"> +They both threw their magic sticks +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus020"> +He took a leap into the open mouth +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus021"> +He ran away West, to the great mountains +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus022"> +Wigwams and Indians +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus023"> +The Indian story-teller +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus024"> +Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus025"> +With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus026"> +Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#Illus027"> +They were excited at his coming +</a></p> +<hr> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>Algonquin Indian Tales</h1> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH1"> CHAPTER I.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Children Carried Off by the Indians—The Feast in + the Wigwam—Souwanas, the Story-teller—Nanahboozhoo, + the Indian Myth—How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and + Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred—Why the Raccoon + has Rings on His Tail. +</h4> +<p> + Without even knocking at the door there noiselessly entered our northern + home two large, unhandsome Indians. They paid not the slightest attention + to the grown-up palefaces present, but in their ghostly way marched across + the room to the corner where the two little children were playing on the + floor. Quickly but gently picking them up they swung them to their + shoulders, and then, without a word of salutation or even a glance at the + parents, they noiselessly passed out of that narrow door and disappeared in + the virgin forest. They were pagan Saulteaux, by name Souwanas and Jakoos. +</p> +<p> + The Indian names by which these two children were called by the natives + were "Sagastaookemou," which means the "Sunrise Gentleman," and + "Minnehaha," "Laughing Waters." +</p> +<p> + To the wigwam of Souwanas, "South Wind," these children were being carried. + They had no fear of these big Indians, though the boy was only six years + old, and his little sister but four. They had learned to look with laughing + eyes even into the fiercest and ugliest of these red faces and had made + them their friends. +</p> +<p> + So even now, while being carried away among the dense trees, they merrily + laughed and shouted to each other. The bright patches of sunshine on the + ground, the singing birds, and the few brilliant-hued summer flowers, + brought forth their exclamations of delight, while all the time the grave, + silent Indians hurried them on deeper and deeper into the forest. Yet + carefully they guarded their precious loads, and as the antlered deer in + passing through the thick woods and under the low branches never strike + trunk or bough, so these sons of the forest glided swiftly on without + allowing any hurt to come to the children of the paleface, even if at times + the faint trail led them over slippery rocks and under low intertwining + branches. +</p> +<p> + The wigwam of Souwanas was pitched in a beautiful spot at the edge of the + great forest near the sandy, rocky eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. This + great lake is well called The Sea, which is the meaning of its Indian name. + It is about as long as Lakes Ontario and Erie combined and in some places + is eighty miles wide. +</p> +<p> + At the entrance of the wigwam, which was made of a couple of tanned + reindeerskins, the children were carefully lifted down from the men's + shoulders and then taken into this Indian abode. Coming in suddenly from + the bright sunshine it was some time before they could see distinctly. The + door flap of deerskin had dropped like a curtain behind them. All the light + there was came in through the hole in the top, where the poles of the + wigwam crossed each other. Presently, however, they were able to see a + circle of Indian children gathered around a small fire that smoldered on + the ground in the center of the tent. It was now in the pleasant summer + time, but the fire was needed for something else than warmth, as the little + Sagastao and Minnehaha discovered before long. They were soon seated in the + circle with the red children, who, young though they were, were a wee bit + startled at seeing these little palefaces. The white children, however, + simply laughed with glee. This outward demonstration seemed very improper + to the silent red children, who were taught to refrain from expressions of + their gladness or sorrow. +</p> +<p> + The Indians had brought the white children for a characteristic reason. + They had said among themselves, "If the white father and mother love us as + they say they do we will test them by taking away their children without + asking permission." They also wished to show their own love for the + children, and so had really brought them to a children's feast. +</p> +<p> + It was perhaps as queer a tea party as you ever heard of. There was no + table on which to put the good things prepared for the feast. No plates, no + cups and saucers, no knives, no spoons, not even a chair! There were no + cakes, no tarts, no jam, no pies, not even any bread and butter! +</p> +<p> + "Well, what a feast!" you say. "Without any place to sit, or good things to + eat!" Not too fast! There were both of these. There was the lap of mother + earth, and so down on the ground, with bearskins and deerskins on it for + rugs, the children sat. Then the deerskin door was again opened and in came + Indians with birch-bark dishes, called <i>rogans</i>, in which were nicely + prepared wild ducks, rabbits, and partridges. But as they were uncooked + they could not yet be eaten by the now expectant, hungry children. +</p> +<p> + Then began the preparation of the feast. Some of the Indians added dry wood + to the fire until there was a hot, smokeless blaze. Others took out their + sharp hunting knives and cleverly cut up the ducks, rabbits, and + partridges. Then these pieces were spitted on the ends of sharp points of + hard wood and skillfully broiled or toasted in the hot flames. As fast as + the dainty bits of meat were cooked and a little cooled they were given to + the children in their fingers, and in that way the little ones had their + feast. +</p> +<p> + Now, please don't turn up your noses at such a feast. Think of it: out in a + wigwam in the lovely forest, where the wild birds sing and the squirrels + chatter, where is heard the music of the waves playing on the shore but a + few yards away, with great friendly Indians as your waiters! The very air + of that northern summer gives you an appetite ready for anything. +</p> +<p> + Those little people, red and white, soon became the jolliest of friends, + and as the white children could speak the Indian language as well as their + own they were soon all chattering away most merrily while they daintily + picked the bones. Of course this way of eating was hard upon their hands, + faces, and clothing, but what healthy child ever gave a second thought—if + a first—to any of these things? +</p> +<p> + After a time this feast, as all feasts must, came to an end. Then the + question was, "What shall we do next for the children?" for the whole day + had been planned by the grown-up Indians for the entertainment of the + little people. Canoes had been collected on the shore of Winnipeg, handy if + it should be decided that they all should go for an afternoon outing on the + water. However, Souwanas, who had gone out to look at the sky and observe + the winds and waves, now came in and reported that he thought they would + better put off the canoe trip to some time when the lake was more calm. It + was then suggested that the children be asked what would please them most. + The little folks, white and red, were not slow in giving their decision. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us a story about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "Who shall be the story-teller?" +</p> +<p> + There was a hearty call for "Souwanas!" +</p> +<p> + On coming in from investigating the weather, but a few minutes before, + Souwanas had seated himself on a robe and was now enjoying his calumet, or + pipe. Stoical though he was, his dark eyes flashed with pleasure at the + unanimous call of the children, but, Indianlike, it would have been a great + breach of manners if he had let his delight be known. Then, again, + Indianlike, it would never have done to have seemed to be in a hurry. The + Indian children well knew this, but who ever heard of white children that + could sit like statues, grave and dignified, while the story-teller took + time to finish smoking a large pipe of tobacco? +</p> +<p> + So it was in this case. In their wild excitement and eagerness to have the + story begin, both Sagastao and Minnehaha sprang up and, rushing toward + Souwanas, vied with each other in seeing which could first pluck the + half-smoked calumet from his mouth. Such audacity appalled the Indian + children and fairly took the breath away from the older Indians. For was + not Souwanas a chief, and the calumet almost a sacred thing while between + his lips? +</p> +<p> + Souwanas, however, was greatly delighted. Here was a new experience, and + the very boldness of the children of the palefaces was an evidence of their + unbounded confidence and love. To little Sagastao the calumet was + surrendered, and, with the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his + story: +</p> +<a name="Illus002"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus002.jpg" width="250" height="354" +alt="'With the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his story.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Now, you must know that Nanahboozhoo was a queer fellow. He could make + himself as tall as a tree or as small as a turtle or snake. Nothing could + kill him. He could not be drowned even if dropped hundreds of feet into the + lake, nor burned to death even if he tumbled into the fire. He often met + with accidents, but he always came up right again and was ready for some + other adventure in some new shape. He has left his marks on the rocks and + trees, leaves and flowers. Almost anywhere we look we see signs that + Nanahboozhoo has been around. As his temper was very uncertain he sometimes + caused trouble and injured the appearance of things which were once more + beautiful than they are now. But in general he was the friend of our race + and worked changes that were for our good. +</p> +<p> + "One day, as Nanahboozhoo was walking along on a sandy shore, he felt very + hungry. It was now in the autumn of the year. As he wandered on he saw an + object moving toward him. He had not long to wait before he saw that this + object was a great black bear. He pulled up a young tree by the roots and + hid himself, preparing to kill the bear when he should come near. When the + bear came near Nanahboozhoo made a big jump out of his hiding place and + killed the bear with one blow. Then he built a big fire, and having singed + all the hair off the bear he cut him up and nicely roasted him. When the + meat was cooked Nanahboozhoo cut it up into fine pieces, for he intended to + enjoy his feast by eating leisurely. +</p> +<p> + "While he was thus busy preparing his feast he was annoyed by a strange + sound among the tree tops that rubbed together when the wind blew. + Nanahboozhoo was very quick-tempered, and as the noise continued he + determined to stop it. So he left his feast on the ground and climbed away + up one of those trees to the spot where the other pressed against it. He + was endeavoring to pull the two great trees apart when one of his hands got + caught between them and was firmly held. While struggling to get loose he + heard a pack of wolves running toward his bear meat. This made him struggle + the harder to get his hand free. The fierce wolves soon scented the food + and had a good time devouring it, in spite of the shoutings of + Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo at length got his hand free and came down he found + nothing left of his feast but the skull of the bear. He was very angry, not + only at the wolves that had eaten his feast but also at the trees that had + held him, the great Nanahboozhoo, in so tight a grip. As the wolves had run + away he could not, at present, punish them, but he resolved that he would + so punish these great birch trees that they would never give him such a + squeeze again. So he prepared a great whip and with it he severely thrashed + the trees. Up to this time the birch had been the most beautiful of trees. + Its great trunk was of the purest white, without any blemish or blotch upon + it. But ever since the thrashing Nanahboozhoo gave it it has had to carry + the marks of that terrible whipping; and that is why the white birch tree + is so covered with scars. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had ceased thrashing the trees he found himself so very + hungry that he resolved to eat the brains that were in the head of the + bear, that had been overlooked by the wolves. However, he found the skull + very hard. So he transformed himself into a little snake, and in this way + got inside of the bear's skull and enjoyed his feast. In fact he enjoyed it + too much, for when he was through with his eating he could not get out of + the skull, he was so full. However, he was able to roll along, skull and + all, but as he could not see where he was going he bumped along in a very + erratic manner until at length he tumbled into a big lake and sank at first + deep down under the waves. +</p> +<p> + "When he came up to the surface he just put a part of the head of the bear + out of the water, as does the bear when swimming. Then he listened + intently. It was not long before Nanahboozhoo heard voices saying: +</p> +<p> + "'Look! There is a bear swimming. Let us kill him." +</p> +<p> + "So there was a chase on the lake, and it was not long before the Indians + came up, in their canoe, and one of them with his stone ax struck the + bear's head such a blow that he split open the skull. +</p> +<p> + "This just suited Nanahboozhoo, and instantly he sprang out and made for + the shore. +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo journeyed on and again he began to feel very hungry. The + brains of the bear were not much to one who had had his mind set on eating + the whole carcass. It was not long before he met the raccoon awkwardly + carrying a birch <i>rogan</i> that he had stolen from a couple of blind men. + Seeing the merry smile on the raccoon's face, Nanahboozhoo bade him a good + day, and asked him what was amusing him. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon, who did not know that it was Nanahboozhoo with whom he was + talking, told him how he obtained the dish. When Nanahboozhoo heard this he + was very angry at the raccoon for his heartless trick. +</p> +<p> + "It seems that there was quite a large settlement of people who had among + them a couple of blind men. As these Indians were hunters they had to be on + the move a good deal of the time following the game. As the other people + were kind-hearted, instead of killing these old blind men, now that they + were unable to hunt, they arranged for them a wigwam in a safe, quiet + place, near the lake. Then they gave them a kettle and bowl and other + necessary things and cut a large pile of wood and placed it close at hand. + In order that they might be able to get water for their cooking and yet not + stumble into the water their friends fastened a rope, for their guidance, + from the door of the wigwam to a post on the edge of the lake. +</p> +<p> + "The old men were now quite comfortable. Their friends came frequently with + abundant supplies of food and the blind men were able to do their own work + and were happy together. They divided the day's work so that one day one + would be the cook while the other would bring in the wood and go for the + water. Next day they would change about. It gave each enough to do, and not + too much. +</p> +<p> + "For a long time the two men lived contented and happy. But it happened + that one day the raccoon was out prowling along the shore, looking for + something to eat, when he happened to find the end of the rope that was + tied to the post at the water's edge. +</p> +<p> + "Now you must know," said Souwanas, "that, next to the wolverine, the + raccoon is the biggest mischief in the woods. He is full of tricks, but he + is very cunning and suspicious. So before he interfered with the rope he + cautiously followed it up and found that its other end was at the wigwam of + these two old blind men. Hearing no noise, he cautiously peered into the + wigwam and saw them both sleeping near the fire. There was a smell of + something good to eat, and the raccoon decided to wait around to see if he + could not get hold of it. +</p> +<p> + "While he was thus waiting the old men woke up, and one said to the other, + 'My brother, I am feeling hungry; let us prepare our dinner.' +</p> +<p> + "'Very well,' said the other; 'it is your turn to go to the lake for water + while I make the fire.' +</p> +<p> + "When the raccoon heard this he ran down to the lake and quickly untied the + rope from the stake and, drawing it back, tied it to a clump of bushes on + the land. When the old man with the kettle felt his way along the rope + until he reached its end he tried to dip up the water as usual, but all in + vain. There was nothing but the dry earth and bushes. Not finding any water + he returned to his brother with the sad news that the lake had dried up, + and that already bushes were growing where yesterday there was plenty of + water. When his brother heard this doleful story he laughed at it, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'Why, that cannot be possible. No bushes could grow up in such a short + time.' +</p> +<p> + "However his brother declared it was the case, and so the other one said, + 'Well, let me go, and see if I can find some water.' +</p> +<p> + "When the tricky raccoon heard this he hurried back and at once untied the + rope from the bushes and refastened it to the post near the water. When the + second brother came along he easily found the water, and filling the kettle + he returned to the wigwam where he vigorously accused his brother of lying. + He, poor fellow, could not understand it and was much perplexed. +</p> +<p> + "The preparation of their dinner went on, and soon it was ready. There was, + however, another one present that the blind men had no suspicion of, and + that was the raccoon, who had now noiselessly come into the wigwam and + greedily sat watching the preparations. This dinner consisted of eight + pieces of meat which, when cooked, were placed in their <i>rogan</i>, or wooden + bowl. When ready they sat down with this bowl between them and began to + eat. Each took a piece of meat, and they talked of various things while + they ate. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon now noiselessly took four of the pieces of meat out of the + bowl and began eating them. Soon one of the men reached into the bowl, to + get another piece of meat, and finding only two pieces left, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'My brother, you must be very hungry, to eat so fast. I have only had one + piece of meat, and there are only two left.' +</p> +<p> + "'I have not taken them,' was the reply, 'but I suspect that you are the + greedy one who has eaten them.' +</p> +<p> + "This made the other brother very angry, and as they thus went on arguing, + the raccoon, to make matters worse, and to have, as he told Nanahboozhoo, + some more sport with the old blind fellows, hit each of them a smart blow + on the face. The poor old men, each believing that the other had struck + him, began to fight; and so they upset the <i>rogan</i> and lost the rest of + their dinner and nearly set the wigwam on fire. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon then seized the two remaining pieces of meat and the bowl, + and, with shouts of laughter, rushed out of the wigwam. The old men, + hearing this, perceived that they had been fooled, and they at once stopped + fighting and apologized to each other. +</p> +<p> + "The raccoon's rascally trick made Nanahboozhoo very angry. Indeed he had + had a good deal of trouble to keep from letting the raccoon know who he + was. So just as soon as the raccoon had finished he said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am Nanahboozhoo. Those old blind men are my brothers, and I'll teach + you a lesson you will never forget!' +</p> +<p> + "So he seized the raccoon and killed him, and carried his body back to the + tent of the blind men and made out of it a great feast for them, and + declared that in future the old raccoons should have to carry as many + circles on their tails as pieces of meat that had been stolen out of the + <i>rogan</i> of the blind men." +</p> +<p> + "Good for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted Sagastao. "Mr. Raccoon couldn't play any + tricks on him. Now tell us another story." +</p> +<p> + But here Minnehaha interposed. +</p> +<p> + "I think," said she, "we had better go home now, for father and mother may + begin to think they have lost their little ones." +</p> +<p> + "Let us wait until dark," said Sagastao, "and then Mary won't see our dirty + clothes!" For their greasy fingers had soiled them badly. +</p> +<p> + The wishes of the little girl, however, prevailed, and so it was not long + ere the Indian salutations, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" were shouted to all, + and once more the two children were hoisted upon the shoulders of the big + Indians, and in the same manner in which they had been brought to the + wigwam in the forenoon they rode home in the beautiful gloaming. +</p> +<p> + Very tired were they, yet not so weary but that they were able with their + little hands to rub some of the paint off the faces of their big stalwart + carriers and daub it on their own. The effect was so ludicrous that their + merry laughter reached the ears of their expectant parents even before they + emerged from the gloom of the forest. +</p> +<p> </p> + <h3><a name="CH2"> CHAPTER II.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Children's Return—Indignation of Mary, the Indian + Nurse—Her Pathetic History—Her Love for the Children—The + Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. +</h4> +<p> + In reaching home the children were quietly received by their parents, who, + understanding Indian ways, had no desire to lessen their influence by + finding fault with them for carrying off the children. They treated the + matter as though it were one of everyday occurrence. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the Indian nurse, however, did not regard the incident so calmly. + When the children were brought back dirty, greasy, bedaubed, and so tired + that they could hardly hold up their little heads, her indignation knew no + bounds, and as she was perfectly fearless she couched her sentiments in the + most vigorous phrases of the expressive Cree language. +</p> +<p> + The history of Indian Mary was very strange. Indeed there was an incident + in her life so sad that from the day of her recovery she was considered to + be under the special care of the Good Spirit, so that even the most + influential chiefs or hunters had a superstitious fear of showing any + temper, or making any bitter retort, no matter what she might say. +</p> +<p> + Years before this time Mary was the wife of a cruel pagan Indian who bore + the English name of Robinson. Although she was slight of figure, and never + very strong, he exacted from Mary a great deal of hard work and was vexed + and angry if, when heavily burdened with the game he had shot, she did not + move as rapidly along on the trail as he did, carrying only his gun and + ammunition. +</p> +<p> + Once, when they were out in the woods some miles from his wigwam, he shot a + full-grown deer and ordered her to bring it into the camp on her back. + Picking up his gun he started on ahead, and being a large, stalwart man, + and moving with the usual rapidity of the Indians on the homeward trail, he + soon reached his wigwam. Unfortunately for him—and, as it turned out, for + Mary also—he found some free-traders<a href="#note-1"><small><sup>1</sup></small></a> at his abode awaiting his return. + They had few goods for trade in their outfit, but they had a keg of fire + water, which has ever been the scourge of the Indians. +</p> +<a name="note-1"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<sup><u>1</u></sup> [ Fur buyers who were not agents of the Fur Company.] +</p> +<p> + Robinson informed them of his success in shooting the deer and that it was + even now being brought in. The traders not only purchased what furs + Robinson had on hand but also the two hind quarters of the deer which Mary + was bringing home. Robinson at once began drinking the fire water which he + had received as part payment. +</p> +<p> + He was naturally irritable, and short-tempered even when sober, but he was + much more so when under the influence of spirituous liquors. The + unprincipled traders, knowing this, and wishing to see him in one of his + tantrums, began in a bantering way to question whether he had really shot a + deer, since his wife was so long in coming with it. +</p> +<p> + This made him simply furious, and when Mary did at length arrive, laboring + under the two-hundred-pound deer, she was met by her husband now wild with + passion and the white man's fire water. Little suspecting danger she threw + the deer from her shoulders, where it had been supported by the carrying + strap across her forehead. Weary and panting, she turned to go into the + wigwam for her skinning knife, but ere she had gone a dozen steps she was + startled by a yell from Robinson which caused her instantly to turn and + face him. The sight that met her eyes was appalling. Before her stood her + husband with an uplifted gleaming ax in his hands and curses on his tongue. + Seeing that there was no chance to fly from him she threw herself toward + him, hoping thereby to escape the blow. She succeeded in saving her head, + but the ax buried itself in her spine. +</p> +<p> + Mary's piercing screams speedily brought a number of Indians from + neighboring wigwams. When they found poor Mary lying there in agony, with + the ax still imbedded in the bones of her back, their indignation knew no + bounds. +</p> +<p> + Indians, as a rule, have great self-control, but this sight so stirred them + that there was very nearly a lynching. Robinson, now sobered by his fears, + clearly foresaw that terrible would be his punishment, and while the + Indians and traders turned to attend to Mary's wounds the wretched husband + stealthily slipped away into the forest and was never again seen there. + Rumors, however, at length reached Mary that he had fled away to the + distant Kaministiquia River, where for a time he lived, solitary and alone, + in a little bark wigwam. One day, when out shooting in his canoe, he was + caught in some treacherous rapids and carried over the wild and picturesque + Ka-ka-be-ka Falls, about which so many thrilling Indian legends cluster. +</p> +<p> + For seven years Mary was a helpless invalid. When she did recover her back + had so curved that she looked like a hunchback. As she was poor, and + utterly unable either to hunt or to fish, we helped her in various ways. + She was always grateful for kindness, and in return was very willing to do + what she could for us. She was exceedingly clever with her needle, and with + a little instruction was soon able to assist with the sewing required. + However, what especially won her to us and gave her a permanent place in + our home, was her great love and devotion to our little ones. +</p> +<a name="Illus003"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus003.jpg" width="260" height="219" +alt="'The wild and picturesque Ka-Ka-Be-Ka Falls.'"> +</p> +<p> + Little Sagastao was only a few months old when she installed herself as his + nurse, and for years she was a most watchful and devoted as well as + self-sacrificing guardian of our children in that Northern home. She seemed + to live and think solely for them. At times, especially in the matter of + parental discipline, there would be collisions between Mary and the mother + of the children; for the nurse, with her Indian ideas, could not accept of + the position of a disciplined servant, nor could she quietly witness the + punishment of children whom she thought absolutely perfect. Hence, if she + could not have things exactly as she wanted them, Mary would now and then + allow her fiery temper to obtain the mastery, and springing up in a rage + and throwing a shawl over her head she would fly out of the house and be + gone for days. +</p> +<p> + Her mistress paid no attention to these outbursts. She well knew that when + Mary had cooled down she would return, and it was often amusing to see the + way in which she would attract the children's attention to her, peering + around tree or corner, and then come meekly walking in with them as though + they had only been for a pleasant outing of an hour or so. +</p> +<p> + "Well, Mary," would be the greeting of her mistress, while Mary's quiet + response would be the Indian greeting of, "Wat cheer!" +</p> +<p> + Then things would go on as usual for perhaps another six months, when Mary + would indulge again in one of her tantrums, with the same happy results. +</p> +<p> + She dressed the children in picturesque Indian costumes—coats, dresses, + leggings, moccasins, and other articles of apparel of deer skin, tanned as + soft as kid, and beautifully embroidered with silk and bead work. Not a + spot could appear upon their garments without Mary's notice, and as she + always kept changes ready she was frequently disrobing and dressing them + up. +</p> +<p> + When Souwanas and Jakoos came that morning and picked up the children Mary + happened to be in another room. Had she been present she would doubtless + have interfered in their movements. As it was, when she missed the children + her indignation knew no bounds, and only the most emphatic commands of her + mistress restrained her from rushing after them. All day long she had to + content herself with muttering her protests while, as usual, she was busily + employed with her needle. When, however, the two stalwart Indians returned + in the evening with the children on their shoulders the storm broke, and + Mary's murmurings, at first mere protests, became loud and furious when the + happy children, so tired and dirty, were set down before her. The Indians, + knowing of the sad tragedy in Mary's life, would not show anger or even + annoyance under her scathing words, but, with the stoical nature of their + race, they quietly endured her wrath. This they were much better prepared + to do since neither of the parents of the white children seemed in the + slightest degree disturbed by their long absence or the tirade of the + indignant nurse. With high-bred courtesy they patiently listened to all + that Mary had to say, and when the storm had spent itself they turned and + noiselessly retired. +</p> +<p> + The children were worn out with their day's adventure, and their mother + intimated that Mary ought at once to bathe them and put them to bed. This, + however, did not satisfy Mary. It had become her custom to dress them up in + the afternoons and keep them appareled in their brightest costumes during + the rest of the day; therefore now the weary children, after being bathed, + were again dressed in their best and brought out for inspection and a light + supper before retiring. The bath and the supper had so refreshed them that + when Mary had tucked them into their beds they were wide awake and asked + her to tell them a story. But sleep was what they needed now more than + anything else, and she tried to quiet them without any further words, but + so thoroughly aroused were they that they declared that if she refused they + knew somebody who would be glad to have them visit him again, and that he + would tell them lots of beautiful things. +</p> +<p> + This hint that they might return to the wigwam of Souwanas was too much for + Mary, who very freely gave utterance to her sentiments about him. The + children gallantly came to the defense of the old Indian and also of + Nanahboozhoo, of whom Mary spoke most slightingly, saying that he was a + mean fellow who ought to be ashamed of many of his tricks. +</p> +<p> + "Well," replied Sagastao, "if you will tell us better stories than those + Souwanas can tell us about Nanahboozhoo, all right, we will listen to them. + But, mind you, we are going to hear his Nanahboozhoo stories too." +</p> +<p> + "O, indeed," said Mary, with a contemptuous toss of her head, "there are + many stories better than those of his old Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "Won't it be fun to see whose stories we like the best, Mary's or + Souwanas's!" said Minnehaha, who foresaw an interesting rivalry. +</p> +<p> + Mary had now committed herself, and so, almost without realizing what it + would come to, she found herself pitted against Souwanas, the great + story-teller of the tribe. However, being determined that Souwanas should + not rob her of the love of the children, she was tempted to begin her + story-telling even though the children were exhausted, and so it was that + when the lad asked a question Mary was ready. +</p> +<p> + "Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "the mosquitoes bit us badly to-day. Do you + know why it is that there are such troublesome little things? Is there any + story about them?" +</p> +<p> + "Yes. Wakonda, one of the strange spirits, sent them," said Mary, "because + a woman was lazy and would not keep the clothes of her husband and children + clean and nice." +</p> +<p> + "Tell us all about it," they both cried out. +</p> +<p> + Mary quieted them, and began the story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago, when the people all dressed in deerskins, there was a man whose + name was Pug-a-mah-kon. He was an industrious fellow, and had often to work + a good deal in dirty places. The result was that, although he had several + suits of clothes, he seemed never to have any clean ones. +</p> +<p> + "It was the duty of his wife to scrape and clean his garments and wash and + resmoke them as often as they needed it. But she neglected her work and + would go off gossiping among her neighbors. Her husband was patient with + her for a time, but at length, when he heard that Wakonda was coming to pay + a visit to the people, to see how they were getting along, he began to + bestir himself so as to be decently attired, in clean, handsome apparel, to + meet this powerful being, who was able to confer great favors on him, or, + if ill-disposed, to injure him greatly. +</p> +<p> + "He endeavored to get his wife to go to work and remove the dirt that had + gathered on his garments. She was so lazy that it was only from fear of a + beating that she ever did make any attempt to do as he desired. She took + the garments and began to clean them, but she was in a bad humor and did + her work in such a slovenly and half-hearted way that there was but very + little change for the better after the pretended cleaning. +</p> +<p> + "When the news was circulated that Wakonda was coming, the husband prepared + to dress himself in his best apparel, but great indeed was his anger and + disgust when he found that the garments which he had hoped to wear were + still disgracefully grimy. +</p> +<p> + "While the angry husband was chiding the woman for her indolence Wakonda + suddenly appeared. To him the man appealed, and asked for his advice in the + matter. +</p> +<p> + "Wakonda quickly responded, and said: 'A lazy, gossiping wife is not only a + disgrace to her husband, she is annoying to all around her; and so it will + be in this case.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Wakonda told her husband to take some of the dirt which still clung + to his garments, which she was supposed to have cleansed, and to throw it + at her. This the man did, and the particles of dirt at once changed into + mosquitoes. And so, ever since, especially in the warm days and nights of + early summer when the mosquitoes with their singing and stinging come + around to trouble us, we are reminded of this lazy, slovenly woman, who was + not only a trial to her husband, but by her lack of industry and care + brought such a scourge upon all the people." +</p> +<p> + "Didn't Wakonda do anything else?" murmured the little lad; but that + blessed thing called sleep now enfolded both the little ones, and with + mutterings of "Nanahboozhoo—Wakonda—Souwanas—Mary"—they were soon far + away in childhood's happy dreamland. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH3"> CHAPTER III.</a></h3> +<h4> + More about Mary and the Children—Minnehaha Stung by + the Bees—How the Bees Got Their Stings—What Happened + to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. +</h4> +<p> + The next morning while Mary was dressing them the children told her of + their adventures in the wigwam of the Indians. Mary was really interested, + though she pretended to be disgusted at the whole thing, and professed, in + her Indian way, to be quite shocked when they both confidentially informed + her that they had had such a good time that they were going again even if + they had to run away and be whipped for it. +</p> +<p> + This was terrible news for Mary, and placed her in an awkward position. To + tell the parents of the children's resolve was something she would never + do, as it might bring down upon them some of the punishment which was quite + contrary to her principles. Yet, on the other hand, to let them go and to + give no information might cause more trouble than she liked to think of. +</p> +<p> + Neither could she bear the thought of the two children returning from + another day's outing with their neat clothing and pretty faces soiled and + dirty. Do as they might, she had never once informed on them, and she had + no mind to begin now. She earnestly pleaded with them not to carry out + their resolve. The little ones were shrewd enough to see that they had + thoroughly alarmed her, and they were in no hurry to surrender the power + which they saw they had over her. +</p> +<p> + Mary never said a word in English. She understood a good deal that others + said, but she never expressed herself in other than the Indian language. + Hence both little Sagastao and Minnehaha always talked with her in her own + tongue. +</p> +<p> + Minnehaha, seeing Mary's anxiety at their determination to run away to the + Indians, thought of compromising the matter by insisting that Mary should + tell them more tales. If she would do this they "would not run away very + soon;" especially did she emphasize the "very soon." This was hardly + satisfactory to Mary, but as it was the best promise she could get she was + obliged to consent. +</p> +<p> + Little Sagastao, who was Mary's favorite, once more unsettled her when he + said, "Now, Mary, remember, we have only promised not to run away very + soon. That means that we intend to do it some time." +</p> +<p> + It seems that the little conspirators had talked it all over in the morning + in their beds, and had decided how they would get stories out of Mary + without really promising not to run away to the wigwam of Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + The children, being dressed, were taken down by Mary to prayers and + breakfast, after which an hour was allowed in summer-time for outdoor + amusement before the lessons began. Little Sagastao generally spent his + hour, either with his father or some trusty Indian, playing with and + watching the gambols of the great dogs, of which not a few were kept at + that mission home. Minnehaha was with her mother, and was interested in the + bestowal of gifts to the poor widows and children who generally came at + that hour. +</p> +<p> + Owing to the isolated situation of the mission, and the fact that there + were no organized schools within hundreds of miles, some hours of the + forenoon were devoted to the education of the children in the home. The + afternoons, according to the season, were devoted to reading and amusement. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the nurse, while able to read fluently in the Cree syllabics, had no + knowledge of English. As the children's education progressed they wanted to + teach Mary. She stubbornly resisted, however, declaring that if they taught + her to read English they would want to make her talk it. +</p> +<p> + The mother noted the unusual expectancy manifested by the children during + the day, and on inquiring the reason was promptly informed that Mary had + promised to tell them a story, or legend, and "had got to do it." +</p> +<p> + "Why has she <i>got</i> to do it?" said the loving mother, struck with the + emphasis which they had placed on the word. +</p> +<p> + The little mischiefs were cunning enough to see that they had nearly run + themselves into trouble, and were wisely silent. Mary also noticed this, + and at once her great loyalty to the little folk manifested itself, and + quickly turning to her mistress she said, with an emphasis which was quite + unusual: +</p> +<p> + "Mary has promised them a story, and as she always keeps her word she has + <i>got</i> to tell it." +</p> +<p> + Saying this she quickly sprang from the floor, where she had been sitting, + and taking a child by each hand she marched with them out of the room. +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for you, Mary! you saved us that time," said little Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + Mary would not have been sorry if in some way the parents received an + inkling of what was in the minds of the children, yet she had such peculiar + ideas that she would never herself be the one to convey that information. +</p> +<p> + During the brief summer months the pleasantest walks were along the shores + of the lake. Many were the cosy little cave-like retreats where Mary often + led the children. There, with the sunlit waters before them, and the + rippling waves making music at their feet, the old nurse crooned out many + an Indian legend or exciting story about the red men of the past. To-day, + however, she was perplexed by the attitude of the children and could not + select any story that she thought of sufficient interest to divert their + minds from Souwanas and Nanahboozhoo. So for a time they wandered on along + the pleasant shore, or turned aside to gather the brilliant wild flowers. +</p> +<p> + A scream of pain from Minnehaha interrupted their pleasure. In gathering + some wild lilies she was stung on both hands by some honey bees that were + in the flowers. Mary quickly made a batter of clay and bound up the wounded + hands in it. Then she sat down and took the child in her lap. +</p> +<p> + "Naughty bees to sting me like this," said Minnehaha, with tears streaming + down her cheeks. "I was not doing them any harm." +</p> +<p> + "Yes, you were, and so were we all," said the brother. "We were carrying + off the flowers from which they get their honey, which is their food." +</p> +<p> + "Well, they might let us have a few flowers without stinging us," replied + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The intense pain of the stings rapidly abated under Mary's homely but + skillful treatment, and as the child still retained her place in Mary's lap + she said, +</p> +<p> + "Can you tell us why such pretty little things as bees have such terrible + stings? My hands felt as if they were on fire when I was first stung, and I + could not help crying out with the pain." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Mary, "there was a time when the bees had no stings, and they + were as harmless as the house flies. They were just as industrious as they + are now, but they had any amount of trouble in keeping their honey from + being stolen from them, for every creature loves it. +</p> +<p> + "In vain they hid their combs away up in hollow trees and in the clefts of + high rocks. The bears, which are very fond of honey, were ever on the + lookout for it, and were very clever in getting it when once they found + where it was hidden away. Birds with long beaks would suck it out, and even + the little squirrels were always stealing it. The result was that whole + swarms often starved in the long winters, because all their honey, which is + their winter food, was stolen from them. The bees were in danger of being + destroyed. They gave up working in great numbers together, and scattered + into little companies, and in the most secret places tried to store away a + little honey, just enough to keep them alive from season to season. But + even these little hives were often discovered and the honey devoured. +</p> +<p> + "Things had come to such a pass with them that they had almost given up + hope of lasting much longer. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately for them, word was circulated that Wakonda, the strong + spirit—the one who sent the mosquitoes—was coming around on a tour, to + see how everything was progressing. He was greater than even Nanahboozhoo, + and was perhaps a relative of his, but he very seldom appeared, or did + anything for anyone. However, it happened that he had this year left his + beautiful home at Spirit Lake and was journeying through the country, and + he was willing to help all who were in real distress. +</p> +<p> + "So the bees resolved to apply to him for help. Wakonda received them very + graciously, and ate heartily of the present of beautiful honey which some + of them had made and had succeeded in keeping out of the way of bears and + their other enemies. +</p> +<p> + "When his feast of honey was over he listened to their tales of sorrow and + woe. He was indignant when he heard of the numbers of their enemies, and of + the persistency of their attacks upon such industrious little creatures. +</p> +<p> + "For a time Wakonda was uncertain as to the best method to adopt to help + them. He dismissed them for that day, and told them to come again on a day + he mentioned, saying that by that time he would know just what to do—for + help them he would. The bees were so delighted with this news that they + could not keep it to themselves but must go and tell their cousins, the + wasps and hornets, and even bumblebees. +</p> +<p> + "When the appointed time arrived the bees were on hand—and so were the + wasps, hornets, and bumblebees. Wakonda welcomed the bees most kindly, but + was a little suspicious about their visitors, and he asked some sharp + questions. But the bees were in such good humor about the help that was + coming that they did not refer to the bad habits of their cousins at all. + Then Wakonda made a speech to the bees, and told them how much he loved + them for their industrious habits, which he wished all creatures had. He + praised them for the fact that, instead of idly wasting the summer days, + they used them in gathering up food for the long, cold winter. +</p> +<p> + "Then he proceeded to give them the terrible stings which they have had + ever since, and as the wasps and hornets claimed to be their cousins + Wakonda was good-natured enough to give them the same sort of weapons. Some + people, especially boys, think this was a, great mistake, and would be very + glad if Wakonda had refused to give stings to the yellow wasp and the black + hornet." +</p> +<p> + "Well, what happened after the bees got their stings?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "A good deal happened," said Mary, "and that very soon. A lot of them, + without as much effort to conceal their nest as formerly, selected a tall, + hollow tree, and using a big knot hole as the door began secreting their + honey in it. They had made the combs, and were now filling them, when along + came a couple of bears. These animals, as you have been told, are great + honey thieves, but they always had hard work to find where the timid bees + had cunningly hid it away, and now they could hardly believe that right + here before them was a great swarm of bees filling the air with their + buzzing as they flew in and out of the knot hole. +</p> +<p> + "With saucy assurance they at once began climbing the tree, expecting to be + able to put their long paws into that big hole and draw out the combs. But + they never reached that knot hole. The noise they made in their climbing + alarmed the bees. Out they came in great numbers, and now, instead of + flying around in a panic, like so many house flies, and seeing their honey + devoured, they at once flew at their enemies, the bears. They stung them on + their noses and about their eyes and lips, and indeed in every spot where + they could possibly reach them with their terrible new weapons. +</p> +<p> + "The bears could not make out what the trouble was. They howled with rage + and terror, yet they were resolved to get that honey, and still tried to + crawl up higher on the tree. But at length the bees mustered in such vast + numbers—for those away gathering honey, as they returned, joined in the + attack—that the bears became wild with pain and fear, and had to give up + their effort and drop to the ground. Even then the bees gave them no peace, + and continued to sting them until they were obliged to run into the dark + forest for relief. +</p> +<p> + "Thus it happens now that almost all creatures that bother the bees are + similarly treated." +</p> +<a name="Illus004"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus004.jpg" width="245" height="345" +alt="'They howled with rage and terror.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "they need not have stung me because I was picking + a few flowers; but, after all, I am glad they have their stings or I + suppose we should never have any honey." +</p> +<p> + "They are not big enough to have much sense," replied Sagastao, "and so + they go for everyone that gets in their way." +</p> +<p> + Mary now carefully removed the clay poultices, which had effectually done + their work. A wash followed, in the waters of the lake which rippled at + their feet, and soon not the slightest trace of the sting remained. By the + time they reached home both pain and tears were well-nigh forgotten. +</p> +<p> + That evening before the children were sent to bed they overheard Jakoos, + who had come to the house with venison to sell, telling in the kitchen a + story that he had heard from Souwanas about a naughty fellow, called + Maheigan, who tried to capture a beautiful kind-hearted maiden, Waubenoo, + and of how Nanahboozhoo thrashed him, and then afterward, because of some + naughty children not holding their tongues, Waubenoo was turned into the + Whisky Jack. +</p> +<p> + What the little children overheard had very much excited their curiosity, + and so when Mary was putting them to bed they demanded from her the full + story. +</p> +<p> + As this was one of the Saulteaux Indian legends, while Mary was a Cree, she + was not familiar with it. She told the children that she knew nothing about + it, but this by no means set their curiosity at rest. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH4"> CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Love Story of Wakontas—His Test of the Two + Maidens—His Choice—The Transformation of Misticoosis. +</h4> +<p> + A few days later Mary was annoyed by having the children tell her frankly + that they did not think she was a first-class story-teller. For if she had + been she ought to have been able to answer Minnehaha's question about what + Nanahboozhoo did to Maheigan when he tried to catch Waubenoo. +</p> +<p> + Mary was vexed at herself that she was unable to answer the question, for + she well knew that the children would not rest satisfied until they had the + story told them by some one, possibly Souwanas himself. Indeed, knowing + them so well, she had fully resolved to post herself from one of the noted + story-tellers who have all the Indian legends at their tongue tips. But as + yet she was ignorant in this matter, and therefore fell considerably in the + children's estimation. Alary was somewhat hurt by noticing, perhaps for the + first time, Sagastao and Minnehaha whispering confidentially to each other. + The children conversed with Mary only in her own language, which at that + time they perhaps understood better than they did English. Now, much to + Mary's annoyance, their confidential whisperings were carried on in + English. Being sensitive and quick-tempered, when she saw this sudden break + in their affections toward her she was inclined to resent it, and asked the + reason why she was not allowed to know what they were talking about. +</p> +<p> + Blunt little Sagastao spoke up at once: +</p> +<p> + "Minnehaha and I have talked it over, and have decided that unless you tell + us better stories, and ones which you know all about, we're going to run + away to the wigwam of Souwanas." +</p> +<p> + This was humiliating and distressing news. Mary fancied she had told them a + good story, and that with a few others like it she could satisfy their + curiosity and keep them at home until the brief summer would have passed. + Not so, however, thought the children. They saw their advantage and were + resolved to keep it, and when their lessons were over and they were left + entirely in the charge of Mary they taxed the little woman in a way that + obliged her to exercise all her gifts as a story-teller, and she was far + from being a poor one. +</p> +<p> + One day she took them out in a graceful birch canoe among the picturesque + islands. They landed on one of these islands, and spent some time in + exploring its beauties and resting where grew a profusion of the fragrant + Indian grass. They were for a time much interested in the various wild + birds that then were so numerous and fearless. Beautiful gulls of different + varieties were there nesting, and by following Mary's directions the + children were delighted to find that they could approach very near to the + nests of some of them without disturbing the mother bird while her mate, in + fearless confidence, stood on guard beside her. +</p> +<a name="Illus005"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus005.jpg" width="200" height="276" +alt="The startling placard."> +<a name="Illus006"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus006.jpg" width="200" height="287" +alt="While her mate stood beside her."> +</p> +<p> + "Now, Mary, hurrah for a story!" cried the children, as they sat at lunch. +</p> +<p> + While Mary was wondering what she would tell them, Minnehaha, with all the + restless, inquisitive spirit of childhood, noticing the ceaseless rustling + movements of the leaves in the stately northern poplar while the leaves of + all the other trees were so still, said: +</p> +<p> + "Why is it, Mary, that even while the leaves on the other trees are so + quiet those almost round ones are ever stirring?" +</p> +<p> + Mary knew the Indian legend, and at once proceeded to narrate it. +</p> +<p> + "It is believed by our people," said Mary, "that there are other persons + just as clever as Nanahboozhoo, and as able to do wonderful things, but + they are very seldom heard of. Some of them were the children of Wakonda, + the powerful spirit who dwelt in the region of Spirit Lake, where they say + it is always sunshine. Many strange things have been told about them, but + everybody says they are kind-hearted, and never did anything to injure any + of our people unless it was well deserved. The story is that long ago one + of these sons of Wakonda, whose name was Wakontas, could not find a wife to + suit him in his own beautiful country, and so he came to the regions where + the Indians dwelt. +</p> +<p> + "For a long time he wandered throughout great regions of country before he + found anyone who interested him. However, in his journeyings Wakontas went + into the wigwam of some Indians where there were two lovely maidens, so + very beautiful that he fell in love with both of them. He was in the + disguise of a very fine-looking young hunter. So clever was he in the use + of his bow and arrow that at the end of every hunting excursion he returned + laden with the richest spoils of the chase. He fell more and more in love + with the two girls, and knowing, of course, that he could only get one of + them he found a great difficulty in making his choice. He had already gone + to the girl's father, and after finding out from him the price demanded for + his daughter, without mentioning which one, very quickly by his magic + powers he obtained the heavy price and laid it at the father's feet. Both + of the girls seemed equally pleased with him, and each one secretly hoped + that she might be the object of his choice. Still he hesitated, and + although he tried many experiments yet they so nearly equaled each other in + cleverness and beauty that he was still undecided. However, there was a + great difference in their dispositions. While one was proud and jealous, + and had a very bitter tongue, the other was just the opposite; while one + was very selfish, the other was generous and kind-hearted. But Wakontas was + not able to find this out at first, and after he had considered various + plans he decided that he would put on one of his many disguises and thus + try them. +</p> +<p> + "So he started off as though going on a hunting expedition, but soon after + he was out of sight he quickly assumed the form of a poor and aged Indian, + and came to the home of these two beautiful sisters, and asked for + assistance. Wakontas chose a time when he knew the rest of the family were + away from the wigwam, in order that he might see how the two sisters would + act toward him. +</p> +<p> + "When he walked into the wigwam, for nobody ever knocks at an Indian tent, + the maidens were a little startled at thus suddenly seeing this + rough-looking old beggar-man in their midst. The selfish, proud girl, whose + name was Misticoosis, at once began assailing him, and cried, 'Auwasta + kena!' (Get out; go away, you!) +</p> +<p> + "In vain he pleaded that he was aged and hungry. She would not listen to + him. +</p> +<p> + "Omemee, the other young Indian maiden, who had not said a word, but had + been pitying him from the first moment she saw how feeble and sad he + looked, now interfered, and remonstrated with her sister, whose tongue kept + up a constant stream of abuse. Taking the old man to her side of the wigwam + she seated him on a rug of deerskins and then built up before him a bright + fire. Then she quickly brought in venison, cooked it nicely, and gave him + the broth for drink and the meat for food. He thanked her gratefully, but + she checked his words and said that her greatest joy was in making others + happy. Not satisfied with what she had done, and noticing that his shoes + were old and worn, she took out of her beaded workbag a pair of splendidly + worked moccasins, and put them on his feet. +</p> +<p> + "All this time, while this good-hearted, generous Omemee was treating the + poor old man so kindly, the proud, selfish Misticoosis was talking as hard + and as fast as she could against such deeds of kindness to all old people. + In her opinion, when they had got so old and helpless as that old fellow + was, they ought to be killed by their relatives. +</p> +<p> + "The old man again expressed his thanks to the kind sister, and then went + his way. +</p> +<p> + "Soon the girls began to think of arraying themselves for the return of + their friend and lover. The proud, selfish Misticoosis spent all the time + in fixing herself up in the most elaborate manner. She had lately become + quite jealous of her sister, and she was resolved to so outshine her in + appearance that the handsome young hunter would surely prefer her. But + Omemee (a name which means a dove) thought to herself: +</p> +<p> + "'My father and mother and the rest of the family will soon be returning to + the wigwam, tired and hungry, and the best thing I can do will be to have a + good dinner ready for them all.' So, only taking time to comb and brush her + luxuriant hair and make herself neat and tidy for her work, she set about + cooking the meal. She skillfully prepared venison and bear's meat, and the + finest of fish. +</p> +<p> + "Hardly had she finished her work and seen everything nicely cooked before + she heard the happy shoutings of her younger brothers, and the sweet + birdcalls of her little sisters. +</p> +<p> + "As Omemee and her sister Misticoosis hurried out to greet them they were + surprised to see the handsome stranger gliding along in his beautiful canoe + alongside of the larger one of the family. Of course, the sight of their + lover excited the two girls. Misticoosis, who had spent all the hours in + arraying herself in her finery and adornment, boldly thrust herself to the + front, and crowded out the modest Omemee, who was flushed by the busy work + of cooking the dinner, and was wisely dressed in a costume which harmonized + with her face and with the work in which she had been engaged so + industriously. +</p> +<p> + "The instant the handsome young Indian landed—fancy the amazement of the + two girls to notice that he had on his feet the same beautiful moccasins + that, not many hours before, Omemee had given to the aged feeble man! + Before anyone could utter a word he came striding up to the girls, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'As an old, weary man, I came to your wigwam a few hours ago. Misticoosis + gave me nothing but abuse, yet my only crime was that I was old. Her tongue + went on and on without stopping, and all of her words were words of abuse + for the old man and anger that he should have been left to live so long. + But Omemee, kind-hearted Omemee, pitied the poor old man. She made him sit + down on a couch of deerskins, that he might rest his tired limbs. She built + a fire and warmed him. She took of the best of the venison, and made him + food and drink, and then ere he left she put on his feet the most beautiful + of her moccasins. All her gifts to the unknown old man were the best she + had. +</p> +<p> + "'See the beautiful moccasins, the gift of Omemee! +</p> +<p> + "'I was that old man—I am now the lover long seeking a bride. I have made + my choice. Two beautiful maidens for a time divided my heart. There is no + division now. By testing them I have found out that only one is lovely + within. +</p> +<p> + "'That no man may have to put up through life with the unceasing clatter of + the tongue of Misticoosis, she will be from this time the unbeautiful aspen + tree, while her tongue shall be the leaves that will never again be still + even in the gentlest breeze. The leaves of other trees shall rest at times, + but the aspen leaves, now the tongue of Misticoosis, shall ever be restless + and unquiet.' +</p> +<p> + "And even while he was speaking, Misticoosis, who was amazed and ashamed at + the words he spoke, became rooted to the ground, and gradually turned into + an aspen tree. +</p> +<p> + "Then, turning from her to the maiden of his choice, he exclaimed: +</p> +<p> + "'But Omemee, the loving, the tender, the kind-hearted, thou art my heart's + choice!' +</p> +<p> + "Saying this, the handsome hunter opened his arms, and Omemee sprang toward + him. For a moment he held her in his arms; then he said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am Wakontas, and to the beautiful home of Wakontas thou shalt be + taken.' +</p> +<p> + "Then there was a wonderful transformation; as quickly as a butterfly + bursts from its chrysalis, so suddenly was Omemee transformed into a + beautiful dove and the hunter as quickly assumed the same lovely form. + Together they arose into the air, and flew away to the unknown but + beautiful home of Wakontas, in the land of perpetual sunshine." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH5"> CHAPTER V</a></h3> +<h4> + The Startling Placard—What Happened to the Little + Runaways—The Rescue—Mary Tells Them the Legend of the + Swallows—How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased + an Orphan Boy. +</h4> +<p> + When Mary entered the children's bedroom one bright, pleasant morning she + was amazed at finding both of the beds empty and a piece of foolscap paper + pinned to the dressing table. The writing on it was beyond her power to + read. She remembered now that the children had begged her not to come very + early in the morning to wake them up, and as their requests were as a law + she had lingered as long as she dared, and indeed had only gone to call + them when her mistress had asked the reason for their nonappearance. Not + until she had shown the paper, with its inscription, to the kitchen maid, + who could read English, did its full meaning burst upon her. Of course, she + was very much troubled, and yet such was her loyalty to the children that + she hesitated about letting the parents know what had occurred. She was + fully aware that she could not long keep the startling news from them, and + yet she was still resolved that never should any information be imparted by + her that might bring down upon them any punishment, no matter how much + deserved. +</p> +<p> + It was a long, rough trail through the primitive forest to the wigwam of + Souwanas. How long the children had been away she could not tell. Mary, + with Indian shrewdness, had felt their beds, and had found them both quite + cold, so she knew the little mischiefs had been off at least an hour. She + interrogated not only the maid in the kitchen but also Kennedy, the man of + all work, outside. Neither of them had seen or heard anything of the + children, and as they did not share Mary's ideas the escapade of the + children was soon known. +</p> +<p> + The parents were naturally alarmed when they heard the news. At once the + father, accompanied by Kennedy and the dogs, Jack and Cuffy, started off on + the trail of the runaways. The intelligent dogs, having been shown a couple + of garments recently worn by the missing boy and girl and being told to + find them, at once took up the trail in the direction of the wigwam of + Souwanas, running with such rapidity that if they had not been restrained + by the voice of their master they would very quickly have left him and his + Indian attendant far behind. +</p> +<p> + At length, with a sudden start, both dogs, growling ominously, dashed off + ahead, utterly regardless of all efforts made by their master to restrain + them. This suspicious conduct on the part of the dogs of course alarmed the + father and his Indian companion, and as rapidly as the rough trail would + allow they hurried on in the direction taken by the dogs. Soon their ears + were greeted by a chorus of loud and angry yelping. Fear gave speed to both + the men, and soon they dashed out from the forest into the opening of an + Indian's clearing. Here was a sight that filled them with alarm, and almost + terror. Standing on a pile of logs were little Sagastao and Minnehaha. + Sagastao erect and fearless, with a club about as large as an ordinary + cane, while behind him, leaning against a high fallen log, was Minnehaha. + Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs, among whom Jack + and Cuffy, wild and furious, were now making dire havoc. One after another, + wounded and limping, the curs skulked away as the two men rushed up to the + children. +</p> +<p> + "Ha! ha! hurrah for our Jack and Cuffy; aren't they the boss dogs!" shouted + the fearless little runaways, and now that the victory was won they nimbly + sprang down from their high retreat and, apparently without the slightest + fear, congratulated both their father and the Indian on the superiority of + their own dogs. +</p> +<p> + Trembling with anxiety, the anxious father, thankful at the narrow escape + of his children, as he clasped them in his arms could not but be amazed at + the indifference of the little ones to the great danger from which they had + just escaped. After petting Jack and Cuffy for their great bravery and + courage the return journey was begun, much to the regret of the children, + who pleaded hard to be allowed to resume their trip to the wigwam of + Souwanas to hear the stories of Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<a name="Illus0007"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus007.jpg" width="240" height="195" +alt="'Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs.'"><br /> +'Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs.' +</p> +<p> + The father was perfectly amazed at this request, and of course it was + sternly refused. He had started off in pursuit of the runaways with a + resolve to punish them for this serious breach of home discipline, but his + alarm at their danger and his thankfulness for their escape had so stirred + him that he could not punish them nor even chide them at the time. All he + could do was to bring them safely home again and, as usual in such + emergencies, turn them over to the tender mercies of their mother. +</p> +<p> + Sturdily the children marched on ahead for a while, then Kennedy, the + Indian, took Minnehaha in his arms. He had not carried her many hundred + yards before the weary little one fell fast asleep, softly muttering as she + slipped off into the land of dreams, "Wanted to hear about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + Great was the excitement at home when the party returned. Sagastao rushed + into the arms of his mother, and without the slightest idea of having done + anything wrong began most dramatically to describe how "our Jack and Cuffy + thrashed those naughty Eskimo dogs" that chased Minnehaha and him upon that + great pile of logs. Mary in the meantime had taken from Kennedy's arms the + still sleeping Minnehaha, and almost smothered her with kisses as she bore + her away to bed. +</p> +<p> + There was great perplexity on the part of the parents to know just what to + do to impress upon the little ones that they had been very naughty in thus + running away, for it was very evident from the utterances of both that they + had not considered the matter in that light. Now, in view of the weariness + of Minnehaha, it was decided to leave the matter of discipline in abeyance + until a little of the excitement had passed away. +</p> +<p> + In the meantime Sagastao was ready to talk with everybody about the whole + affair. It seems that he and Minnehaha had decided that Mary was "no good" + in telling stories. He said her stories neither frightened them nor made + them cry, but Souwanas was the boss man to tell Nanahboozhoo stories. He + said they got up before anybody was stirring, that morning, and dressed + themselves so quietly that nobody heard them. They remembered the trail + along which Souwanas and Jakoos had carried them. After they had walked for + some time they came to where there was a larger trail, and they turned into + it, and came upon a lot of dogs that had been chasing some rabbits. Soon + the rabbits got away from the dogs, when they reached those trees that had + been chopped down. Minnehaha was the first to notice that the dogs had + turned back, and were coming after them, and she shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'O, look! those dogs think we are rabbits, and they are coming for us!'" +</p> +<p> + "When I saw they really were coming," said Sagastao, "Minnehaha and I + jumped up on the logs, and we climbed up as high as we could, and I took up + a stick, and then I stood up with Minnehaha behind me, and I shook the + stick at them, and—and I shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'A wus, atimuk!'" (Get away, you dogs!) +</p> +<p> + "They came so near on the logs that I hit one or two of them, while all of + the others on the ground kept barking at us. But I kept shouting back at + them, 'A wus, atimuk!' My! it was great fun. Then all at once we heard Jack + and Cuffy, and, I tell you! soon there was more fun, when our big dogs + sprang at them. Every time an Eskimo was tackled by Jack or Cuffy he went + down, and was soon howling from the way in which he was shaken. And they + had nearly thrashed the whole of them when papa and Kennedy came rushing + up. I wished they had been there sooner, to have seen all the fun." +</p> +<p> + Thus the lad's tongue rattled on, while it was evident he was utterly + unconscious of the danger they had been in. +</p> +<p> + After some deliberation it was decided that, in view of this runaway being + the first offense of the kind, the punishment should be confinement to + their own room the next day, until six o'clock in the evening, on a diet of + bread and water. At this Mary was simply furious. She well knew, however, + that it was necessary for her to control herself in her master's and + mistress's presence. She managed to hold her tongue, but her flashing eyes + and an occasional mutter, which would come out as she went about her usual + duties, showed the smoldering fire that was burning inside. The children + had been duly lectured for their breach of discipline and then, that + evening, consigned to their room for their imprisonment which was to last + until the next evening. That night Mary took up her mattress and blankets + and went and slept on the floor between the two beds of the children, and + in spite of orders, so the maid said, she secretly carried up a goodly + sized bundle from the kitchen. +</p> +<p> + The day was one of unusual quietness, as the lively pair, who generally + kept the house full of music, were now supposed to be away in humiliation + and disgrace. All regretted that the punishment had to be inflicted and the + children made to realize their naughtiness in thus running away, and all + were looking forward to the hour of six o'clock with pleasant anticipation. + When it arrived word was sent to the children that their hours of + imprisonment were over, and that they were to present themselves in the + library. Quick and prompt was the response, and noisily and hurriedly the + two darlings came rushing down the stairs, followed by Mary. They were + arrayed in their most beautiful apparel, and were evidently prepared by + their nurse to go with her for a walk. +</p> +<p> + The father, feeling that it was necessary, began to make a few remarks + expressive of regret that he had thus been obliged to punish them, when he + was interrupted by little Sagastao with the honest and candid remark, + spoken in a way which, while perfectly fearless, was yet devoid of all + rudeness or impertinence: +</p> +<p> + "O, father dear, you needn't feel badly about us at all, as Mary has been + with us all day and has told us lovely stories." +</p> +<p> + "And Mary brought us taffy candy," broke in darling Minnehaha, with equal + candor; "and some currant cakes and other nice things, so we got on very + well after all." +</p> +<p> + These candid utterances on the part of the two children not only amazed but + amused the parents, and were another revelation of Mary's wonderful love + for the children and her defiance of disciplinary measures which she + thought might cause the slightest pain or sorrow. And here she stood in the + open door, and as soon as their father's words and their own rather + startling "confessions" were ended she called them to her and away they + went for a long walk along the beautiful shore of the lake, leaving their + parents to conjecture whether the punishment that had been inflicted would + produce any very salutary results. +</p> +<p> + When the children were gathered that evening in the study with their + parents little Sagastao said: +</p> +<p> + "Papa, Minnehaha and I have been talking it all over with Mary and she has + shown us that it was naughty on our parts to run away as we did; and we are + sorry that we did anything that caused you and mamma sorrow and anxiety + about us, and so, ... Well, we know you will forgive us." And as the four + little arms went twining around the parents' necks there was joy and + gladness all round, and it was evident that there was no danger of the + escapade being repeated. +</p> +<p> + The following are a couple of the legends that Mary told them while they + were prisoners in their own room that day. +</p> +<h5> + THE LEGEND OF THE SWALLOWS. +</h5> +<p> + "Long ago," said Mary, "there were some Indian families who lived on the + top of a very high hill, like a mountain. They had quite a number of small + children, and I am sorry to say they were very naughty and would often + disobey their parents. One of their bad deeds was to run away, and thus + make the father and mother very unhappy until they returned. Their parents + were very much afraid that some of the Windegoos or wild animals would + catch them when they thus ran away by themselves, with no strong man to + guard them. +</p> +<p> + "So the parents tried to make their homes as nice as possible for them. + They made all sorts of toys for them and gave them nice little bows and + arrows, and other things, that ought to have amused them and kept them + happy at home. All the efforts of their parents, however, were of no use. + They soon were tired of their home amusements, and when their parents' + backs were turned they would run away. +</p> +<p> + "At length their conduct became so bad, and the parents found themselves so + powerless to prevent it, that they decided to appeal to the Indian Council + for assistance. For a time the stern commands of the Chief were listened to + and obeyed. Then they neglected his words, and about as frequently as ever + they were found playing truant from their homes and parents. +</p> +<p> + "At length, on one occasion when they had all run away and had been off for + several days and could not be found, their fathers and mothers called upon + Wakonda to look for them and to send them home. Wakonda was very angry when + he heard about these naughty children running away so much, and so he set + off in a hurry to find them. After a long search he discovered them on the + bank of a muddy river making mud huts and mud animals. He was so angry at + them that he at once turned them into swallows, and said, 'From this time + forward you will ever be wanderers and your homes will always be made of + mud,' and so it has been." +</p> +<p> + "I say, Mary, did you remember that yarn because Minnehaha and I ran away?" + said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Well, we were not making mud huts," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + Mary was not to be caught, however, even if she did love them so much, and + she did not answer Sagastao's question, although in her heart she was not + sorry if he saw something in the legend that would deter him from again + running away. +</p> +<h5> +HOW SOME CRUEL MEN WERE PUNISHED WHO TEASED AN ORPHAN BOY. +</h5> +<p> + "There was once an old grandmother who was left alone with only an orphan + grandson. All of her other relatives were dead. This boy was a very + industrious little fellow, and did all that he could to help his + grandmother. They both had to work very hard to have sufficient to keep + them from starving. Together they would go out in their canoe and catch + fish. They also set many snares in the forest to catch rabbits, partridges, + and other small game. +</p> +<p> + "Because they were so poor the clothing of this orphan boy was made partly + of rabbitskins and partly of the skins of birds. When he was not busy + helping his grandmother he, like other little boys, was pleased to go out + and play with the other children of the village. Some of the men of the + village were very fond of teasing him, and some were even cruel to him, + because of the poor clothing he had to wear. Often the poor boy would + return to the wigwam of his grandmother crying and weeping because the men + of the village had not only teased him on account of his poor clothing but + had almost torn his coat into pieces. His grandmother entreated the men to + stop teasing the poor boy, who could not help his poverty. She would + patiently mend his poor torn clothes and try to cheer him up with the hope + that soon these foolish, cruel men would see how wrong it was to treat him + thus. +</p> +<p> + "But they only seemed to get worse instead of better, and so the + grandmother got very angry at last and determined to have it stopped. +</p> +<p> + "So she went off to Wakonda and told him all about it. Wakonda was very + busy just then, but he gave her some of his magical powers and told her + what to do when she reached her home. +</p> +<p> + "When she arrived there she found her grandson almost naked from the abuse + of the cruel men, who, finding that she was absent, had been more cruel + than ever to him. She then informed him that she was able now to put a stop + to all their cruel actions. So she told him to dive into a pool of water + that was near at hand. He did as she had commanded, and there he found an + underground channel that led out into the great lake. +</p> +<p> + "When he came up to the top of the water in the lake he found himself + transformed into a beautiful seal. He at once begun playing about in the + waves as seals are often seen doing. +</p> +<p> + "It was not long before he was seen by the people of the village, and, of + course, the men were very anxious to secure this valuable seal. Canoes were + quickly launched and away the men paddled with their spears to try and + capture it. But the boy, now transformed into the seal, quickly swam away + from them, as instructed by his grandmother, and so kept them busy paddling + on and on farther from the shore. When they seemed almost discouraged the + seal would suddenly dive down, and then reappear in the water just behind + them. Then, before the men could turn around and spear him, he as suddenly + dived under the water again. The pursuit was so exciting that these cruel + men did not notice how far out from land they had now come. They did, + however, after a time see their danger, for suddenly a fierce gale sprang + up, and the waves rose in such fury that they upset the canoes and all of + the wicked men were drowned. When the old grandmother saw this she once + more exerted the magical powers with which she had been intrusted by + Wakonda, and calling to her grandson to return home he instantly complied + with her request. He speedily swam back to her, and she at once transformed + him into his human form. +</p> +<p> + "Thus freed from his tormentors, he very rapidly grew up to manhood and + became a great hunter, and was kind to his grandmother as long as she + lived." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH6"> CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of + Nanahboozhoo—How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, + the Wolf—Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. +</h4> +<p> + "Who was this Nanahboozhoo that we are hearing so much about?" +</p> +<p> + Thus was the old story-teller addressed by Sagastao, who always was anxious + to learn about those who interested him. +</p> +<p> + The old man began in this way: +</p> +<p> + "When the great mountains are wrapped in the clouds we do not see them very + well. So it is with Nanahboozhoo. The long years that have passed since he + lived have, like the fogs and mists, made it less easy to say exactly who + he really was, but I will try to tell you. Nanahboozhoo was not from one + tribe only, but from all the Indians. Hence it is that his very name is so + different. +</p> +<p> + "The Ojibway call him Mishawabus—Great Rabbit; the Menomini call him + Manabush. He had other names also. One tribe called him Jouskeha, another + Messou, another Manabozho, and another Hiawatha. His father was + Mudjekeewis, the West Wind. There was an old woman named Nokomis, the + granddaughter of the moon, who had a daughter whose name was Wenonah. She + was the mother of twin boys, but at their birth she died and so did one of + the boys. Nokomis wrapped the living child in soft dry grass, laid it on + the ground at one end of her wigwam, and placed over it a great wooden bowl + to protect it from harm. Then in her grief she took up the body of Wenonah, + her daughter, and buried it, with the dead child, at some distance from her + wigwam. When she returned from thus laying away her dead she sat down in + her wigwam, and for four days mourned her loss. At the end of that time she + heard a slight noise in her wigwam, which she soon found came from that + wooden bowl. Then as the bowl moved she suddenly remembered the living + child, which she had forgotten in her great grief at the loss of its + mother. When she removed the bowl from its place, instead of there being + the baby boy she had placed there she beheld a little white rabbit, and on + taking it up she said, 'O my dear little rabbit, my Manabush!' Nokomis took + great care of it and it grew very rapidly. +</p> +<p> + "One day, when Manabush was quite large, it sat up on its haunches and + hopped slowly across the floor of the wigwam, and caused the earth to + tremble. +</p> +<p> + "When the bad Windegoos, or evil spirits who dwell underground, felt the + earth to thus tremble they said, 'What is the matter? What has happened? A + great Munedoo (spirit) is born somewhere.' And at once they began to devise + means by which they might kill Manabush, or Nanahboozhoo, as he was now + called, when they should find him. +</p> +<p> + "But Nanahboozhoo did not long continue to look like a rabbit. As he was + superior to other people he could change himself to any form he liked. He + was most frequently seen as a fine strong young Indian hunter. He called + the people his uncles. When he grew up he said to his grandmother, the old + Nokomis, that the time had come when he should prepare himself to go and + help his uncles, the people, to better their condition. This he was able to + do, seeing he was more than human, for his father was the West Wind and his + mother a great-granddaughter of the moon. Sometimes he was the beautiful + white rabbit; then he would be a wolf or a wolverine; then he would be a + lovely bird. He could even change himself to look like a dry old stump or a + beautiful tree. Sometimes he would be like a little half-frozen rabbit; + then he would be a mighty magician, and often a little snake. He was just + as changeable in his disposition as in his outward appearance. Sometimes he + was doing the best things imaginable for his uncles, the Indian people, and + at other times he was full of mischief and trickery. But on the whole he + was a friend, and although quick-tempered and fiery yet he did lots of fine + things for the people, for he was really one of the best of the Munedoos of + the early times. +</p> +<p> + "When the time came for him to leave his grandmother's wigwam he built one + for himself, and then he asked Nokomis to prepare for him the sacred + magical musical sticks which she alone could make. His grandmother made him + four sticks, and with these he used to beat time when singing his queer + songs. Some of them were very queer, and ended up with 'He! he! ho! ho! ha! + ha! hi! hi!' Others were in reference to some special benefits he would + confer on his uncles. In one of them, referring to his going to steal the + fire for them, he sings: +</p> +<p> + "'Help to my uncles I'm bringing,<br /> + Their sorrows I'll change into singing.<br /> + From their enemies the fire I'll steal,<br /> + That its warmth the children may feel. + </p> + <p> + "'Disguised will be Nanahboozhoo,<br /> + That his work may the better be done;<br /> + But his jolly deeds ever will tell who<br /> + Has been sporting around in his fun.' +</p> +<p> + "At first he was a jolly fellow, full of fun, and did lots of good things + for his uncles. He showed them the plants and roots good for food, and + taught them the arts of surgery and medicine, but as the years went by he + did some things that caused him to be feared very much. His uncles always + went to him when they got into trouble, but whether he would help them or + not depended much on the humor he was in when they came. +</p> +<a name="Illus008"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus008.jpg" width="245" height="329" +alt="The beautiful reflections in the water. "> +</p> +<p> + "After he had lived for years in the first wigwam which he had built, and + taught the people of the earth many things, his father, the West Wind, held + a council with the North Wind and the South Wind and the East Wind, and as + Nanahboozhoo was never married, and was living such a lonely life, they + determined to restore to life, and give to reside with him, his twin + brother who had died at his birth. The name of this brother was Nahpootee, + which means the Skillful Hunter. Nanahboozhoo was very fond of him, and + took great care of him. He grew very rapidly, and he and Nanahboozhoo were + very great friends. Like Nanahboozhoo, Nahpootee could disguise himself in + any form he chose. One favorite form he often assumed was that of a wolf, + as he was often away on hunting excursions. The evil spirits, or Windegoos, + who dwell under the land and sea, had never been able to do much harm to + Nanahboozhoo, he was too clever for them; and although they often tried he + generally worsted them. Now they were doubly angry when they heard that + Nahpootee had been restored to life and was living with him. Nanahboozhoo + warned his brother of their enmity, and of the necessity of being on his + guard against them. +</p> +<p> + "These brothers moved far away and built their wigwam in a lonely country + on the shore of a great lake which is now called Mirror Lake, because of + its beautiful reflections. Here, as he was a hunter, Nahpootee was kept + busy supplying the wigwam with food. Once, while he was away hunting, + Nanahboozhoo discovered that some of the evil Munedoos dwelt in the bottom + of the very lake on the shores of which they had built their wigwam. So he + warned his brother, Nahpootee, never to cross that lake, but always to go + around on the shore, and for some time he remembered this warning and was + not attacked. But one cold winter day, when he had been out for a long time + hunting, he found himself exactly on the opposite side of the lake from the + wigwam. The ice seemed strong, and as the distance was shorter he decided + that, rather than walk around on the shore, he would cross on the ice. When + about half-way across the lake the ice broke, he was seized by the evil + Munedoos and drowned. +</p> +<p> + "When Nahpootee failed to return to the wigwam Nanahboozhoo was filled with + alarm and at once began searching everywhere for his loved, lost brother. + One day when he was walking under some trees at the lake he beheld, high up + among the branches, Ookiskimunisew, the kingfisher. +</p> +<p> + "'What are you doing there?' asked Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "'The bad Munedoos have killed Nahpootee,' Ookiskimunisew replied, 'and + soon they are going to throw his body up on the shore and I am going to + feast on it!' +</p> +<p> + "This answer made Nanahboozhoo very angry, but he concealed his feelings. +</p> +<p> + "'Come down here, handsome bird,' he said, 'and I'll give you this collar + to hang on your neck.' +</p> +<p> + "The kingfisher suspected that the speaker was Nanahboozhoo, the brother of + Nahpootee, and he was afraid to descend. +</p> +<p> + "'Come down, and have no fear,' said Nanahboozhoo, in a friendly tone. 'I + only want to give you this beautiful necklace to wear, with the white shell + hanging from it.' +</p> +<p> + "On hearing this the kingfisher came down, but suspecting that Nanahboozhoo + would be up to some of his tricks he kept a sharp watch on him. + Nanahboozhoo placed the necklace about the neck of the bird so that the + beautiful white shell should be over the breast. Then he pretended to tie + the ends behind, but just as he had made a half knot in the cord, and was + going to tighten it and strangle the bird, the latter was too quick for him + and suddenly slipped away and escaped. He kept the necklace, however, and + the white spot may be seen on the breast of the kingfisher to this day. +</p> +<p> + "Soon after this the shade or ghost of Nahpootee appeared to Nanahboozhoo + and told him that, as his death was the result of his own carelessness, in + not keeping on the land, he would not be restored to live here, but was + even now on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds, in the Land of the + Setting Sun, beyond the Great Mountains. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was deeply moved by the loss of his brother, who had been + such a pleasant companion to him. So great was his grief that at times the + earth trembled and the evil spirits dwelling under the land or water were + much terrified, for they knew they would be terribly punished by + Nanahboozhoo if he should ever get them in his power. But it was a long + time before he had an opportunity to get his revenge on them for the death + of his brother. How he did it I will tell you at some future time." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH7"> CHAPTER VII.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Legend of the Bad Boy—How He was Carried Away + by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. +</h4> +<p> + "Tell us, Mary, a story about the boys of the old times among the Indians," + said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "About bad boys," said Minnehaha with a mischievous look in her eyes; "for + this morning brother and papa had to have a 'settlement,' and it might do + Sagastao good to hear about other bad boys and what was done with them." +</p> +<p> + These words of Minnehaha made Mary very angry. She thought more of Sagastao + than she did of any other member of the family, and nothing threw her into + a rage quicker than for anyone to cross him or even to question the wisdom + of anything he said. Now, indignant that his father had been obliged to + call him into his study for some misdemeanor, Mary was greatly annoyed to + hear these words. +</p> +<p> + "O, pshaw, Sakehow," said Sagastao; "do not be so touchy. I deserved the + talking to that papa gave me. It was wrong of me to whack that Indian boy + with my bat as I did, and I ought to have been punished; so if you have any + jolly good stories about bad Indian boys, and how they were punished, why, + let us have one." +</p> +<p> + This confession of her favorite, who, after his temper cooled, was always + quick to admit that he had been in the wrong, quite pacified Mary, and she + settled down on the wolfskin rug with the children and began her story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago all the Indians believed in Windegoos and other spirits that were + more or less friendly to good people. Some were man-eaters and, of course, + were always to be feared. Some Indians were in such fear of these cannibals + that they would never leave the wigwam after dark for fear of being gobbled + up by some of the monsters that might be skulking about. +</p> +<p> + "There was one great creature called Annungitee, or Two Faced. He had a + great habit of looking out for bad boys, very bad boys. It was said that he + could not see really good boys; that they were like glass, and he could not + see them. But when a boy became very bad he was then so black that he was + easily seen, and Annungitee could espy him a long way off and was very + likely to come after him. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately Annungitee always made a noise when he was passing along. This + was a good thing for bad boys, for it gave them time to scurry into the + wigwams, out of his way. He was so big that when he set one of his feet + down on the ground there would be sounds like the ringing of bells and the + hooting of owls. When he put the other foot down the sound was like the + roaring of buffalo bulls when they are going to fight each other. Even when + he tried to move softly there would be sounds like birds and beasts crying + out. All the Indians who had heard this great terrible fellow were afraid + of him, and yet no two were able to give the same description of him. But + they did agree on one thing, and that was that when he caught a very wicked + man, which he did sometimes, or very bad boys, which he often did, he just + threw him into one of his big ears and held him there. Indeed, it was + believed that he could hold three big men or six bad boys in one of his + ears at the same time. Nobody knew where he lived, as no one had been found + brave enough to follow and see, and no daring hunter had ever found his + abode in any of his hunting expeditions. +</p> +<p> + "Now a certain Indian man and his wife who lived in a wigwam quite apart + from other families had one boy. He was their only child. He had been a + very bad, cruel, unkind boy. His father had to work hard as a hunter to + obtain sufficient game to keep them from starving. His mother cut the wood, + carried up the water from the distant river, dressed the skins of the + animals that were shot by her husband, and did all the work of the wigwam. + The boy would not lift a finger to help in any way. One day the mother, who + was quite sick, asked him to go for some water. He refused, and was very + saucy to her. Then she asked him if he would please bring in some wood for + her, as she felt cold. No, he would not do anything of the kind. She then + became quite angry with him, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'If you do not be a better boy I will put you out of the wigwam, and + Annungitee will toss you into his ear.' +</p> +<p> + "All the same, she did not really believe he would, as she had not heard of + Annungitee or any other kind of ghost being around for a long, long time. + She only said what she did to frighten the bad boy into obedience. Indeed + she had often said to him, when she was angry with him, 'I do hope a ghost + will catch you.' But the more she talked to him the worse he became. So one + day when he had been very lazy and very rude to her she sprang up and, + seizing him by the arm, undertook to put him out of the wigwam. He became + much frightened at this and began to cry. But she, knowing that he deserved + to be punished, pushed him out and securely fastened the doorway, calling + out: +</p> +<p> + "'May Annungitee catch you!' +</p> +<p> + "She did not really mean it, of course. No mother could wish her boy to + have such a terrible misfortune. The frightened boy then began running + round and round the wigwam, trying to find some place where he could get + in, but he could find no opening. After a while his crying and his efforts + to get into the wigwam ceased, and all became still and silent. His mother + listened attentively, and every moment expected to hear his voice again, + but there was no sound except something like the sound of the singing of + birds and the rattling of small bells dying away in the distance. At this + she became very much frightened and began to cry, and to call for her boy. + She threw open the door flap and began to search all around her wigwam for + her son. But all in vain! He was nowhere to be found. +</p> +<p> + "When the father came home from his hunting she told him of the sudden + disappearance of their boy, and he, too, was very much alarmed. They set + out and visited the lodges of all the people around. But no one had seen or + heard anything of the missing boy. They returned to their own silent wigwam + very sorrowful, and for days they mourned over the loss of their son. One + night, as the mother was weeping on account of her great loss, she heard + some one crying out to her: +</p> +<p> + "'Hi! Hi!' and at the same time she heard the sounds of bells ringing and + owls hooting. This happened several nights, and then one night there was a + voice saying: +</p> +<p> + "'You said, "Ghost, take that boy." Hi! Hi!' +</p> +<p> + "Next morning the wife told her husband what she had heard during the + previous night, and she added: +</p> +<p> + "'I believe the ghost Annungitee has taken our boy.' +</p> +<p> + "Her husband was very angry when he heard this, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'Yes, a ghost has taken our boy. You gave him to him, and he has taken you + at your word. So why should you complain? It serves you right.' +</p> +<a name="Illus009"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus009.jpg" width="250" height="365" +alt="'They tumbled the tall ghost over.'"> +</p> +<p> + "At this the mother lifted up her voice and cried out so loud that it could + be heard a great distance. +</p> +<p> + "'Husband,' she said, 'I deserve what you have said, but I am going to try + and get back our boy, and so to-night I will hide in the pile of wood that + is outside the wigwam, and if the ghost comes along again, as he has been + coming, I will catch him by the leg, and you must rush out and try to + rescue our son.' +</p> +<p> + "So that night she hid herself in the wood pile, and, sure enough, after a + while she heard the sound of bells ringing and animals softly crying out, + and then a loud 'Hi! Hi!' after which all was still. +</p> +<p> + "Then, as she cautiously looked out from her hiding place, there before her + was a great creature standing beside the wigwam. He was so tall that his + head was higher than the smoke hole at the top, and he was peeping down + into the wigwam. But, big as he was, she had a mother's loving heart after + all, and as she thought of her boy fastened up there in one of his big ears + she was determined to rescue him if possible. So she cautiously moved along + until she was able to seize one of his legs, which she did with all her + strength, and at the same instant she shouted for her husband to come and + help. Out he rushed, and between them they tumbled the tall ghost over and, + sure enough, in one of his big ears they found their little boy. +</p> +<p> + "Poor little fellow. He was half-starved, and so thin and weak that he + could hardly stand. But they helped him into the wigwam and gave him some + soup, made out of some birds that his father had killed that day. +</p> +<p> + "The tall ghost was so frightened by the sudden way in which he had been + seized that as soon as he could get up he hurried away, and was never seen + in that part of the country again. Some tribes say he went South, and + there, when he was stealing children and carrying them off in his ears, he + was caught by the angry parents and burned to death on a big wood pile." +</p> +<p> + "Did the little boy get better?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "O yes, he did, after a while; but he was a long time in getting over the + fright he had had. It did him good, however, for after that he was never + rude and saucy to his mother and did all he could to help her." +</p> +<p> + "Did it do the mother any good?" asked Sagastao, who had not been + altogether satisfied with her treatment of the boy. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, indeed," said Mary; "for after that terrible fright she was never + known to shout out at her boy such words as, 'I hope the ghost will catch + you,' or any other of the unpleasant ones which she sometimes had used when + she was angry with him." +</p> +<p> + "Thank you, Sakehow," said both the children. "A pretty good story, that." +</p> +<p> + Then what a jolly romp they had with Jack and Cuffy! The two splendid dogs + were the children's special protectors and companions. +</p> +<a name="Illus010"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus010.jpg" width="245" height="208" +alt="'Their dog trains were in almost constant demand.'"> +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH8"> CHAPTER VIII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Happy Christmas Holidays—Indians Made Glad with + Presents—Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the + Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. +</h4> +<p> + The Christmas holidays were times of innocent festivities and gladness + among the Indians and their white friends, both at the mission and at the + trading post. +</p> +<p> + The gifts which it was possible to give to the Indians were not of very + great value, but they were articles much needed and were always prized by + the recipients even if they were never very profuse in their words of + thanks. Minnehaha and Sagastao were wild with delight at these times, and + were eager to be the almoners of the mission, and carry the gifts to the + Indians whom they loved so well. The fact that the temperature of those + bright, cold Northern winters kept steadily many degrees below zero did not + chill their ardor nor lessen their enthusiasm. Their dog trains were in + almost constant demand, for they kept flying over the various icy trails + until in the different wigwams all had been remembered with some useful + gift. +</p> +<p> + Faithful Mary had made for them the warmest of fur and blanket suits. + Dressed in these, and tucked in among the robes in the cariole by their + careful driver, they sped along the trails. They made the woods echo with + their merry shouts and laughter—unless it was so bitterly cold that they + had to be completely covered up. It is not to be wondered at that there + were times when, on reaching some distant wigwam, there were little hard, + white spots on their cheeks or noses which told the watchful Indians that + the Frost King had been at work and that speedily those frostbites must be + removed. Little cared they for the momentary pain that ensued, when the + frozen parts were being thawed out. They were out for a good time, and they + had too much grit and courage to let such trifles as a few frostbites + disturb their happiness. The bright fires burning in the center of the + wigwams, or in the fireplaces at the end or side of the little Indian + houses, were of course always welcome after a long run in the bitter cold. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us, Souwanas," said Sagastao one very cold day, as they were gathered + around his wigwam fire, "how it was that Nanahboozhoo stole the fire from + those who were guarding it and gave it to the Indians." +</p> +<p> + "It must not be too long a story," said Minnehaha, "as we have yet to go to + the wigwam of Kinnesasis, Little Fish, with his presents, and it would be + too bad to be late when they know we are coming." +</p> +<p> + So Souwanas pledged himself to make the story as short as he could without + spoiling it, and then, after a few more whiffs from his beloved calumet, he + began: +</p> +<p> + "It was long ago, when there were fewer people in the forests and on the + prairies than now. They did not have as many comforts as they have now, and + one of the rarest things among them was fire. Sometimes when the + lightning's flash set a tree on fire they would have it for a little while, + but they did not seem to be able to keep it going, and they were often very + cold and generally had to eat their food without cooking it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was then still living with his grandmother, Nokomis, and was + sorry to see that she often suffered from the cold and that the food was + miserable because it was not cooked. So he set his wits to work and decided + that something must be done. As he should now have to deal with the Muche + Munedoos, evil spirits, he had to be very careful. He put himself in + various disguises and at length he heard all about how the coyote had + stolen some of the fire from the watchers in the underground world, who + possess enormous quantities of it. It frightened him a little when he heard + that there was so much fire in the world under us, but he was not apt to be + afraid very long and so as he went on searching, and on the sly listening + to the talks of windegoos and others, he found that the fire for which he + had been so long searching was in the possession of a fierce old medicine + warrior who guarded it with the greatest care. Those who had employed the + coyote to get it had intrusted its keeping to him. In those days they had + an idea that fire was such a dangerous thing that it would be almost + certain destruction to the race if it was given to all. This old warrior + had his two daughters, who were great, fierce women, to assist him in + guarding the fire. +</p> +<p> + "Several attempts had been made to steal the fire ere Nanahboozhoo resolved + to see what he could do. All of these other efforts had failed, and the + parties who tried them were killed. Nokomis heard of these unsuccessful + attempts and tried to dissuade her grandson, Nanahboozhoo, from such a + dangerous enterprise. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, however, was a very skillful fellow, and although this was + one of his first great undertakings, for it was long ago, he was not to be + stopped by her fears, and so away he went. As the ice was not yet on the + waters he took his birch canoe and paddled eastward as far as he could. + Then he hid his canoe where he could easily find it on his return. +</p> +<p> + "The next thing he did was to transform himself into a rabbit, and in that + shape he hurried on until he saw in the distance the sacred wigwam where + dwelt the old guardian of the fire and his two daughters, who were famous + for their height and their strength. To excite the pity of these daughters + Nanahboozhoo jumped into some water, and then crawling out, wet and cold, + he slowly approached the wigwam. Here the two daughters found him, and he + looked so miserable that they took pity on him and at once carried him into + the wigwam and set him down near the sacred fire, that he might soon get + warm and dry." +</p> +<a name="Illus011"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus011.jpg" width="245" height="209" +alt="'Where the fire was stolen out of the center of the earth.'"> +</p> +<p> + "How very kind that was of the old man's daughters," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "I don't know about that," said the more matter-of-fact Sagastao; "folks + sometimes get into trouble by taking up everything that comes along. + Remember that old rascal that humbugged father." +</p> +<p> + But Souwanas, remembering his promise, adroitly shunted off the youngsters + and resumed his story. +</p> +<p> + "The two girls, after seeing how contented and happy the rabbit seemed to + be as it warmed itself by the fire, again returned to their duties in + different parts of the large wigwam. The rabbit soon after hopped a little + nearer to the fire, that he might be able to seize hold of a burning stick + or brand, but as he moved the ground shook and trembled under him so that + it awoke the old man, who had fallen into a heavy sleep. Thus disturbed, he + called out to his daughters in alarm: +</p> +<p> + "'My daughters, what was it that caused the ground to tremble?' +</p> +<p> + "The girls replied that they did not know. They had done nothing beyond + their usual work except to bring in to warm a poor little shivering + half-frozen rabbit that they had found outside. At first the old man was a + little suspicious and, rolling over, he took a good look at Nanahboozhoo. + But he had made himself into such a poor little wretched half-drowned + rabbit that the old man's suspicions were completely dispelled, and he + turned over again and went to sleep. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was pleased to hear the old man snoring again, and he only + waited now until the two girls should both be busy in the wigwam on the + opposite side from the door; then he suddenly changed himself into a fleet + young Indian runner, and quickly seizing hold of a burning stick he dashed + out of the wigwam and away he rushed toward the place where he had left his + canoe. +</p> +<p> + "Of course there was instant pursuit. The two daughters, although they were + magicians, like their father, well knew that they would be punished by the + superior evil spirits if they allowed any of the sacred fire to be stolen, + and they were furious at the cunning and deceitful Nanahboozhoo, whom they + now recognized, for playing such a trick upon them. Shouting to their + father, to arouse him, they immediately ran after the retreating + Nanahboozhoo, who with the burning brand in his hand was speeding rapidly + over the trail. But, fleet as he was, he soon discovered that the two + girls, by their magic, were rapidly gaining upon him. They were the + fleetest of runners, even if they were girls, and it was for that reason + that they and their father were intrusted with the sacred fire. Great + honors were to be theirs if they guarded it to the satisfaction of those + who had intrusted it to them, while, on the other hand, great would be + their disgrace if they failed in their duty. +</p> +<p> + "When they found that they were gaining on Nanahboozhoo, and were likely to + regain possession of the firebrand, with shouts and threats they declared + that severe indeed would be his punishment, when he fell into their hands, + for his abuse of their kindness and his trickery. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo felt that he was indeed in a tight place. He did not, + however, intend to be overtaken, and he sped on, if possible faster than + ever, until there was only a large dried-up, barren meadow between him and + the spot where he had tied his canoe on the shore of the lake. The girls + were only a few hundred yards behind him, and he resolved to fight them + with this sacred fire. So, as he rapidly continued his flight, he plunged + the now blazing firebrand into the dry grass, here and there, on each side + of the trail. The wind was in his face, and it carried back the fierce + blaze and dense black smoke and not only quickly hid him from the sight of + his pursuers but also made it very dangerous for them to follow him. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo thus succeeded in reaching his canoe, and fixing the burning + brand in one end of the boat he was soon rapidly paddling over the waters + toward his distant home. The flying sparks of the torch burnt him badly in + several places, but he did not much mind this, and he dared not stop to + dress his wounds for fear that his pursuers would yet overtake him. +</p> +<p> + "Fortunately he succeeded in reaching his distant home. There at the shore + to welcome his return was Nokomis, who had been full of anxiety about him. + She carefully dressed his burnt face and hands and gladly received the gift + of the fire, which has been such a blessing to the Indians ever since. +</p> +<p> + "At first there was a good deal of trouble among the Indians to keep the + fire burning. Sometimes the watchers appointed to look after it, especially + in the summer months, would forget to add fresh fuel, or would go to sleep + and neglect it. Then they would have to send off to some perhaps distant + wigwam, where the people had been more careful, and secure some live coals + from them. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was troubled about this. He feared that if it were allowed to + die out at the same time in all of the wigwams he might not be so + successful again if he had to try to get a fresh supply from the fierce old + man and his now wrathful daughters. So he went out into the woods and at + length a good spirit came to him in a dream and told him of various ways in + which the fire could be obtained. He showed him how it could be made, by + rapid friction, with dry sticks. Another way he revealed to him was by the + striking together of a flint stone and a piece of iron; sparks of fire + could thus be produced which, caught in punk, would soon become a blaze. So + now the Indians do not have to cover up the fires as they were formerly + obliged to do; thanks to Nanahboozhoo's dreams, they can make it fresh + whenever they want it." +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo for his good work this time!" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Well, I think he was a mean fellow, to so fool those two nice girls who + took him in and warmed him when he was a poor little wet shivering rabbit!" + said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Took him in?" the lad retorted. "Well, I guess it was well he was able to + take them in as he did, by setting fire to that old grass in the meadow, + for if he had not done so they would soon have had his scalp." +</p> +<p> + But here Minnehaha appealed to Souwanas, and said: +</p> +<p> + "I have been wondering how it was the old man and his daughters got the + fire in the first place from out of the underground. Will you not tell us + that story some time?" +</p> +<p> + The old man looked grave and was silent for a minute or two, then he + replied: +</p> +<p> + "I think you had better ask Kinnesasis. He knows the story better than I + do, for in his youth he traveled far West, into the land of the high + mountains, where the legend is that the fire was stolen out of the center + of the earth." +</p> +<p> + "All right. Thank you, Souwanas. We are going to take Kinnesasis some + presents, and while there we will ask him for the story." +</p> +<p> + Here an Indian lad rushed into the wigwam with the word that Kennedy was + coming with their cariole. The children were well wrapped up, and soon with + their usual happy, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" they were speeding homeward. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH9"> CHAPTER IX.</a></h3> + <h4> + Kinnesasis—How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the + Interior of the Earth. +</h4> +<p> + A great time the children had in the wigwam of Kinnesasis. He was such a + jolly little old Indian, and he was specially happy to-day when the + children opened out the gifts and presented them. He was more than + delighted with a suit of black clothes sent him from a distance by friends + who had heard about him and his needs. He quickly put on the whole suit, + which fitted him very nicely, and then much amused the children by saying: +</p> +<p> + "I am sure the man who made these clothes is in heaven, or, if not yet + dead, he will go to heaven when he dies." +</p> +<p> + "Why, Kinnesasis, it is the kind friends who sent you these clothes you + ought to thank, and not make such a fuss over the man who made them; he was + paid for making them," said Sagastao. But Kinnesasis could only think of + the man who made the suit of which he was so proud. +</p> +<p> + Kinnesasis's old wife was, if possible, still more delighted with her + presents than the old man with his. She and Minnehaha were always the best + of friends, and now as the child handed her gift after gift of warm + clothing and food her joy knew no bounds, and, old as she was, when some + warm shoes were given her, she sprang up and began singing an Indian song, + while with all the agility of a young maiden she spun around the wigwam in + rhythmic measure to her words, which, roughly translated, are as follows: +</p> +<p> + "The Good Spirit has pity on me,<br /> + Though for days I had little to eat,<br /> + I was wretched and sad in my heart,<br /> + I was cold, O so cold! in my feet. + </p> + <p> + "But now I have plenty of meat,<br /> + Clothes for my body, shoes for my feet,<br /> + I'll not grumble, nor sorrow, but praise<br /> + The Good Spirit the rest of my days." +</p> +<p> + "Well done!" shouted the children when the old woman stopped. They were + greatly delighted with her performance. Kinnesasis, however, who, as well + as his wife, was now a church member, professed to be much shocked at + seeing her thus dancing, as though in the wild excitement of the Ghost + Dance. But both Sagastao and Minnehaha stood up for the old wife. They said + the words she sang were good enough for the church, any day, and they were + sure nobody could find fault with her thus showing how glad and thankful + she was. +</p> +<p> + And nobody ever did find fault and soon was the affair almost forgotten, + for now the merry jingling of more dog bells was heard, and who should come + into the wigwam of Kinnesasis but the parents of Sagastao and Minnehaha! +</p> +<p> + Cordially were they greeted. At first it was difficult for them to + recognize the staid little gentleman in his full suit of broadcloth as the + lively but generally ill-clothed Kinnesasis. The visitors—who quickly saw + and were delighted with the transformation—greeted him as though he were + some distinguished stranger. This vastly amused the children. Screaming + with laughter at Kinnesasis's pretense of keeping up the farce, they + shouted out, "Why, this is only our dear old Kinnesasis. He is no great + stranger. It is only Kinnesasis with his new clothes." +</p> +<p> + "Well," then was asked, "who is that charming old lady over there with such + a fine shawl and brilliant handkerchief on, and such fancy new shoes on her + feet? Surely she is a stranger." +</p> +<p> + "No! No!" the children again shouted. "Why, that is Kinnesasis's wife, with + her new presents on! My! doesn't she look nice!" +</p> +<p> + Here the little ones seized hold of the happy old Indian woman and made her + get up and show herself off in her new apparel, of which she was just as + proud as Kinnesasis. +</p> +<p> + "And she gave us such a jolly dance in them, papa! Wouldn't you like to see + her do it again?" cried Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + But here Kinnesasis, pretending to be shocked beyond measure, in a most + diplomatic manner directed the attention of the parents to some other + matter, and so the mischievous child did not succeed in making a church + scandal by inducing one of the flock to dance before the missionary. +</p> +<p> + "Tell us, Kinnesasis," said Sagastao, "how it was that that old man and his + daughters first obtained the fire which Nanahboozhoo so cleverly stole from + them and gave to the Indians long ago." +</p> +<p> + At first Kinnesasis hesitated about telling the old legend, saying that he + did not think the father and mother of the children would care for such + stories. +</p> +<p> + "Don't they, though!" cried the children. "You don't know them very well, + then, if you don't know that they like stories just about as well as we + do." +</p> +<p> + And with this they at once appealed to the parents, who of course sided + with them and expressed their desire to listen to this story that the + children had told them they were to hear from dear old Kinnesasis. +</p> +<p> + Throwing some more logs on the fire, around which the white visitors with + the Indians gathered, Kinnesasis began: +</p> +<p> + "It was long ago, when I was a young lad, that I heard the story from the + old story-tellers of our people. I had traveled with my father for many + days far toward the setting sun. We reached the land of the great + mountains, and there, with our people of those regions, we spent some + moons. It was while we were among them that I heard from the ancient + story-teller the legend of how the fire was stolen from the center of the + earth, where it was kept hidden away from the human family. +</p> +<p> + "That there was such a thing as fire was well known. It had been seen + bursting out of the tops of distant mountains, and there had been times in + great thunderstorms, when the lightning had set fire to dead trees—and + indeed in this latter way the Indians had become acquainted with its value + to the human race. But they had not taken care to keep it burning, and no + one had been appointed to specially look after it. +</p> +<p> + "The reason why fire had not been from the first given to men was because + when the race was created the fire was not much needed. The earth was then + much warmer than it is now. There was no snow or ice ever seen except on + the tops of the very highest mountains. Great animals now all dead, and + others that could only live in the hottest countries, lived all over these + great lands. Then there was abundance of fruit and nuts and roots that were + all very good for food. Then some great disaster happened to the world and + soon it began to grow colder and many animals, and even families, perished. + Snow and ice appeared where they were never seen before. There was great + suffering from the cold. The hunters began to kill the animals for food. + They were now not satisfied with the fruit and roots, they wanted something + better. +</p> +<p> + "So the fire was much needed. But where it was, or how to get it, was the + question. Fortunately an old dreamer dreamed a dream about it. As the + council assembled to hear his dream he told them that the fire was + preserved in the heart of the earth by a magician called Sistinakoo, and + that it was kept very carefully surrounded by four walls, one within the + other, in each of which was a single door. At the first door a great snake + kept guard. At the second door a mountain lion or panther was the guardian. + A grizzly bear guarded the third door, and at the fourth and last door + Sistinakoo himself kept watchful care over the precious fire that smoldered + on a stone altar just inside this last wall. +</p> +<p> + "When the council heard all this they were almost discouraged. They thought + it would be impossible for anyone to get by all of these guards and steal + the fire. +</p> +<p> + "They first asked the fox to try, but he only reached the first door when + the great snake nearly made a meal of him. Thoroughly frightened, he rushed + back to the top of the earth and told of his narrow escape. +</p> +<p> + "For a time nothing more was done to try and get the fire. The people + continued to suffer, for the earth kept getting colder and colder and ice + and snow were now to be found in lands that had previously been comfortably + warm. So the council was called again, and the question again raised as to + what could be done. +</p> +<p> + "It happened that there came to the council a very old man who remembered a + tradition, handed down from his forefathers, which said that part of the + earth beneath us was hollow, and that some of the animals, even the great + buffaloes, had dwelt in those underground regions before they came to dwell + on the surface of the earth. He said that the coyote, the prairie wolf, was + the last one to leave, and that he was sure that he still remembered the + route to the very spot where Sistinakoo, the head chief of the regions, + guarded the fire so jealously." +</p> +<p> + "Why should they so guard the fire, and be so careful about letting people + have it, when we know how good it is?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Because," replied Kinnesasis, "there was a tradition that at some time or + other the fire should get the mastery over men, and the whole world be + burned by it, and they thought that they would carefully guard it from + getting scattered about by careless people who might set the world on + fire." +</p> +<p> + "Well, go on, Kinnesasis, and tell us the rest of the story," said the + impatient Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "So when the Indian council heard this story they sent for the king of the + coyotes and told him of their wish that he should return to that underworld + and bring up the fire for their use. +</p> +<p> + "To their surprise and great delight the coyote said he would go, and he + immediately began his preparations for the journey. So greatly had the cold + increased that he found the dark mouth of the entrance under the mountains + almost surrounded by snow and ice. After traveling for some time in the + darkness he reached the outer wall, where he waited, a little distance from + the door, until the snake was taking his usual sleep. Then he quickly + stepped past him. Knowing the habits of the other animals, he waited until + they were asleep and then he noiselessly passed them all. Even Sistinakoo + himself was sound asleep. So the coyote crept silently up to the fire and + lighted the large brand or torch that was securely fastened to his tail. + The instant it began to blaze up, as the coyote rushed out through the + first door, Sistinakoo shouted, 'Who is there? Some one has been here and + has stolen the fire!' +</p> +<a name="Illus012"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus012.jpg" width="250" height="201" +alt="'The coyote was too quick for them all.'"> +</p> +<p> + "He at once began to make a great row and loudly called to the different + keepers to close the doors in the walls. But the coyote was too quick for + them all, and ere the sleepers were wide enough awake to do anything he had + passed through all the doors and was far on his way to the top of the + ground. The fire was gladly received by the people, but after some time, + when some big prairies and forests had been burned up by it, the men got + fearful that the world might be destroyed and so they intrusted it to the + care of the old magician and his two daughters, with orders to be very + careful to whom they gave any. It was from them Nanahboozhoo stole it, to + scatter it once more freely among the people as we now have it. +</p> +<p> + "But the tradition was still believed in the days of my grandfather that, + good as the fire was to warm us, and cook our food, it would yet become our + master, and do the world much harm." +</p> +<p> + Kinnesasis was thanked by all for his recital of this suggestive legend, + especially by his older listeners, who saw much in it that was in harmony + with the earlier beliefs of other nationalities. +</p> +<p> + By this time, however, the dogs in their trains were impatiently barking, + and longing to get back home for their suppers. So, after farewell + greetings to Kinnesasis and his wife, one cariole after another was loaded, + and away the happy ones sped over the icy expanse of the frozen lake. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH10"> CHAPTER X.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Christmas Packet—The Distribution of Gifts—A Visit + by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero—Souwanas Tells + How the Indians first Learned to Make Maple Sugar. +</h4> +<p> + How great the excitement was which attended the arrival of the Christmas + packet can hardly be realized by persons who have never been exposed to the + privations of a land which the mail reaches every six months, and where + they wait half a year for the daily paper. After this long waiting it is no + wonder that a great shout was raised when far away in the distance the + long-expected, heavily-loaded dog-trains were seen that for several hundred + miles had carried the precious messages of love and the tokens of good will + from dear ones far away. +</p> +<p> + This year an extra train well loaded with much-needed supplies for the + mission was among the arrivals. Its coming was hailed with special delight + by the children; for even in that Northland Santa Claus was not unexpected, + and it was surmised by some of the wee ones that possibly some of his gifts + would arrive about that time. +</p> +<p> + And they were not disappointed, for loved ones far away in more favored + lands had remembered these little ones in their Northern home, where the + Frost King reigns, and many and varied were the gifts which they now + received. +</p> +<p> + "I am going to take Souwanas some of my candies," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "And I am going to give him a nice red silk handkerchief," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The children had by this time pretty well learned his weakness for these + things, and it was a pleasure now for them to think that they had it in + their power to make him happy. +</p> +<p> + The next morning was, as usual, bright and cloudless, but it was bitterly + cold. The mercury was frozen in one thermometer, and in the other one the + spirit indicated fifty-five below zero. Yet so impatient were these + spirited children to be off with their gifts to Souwanas, and with + something also for each member of the family, that their pleadings + prevailed. A cariole with plenty of fur robes was soon at the door, and + with old Kennedy as their driver they were soon speeding away behind a + train of dogs. +</p> +<p> + Indians are naturally alert and watchful, and so the merry jingle of the + silvery bells was heard while the cariole was still at some distance on the + trail. Cordially were they welcomed, and strong arms speedily carried them + into the cosy wigwam where, in the center, burned a great fire of dry + spruce and birch wood. +</p> +<p> + As the cold was so intense, and the children had permission to remain for + two hours, it was decided that Kennedy should return home at once with the + dogs, as it would have been cruel to have kept them out in the cold so + long. +</p> +<p> + The heavy wraps were soon removed and the children were comfortably seated + on the fur rugs provided for them. Then they very proudly opened their + parcels and distributed the contents—their own gifts as well as those + which had been sent to Souwanas and his family from the mission. Minnehaha + reserved her special gift for the last. When all of her others had been + bestowed she unfolded the beautiful red silk handkerchief and, going over + to Souwanas, she did her best to tie it nicely around his neck. +</p> +<p> + The old man, genuine Indian that he was, was much moved by her winsome ways + and handsome gift. +</p> +<p> + He said but little, but there was a soft, kindly look in his eyes that + showed his gratitude more than any words could have done. It meant a good + deal more than perhaps he would like to admit and those who saw it were + thankful that they had observed it, knowing that it meant so much. + Sagastao, who had already given him several presents, had held on to his + box of candies. He had learned that for such things the old man could be + coaxed to do almost anything, and now he held them out, and said: +</p> +<p> + "Now, Souwanas, as all the presents have been passed around, I have got + some fine sweeties for you, but we must have a first-class Nanahboozhoo + story for them." +</p> +<p> + "O yes!" said Minnehaha. "And as it is to be for sweeties let us have a + nice sweet story of Nanahboozhoo this time." +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story you want? Well, before I begin let us fix up the fire and + all get comfortably seated around it." +</p> +<p> + Then, as they usually did, the two white children cuddled as close to the + inimitable story-teller as they could. Little cared they for the cold + without or even for the occasional puffs of smoke which seemed at times to + prefer to enter the eyes of the listeners rather than to go out at the + orifice at the top of the wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story," musingly said the old man, "in this land of fish, and + bears, and wolves, and wildcats, and wolverines!" Then he paused long + enough to fill his mouth again with the candies which he enjoyed so much. +</p> +<p> + "A sweet story. Then it must be of a land, south of this, where for some + years I dwelt, many, many moons ago. A land where the Se-se-pask-wut-a-tik + (sugar maple tree) grows and flourishes in all its beauty. +</p> +<p> + "There, in those wigwams, long ago lived the people whom we call the + Hurons, the Dakotahs and the Ojibways. These Ojibways are cousins of my own + people, the Saulteaux. Well, the story I want to tell you had its beginning + long, long ago. One day there came a great embassage of Indians from the + far South with words of peace and good will. They said that in their + country they had no cold weather, and very seldom saw any snow. They said + that the trees were different, and that many things grew there that they + did not see in our Northern country. They brought with them many presents + and were kindly received by our people, and then, after some weeks of + feasting and speech-making, they returned home laden with the best gifts + our tribes could bestow. +</p> +<p> + "Among the presents which these Southern Indians brought was a large + quantity of sugar. This was the first time it was ever seen among the + Indians of the North. It was very much prized, and was very carefully + divided among the people so that each one had a small quantity. It did not + last very long, for everybody was fond of it. When it was all gone the + people were sorry, and the question was asked, 'Why cannot we send a + company of our own people and get more of it?' +</p> +<p> + "This suggestion met with the favor of the tribes, and a large party of the + best runners was selected, and being well supplied with rich presents and + pipes of peace they started off to find the Southland and to obtain + abundance of the sugar. Some weeks passed by before word was heard from + them, and the news was very bad. Fierce wars had broken out among the + tribes that lived between ours and those who dwelt in that far South. Our + Indians had to fight for their lives. Many of them were killed, others were + badly wounded, and of the large company that started out not more than half + ever returned to their homes. The expedition was a complete failure. +</p> +<p> + "Still there was the memory of the sugar among them, and it happened that + one day in the council somebody said: +</p> +<p> + "'Why not send to Nanahboozhoo?' +</p> +<p> + "Good!" shouted Minnehaha; "that is just what I thought they would do." +</p> +<p> + "Well, hold on," said her more matter-of-fact brother; "just as like as not + Nanahboozhoo would give them salt instead of sugar, if he were in one of + his tantrums." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was not displeased at this interruption on the part of the + children, and gladly availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to + once more help himself to the sweets. +</p> +<p> + Earnestly appealing to Souwanas, Minnehaha, who always looked on the bright + side of things, and who had a quick intuition quite beyond her years, said: +</p> +<p> + "It could not be a sweet story if Nanahboozhoo gave them salt instead of + sugar; could it, Souwanas?" +</p> +<p> + The old man, as soon as his mouth was sufficiently emptied to resume his + story, amused by the earnestness with which the child appealed to him, + replied with the words, "Tapwa, tapwa!" (Verily, verily!) +</p> +<p> + Sagastao, however, unwilling to give in, retorted, "O 'tapwa, tapwa' + doesn't mean anything, anyway." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas only laughed at this criticism, and proceeded with his story. +</p> +<a name="Illus013"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus013.jpg" width="250" height="199" +alt="Across a single log at a dizzy height."> +</p> +<p> + "So it was decided to send a deputation to Nanahboozhoo to tell him of the + wish of the tribes to have Se-se-pask-wut (sugar), as had the tribes of the + Southland. +</p> +<p> + "The deputation who started off to find Nanahboozhoo had a great deal of + difficulty in finding him. It seems that a great strife had arisen between + Nanahboozhoo and some of the underground Muche Munedoos—bad spirits, + sometimes called the Ana-mak-quin—who had determined to kill Nokomis, the + grandmother of Nanahboozhoo, because of their spiteful hatred of + Nanahboozhoo, whom they knew they could not kill because he had + supernatural powers. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had, as usual, been playing some of his pranks on them, and + that was why they were determined to kill Nokomis." +</p> +<p> + "What were some of the tricks that Nanahboozhoo had been up to this time?" + asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "It would take me too long to tell you now," replied Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo dearly loved his grandmother, although he was often giving + her great frights, just as other grandsons sometimes do. So when he heard + of what the Muche Munedoos were threatening he took up his grandmother on + his strong back and carried her far away and made for her a tent of maples + in a great forest among the mountains. The only access to it was across a + single log at a dizzy height over a wild rushing river. +</p> +<p> + "It was now in the fall of the year, and the leaves of these trees were all + crimson and yellow, so brilliant that when seen from a long distance they + looked like a great fire. Thus it happened that when the bad spirits + following after Nanahboozhoo and Nokomis saw the brilliant colors through + the haze of that Indian Summer day they thought the whole country was on + fire, and they turned back and troubled them no more. Nanahboozhoo was + pleased that the beautiful maple trees had been of so much assistance to + him. He decided to dwell among them for some time, so he prepared a very + comfortable wigwam for himself and his grandmother. +</p> +<p> + "It was in the wigwam among the maples that the deputation found + Nanahboozhoo. He received them kindly, and listened to their story and + their request. +</p> +<p> + "At first Nanahboozhoo was perplexed. He was such a great traveler that he + had often been down in the great Southland, and well knew how the sugar was + there made. He had seen the fields of sugar cane, and knew the whole + process by which the juice was squeezed out and then boiled down into + sugar. He also knew that it required a lot of hard work before the sugar + was made. +</p> +<p> + "When Nokomis heard the request of the deputation to her grandson she was + very much interested—for had not Nanahboozhoo several times, when + returning from those trips to the South, brought back to her some of the + sugar?—and she had liked it very much; and so now she added her pleadings + to theirs that he would in some way grant them their request. +</p> +<p> + "Of course Nanahboozhoo could not refuse now, so he told them that, as the + beautiful maple trees had been so good to him and Nokomis, from this time + forward they should, like the sugar cane of the South, yield the sweet sap + that when boiled down would make the sugar they liked so much. +</p> +<p> + "He told them, however, that it was not for the lazy ones to have, but only + for those who were industrious and would carry out his commands. Then + Nanahboozhoo described to them the whole process of sugar making. He told + them that only in the spring of the year would the sweet sap flow. Then + they were to have ready their tapping gouges, their spiles and buckets. + Great fireplaces were to be built and here, as fast as the sap was gathered + from the trees, it was to be boiled down in their little kettles into the + nice molasses; and then a little more, so that when it cooled it would + harden into sugar. +</p> +<p> + "'Now,' added Nanahboozhoo, 'go back to your people and tell them that it + depends on their industry between now and the spring who shall have the + most of the sugar you love so well.' Then he skillfully modeled out a stone + tapping gouge of the shape required to make the incision in the tree from + which the sap would flow. With his knife he made a sample spile of cedar, + the thin end of which was to be driven into the hole made by the gouge and + along which the sap would flow. Then he told them to make plenty of buckets + of birch bark, and thus be ready when the time came to secure an abundant + supply of sap. Thus the art of making maple sugar first came to be known. + Nanahboozhoo gave it to the Indians long ago. Then when the palefaces came + they followed the same process. That is the way Nanahboozhoo showed us how + to get the maple sugar." +</p> +<p> + But here the sound of the barking of the dogs, and the sweet tones of the + silvery bells on the collars of the dogs that had come for the children, + told that the two hours had passed away. +</p> +<p> + "Thank you ever so much," said the grateful Minnehaha, as she rose to have + loving hands carefully wrap her up for the return ride, "for that sweet, + sweet story. It was so good of Nanahboozhoo to tell them about the sap in + the maple trees, even if it is only there in the spring time." +</p> +<p> + "I think old Nokomis deserves a good deal of the credit," said Sagastao. + "It seems to me that Nanahboozhoo would not have done it if she had not + made him." +</p> +<p> + "Well, Nanahboozhoo did it, anyway, and so we and the Indians have our + maple sugar and molasses, and I am glad. And so, hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" + Thus replied Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + Here Souwanas lifted the well-wrapped-up child, and carried her out to the + cariole, where she and her brother were speedily covered and tucked in + among the warm robes. +</p> +<p> + "Marche! Marche!" was shouted to the dogs by the driver, and away they sped + over the icy trail with such speed that it was not long ere they were again + safe and happy in their own cozy home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH11"> CHAPTER XI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease—The + Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common + Enemy, Man. +</h4> +<p> + "Mary, how is it that I get sick sometimes," said Sagastao the following + summer, "and have to take medicine that I dislike? Why can't we always be + well?" +</p> +<p> + For the last week or ten days Mary had been most devoted and faithful in + watchful care over her restless charge, who had been very sick but was now + rapidly recovering. +</p> +<p> + "As soon as you are a little stronger I will tell you the legends of + sickness and medicine, as handed down by our Indian forefathers," said + Mary, "but now you must only rest, and eat, and sleep." +</p> +<p> + "Well, Sakehow" (beloved), his pet name for his faithful nurse, "I will try + and mind you; don't forget." +</p> +<p> + The next week was one of rapid recovery, and very proud, indeed, was Mary + when she led forth the two children, in the bright sunshine of a delightful + summer day, to a cozy resting place among the rocks where the waves of Lake + Winnipeg rippled on the sandy beach at their feet. +</p> +<p> + Minnehaha was eager for a story about the sweet birdies or the brilliant + flowers, but the young invalid had his way this time, and Mary proceeded to + tell the story of the Indians' idea as to the origin of sickness and + disease. +</p> +<p> + "Long, long ago," said Mary, "all the animals and birds on this earth lived + in peace and harmony with the human family. Then there was food for all in + abundance without any shedding of blood. Even the wild animals, that now + live by killing and devouring each other, found plenty of food in the + fruits and vegetables that then were so abundant. +</p> +<p> + "Men and women also lived on similar things, and were contented and happy. + But as the years went on the people became so numerous, and their + settlements spread over so much of the earth, that many of the poor animals + began to be cramped for room. +</p> +<p> + "Even this could have been borne, but by and by men began to make bows and + arrows, spears and knives, and other weapons, and began to use them on the + defenseless animals. Then soon they began to eat the flesh of the animals, + and presently they found that they preferred the meat thus obtained to the + fruits and vegetables of the earth. +</p> +<p> + "Formerly they had made their garments out of the fiber of the trees and + plants, which the women carefully prepared and wove; but after a while they + discovered that the skins of the buffalo and deer and other animals, when + well prepared, made better and more durable garments and wigwams than the + materials they had previously used. As time went on the destruction of the + larger animals increased, and men became so much more cruel than formerly + that even the frogs and worms, that in the earlier days were never harmed, + were now destroyed without mercy, or by sheer carelessness or contempt. + Thus the animals came to be in such a sad plight that it was resolved by + them to call great councils of their members together to consult upon what + could be done for their common safety. +</p> +<p> + "The bears were the first to assemble. They gathered together on the peak + of a great smoky mountain, which the white men now call Cathedral mountain, + and the great white bear from the Northland was appointed chairman." +</p> +<a name="Illus014"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus014.jpg" width="240" height="211" +alt="'Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Well, that was funny," said Minnehaha. "Just fancy a big white bear + sitting up in a chair! Why, he would need a whole sofa to hold him." +</p> +<p> + "Don't be silly, child," said the patronizing brother. "It was a bears' + council and, of course, the chairs used were bears' and not men's." +</p> +<p> + When Mary was appealed to to settle the question she could only say, "As + the council was held on the top of a mountain perhaps the bears sat on the + rocks. But never mind; let me go on with the story. +</p> +<p> + "After the white bear had made his speech he took his seat and said he was + now ready to hear the statements of the different bears who had assembled + to lodge their complaints against the way in which men killed their + relatives, devoured their flesh for food, and made garments and robes out + of their skins. +</p> +<p> + "Nearly every kind of bear had grievous statements to make, and so + blood-curdling were some of their recitals that it was decided to begin war + at once against the human race. +</p> +<p> + "Then the question was asked, 'What weapons shall we use against them?' + After some discussion it was decided to use bows and arrows, the favorite + weapons of their enemies. +</p> +<p> + "'And what are they made of?' was the next question. +</p> +<p> + "This was soon answered by a bear who had been caught when young and kept + captive for a couple of years in the wigwam of one of their enemies. He had + often seen the process of making bows, and he was now able to tell all + about it, and even to do the work himself. It was not long before the first + bow, with some arrows, was manufactured, and there was great excitement + when the first trial of it was made. A large strong bear was selected to + shoot the first arrow. To their great disappointment the trial was not a + success, for it was found that when the bear let the arrow fly, after + drawing back the bow, his long claws caught in the string and spoiled the + shot. Other bears tried, but they all had long claws, and they all failed. + Then some one suggested that this difficulty could be overcome by their + cutting off their long claws. But here the chairman, the white bear, + interposed, saying that it was very necessary that they should have their + long claws in order to climb trees, or up steep rocky places. 'It is + better,' said he, 'for us to trust to our claws and teeth than to man's + weapons, which certainly were not designed for us.' +</p> +<p> + "The bears remained in council until they got very hungry, but think as + much as they might they could not devise any satisfactory plan, for they + are stupid animals after all, and they dispersed to their different homes + no better able to fight the human race than before. +</p> +<p> + "Then the deer next held a council. Representatives of all the different + kinds of deer, from the great elk and moose down to the smallest species in + existence, assembled in a beautiful forest glade. The moose was selected as + chief. After a long discussion it was resolved that in revenge for man's + tyranny they would inflict rheumatism, lumbago, and similar diseases upon + every hunter who should kill one of their number unless he took great care + to ask pardon for the offense. That is the reason why so many hunters say, + just before they shoot, 'I beg your pardon, Mr. Deer, but shoot you I must, + for I want your flesh for food.' They know that if they do this they are + safe. +</p> +<p> + "The Cree legend is that it is the bear that has to be propitiated by + gentlemanly expressions when he is being approached to be killed. I well + remember being with a couple of hunters closely following up a bear, and + just before they fired they kept saying, 'Excuse us for shooting you, + Brother Bear, but we must do it. We want your warm fur robe, our families + want your meat, our girls want your grease to put on their heads, so you + must excuse us, Brother Bear. Please do, Brother Bear; please do.' Thus + they went on at a great rate until he was killed. +</p> +<p> + "But many forget it, and the spirit of their chief knows it and is angry, + and he strikes those hunters, or their relatives, down with rheumatism or + some other painful disease. +</p> +<p> + "Next the fishes and snakes and other reptiles held their council, and they + decided that as the human race had now become such enemies to them they + would trouble them with 'fearful dreams' of snakes twining about them, and + blowing their poisonous breath in their faces, by which they would lose + their appetites and die, while others of them would seek opportunity to + make the water they drank, or even the air they breathed, unwholesome. The + poisonous ones were also directed to use every opportunity to kill with + their deadly bites whenever possible. +</p> +<p> + "The birds also held a council, over which the crow was appointed chairman. + The eagle objected, and wanted the place, but he was voted down because + there were so few of his kind, and these were only hunted for their + feathers to adorn the war bonnets of the great chiefs and warriors. The + crow was appointed because he was always with the human race and knew the + various schemes and tricks they were inventing to injure the birds and + animals of various kinds. After much deliberation the birds decided to give + colds, and coughs, and throat diseases, and consumption, to the human race, + and to thus lessen their numbers that there might be room for all + creatures. +</p> +<p> + "The insects and smaller animals then held their council, and the grubworm + was appointed to preside over the gathering. He was so elated over his + election, and that they had arranged a scheme which should be fatal + especially to women, that he fell over backward and could not get on his + feet again. So from that time the grubworm has only been able to wiggle in + that way. There was any amount of talking and buzzing among the crowd. The + frog was especially noisy and angry in his remarks. +</p> +<p> + "'It is high time,' said he, 'that we began to do something against this + cruel human race, or we will soon be swept off the earth. See how my back + is ugly with lumps and sores because men have so kicked and knocked me + about!' +</p> +<p> + "Others followed in the same strain of indignant protest against man's + cruelty. Even the flies and mosquitoes had something to complain of. +</p> +<p> + "Well, after the buzzing, and the croakings, and the hummings and angry + talkings were over, they settled down to business. +</p> +<p> + "Some were appointed to poison the waters so that malarias and fevers + should attack the now hated race. Others, such as the flies and mosquitoes, + were to carry in their bites and stings many diseases. Thus it has come to + pass that there is more damage done to the hated human beings by these + bites and stings than the mere smarting pain caused at the time of the + bite. Thus, because the human race changed from being all kindness to the + rest of the creatures, both great and small, into being cruel and savage, + all these various creatures have combined to bring dreadful diseases among + men in revenge for their own wrongs." +</p> +<p> + "That is too bad," said Minnehaha. "Why could they not have kept on loving + each other all the time, instead of things being as they are now?" +</p> +<p> + Sagastao, who had laughed at the idea of the mosquitoes coming to a + council, and of their having anything to complain of, said, "I would like + to know what mosquitoes lived on in those good old days you speak about. + Now they are after me lively enough." And he slowly lifted up his hand, on + the back of which a couple were rapidly filling themselves with his blood. +</p> +<p> + But Mary, who, Indian like, was wise and observant, only said, "Wait a + minute or two and I will show you." Then she quickly hurried back into a + swampy place and soon returned with a thick juicy leaf, to the under side + of which several mosquitoes were still clinging, with their bodies + distended with its juice. +</p> +<p> + "There," she said, as she carefully held the leaf sideways, "that is what + most of the mosquitoes still live on. They attack our race in revenge for + our being so cruel as to kill so many of the animals, large and small, but + this, as you can easily see, is their natural food." +</p> +<p> + This appeal to the eye quite silenced the children, who had considered the + whole story as only an Indian legend to be amused with. +</p> +<p> + Mary, who had often been worsted by the sharp criticisms and inquiries with + which they were apt to receive her pet Indian legends, was quite delighted + at her apparent triumph, so she hastily sprang up, saying: +</p> +<p> + "It is time we were going home. Some other day I will tell you the story of + how the medicines came." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH12"> CHAPTER XII.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Naming of the Baby—A Canoe Trip—The Legend of + the Discovery of Medicine—How the Chipmunk Carried the + Good News. +</h4> +<p> + There was great excitement among a number of Indian men and women who had + gathered on the shore in front of the mission one pleasant summer morning. + Grave Indians, with Souwanas in their midst, were calmly discussing some + object of interest, while Mary and a party of women, some of whom had their + babies with them, were much more noisy, talking rapidly about something + which was evidently a matter of exciting interest. Even Sagastao and + Minnehaha were rushing in and out of the house and running from one group + of Indians to the other, full of eager inquiries and pleasant + anticipations. What could it all be about? +</p> +<p> + Let us ask the children, for such little people often know more than we are + likely to give them credit for. Here comes Minnehaha, and we ask her the + cause of such an early gathering of the Indians, and the reason why they + are so unusually interested in some matter unknown to us. +</p> +<a name="Illus015"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus015.jpg" width="240" height="395" +alt="'Their babies with them.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Why, don't you know?" the bright little girl promptly replies. "They have + come to form a Naming Council, to give my little baby sister an Indian + name. You see," she added, "Sagastao and I were born among the Cree + Indians, but baby was born here among the Saulteaux. Just think: the first + little white baby born among them! And they want to give her a nice + Saulteaux name. The reason why they are talking so much now, before they + form the council, is that lots of them have pet names they want to give our + baby, but of course she can only have one." +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Sagastao, "and our old Mary is trying to get the women to + oppose the name that Souwanas will offer, just because she is down on him. + But I'll bet he will beat her yet." +</p> +<p> + "You should not say, 'I'll bet.' Mother has often told you that it was very + rude," reprovingly said little Minnehaha. "You never learned it from father + or mother. You must have picked that up from some rough trader." +</p> +<p> + "Well, all right, I'll not say it again, but I'll bet—no, I mean—hurrah! + for Souwanas and his side, anyway," and off he ran. +</p> +<p> + "Dear me!" said the little sister. "I do have so much trouble with that + boy!" +</p> +<p> + Soon the council assembled. The men and women arranged themselves in a big + circle and spent some time in drinking some strong, well-sweetened tea that + had been prepared for them. They had been desirous of having their usual + pagan ceremonies, but of course this could not be allowed, so the + ceremonies of tea drinking and their usual smoking were substituted. Then + the little baby was brought in by her nurse and handed to one of the oldest + women. She took the child, and after kissing her and uttering some words of + endearment passed her on to the woman on her left. She in her turn kissed + her, uttered some kindly words, and passed her on to the next. So baby went + from hand to hand until she had made the complete circle of women and men. + This was the ceremony of adopting the child into the tribe. +</p> +<p> + Mary, the nurse of the older children, was excluded from this circle as she + was of another tribe. After some more tea had been drunk the child was + again sent on her rounds. This time each person, as he or she held the + child, pronounced some Indian name that he or she wished the babe to be + called. Mary, who had now crowded herself into the circle, persisted in + having a voice in the matter. She wanted the child to be called + Papewpenases (Laughing Bird), but she was voted down by the crowd, who + said: +</p> +<p> + "No, that is Cree; we must have Saulteaux." +</p> +<p> + With a certain amount of decorum each name suggested was discussed, only to + be rejected. +</p> +<p> + For a time there was quite a deadlock, as no name could be decided upon. +</p> +<p> + "Now that you have all spoken," said Souwanas, "and cannot come to any + agreement, I, as chief, will make the final decision. This is the first + white child born among us, as Sagastao and Minnehaha, whom we all love, + were born at Norway House, among the Crees. Most of the names which you + have suggested have some reference to birds and their sweet songs. A + compound name, which will include these ideas and mine, Souwanas (South + Wind), can surely be found." +</p> +<p> + This suggestion was well received, as Florence was born in the spring of + the year, when the birds, returning from the South, filled the air with + melody after the long stillness of that almost Arctic winter. +</p> +<p> + So busy brains and wagging tongues were at work, and the result was the + formation of the following expressive name, which was quickly bestowed upon + the child. It was first loudly announced by Souwanas himself: + Souwanaquenapeke; which in English is, "The Voice of the South Wind Birds." +</p> +<p> + At once all the Indians took it up and uttered it over and over again, so + that it would not be forgotten. Even Sagastao and Minnehaha, who could talk + as well in the Indian language as in English, took up the word and shouted + out, Souwanaquenapeke, until they had it as thoroughly as their own. +</p> +<p> + Mary alone was vexed, and so annoyed that she could not conceal her + disappointment. This was particularly noticed by Sagastao, and as soon as + Minnehaha joined them they slipped quietly away together. Having obtained + permission they took a canoe and went for a paddle on the quiet lake. Mary, + like all other Indians, was passionately fond of the water, and in spite of + her crooked back was a strong and skillful paddler. +</p> +<p> + The children were placed in the center of the canoe, on a fur rug, while + Mary seated herself in the stern and paddled them over the beautiful sunlit + waves. +</p> +<p> + For a time but little was heard, for the children were absorbed in the + scenes of rarest beauty or watched some fish, principally the active gold + eyes, sporting in the water around them. +</p> +<p> + After a while the children began to clamor for a story, but Mary would not + speak a word. Sagastao suspected the cause of Mary's unusual silence. +</p> +<p> + "What is the use, sakehou," he protested, "of your being in a pet because + baby was not named Papewpenases? The name they gave her pleased everybody + else; you must be pleased too." +</p> +<p> + "If you are cross and won't speak to us we will go and run away to + Souwanas; won't we?" said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + This was too much for Mary, and she quickly surrendered and made an excuse + about thinking of some beautiful story to tell them when they should land + on that little rocky island just ahead of them. +</p> +<p> + "Very well," said Sagastao, "let us have the one about how medicines were + discovered and given to the Indians to cure diseases." +</p> +<p> + "Just the one I was thinking about," said Mary; "and while we rest on the + lovely white sand I will tell you the story." +</p> +<p> + A few vigorous strokes of the paddle sent the canoe well up on the sandy + shore, and soon they all landed. A good romp relieved them of the stiffness + caused by the cramped position in the canoe. Then as they cuddled down in + the warm sand Mary began her story. +</p> +<p> + "You remember, little sweethearts, how the animals of various kinds held + councils and decided to be revenged on the human family for their cruelty + by sending diseases among them. Well, these creatures did as they said they + would and the result was that lots of men died, and also the women and + children, that did the creatures no harm, were getting different kinds of + sicknesses and many of them were dying. +</p> +<p> + "Were there no diseases among them before these times?" inquired Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "No; not what you might call diseases," replied Mary. "The people lived + such simple lives that, with the exception of accident, such as being + drowned in great storms or killed by falling trees, or something that way, + nearly all the people died of old age." +</p> +<p> + "Then they had no doctors in those days?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No; there were no medicine men in those times. Although there were those + skillful to set broken limbs or attend to any who happened to be + accidentally wounded, but that was nearly all. Then all at once these + diseases sent by the angry animals began to appear among them, and, of + course, there was much alarm. The people did not know what had brought + them, nor how to get rid of them. Many people were sick and numbers of them + died. +</p> +<p> + "You see, the animals held their councils in secret, and away from the + presence of men, and so it would never have been known if the ground + squirrel, called by some the chipmunk, had not gone and told all about the + councils to the men. He had always been friendly to the human race. He had + attended a number of the councils and was the only animal that had ventured + to say anything in the favor of man. By doing this he so enraged the other + animals that some of them fell upon him with great fury, and would have + torn him in pieces if he had not been able to escape into his hole in the + ground. As it was, they so tore and wounded him with their teeth and claws + that the stripes remain in his back to this day. +</p> +<p> + "Well, when he was healed enough to get around again he visited the abodes + of the human race and was very sorry to find that the diseases sent by the + other angry animals were causing much suffering and many deaths, so he + revealed the whole thing to a number of men and told them to be on their + guard. But even this was not sufficient. It was felt that, now that these + diseases were spreading among them, they must have some remedies for the + cure of them or they would all soon be destroyed. +</p> +<p> + "While thus wondering what they should do their little friend the ground + squirrel came to their help again. He went about among the trees and + plants, who were always friendly to man, and he told them of the sad + calamities that had come to the human race. +</p> +<p> + "When the trees and plants heard what had been done by the animals to + injure and destroy their friends they speedily held councils among + themselves and resolved that they would do all they could to overcome the + evil. +</p> +<p> + "First the great trees held their councils, talked over the matter, and + decided what they could do in the way of furnishing remedies to cure these + diseases that were doing so much injury. The pine and the spruce and the + balsam trees said, 'We will give of our gums and balsams.' The slippery elm + said it would give of its bark to make the soothing healing drink. The + sassafras said it would give of its roots to make the healthful tea that + will bring back health again. The prickly ash and the sumach and others + volunteered their help, and spoke of the wonderful healing power there was + in them, if rightly used. +</p> +<p> + "When the plants came to their council the numbers that wanted to help were + very great. No one was able to keep a record of them and of the healing + powers they professed to have. There was the mandrake, with its May apples, + and the wintergreen, with its pretty red berries; the catnip and the + bone-set, which are so good for colds; the lobelia, which is such a quick + emetic; the spikenard, the peppermint, the snakeroot, sarsaparilla, + gentian, wild ginger, raspberry, and scores of others. All cheerfully + offered assistance. +</p> +<p> + "When the ground squirrel, who had for days been attending the council of + the trees and plants, had made out his list of what remedies each tree and + plant could furnish he was very much delighted, and then, thanking them for + their offered assistance, he rapidly returned to the abodes of mankind and + informed them of his great success. +</p> +<p> + "Of course they were very much pleased, and very grateful to the ground + squirrel for his kindness and his interest in their happiness. This is the + reason why the chipmunk, or ground squirrel, lives near the homes of men. + You never see an Indian shoot them or the boys or girls try to snare them. + They are always welcome among the trees and the wigwams. The Indians love + them because they spoke up for man when the other animals turned against + him, and because it was one of their ancestors that made the trees and + plants reveal their good medicines for the cure of the sick." +</p> +<p> + "Now I know why it was, when I was out with the Indian boys, that they + never would shoot an arrow at a chipmunk, even when I asked them to," said + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Mary, "all of the Indians have heard their fathers tell of the + kindness of the old father chipmunk in the days when the animals knew so + much and could talk, and so they warn the children against injuring these + pretty little creatures." +</p> +<p> + But it was now time they were returning. The light canoe was once more + pushed down into the lake, and soon they were merrily gliding along over + the clear, transparent waters to their cozy home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH13"> CHAPTER XIII.</a></h3> +<h4> + In the Wigwam of Souwanas—How Gray Wolf Persecuted + Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. +</h4> +<p> + "We have come to-day for a nice story about Nanahboozhoo," said Minnehaha, + as she and Sagastao lifted the deerskin door at the wigwam of Souwanas, and + entered with all the assurance of children who knew they were welcome. +</p> +<p> + "Did he ever do anything to punish bad fellows who were cruel to their + wives and children?" asked Sagastao. "Because, if he did, I wish he would + come and thrash old Wakoo, that bad fellow who has been thrashing his wife + again because he said she did not snare enough rabbits to suit him." +</p> +<p> + Souwanas, who was one of the kind-hearted Indians, never cruel to any of + his family, was much amused at the fire and indignation with which the + young lad spoke. So after he had had comfortable seats arranged for the + children among the robes and blankets he endeavored to satisfy their + demands. "Nanahboozhoo," he said, "did such things long ago, but once, when + he was giving a good thrashing to a man who had been very cruel to his + wife, the wife, as soon as she was able, sprang up from the place where her + husband had knocked her to, seized a paddle and attacked Nanahboozhoo with + such fury that he resolved never to interfere again, if he could help it, + in a quarrel between man and wife. And," added the old man, with a merry + twinkle in his eye, "it is best for everybody, if possible, to keep out of + such quarrels." +</p> +<p> + "Yes, but, mismis" (grandfather, Minnehaha's pet name for Souwanas), "you + surely know a nice story in which Nanahboozhoo helped some one without + getting into trouble himself." +</p> +<p> + "Of course I do, my grandchild," said the old man, "and I know you will be + pleased with it. +</p> +<p> + "My story is about a lovely Indian maiden who was bothered by a cruel + hunter. He was determined that she should marry him, although she did not + like him, and Nanahboozhoo came to her rescue. +</p> +<p> + "The maiden's name was Waubenoo. She had the misfortune to lose both her + father and mother when she was about eighteen years old. There were four + children, all much younger than she, left in her sole care. They had no + uncles or aunts, or other relatives, near, to take care of them, and so + Waubenoo had to hunt and fish to get food for her little brothers and + sisters. Fortunately her father had left a number of good traps and nets, + and plenty of twine for snares, and so the industrious girl got on fairly + well. The great lake near her wigwam was well supplied with fish, and the + forests all round had in them many rabbits and partridges and other small + game. When great storms arose on the big lake, and Waubenoo could not go + out alone in her birch bark canoe to visit her nets, some of the Indians, + who were pleased to see how kind and industrious she was, would overhaul + her nets and bring in what fish were caught. Thus she toiled on, and with + the assistance of these kind Indians she did very nicely. Her little + brothers and sisters loved her dearly, and did what they could to help in + the simpler and easier part of the work. Every decent person among the + Indians was pleased with her industrious habits, and often, in their quiet + way, had some cheery words of encouragement for her. +</p> +<p> + "But there was one exception, and this was a selfish Indian hunter who, + seeing what a fine-looking, strong woman she had become, and so clever in + her work with both nets and traps, resolved that she should be his wife, to + work for him and do his bidding. This man had been married before and, if + the reports were true which had been told, it was likely that his wife had + died because of his cruelties to her. So he resolved, in his selfishness, + to take Waubenoo from caring for her brothers and sisters to be his wife, + and to hunt and fish for him, that he might live a life of idleness. +</p> +<p> + "Her parents being dead this selfish young Indian did not have to go to her + father to buy her to be his wife. All he thought he had to do was to go and + tell her she had to be his wife and come and do as he commanded her. So + harsh and cold were his words, and so very rough and forbidding his looks, + that, while Waubenoo was frightened, she was grave and high spirited enough + to indignantly refuse his request, and to order him never to trouble her + again. +</p> +<p> + "This, of course, made him very angry. He refused to go, and continued to + insist on her going with him. +</p> +<p> + "Fearing that he might revenge himself upon her by doing her or the + children some harm, she told him that it was her duty to stay with the + little ones whom the death of the parents had left in her care; that they + might perish if she now left them. +</p> +<p> + "But nothing would turn away his anger, and if it had not happened just + then that some friendly Indians came along he would have cruelly beaten + her. Before them he durst not strike her, and so, muttering some threats, + he sulkily strode away into the forest. +</p> +<p> + "Poor Waubenoo was now sadly troubled. Lighthearted and free, she had + cheerfully worked and toiled for her loved ones, but now here comes this + cruel, fierce-looking man, whom she could only look on with fear and dread, + and threatens to drag her away from them all. Gray Wolf, for that was his + name, had a bad reputation among the Indians. The young men shunned him and + the maidens took good care to be out of the way when he was around. That he + would persist in his attempts to get Waubenoo all were convinced, but that + he should succeed no one desired. Still, while Indian ideas on some of + these things are so peculiar that no one seemed disposed to interfere, at + the same time some of them were generally on the lookout for her + protection. As for brave Waubenoo, while certain that he would still + trouble her, she was resolved never to submit to him. +</p> +<p> + "Thus the weeks rolled on, with Gray Wolf looking for some opportunity to + carry her off, and making several attempts to do so, which Waubenoo, ever + alert and watchful, succeeded in preventing. +</p> +<p> + "At length his persistent attempts became so annoying that she was obliged + to neglect much of her work in order to keep on her guard. Food was getting + scarce because she dared not now go far from her wigwam to hunt for the + partridges and rabbits and other small creatures she was so clever in + snaring. +</p> +<p> + "At length she resolved to go to Nanahboozhoo and seek his aid in getting + rid of this troublesome fellow. When Nanahboozhoo heard her sad story he + became very angry. He was indignant that such a commendable maiden, one who + had been so kind to her little brothers and sisters, should be bothered by + a big, selfish, lazy fellow who only wanted her because she was so + industrious and so clever at her work. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had heard much about her kindly treatment of the children, + and of her skill in providing for their wants, so he lost no time in going + back with her to her wigwam. At first the younger children were much afraid + of him, as they, like all other Indian children, had heard such wonderful + tales about him. But he was in such a jolly good humor that day, and was so + delighted with everything he saw about Waubenoo's wigwam and with the + proofs of her industry that he soon made friends with all the children. How + to go to work to give Gray Wolf such a lesson that he would never trouble + them any more he hardly knew at first. However, he had not been there many + hours before he had to come to a decision, for one of the little children + came rushing into the wigwam with the terrible news that Gray Wolf, + carrying a big dog whip and looking very angry, was coming along the trail. + Nanahboozhoo only laughed when he heard this, and he very quickly decided + what to do. 'Sit down there,' he said to Waubenoo, 'in that dark side of + the wigwam, with a blanket over your head, and keep perfectly still until I + call you; and you, children, must keep quiet. Do not be frightened or say a + word, no matter what happens.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, who, as you know, could change himself into any form he + liked, suddenly transformed himself so as to look exactly like Waubenoo. So + perfect was his resemblance to her, even to his dress, that her brothers + and sisters could not have detected the disguise. Indeed, the young ones + could not help looking over to the spot where the real Waubenoo sat in the + gloom with the blanket drawn over her head. But they were Indian children, + early trained to be quiet and do as they were told, and so they fully + obeyed his commands. +</p> +<p> + "Of course, when Gray Wolf came into the wigwam he was completely deceived, + and now, thinking that he had caught Waubenoo when there were no friendly + Indians around, he at once began speaking very fiercely to her: +</p> +<p> + "'I have asked you for the last time,' he said, 'and now I have come with + my dog whip and I intend giving you a good thrashing and then driving you + to my wigwam. I intend to call you Atim, my dog, and like a dog I am going + to thrash you.' +</p> +<a name="Illus016"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus016.jpg" width="240" height="334" +alt="'Gave him such a terrible beating.'"> +</p> +<p> + "He then savagely raised the whip to strike, as he thought Waubenoo, but + the blow never reached its victim, or even Nanahboozhoo in his disguise, at + whom it was aimed, for Nanahboozhoo was so enraged that anybody in the + shape of a man could be so cruel and selfish as to come and threaten a kind + young woman like Waubenoo that he suddenly sprang at Gray Wolf, and seizing + him by his scalp lock he dragged him out of the wigwam, and then wrenching + the heavy whip out of his hand gave him such a terrible beating that he + remembered it as long as he lived. Then roughly throwing him to the ground, + Nanahboozhoo, still in the disguise of Waubenoo, hurried into the wigwam + and said to the real Waubenoo: +</p> +<p> + "'Now, while he is weak and cowed, go out and talk sternly to him, and tell + him that if he ever troubles you again it will be worse for him than this + has been.' +</p> +<p> + "When Waubenoo came out her appearance so terrified Gray Wolf that he tried + to get up and skulk away, weak as he was. Waubenoo, glad that her enemy was + so conquered that he would not be likely to trouble her much more, did as + Nanahboozhoo requested her. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was heartily thanked by Waubenoo and the children for thus + ridding them of this bad Indian, who had for so long made their lives + miserable. Ere he left Nanahboozhoo warned the children to say nothing + about his coming, 'for,' said he, 'if Gray Wolf finds out who it was that + thrashed him he may yet be troublesome.' +</p> +<p> + "Well would it have been for all if the children had remembered this + advice," added Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "O tell us what they did, and what happened," shouted Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Not to-day," said the old man; "it is time you both were back at your + lessons, and as I am going that way with some whitefish I will take you + with me in my canoe." +</p> +<p> + "But is that all about the story of Waubenoo and the children?" said + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," said Souwanas, "until we come to the next. For a long time after + Gray Wolf received the beating he kept away from them, although his heart + was full of anger and revenge. Although he was a big fellow he feared to + again threaten her who, although she seemed but an ordinary-sized Indian + maiden, possessed the strength that had enabled her to give him such a + thrashing." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH14"> CHAPTER XIV.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo—The Treachery + of Gray Wolf—The Legend of the Whisky Jack. +</h4> +<p> + "It came about in this way," said Souwanas, "and it is such a sad story + about beautiful Waubenoo." +</p> +<p> + "Will it make me cry?" said the tender-hearted Minnehaha. "If so, I do not + think I want to hear it." +</p> +<p> + "Stay and hear it, you little pussy," said Sagastao. "I am sure it is not + worse than the Babes in the Wood." +</p> +<p> + "Well, you always cry first, when we read that story together," said + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + At this the lad had nothing to say, for in spite of his apparent + brusqueness his heart melted more quickly, and his eyes filled easier with + tears, at a pathetic story, than did his sister's. +</p> +<p> + "Well, go ahead, Souwanas," said Sagastao. "We each have a pocket + handkerchief, and when they are used up you can lend us a blanket." +</p> +<p> + At this quaint speech everybody laughed, and then the old man began his + second story about Waubenoo. "It all came about because little children + have long tongues, and this story should warn little children that, while + they have two eyes and two ears, they have but one tongue, and that they + should not at any time talk about or repeat half of what they have seen and + heard. +</p> +<p> + "The little brothers and sisters of Waubenoo had been warned that they + should say nothing about the visit of Nanahboozhoo to their wigwam. In + fact, Nanahboozhoo was such a queer fellow that he did not at any time want + people to be gossiping about him, and, if he had done any good deed for + anyone, he did not wish them to be ever speaking about it. Then another + reason why Nanahboozhoo did not want them to talk about his visit and help + was the fear that Gray Wolf, finding out how it was that he had received + such a beating, would be more bitter and revengeful against Waubenoo and + would again try to get her in his power. The little children were, of + course, delighted that their wigwam was no longer visited by Gray Wolf, + whose coming had always filled them with terror, while Waubenoo was so + pleased at having thus got rid of him that she was happier and brighter + than she had been for a long time. It was not long before some of the other + Indians noticed the change. They were surprised that Gray Wolf had so + suddenly stopped his visits, and that he seemed so dejected and sullen. + Naturally their curiosity was excited, and they were anxious to find out + what had happened." +</p> +<p> + "Better to have been minding their own business," broke in young Sagastao, + who seemed to see the drift of the story. +</p> +<p> + "Be quiet, and do not interrupt Souwanas," said Minnehaha, who often felt + called upon to restrain her brother's impulsiveness. +</p> +<p> + "Of course," Souwanas continued, "Gray Wolf had so suffered that he had + very little to say, and if ever teased about Waubenoo he fell into a great + passion. +</p> +<p> + "Waubenoo herself was too sensible to gratify their idle curiosity, but the + very return of her brightness, and her unwillingness to talk about the + matter, only added to the foolish desires of outsiders to find out what had + really occurred. So some of these naughty busybodies began questioning the + children when they could get them away from Waubenoo, for in her presence + they were as mute as she was. They pestered and bothered the children and + tried in various ways before they succeeded. But one day, while Waubenoo + was away overhauling her traps, some of those wicked meddlers visited her + wigwam and succeeded in getting one of the smallest ones—I just forget now + whether it was a boy or a girl." +</p> +<p> + "A girl, of course," shouted Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No, indeed; I am sure it was a naughty boy," said Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "Well, no matter which; but one of them said: 'Nanahboozhoo!' +</p> +<p> + "This one word, Nanahboozhoo, was quite enough to startle and alarm them, + for Nanahboozhoo was also much feared, as he sometimes did dreadful things. +</p> +<p> + "The fact that Nanahboozhoo had been in their very midst, although they + were a long time in hearing anything more than the one word from the now + frightened children, was quite enough to excite the whole village, for the + news was soon spread abroad by the tattlers. +</p> +<p> + "Such busybodies could not be satisfied with only hearing that Nanahboozhoo + had visited the wigwam of Waubenoo. Of course they wanted to hear about + what he said and did, and I am sorry to have to say that after a while, + with coaxing and presents, they managed to get from the children the whole + delightfully exciting story. +</p> +<p> + "When Gray Wolf, who was so jeered and laughed at by all who dare, heard + from the gossipers how it had happened that he had received such a + thrashing he was doubly wild and furious. +</p> +<p> + "When Waubenoo found out that all was known about how Nanahboozhoo had + helped her she was very sorry that her little brothers and sisters had been + so naughty and disobedient. She also knew that now she would have to be + more careful than ever against the movements of Gray Wolf. But the fact was + that he had been so cowed by his beating that he was afraid to openly + attack her, lest she should get Nanahboozhoo to help her again and it might + be worse for him than it was at his first meeting. But he treasured up + revengeful feelings in his heart and resolved that at some time or other he + would dreadfully punish her. +</p> +<p> + "Some years passed by, and the older children, next to Waubenoo, were able + to do most of the hunting and fishing as well as to be on guard against any + of the evil doings of Gray Wolf. Thus they were able, in a measure, to + repay their sister, whom they dearly loved, although they were so + thoughtless, for all her great kindness to them. +</p> +<p> + "One fall there came to the village a splendid Indian hunter. He was of the + same tribe, but lived with his people, most of the time, at a distant part + of the country. He was so pleased with this village, where dwelt Waubenoo, + that he decided to remain for the winter and hunt. He was such a very + pleasant fellow and such a great hunter that he soon made many friends. + Gray Wolf was the only man who seemed to hate him, and he was even so rash + as to insult him openly in an Indian gathering. +</p> +<p> + "Soquaatum, for this was the young warrior's name, stood the insults of + Gray Wolf for some time, then, when he saw that some of the young hunters + began to think he was afraid of Gray Wolf, he suddenly sprang at him and + knocked him down, and then seizing him by his belt, he shook him as easily + and thoroughly as a wildcat would a rabbit. Then he threw him from him and + sat down among the people as though nothing had happened. +</p> +<p> + "That evening, when he and the relatives with whom he lived were seated + around the fire in the wigwam, he heard for the first time the story of + Waubenoo: of her great industry, her love for her little brothers and + sisters, and how she had been threatened by Gray Wolf and then befriended + by Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "This story very much interested Soquaatum, and especially as in his + hunting he had met her younger brother, now a fine strapping hunter, and + had become very fond of him, although he was much younger. So he resolved + that as soon as he could he would visit her wigwam and seek her + acquaintance." +</p> +<p> + "Ho! Ho! So this is to be a love story," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Be quiet, do," said his sister. "All love stories do not end well. + Remember, there was Gray Wolf!" +</p> +<p> + Souwanas profited by the interruption, for it gave him an opportunity to + light his pipe with flint and steel, and he then resumed the story. +</p> +<p> + "Soon after Soquaatum arrayed himself in his most attractive costume and + called at the tent of Waubenoo. His excuse was that he wanted to see her + brother and arrange some hunting excursion. +</p> +<p> + "Waubenoo, who had often heard her brother speak of his great skill as a + hunter, and had also heard how easily and thoroughly he had handled Gray + Wolf, received him most kindly and at once made him welcome. +</p> +<p> + "Well, it is not surprising that he should soon fall in love with Waubenoo, + and so pleased was she with his manner, as well as his attractive + appearance, that she became very fond of him, and it was not many days + after their first meeting before it was noised abroad that Soquaatum and + Waubenoo were lovers. +</p> +<p> + "Soquaatum remained until about the middle of the winter. Then he returned + to his distant home to make all preparations for receiving his wife, for + whom he was to come in the spring. +</p> +<p> + "Gray Wolf was, of course, furious when he heard that Waubenoo was to be + married, and to the man who had humiliated him in the presence of so many + people. Though angry and revengeful, he was at heart a cowardly fellow, and + now that Waubenoo's brother was full-grown he was afraid of him, as well as + of Soquaatum while he was in the neighborhood. But his fears did not + prevent him from thinking of schemes for revenge which, however, came to + nothing, because the friends of Waubenoo were so vigilant and well + prepared. +</p> +<p> + "At length one of his plans succeeded, and this is how it happened: +</p> +<p> + "Gray Wolf enlisted a young Indian who was equally bad with himself to help + him. As Soquaatum had now been gone for some weeks to his home, which was + far east from that region, Gray Wolf and his wicked companion went a good + long distance—many miles—in that direction. There they made a hunting + lodge and laid their plans to capture Waubenoo. Then Gray Wolf's companion + went back and remained secreted near the wigwam of Waubenoo. One night he + saw her two brothers leave, about midnight, for some distant traps that + would take them all day to reach. +</p> +<p> + "As soon as this bad fellow was satisfied that they were well out of sight + and hearing he rushed up to the tent of Waubenoo and hastily aroused her + from her sleep. He had arrayed himself as though he was gaining on her, she + began calling: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' Alas! he was far away, but there was + another who, fortunately, was near. Nanahboozhoo had been out hunting and + he had a sled which he was dragging, loaded with game. He was surprised as + he heard this calling, 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' and as he continued + listening it became hoarse and then only like a whisper. He could stand it + no longer; he rushed through the woods and there he saw Waubenoo, dashing + along on snow-shoes, calling in a low whisper: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' + while not a hundred feet behind her was Gray Wolf, yelling in triumph that + he would soon capture her. Unfortunately Nanahboozhoo was not in a very + good humor that day. He had heard of some little children that had been + tattling about him, and he had heard that the children in the tent of + Waubenoo had told about his visit. +</p> +<p> + "However, when he saw who it was that was in danger, and heard her cry to + him for help when she saw him, and especially when he saw who it was that + was after her, he quickly turned Waubenoo into a bird and without any + trouble she quickly flew up into a tree out of the reach of danger. +</p> +<p> + "Ever since that Waubenoo has been the Whisky Jack, and if you will listen + to Whisky Jack when he is not scolding or clamoring at your camp for food + his voice is like that of the lost Indian maiden, with a bad cold, calling + for her lover." +</p> +<p> + "What did Nanahboozhoo do to Gray Wolf?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Hush," said Minnehaha. "Don't you know Nanahboozhoo doesn't like to have + children talk about him?" +</p> +<p> + This excessive caution on the part of the little girl vastly amused + Souwanas. Then he told them that Nanahboozhoo turned Gray Wolf into a dog + and made him draw home his heavy load of meat. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH15"> CHAPTER XV.</a></h3> +<h4> + A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock—How the + Wolverine's Legs were Shortened—A Punishment for + Conceit. +</h4> +<p> + There was great excitement one morning among the children in the schoolroom + when Mary came in with the word that some hunters with their dog sleds had + called, and that they had with them a great wolverine which had been killed + in the woods not very far away. The children ran out to look at it. +</p> +<p> + Now the wolverine is known to be such a cunning, clever animal that the + killing of one is quite an event among the Indians, and the lucky hunter + who succeeds in destroying one is the hero of the hour. A man may on one + hunting trip kill several bears or wolves, or many other animals, and there + is not much said about it, but to kill a wolverine, that pest and scourge + of the hunters, is indeed a feat that any man is proud of. +</p> +<p> + "Why is it called a wolverine?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Because it was once like a wolf, and had small feet and long legs, but now + its legs are short and its feet are very large." +</p> +<p> + "What shortened its legs and made its feet become so large?" asked + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + It was too cold a day to remain any longer outside looking at the + wolverine, or to learn more about it, so the children were obliged to + return to their warm schoolroom, where their lessons were resumed. +</p> +<p> + It was evident, however, that both Sagastao and Minnehaha were ready with a + couple of questions for Mary, and it was not long after school hours that + they sought her and asked: +</p> +<p> + "Mary, what was it that shortened the legs of the wolverine? and what made + his feet so big?" +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine," replied Mary, "was once the finest of all the different + kinds of wolves. He had the softest and nicest of fur. His legs were long, + and his feet were firm and handsome, but he was an awfully conceited + fellow. He fancied he was the handsomest creature in existence and looked + down with contempt on all the other kinds of wolves. He used to go to the + side of the clear transparent lake, where he could see his shadow reflected + in the water, and he would strut up and down and say: 'O dear, what a + lovely creature I am!' +</p> +<p> + "It is true he was very clever in many ways. He was so swift that he could + run down even the antelope and the elk, and at all the great animal + gatherings, where the different creatures met in council, he was the + swiftest there, and easily won the chief prizes at the great races which + the animals used to hold. Indeed, he won so many races that at length he + could get no animal to compete with him. He even tried to get up races with + the birds, but they laughed at him for his conceit. +</p> +<p> + "One day he happened to be hunting among the mountains. Near the top of one + he saw a large ball-like rock, standing there apart from the other big + rocks. Coming up close to this great round rock he said to it: +</p> +<p> + "'Was that you I saw walking just now?' +</p> +<p> + "'No; I cannot walk, I have lain here for a long time,' said the rock. +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine retorted that he was sure he had seen the rock walking. +</p> +<p> + "This made the rock angry and he told the wolverine that he was telling a + falsehood. Then the saucy wolverine replied: +</p> +<p> + "'You need not speak to me in that way, for I have seen you walking.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine ran off a little distance and challenged the rock to + catch him. But the rock did not reply to this and the bold wolverine came + close up to the rock, struck it with his paw, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'Come, now, see if you can catch me!' +</p> +<p> + "'I cannot run,' said the rock, 'but I can roll.' +</p> +<p> + "At this the conceited wolverine began to laugh. 'That will do! All I want + is a race. You can run or roll, just as you like.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the race began; the wolverine started down the mountain side at a + great rate, and the rock came rolling behind him. At first the big rock did + not move very fast, and the wolverine laughed as he looked back and saw the + rock was so far behind. But the rock came on faster and faster, and now it + made the wolverine do his very best to keep ahead of it. On they rushed, + over the sticks and stones and rough places, down—down that great, long + mountain side. At length, swift and strong as he was, the wolverine began + to get tired, and although he was running as he never did before in his + life the big rock was surely gaining on him. By and by he was so frightened + that in looking behind at the rock, now close at his heels, he tripped over + a stick and down he fell. The rock rolled over him and, just as it had + completely crushed him down to the earth, there it stopped. +</p> +<a name="Illus017"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus017.jpg" width="250" height="339" +alt="The big rock was surely gaining on him."> +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine, whose head was not crushed under the rock, cried out: +</p> +<p> + "'Get off! go away! you are hurting me. You are crushing my bones.' +</p> +<p> + "But the rock replied: +</p> +<p> + "'You tormented me and told me I was telling a falsehood, and you + challenged me to a race with you; and now that I have caught you I will not + stir until some one stronger comes and takes me off.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine lifted up his voice and cried to his relatives, the + wolves and foxes, to come and remove the rock. +</p> +<p> + "When these animals came and saw him in such a plight, they asked him: +</p> +<p> + "'How came you to get under the rock?' +</p> +<p> + "The wolverine replied: +</p> +<p> + "'I challenged the rock to catch me, and it rolled on me.' +</p> +<p> + "When the wolves and the foxes heard this they were not very sorry. They + knew how conceited the wolverine had been about his speed, indeed they were + all smarting because of the ease with which he had beaten them, and so, + instead of helping him at once, they said he deserved his punishment. +</p> +<p> + "After a time, however, they began to be sorry for the poor wolverine, who + was crying out piteously for help, but they found they were not able to + remove the rock. They could not even stir it in the least. +</p> +<p> + "'Get out of the way,' said the wolverine, 'and I will call my other + friends, the thunder and the lightning.' +</p> +<p> + "In a few minutes a great black cloud was seen rapidly coming out of the + west. As it came rushing along the foxes and the wolves were very much + frightened by the great noise it made. However, they had courage enough to + ask the lightning to take off the fine coat of the wolverine but not to + kill him. Then they ran back and watched to see the lightning do its work. + The lightning promised to do what had been asked of him; for he had heard + of this proud, conceited wolverine, who had boasted that he could run like + lightning, and now he was just going to teach him a lesson. So he darted + back a distance to gather force, and then he came on with a rush and struck + the rock and knocked it into small pieces. He also completely stripped the + skin from the back of the wolverine but did not kill him. When the + wolverine got up and stood there naked, with all his beauty gone, he was + very angry at the lightning. +</p> +<p> + "'You are like other so-called friends I have heard about,' he said; 'you + cannot do a thing but you must overdo it and spoil all. You had no need to + tear my beautiful fur coat from my back when you knew I only asked you to + come and strike the rock.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the poor, shivering wolverine gathered the pieces of his coat and + carried them to his sister the frog, who dwelt in a marsh, and he asked her + to sew them together. The frog had sore eyes, and when she sewed them + together she did not do it properly. Hence the wolverine was very angry, + and he hit her a crack on the head and knocked her into the water. Then he + took up the coat and went and found his youngest sister, the mouse. He told + her of his troubles, and how the frog had so badly done her work. Then he + showed the mouse how he wanted the coat to be sewed. His little sister felt + badly for her big brother, and so she set to work and with great care sewed + all the pieces together in their right places. When the wolverine saw how + nicely she had done her work he was much pleased. +</p> +<p> + "'You mice may live everywhere,' he said, in real gratitude, 'and in spite + of all your enemies you will never be destroyed.' +</p> +<p> + "Then the wolverine tried to put on his coat, but, alas! he found his legs + had been shortened and his feet very much flattened out by the terrible + crushing he had had under that big stone which he had been so foolish as to + challenge to a race." +</p> +<p> + "Guess he didn't run many more races," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "No, indeed," was the reply; "he was so mortified and angry that from that + day to this the wolverine has always been a sulking, solitary animal, and + playing all the mean tricks he can on all kinds of animals as though he had + a spite against them. He now has not one friend who ever cares for him, + unless it is his little sister the mouse." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH16"> CHAPTER XVI.</a></h3> +<h4> + The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun—How They + Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters—Their Great + Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. +</h4> +<p> + One pleasant summer day, when the children had the pleasure of a canoe + outing with Mary and Kennedy, they decided to visit the wigwam of their old + friends, Kinnesasis and his wife. They had not seen them for some time, and + as Souwanas was away on a long hunting excursion they could not expect any + Nanahboozhoo stories until his return. Kinnesasis was a capital + story-teller, and they were eager to reach his wigwam. There, after making + both him and his wife happy with some gifts, they knew they could get some + interesting stories in return. +</p> +<p> + They met with a hearty welcome and spent a happy day there. Among the + stories Kinnesasis told them, as handed down by his forefathers, the + following is perhaps the most interesting: +</p> +<p> + "Long ago there were great monsters on this earth. Some of them were + enormous animals and fiercer than any that now exist. Then there were + magicians, and other evil spirits, like windegoos, some of whom were tall, + giant cannibals, that filled the people with terror. They lay in wait and + caught the children, and even the grown-up people, as the wild beasts now + catch their prey. Then they kindled up great fires and roasted them and ate + them. +</p> +<p> + "Often, when the parents went to look for their children, they also were + caught and eaten. +</p> +<p> + "The people were rendered very miserable not only by these great monsters + in human form, but also by the attacks of the enormous animals that then + lived. Indeed they began to fear that they would all soon be killed, unless + help came to them. +</p> +<p> + "These people were worshipers of the sun, whom they called the great Sun + Father, and some tribes still have their sun dances in his honor. When he + saw that the people were in such great trouble and were likely to be all + killed by their cruel enemies he resolved to deliver them from their foes. + So he disguised himself and came down to the earth and married a beautiful + woman of the Northland. They had lovely twin boys, whose names were + Sesigizit, the older, and Ooseemeeid, the younger. They grew so rapidly + that they were able to walk when only a few days old. Their sun father + disappeared as soon as they were born, going to the far Eastland. +</p> +<p> + "Strange to say, although these two boys grew so rapidly at first, they as + suddenly ceased growing, and so remained quite small. But they were very + intelligent, and were ever asking questions. +</p> +<p> + "'Who is our father?'" they inquired of their mother one day. +</p> +<a name="Illus018"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus018.jpg" width="250" height="200" +alt="Sun dance lodge of the blood Indians."> +</p> +<p> + But she ignored the question, and although they kept bothering her it was a + long time before she would give them any information at all, and that was + very little. However, she did tell them that they were more than ordinary + children and finer than other boys, but then there are lots of mothers who + say such things to their own little ones. +</p> +<p> + "As they were now big enough, she brought out of hiding a couple of bows, + and quivers full of arrows, and some magic rabbit sticks, and gave them to + the boys. +</p> +<p> + "'These were left for you by your father,' said the mother, ere he went + away, and he gave commands that they were to be given to you as soon as you + were able to use them.' +</p> +<p> + "The children were, of course, anxious to try their bows and arrows and + these magic sticks. So very soon after they had received them they resolved + to go off on a hunting expedition. +</p> +<p> + "The mother, who was anxious about them, warned them of the various + monsters in human shape, great windegoos and cannibals, that were ever + lying in wait to catch and roast and eat little boys. She also told them of + the animals that were so enormously large that they could catch them up and + swallow them as easily as a turkey does a grasshopper. +</p> +<p> + "Thus she tried to put them on their guard against the terrible foes that + had devoured so many of their people. The boys, however, were not much + frightened, and they eagerly set off on their journey. +</p> +<p> + "They were especially warned by their anxious mother not to go to the east, + as there was a narrow lake there to which many of these evil creatures came + for water, especially a great monster wolf that had devoured many people. + Yet they immediately started off in that direction, for, like some other + boys, they did not obey even their mother. It was noon before they reached + the lake. At first, as they examined it, everything seemed very quiet and + still. +</p> +<p> + "'Mother must have been mistaken,' said Sesigizit; 'I do not see any living + thing here.' +</p> +<p> + "But as they wandered farther along the shore, suddenly Ooseemeeid cried + out: +</p> +<p> + "'O see that great wolf on the other side!' +</p> +<p> + "They dropped down as quickly as they could, but the fierce brute had + already caught sight of them. He was very much larger than any of the + wolves that now howl in the dark forests. He not only destroyed many of the + people, but when he came to springs, or small streams, he either drank up + all the water or so spoiled it that it was unfit for use. +</p> +<p> + "The boys shot their arrows at him, but his sides were so tough, for he had + bones like jointed armor upon them, that he was only slightly wounded. He + was, however, made very angry by their attacks, and he picked up a magic + stick and threw it at them. They would have fared badly if they had not so + suddenly thrown themselves upon the ground that it passed over them. +</p> +<p> + "When the boys saw that their arrows were not swift enough to kill such a + great animal they decided to use the magic rabbit sticks which their + father, the sun, had given them, with orders that they were only to be used + when the arrows failed. +</p> +<p> + "The wolf, when he saw that one of his magic sticks had missed its aim, was + more savage than ever, and he seized his remaining one, for he only had + two, and he threw it with all his power at the boys. This time they both + jumped high up from the ground and the stick passed under them. +</p> +<p> + "It was their turn now, and so they both threw their magic sticks with such + force that the great bony armor of the wolf was crushed in and he was + killed. +</p> +<p> + "Sesigizit quickly ran around the lake to the spot where the great body lay + and cut out the heart of the wolf, while Ooseemeeid secured the two magic + sticks that the wolf had thrown at them, as well as their own weapons, and + then with these trophies they returned to their own home. +</p> +<p> + "'Where have you been?' asked the anxious mother when they appeared. +</p> +<p> + "'We have been to the lake,' they replied. +</p> +<p> + "She could hardly believe it. +</p> +<p> + "'My boys,' she said, 'you surely are mistaken, for no one who goes there + returns. The great monsters that devour our people live there, and they let + no one escape.' +</p> +<p> + "Then they told her of their battle with the great wolf, and how they had + killed him. They also showed her his heart, which they had brought home + with them. +</p> +<p> + "She was very much excited. She called the people together, and there was + great rejoicing at the death of this terrible wolf which had been such a + scourge to them. +</p> +<p> + "Some time after Sesigizit and Ooseemeeid asked their mother if she knew + where grew any good tough wood suitable for making bows and arrows. Her + answer was: +</p> +<p> + "'Far away in the foothills is a canyon, or ravine, where a forest of just + such wood as you need is growing, but the path that leads to it is narrow, + and there sits guard a great monster giant who kills and throws into the + ravine everyone who has attempted to get any of that wood. And in addition + there is a fierce mountain lioness prowling around somewhere on the route, + and she has already killed many people and carried them off to her den.' +</p> +<p> + "Ooseemeeid at once desired to set off and get a supply of this wood, but + Sesigizit, when he found out how fearful their mother was that they would + both be killed if they made the attempt, at first refused to go. His + objection, however, vanished when he saw his brother making ready to start, + and in spite of their mother's fears they started off. +</p> +<p> + "They had not gone very far when they met the great mountain lioness. She + was out hunting food for her cubs. These she had hidden in a den which was + away up on a precipitous mountain side. +</p> +<p> + "Ooseemeeid asked her if she knew the way to the canyon where grew the good + wood. +</p> +<p> + "'Yes,' she replied. 'I am just going that way, and I will show you the + route.' She said this because she wished in this way to allure the two boys + to walk near to her den, and there she would kill them for food for her + cubs. +</p> +<p> + "So she led them until they came to a place where the path was very + dangerous, because it was on a narrow, shelving rock around the mountain + side. Here the monster lioness asked the boys to walk on ahead of her, but + they refused, saying that they had been taught never to walk in front of + their elders. The lioness urged, but the boys were firm, and so she had to + yield and let them have their way. +</p> +<p> + "When in the most dangerous part of the pass the boys pretended to be very + much alarmed, and asked to be permitted to walk between her and the + mountain side. At first she was suspicious, but they seemed now to be so + cowardly and afraid that she thought they were not able to do her any harm, + so she walked on the outer edge of the pass and let them have the inside, + and also allowed them to put their hands on her as though to steady + themselves. When they came to the most dangerous spot, where it was so + narrow that even a mountain lion had to be careful, they both suddenly drew + their magic sticks and, giving her a great shove, sent her over the side of + the narrow rocky ledge and down she fell—to be dashed to pieces thousands + of feet below. +</p> +<p> + "With a shout of triumph the two boys carefully pushed on and, finding the + den, quickly killed the cubs and cut off the right forepaw from each one to + carry home. +</p> +<p> + "From this high pass they could now see the canyon where grew the good wood + for which they were seeking. They also saw the lodge of the monster giant + who guarded the narrow path that led to it. They saw by its size that he + must be an enormous creature, and so they looked to see that their arrows + and magic sticks were all in good order and handy for use. +</p> +<p> + "The great giant had heard their shout of triumph when they had destroyed + the mountain lioness and it made him very angry, for he hated any noise or + disturbance; his name, Nikoochis, which means solitude, indicated this. +</p> +<p> + "When he saw the small boys he was at first inclined to laugh in derision + at them, but when they had come near enough to shoot their magic arrows at + him he soon began to roar with the stinging pain they gave him. +</p> +<p> + "In vain he tried to catch the active little fellows; he was so big and + clumsy, and they were so quick in their movements, that it was an utter + impossibility for him to get his hands upon them. +</p> +<p> + "Then he began tearing up great rocks and stones and tried to crush them by + hurling these at them. Here the boys' father, the sun, came to their help, + and he shone so fiercely into the eyes of the great monster that he was + unable to see very well, and the boys easily kept out of the way of the + rocks thrown at them. +</p> +<a name="Illus0019"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus019.jpg" width="260" height="213" +alt="'They both threw their magic sticks.'"> +</p> +<p> + "The monster was big and fat and unaccustomed to exertion, and he was soon + tired out. Indeed he was so big that the arrows of the boys seemed only + like pins and needles sticking into him, and the boys began to fear that + their quivers would be emptied before they had conquered him. Just then + they met an old witch with a bundle of sticks which she was carrying to her + wigwam. She was very angry with Nikoochis, for he would not allow her even + to gather the dry sticks that fell to the ground in the forest he was + guarding. The result was that she had to wander far away to get the little + fuel she needed in her wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "The boys told her of their battle with this selfish old monster, and that + even now he was badly wounded by their arrows, which, however, did not seem + to reach any vital spot. She told them that the only place where their + weapons could be effectual in killing him was in the top of his skull. That + they must first in some way crack it with their magic rabbit sticks, and + then they could shoot their arrows into his brain. Hearing this they + quickly resumed their attack upon him. In vain he tore up great rocks and + hurled them with all his force at them. They either cleverly jumped on one + side or sprang up into the air out of the way. +</p> +<p> + "Then, watching for their opportunity, they waited until he stooped down, + and when he was struggling to loosen from the earth a great rock as big as + a house Sesigizit threw, with all his power, his magic rabbit stick. It + struck the giant fair on the top of his head with such force that it broke + off a piece of his skull. The next instant Ooseemeeid fired one of his + arrows so accurately that it pierced into the brain through the spot thus + left exposed. +</p> +<p> + "With a roar of rage and pain the great monster fell, rolled down into the + deep canyon, and died. +</p> +<p> + "After securing his big flint knife, which dropped from his belt, the boys + hurried into the canyon and gathered a lot of fine wood for arrow shafts + and returned to their mother. When she asked them where they had been they + replied that they had been to the canyon, and that they had killed both the + mountain lioness and the great giant. +</p> +<p> + "At first she could hardly believe this, but as they had brought the paws + of the cubs and the flint knife of the great giant, why, she just had to + believe it. Great indeed were the rejoicings of the people at being thus + rid of these creatures." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH17"> CHAPTER XVII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo + Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. +</h4> +<p> + One cold day Souwanas, who had not been seen by the children for some + time—he had been away on a long hunting excursion—quite unexpectedly + walked into the mission house during the school hours of Sagastao and + Minnehaha. The news of his coming was hailed with delight by the children, + and it required a certain amount of firmness on the part of the heads of + the household to keep them at their studies. They were, however, quickly + pacified, and returned with diligence to their lessons, when informed that + their old friend had been invited to stay all day and doubtless would have + a story of some kind for them when their studies were all over. +</p> +<p> + The venison and bear's meat which he had brought were quickly purchased at + a price that well pleased him. Then he sat down for a rest and a smoke in + the kitchen. Of course he had his usual tiff with Mary, the nurse, who was + very jealous of him because he had so won the love and confidence of the + children. Souwanas was greatly amused at her jealousy of him, especially + since he was told by one of the Indian maids that the children had been + overheard gravely debating between themselves which was the better + story-teller, Mary or Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + When peace again reigned some illustrated volumes from the library were + given to Souwanas for his inspection. He was not able to read English, but + he was very fond of looking at pictures. +</p> +<p> + There was one book that had a special fascination for him, in fact when he + first examined it, and had had some of its illustrations explained to him, + it gave this superstitious Indian about the biggest fright he had ever + received. It was a book in which were pictured and described many of the + great extinct monsters of the old times. These enormous hideous creatures, + whose bones and fossil remains are still occasionally to be found, quite + alarmed him. Yet the book was generally about the first one he desired to + see. +</p> +<p> + On this present visit, however, Souwanas, while as usual eager again to + inspect this book, was observed to look at it in a very different spirit. + The explanation came out later, when he had the children around him—indeed + almost the whole household—listening to a new Nanahboozhoo story which he + had secured from some famous old Indian whom he had met while far away on + his long hunting excursion. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, it is true," he began, "that there did once live on this earth, both + in the land and in the water, great animals like those here shown in this + book. I have been to the wigwam of the great Shuniou and from him I have + learned much about them, as handed down in the tradition of our + forefathers. Great and terrible were they, and the people of those times + lived in great terror of them, for the bows and arrows and even the stone + war clubs of the strongest warriors were powerless to kill or even + dangerously wound such monsters. It was well for the inhabitants of the + earth in those days that these great monsters were few in number and that + they were constantly fighting among themselves, for so large and terrible + were they that only animals as big and fierce of other kinds could battle + with them. +</p> +<p> + "But there was one great monster that lived in the water, and as he had no + enemies big enough to attack him he lived on, even long after the other + great animals were all killed off. +</p> +<p> + "Shuniou said that the tradition was that a great rush of waters caused + many of the last of the great monsters that had tusks of ivory to be + carried to the far Northland, and there, as the terribly cold winter set + in, they were all frozen to death. +</p> +<p> + "This must be true," added Souwanas, "for it was not many years ago that + the Hudson Bay Company sent their men there to get this ivory, which they + intended to ship to England. They came back with word that some of the dead + bodies had been seen where the ice broke up. But this great monster in the + water, as I have said, lived on after the rest were all supposed to have + died off or been killed. He was a terrible scourge to those Indians whose + wigwams were on the shores of the great sea in which he lived. They were in + mortal terror when they ventured out in their canoes to fish. This they had + to do, as they depended almost entirely on fish for their living, and there + were times when the fish left the shallow waters near the shore and went + out far from land. There the Indians had to follow and catch them or they + and their families would starve. +</p> +<p> + "Happily for them, sometimes for months together no one would hear or see + anything of this great sea monster. Then, perhaps, suddenly he would rise + up right under a canoe in which were several Indians, whom he would easily + catch and swallow one by one. He would sometimes rush after a herd of deer + that had gone out swimming in the waters. He would catch and easily swallow + several of them." +</p> +<p> + "Well, I should think that the big horns of a moose or reindeer would give + him some trouble to swallow," said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "He was so large," said Souwanas, "that the horns or body of the largest + deer did not seem to bother him in the least degree." +</p> +<p> + "I wonder if it were not one of his great grandfathers that swallowed + Jonah," said the observant Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "The Indians at length came to be so much distressed by the loss of so many + of their number, and by their inability to slay the monster, that they + resolved to ask Nanahboozhoo to come and help them if he possibly could. +</p> +<p> + "I ought to have told you," said Souwanas, "that this great monster was + called by the Indians Mooshekinnebik. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo at once responded to their request, for he was very angry + when he heard how many industrious fishermen had been swallowed by this + creature. He was doubly angry when he returned with the deputation who had + gone for him and further learned that, only the day before, Mooshekinnebik + had been mean enough to come near to the shore and catch and swallow some + boys and girls who had been out swimming that warm summer day. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo informed Nokomis of the request of the people for his + help to deliver them from the long hated Mooshekinnebik she was very much + frightened, and more so when he told her of the strange and dangerous plan + he was going to adopt to carry out his purpose. It was this: he was going + to allow himself to be swallowed by this monster who had already destroyed + so many people." +</p> +<p> + "O how dreadful!" said Minnehaha. "We will never hear any more nice stories + about Nanahboozhoo." +</p> +<p> + "All a pack of lies; there never were any such monsters," snapped out old + Mary, who could not longer conceal her jealousy at seeing how interested + the children were in the story. +</p> +<p> + "Hold on, Mary; not so fast," cried Sagastao, taking the book from Souwanas + and showing the pictures to Mary. +</p> +<p> + "There, Sakehow," he said, using his favorite term of endearment, "look for + yourself and see those lovely creatures—some of them quite big enough to + swallow us all without winking." +</p> +<p> + But Mary was stubborn, as well as jealous, and would not give in, even when + Kennedy, the favorite dog driver, who was present, told her that even now + there were some of the great tusks and bones of animals that the officers + called mammoths over at the Hudson Bay Company's fort ready to be shipped + to England next summer. She was, however, quickly silenced when Sagastao + sat down beside her and throwing his head into her lap said, very + coaxingly: +</p> +<p> + "Now, Mary, just be quiet and let us hear Souwanas tell the rest of the + story of what Nanahboozhoo did to Mooshekinnebik." +</p> +<p> + Peace being thus restored, Souwanas, who had been much amused by Mary's + ire, resumed his story: +</p> +<p> + "When Nokomis heard her grandson describe how he was going to let the + monster swallow him she resolved to come and pitch her tent on the + seashore, among the people who had been so troubled, and there to await the + return of her grandson, if he should ever come back from such a perilous + adventure. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo asked his mother for some magic singing sticks, and also for + a very sharp knife. Then he made for himself a small raft of logs and, + bidding her good-bye for a short time, he sprang on it and was soon + floating out, in search of the dreaded creature, over the great waters. +</p> +<p> + "When well out from the shore he began to make music with his magic sticks + and to sing a defiant song: +</p> +<p> + "'Ho, ho! great fish down in the sea,<br /> + Come, if you dare, and swallow me.<br /> + My brothers all you're fond of eating,<br /> + 'Tis time some one gave you a beating.<br /> + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho! +</p> +<p> + "'You see I am not far away,<br /> + So come and taste me while you may;<br /> + Yet not afraid am I, no, no!<br /> + So hurry up, old fish. Ho, ho!<br /> + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo sang this brave song over and over, to the weird harmony of + his magic music sticks, until he reached the place where the great fish was + resting. +</p> +<p> + "When the great monster Mooshekinnebik heard the voice of Nanahboozhoo he + came up to the surface of the water to find out who was making all that + music and shouting out such defiant words. +</p> +<p> + "When he saw that it was only one young man on a raft of dry logs, he + ordered one of his children to go and knock the raft to pieces and swallow + that noisy fellow. But this was not what Nanahboozhoo wanted, and so he + shouted out: +</p> +<p> + "'I want the old father fish to eat me.' +</p> +<p> + "This made old Mooshekinnebik very angry, and so, open mouthed, he rushed + furiously at Nanahboozhoo who, when the great monster was close enough, + took a leap into the open mouth and was immediately swallowed up. +</p> +<p> + "For a short time after being swallowed Nanahboozhoo was unconscious, but + he soon recovered himself and was able to look around and see the queer + prison in which he was now confined. It was fortunate for him that he had + eyes like a cat, and so could see as well in the dark as in the light. He + found that he was not the only inmate of this queer prison; there were a + lot of creatures whom he called his brothers—the bear, the deer, the fox, + the beaver and even the squirrel. Nanahboozhoo inquired of them and they + told him how they had been captured and the length of time they had been in + that horrid place. They also informed him that many others who had been + captured were now dead. Nanahboozhoo found that they were quite hopeless, + and looked forward to nothing but death. However he called them around him + and informed them that he had willingly come among them for the purpose of + affording a speedy deliverance. +</p> +<p> + "This was indeed good news. Then he explained to them the plan he had in + his mind, and said that it was necessary for them to kick up a rumpus in + the interior of this monster, that they would thus make him so very sick + that he would have to go near to land, and when they should have him there + he thought he had another plan that would enable them all to escape. +</p> +<a name="Illus020"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus020.jpg" width="255" height="191" +alt="'He took a leap into the open mouth.'"> +</p> +<p> + "They all agreed to do anything they could to help on his plans, so + Nanahboozhoo took out his magic singing sticks and began to play and sing. +</p> +<p> + "At once the bear, the deer, the fox, the beaver, and indeed all of the + creatures that were still alive, caught up the lively tune, and such a + dancing and jumping and flying around was hardly ever seen before. +</p> +<p> + "This internal commotion very much disturbed Mooshekinnebik. He could not + make out what was the matter. He shook himself thoroughly, but that did no + good; then he darted off through the water at a great rate, but this also + was of no use. Then he rolled over and over and over in the water. This of + course stopped the dancing and hubbub inside for a time, but as the walls + of the prison were soft, also the floor and ceiling, nobody was hurt, and + so the instant it ceased they were up and at it again, harder than ever. + Mooshekinnebik never had such a turn in his life. He did not know what to + do. Still Nanahboozhoo kept singing louder and louder, while the dancers + kept up their wild antics around him. +</p> +<p> + "At length Nanahboozhoo decided that the monster was about enough + frightened for him to do something else, and so he drew out his sharp knife + and gave Mooshekinnebik a good stab near his heart. +</p> +<p> + "This threw him into convulsions and added to his terror, and he began + swimming toward the shore. When Nanahboozhoo knew this he kept stabbing him + more and more, until at length his body was heard to scrape on the shallow + sandy ground. At this Nanahboozhoo with a mighty effort plunged his knife + with all his power deep into the monster's heart. +</p> +<p> + "The instant he did this Mooshekinnebik was thrown into a number of mighty + convulsions, and in one of them, with one tremendous effort, he fairly + threw himself out of the water on the shore, and there he died. +</p> +<p> + "So great and terrible had been these dying convulsions that all the + creatures inside, and even Nanahboozhoo himself, had become unconscious + from being so knocked about. +</p> +<p> + "How long they remained so they did not know. Nanahboozhoo was the first to + regain his senses, and he was indeed very sorry to see that all of his + comrades were still unconscious. He had some difficulty in getting out from + under the bodies of his comrades, who were piled up on him. He was glad + that the monster was dead, but he was uncertain whether they were on the + shore or at the bottom of the water. So he speedily determined to find out. + He climbed up over the bodies of his comrades to the place that he thought + was the thinnest, and there, with his keen knife, he began cutting through + the roof of this queer prison. +</p> +<p> + "To his great delight he was soon able to see the sunshine coming through. + When he had cut a hole big enough to let in some air and sunshine he took + up his magic singing sticks and began singing, for the purpose of reviving + all those imprisoned with him. His song was not much to us, but it was a + great deal to those shut up in such a prison. It was: +</p> +<p> + "'Kesik-in-na-win,<br /> + Kesik-in-na-win.'<br /> + (I see the sky,<br /> + I see the sky.) +</p> +<p> + "As Nanahboozhoo continued to sing this over and over, one after another + his brothers sneezed and opened their eyes. They were indeed a happy lot at + the prospect of deliverance. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo saw that they were all now recovered he again set to + work with his knife, and it was not long before he had a hole large enough + to permit all of the imprisoned creatures to make their escape. +</p> +<p> + "The news soon spread, and it was not long before Nokomis, with others, + came to see the huge dead monster, and there were great rejoicings." +</p> +<p> + "And this," added Souwanas, "is the tradition, as told by Shuniou, of how + Nanahboozhoo destroyed Mooshekinnebik." +</p> +<p> + "What became of the little monsters?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "The Indians," replied Souwanas, "under the leadership of Nanahboozhoo made + such a war upon them that they were soon annihilated." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH18"> CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h3> + <h4> + Welcome Springtime in the Northland—How Nanahboozhoo + Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the + Magicians—The Revenge—The Flood—Escape of Nanahboozhoo + and the Animals on the Raft—The Creation of a New World. +</h4> +<p> + The coming of the pleasant springtime was hailed with great delight. Seven + or eight months were found to be a very long spell of cold winter weather, + and so when with a rapidity unknown in more Southern climates the winter + broke up, and the welcome warm weather made its appearance, everybody + seemed to feel its genial influence. +</p> +<p> + The first little wild flowers were looked for with intense interest, and + great indeed was the joy of the children when some were found. The sweet + singing birds that in the previous autumn, on the first signs of the coming + down from the colder North of the Frost King, had flitted away to the + summer Southland were now returning in multitudes. The air was full of + their melody, and as scores of them, fearless and trustful, made themselves + at home in the bird resorts around Wahkiegum, great indeed was the + children's delight as they welcomed them back to their haunts in the North. +</p> +<p> + And really it did seem as though the birds were glad to be there again, for + it is only in the North that these birds sing their sweet love songs to + each other and build their nests and hatch out their little broods. +</p> +<p> + The Whisky Jacks, that had been croaking out their hoarse cries all winter, + seemed to get sulky and vexed that they were now so little admired, and so + they flitted away farther north and buried themselves in the interior of + the deepest forests. +</p> +<p> + In the joyousness of those happy days up in those high latitudes, when the + changes of every twenty-four hours can easily be noticed, Sagastao and + Minnehaha for a time troubled neither Souwanas nor Mary for Indian legends + or stories. There was in the rapid melting of the snow, the breaking up of + the immense ice fields on the lake, the appearance of the land, and then + the grass and flowers, and the planting of seeds in their little gardens, + enough to keep them busy and happy. +</p> +<p> + But even all these things at length lost their interest. The flights of the + wild geese, swans, and ducks had all ceased. They, with many other kinds of + migrating birds, were busy nesting. The sweet songsters around the home + were everyday companions, and, while the children loved them as much as + ever, the excitement of their coming had died away. So when one day they + saw Souwanas coming over the now sparkling waters in his canoe they were + delighted to welcome him. As usual, when he reached the shore the contents + of his canoe were examined speedily. There the children found a couple of + beavers that had but lately been trapped, and a dozen or more muskrats that + Souwanas had speared in the marshes. These animals were the result of one + night's hunting, and now Souwanas was on his way home to have them skinned + and the pelts prepared for sale to the fur traders. +</p> +<p> + The children's curiosity was much aroused by the sight of the beavers and + muskrats, and they questioned the old man about them. The queer, broad, + scaly tail of the beavers much interested them, and drew from Souwanas an + interesting account of the various purposes for which the clever, + industrious beavers use this apparently awkward appendage. +</p> +<p> + "Do you know any Nanahboozhoo stories in which he tells anything about + beavers or muskrats?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Yes, indeed," replied Souwanas; "in nearly all the stories that are told + about the forming of the new land after the great flood both the beaver and + the muskrat are mentioned, as well as the other animals." +</p> +<p> + "Tell us one of the stories," urged little Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The arrival of some other canoes at this point interrupted the + conversation. The newcomers were on their way to the wigwam of Souwanas, + who was their chief. He was about to go on with them, but when he saw the + look of disappointment on the faces of the children he, with his usual + thoughtful kindness, transferred the two beavers and the muskrats from his + own canoe to one of the late arrivals. Then telling the people to give them + to his wife, to have them all cooked and ready for dinner, by which time he + would join them, he sent the people on their way. Having lighted his + calumet, with the children seated near him, he began: +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo's life commenced long before the great flood of waters that + covered the earth, about which all of our tribes have heard something. He + had his own wigwam and furnished it with everything he wanted. One day when + walking on the shore of a great river he saw some sea lions lying on the + sandy beach, basking in the sun. These animals, like the beaver, could live + as well in the water as on the land. As he closely watched them from a + distance, and saw the rich, shiny skins, he thought what a nice tobacco + pouch could be made out of one of them. When Nanahboozhoo once set his + heart on anything he at once began to work hard to secure it. He tried + various plans to capture one of these sea-lions, but none of them + succeeded. They were too clever to be caught as other animals are, and he + saw that he would have to adopt some unusual method. He decided that he + would go down very early to the spot on the bank of the river where they + were in the habit of sunning themselves and disguise himself as an old + stump of a tree, then, when they came out and were enjoying the sunshine, + he would shoot the fine old white one with the beautiful glossy skin that + he had so much admired. As on other days the lions came, and when they saw + this stump the white lion, which was a kind of king among them, said: +</p> +<p> + "'I never saw that big stump before. I think it must be Nanahboozhoo.' +</p> +<p> + "Another one said he thought the same thing. +</p> +<p> + "Others only laughed, and said, 'It is only an old pine stump.' +</p> +<p> + "However, as a number of them were suspicious, it was decided to go up and + shake it and see if it would move, and thus really find out. They went to + it, and three of them together used their greatest efforts to move it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had to make one of the hardest efforts of his life to hold + firm. However, he succeeded, and so the lions only said: +</p> +<p> + "'It really is a stump of a tree, but it is very strange we did not notice + it before.' Then they rolled about on the warm sand in the sunshine until + one after another fell asleep. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo now noiselessly and quickly turned himself into a young + hunter, then taking up his bow and arrow he shot the white lion. His arrow + stuck fast in his body and badly wounded him, but did not kill him. At once + the lions all plunged into the river and disappeared. Nanahboozhoo was + sorry that he did not get the lion's skin, indeed he was greatly vexed and + annoyed to have to return to his wigwam without it. A day or two after, as + he was walking in the woods, he met with a very old woman. She had a bundle + of slippery elm bark, out of which poultices were made by the Indians for + wounds and bruises, and also some roots for medicine. +</p> +<p> + "'Where are you going, nookoom (grandmother), and what are you going to do + with the bark and roots?' +</p> +<p> + "'O' said she, 'you cannot imagine what trouble we are in, for Nanahboozhoo + has shot and badly wounded one of our chiefs, and great efforts are going + to be made to catch and kill him.' +</p> +<p> + "She also told him that she had been honored in being sent for to come and + use all of her healing arts to try and restore the wounded chief to health + again, and that now she was on her way to his abode to poultice him with + the slippery elm bark, and to give him medicine, made by boiling the roots, + to allay the great fever from which he was suffering. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo thus discovered that these lions, as he had supposed them to + be, were wicked magicians who had been doing a great deal of harm, and who + when they chose to do so could change themselves into the form of lions and + live either under the water or on land, as best suited them, to escape from + being killed by those whom they had injured. As the old woman was very + talkative, Nanahboozhoo soon obtained from her all the information he + desired. Among other things she told him that sometimes people came to her + for bad medicines, to give to persons with whom they had quarreled, and in + this way they would kill them with the poisons which she made out of + toadstools and other deadly things. +</p> +<p> + "Hearing these dreadful facts from her own lips Nanahboozhoo resolved to + kill her, but first he had her tell him where the wounded chief's abode + was, and all about what was expected of her when she arrived there. He then + speedily tomahawked her, and clothing himself in her garments he made + himself look exactly like her, after which he took up her bundle of bark + and roots and went to the dwelling of the chiefs. +</p> +<p> + "There he found quite a crowd assembled, but all were in confusion and + excitement on account of the wounded chief. When they saw, as they thought, + the old woman coming, whom they were eagerly expecting, they made way for + her. Nanahboozhoo went straight to the place where the wounded chief lay. +</p> +<p> + "He was surprised to see that the arrow which he had shot was still + sticking in his side. He made a great ado about preparing the poultices and + medicine, and set everybody around him doing something to help carry out + his plans. Then when all were hurrying, and none looking at him, + Nanahboozhoo pushed the arrow with such force into the body of the chief + that it killed him instantly. Then with a shout of triumph he made his + escape. +</p> +<a name="Illus021"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus021.jpg" width="240" height="324" +alt="'He ran away west, to the great mountains.'"> +</p> +<p> + "There was, of course, great excitement among the people. They at once + called a council and consulted what they should do to destroy Nanahboozhoo. + They were, as I have told you, magicians, and had power to raise the + waters, and so they resolved to drown him. They accordingly called on the + waters to rise and rush over the plains and forests in the direction in + which he lived. Nanahboozhoo had traveled with great speed back to his + wigwam, but hardly had he reached it ere he heard the roar of the floods of + water that were coming to overwhelm him. He saw his great danger and he ran + away west, to the great mountains; but the floods of water continued rising + and drove him up higher and higher. When he saw that he was nearing the + highest peak he began to think what he must do next. Around him in the + raging waters were quantities of logs and trees, and among them, or on the + now small peak of land, were numbers of various animals. +</p> +<p> + "With all his powers he set to work and it was not very long ere he had a + large raft made out of the floating logs. As the last spot of land was now + being overwhelmed by the flood, and he pitied the animals that were + swimming about, he took them on the raft with him. As Nanahboozhoo knew all + the animals and their languages he held a council on the raft. He told them + that if he could get even a very little of the old world that was drowned + he could make a new world for them all. He first asked the otter if he + would try, and see if he could dive down and bring up a little portion of + the earth. The otter at once made the attempt, but after a while he came up + to the surface apparently quite dead. Nanahboozhoo reached out and lifted + him in and placed him in a sunny spot on the raft. Then the beaver tried. + He took a great header and down he dived, resolved to succeed if possible, + but after a time even he came up apparently as lifeless as the otter. + Nanahboozhoo lifted his body up out of the water and laid it in the sun by + the side of the otter. The muskrat next volunteered to try what he could + do, so down he dived and, after a much longer time than the others had been + down, he too floated up senseless and cold. Nanahboozhoo took him up, and + as he did so he noticed that there was earth in his mouth and on his paws. + He carefully collected this in his hand, and then placed the body of the + muskrat beside the otter and the beaver. He then blew upon the earth and + thus made it dry and porous, so that when it was placed in the water it + would not sink but float. He then put a lively little mouse upon it, which + by running round and round upon the earth made it grow larger and larger. + Nanahboozhoo then put a squirrel upon it for the same object. Then the + marten and mink—for the new earth was now so extended that it could hold + up these light animals. +</p> +<p> + "For a time Nanahboozhoo had to guard the now rapidly growing young world + from the larger animals with a stick, for fear they would sink it. They + were all very tired of having to remain huddled together so long on the + raft, and were eager to follow the smaller creatures that seemed so happy + on the new earth, even if it were not very large as yet. As there was much + to be done to fit this new world up for them to dwell upon, everyone had to + do what he could. The birds were sent to fly over the water to pick up + branches and seeds. +</p> +<p> + "By and by Nanahboozhoo decided that the earth, which had now grown beyond + the reach of his eyes, was large enough, and so he revived the otter, the + beaver and the muskrat, and with them and all the other animals around him + he took possession of the new world. +</p> +<p> + "In order to ascertain the size of the world he sent a wolf to run to the + end of it and then to return at once to him. The wolf easily made the + journey in one day. Nanahboozhoo then kept him with him for some time, and + again sent him off. The second journey took him five days, the third ten, + the fourth a month, then he was gone a year and then five years. Thus it + went on, until at length Nanahboozhoo started off a young wolf just able to + run on the long journey. This one died of old age ere he had completed the + trip. Nanahboozhoo then said that the world was large enough, and commanded + it to cease from growing." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH19"> CHAPTER XIX.</a></h3> +<h4> + Among the Briers and Wild Roses—Why the Roses have + Thorns—Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. +</h4> +<p> + One day as the children were out in the clearings back of their home, + gathering some of the wild strawberries that grew there and also some of + the wildflowers that bloomed during the short brilliant summer, they were + delighted to see Souwanas coming along the road with his gun on his + shoulder and some ducks and rabbits in his hand. +</p> +<p> + Very cordial were their greetings, but soon the quick eyes of the kindly + Indian noticed that there were several long red scratches and even some + drops of partly dried blood on the hands of his little friends. It was + hardly necessary for him to ask the cause of the wounds, as the bunches of + sweet briers and wild roses, with their sharp needle-like thorns, in the + happy children's hands told the tale. +</p> +<p> + Putting down his gun and game, Souwanas quickly gathered some of the sweet + fragrant grass which is there so abundant, and skillfully twisting it into + little coils he wound one around each of the bunches of flowers which the + children had gathered, and which they were still having trouble to hold on + account of the thorns. +</p> +<p> + The bouquets thus arranged could now be carried without inflicting any more + wounds or pain. Amid their chat and laughter, for these white children were + taught, like Indian children, not to be afraid of a few scratches or a + little pain, Minnehaha, who was industriously wiping the blood from some + wounds on her little white hands with her apron, said: +</p> +<p> + "How is it, Souwanas, that all these rosebushes and briers have such sharp + thorns on them?" +</p> +<p> + "I suppose Mary would say that Nanahboozhoo, the rascal, had something to + do with it," put in Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + At this reference to Mary there was a mischievous twinkle in the eyes of + the old Indian. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," he replied, "Nanahboozhoo had lots to do with it, and yet when you + hear the story you will see that he was not such a rascal at the time he + did it as Mary would make out, but almost as good as her pet, Wakonda, who + gave the bees their stings." +</p> +<p> + "O tell us all about it now," said Minnehaha. "We have this forenoon as a + half holiday, and papa is to join us in about an hour for a walk in the + woods." +</p> +<p> + The kind-hearted old Indian had been pleased with the plucky way in which + the children had slighted their wounded hands, and before he began his + story he acted the part of the skillful physician. He found some soft juicy + leaves which he crushed and spread on the ugly red scratches. The effect + was magical, and the children who had so bravely treated their wounds with + indifference gratefully acknowledged the sudden cessation of the smart. +</p> +<p> + Selecting a pretty spot under a clump of balsam trees, where some + boulder-like stones afforded them comfortable seats, the children cuddled + down with their old friend, to hear how the roses got their thorns. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago the roses were the most abundant of flowers, but they grew on + bushes that were smooth and fragrant, and such delicious eating that all + the animals that eat grass or browse were constantly seeking for and + devouring not only the rose flowers but also the bushes on which they grew. + The result was that the roses of all kinds were in danger of being + exterminated. In those days trees and flowers and other things had greater + powers of thinking and acting than they have now, and so the roses of + different kinds met in council to decide what could be done to preserve + those of them that were still left in existence. It was decided that a + deputation of them should be sent to Nanahboozhoo to implore his + assistance. +</p> +<p> + "He is such an eccentric fellow, and assumes so many disguises, that they + had a good deal of difficulty in finding him. They traveled long distances, + and inquired of the various wild animals they met and even consulted the + trees and hills. At length they were informed that he was now living in a + valley among the mountains and experimenting as a gardener. They hurried + away as fast as the fierce wind which they had hired to carry them could + blow them along. At first when they reached his abode they were very much + frightened, as it was easy to observe from the loud angry tones in which + Nanahboozhoo, although afar off, was speaking, that he was in a great rage. + However, they had come too far to be easily discouraged. They quietly drew + near, and hiding behind some dense balsam trees they carefully listened to + find out the cause of his anger. Fortunately, they could not have come at a + better time for themselves, for it seems that Nanahboozhoo had become very + much interested in his work as a gardener. All the things he had planted + had grown so well that in order to protect them from prowling wild animals + he had set all around the garden a fine hedge of rosebushes. So many were + required that Nanahboozhoo had been obliged to transplant bushes from a + great distance around, for they did not grow so abundantly as formerly. +</p> +<p> + "The morning of the very day on which the deputation of the rosebushes + arrived Nanahboozhoo had returned from one of his short adventures. Fancy + his indignation at finding that in his absence all sorts of animals, from + the rabbit to the mountain elk, had visited his abode, and had not only + completely eaten that lovely hedge of rosebushes, but had also greatly + injured the beautiful garden, of which he was so proud! +</p> +<p> + "When the deputation of roses understood the cause of his wrath they at + once left their hiding places and, aided by a sudden puff of wind, came + before Nanahboozhoo. The sight of them excited his curiosity, as it had + seemed to him that every rosebush had been destroyed. Before he could say a + word, however, the rosebushes, who were then able to talk, at once + presented their petition and pleaded for his powerful assistance to save + them from being exterminated by their enemies. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo listened to their petition, and after some consultation with + the rose bushes it was decided to cover the stocks and branches, up to the + very beautiful flowers, with small thorn-like prickles, so that every + animal henceforth would be afraid to either devour or closely approach + them, as they had been accustomed to do in the past. With this protection + granted them they were more than pleased, and so it now happens that roses + of many kinds still exist in various parts of the world." +</p> +<p> + "Thank you very much for that story," said Minnehaha. "Even if Nanahboozhoo + did put prickles on the rosebushes he was not a rascal, for we would not + have had any roses at all but for what he did." +</p> +<p> + For a wonder, Sagastao was silent for a time; but at length he found + something to say, and his words were a bit of a confession and promise of + amendment: +</p> +<p> + "Now that I know why it is that the prickles are on the wild roses I'll not + get mad even if my fingers bleed when I am gathering a bouquet for mother." +</p> +<p> + At this moment the two favorite dogs, Jack and Cuffy, came bounding up. By + this the children knew that their father was not far behind, and they were + not disappointed. At first he looked anxious when he saw the little hands + wrapped up in green leaves, but as with merry laughs they told him what the + leaves were for everything was bright again. +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was greeted very cordially, as usual, and assured that at the + mission house he would find in the mistress a willing purchaser of his + ducks and rabbits. The children were always interested in the game, + although Minnehaha strongly declared that it was a pity to kill the pretty + creatures. Souwanas and their father were chatting together while the + children were turning the ducks and rabbits over. +</p> +<p> + "See what red eyes some of the ducks have," said Sagastao. "They look as + though they had been crying." +</p> +<p> + "Guess you would have cried too," rather indignantly replied Minnehaha, "if + you had been shot as they were." +</p> +<p> + "Huh!" he replied with a tinge of contempt, "how could they cry after being + shot? I don't believe that is it at all. And, look here, Minnehaha, I am + going also to ask why it is that, while all the rabbits were so white in + winter, they are all now so brown in summer." +</p> +<p> + Quickly the resolve was carried out, and so, while Minnehaha was telling + her father what a beautiful story they had heard about the roses, Sagastao, + with his hand on the shoulder of the old Indian, who was seated on a rock, + was eagerly firing at him his double-barreled question: "Why have some + ducks such red eyes, and why are the rabbits white in winter and brown in + summer?" +</p> +<p> + "Both done by Nanahboozhoo," said the old man with a smile, as he took his + pipe out of his mouth. +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted the lad. +</p> +<p> + This outburst on the part of Sagastao at once attracted the attention of + the others to him and Minnehaha wanted to know what was the matter now. +</p> +<p> + "Why, did you not hear? Souwanas says that Nanahboozhoo gave the ducks the + red eyes and makes the rabbits to be white in winter and brown in summer." + Then turning to Souwanas he asked, "How does Nanahboozhoo do it?" +</p> +<p> + Here the father, while amused at the lad's enthusiasm, interposed, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "You have already kept Souwanas a long time, and perhaps he is busy." +</p> +<p> + "Busy!" said the irrepressible Sagastao, who was shrewd beyond his years. + "Busy! Why Souwanas would rather tell stories than do anything else—unless + to smoke his pipe." +</p> +<p> + Then he glibly told Souwanas in Saulteaux what had passed between him and + his father in English, and added, "Is that not so, Souwanas?" +</p> +<p> + The old Indian smiled, and said kindly: +</p> +<p> + "How can I help enjoying telling stories when I have such good little + listeners?" +</p> +<p> + "But what about his dinner?" asked the kind-hearted Minnehaha. "If we keep + him here telling stories he will be too late to get back to his wigwam for + his dinner. I think we had better take him home with us." +</p> +<p> + This was quickly decided upon, and that there might be no mistake a piece + of bark was quickly cut from a birch tree and a few lines written upon it + telling the good mother in the home that they had met Souwanas, and that he + was entertaining the children with Nanahboozhoo stories and would be with + them to dinner. Then Jack, the great dog, was called and sent back with the + missive, with orders to give it to his mistress. +</p> +<p> + As the dog dashed away homeward the mischievous Sagastao said: +</p> +<p> + "My! don't I wish I was in the kitchen when Mary hears that we are out here + with Souwanas listening to stories about Nanahboozhoo! Won't she be hopping + mad!" +</p> +<p> + "It will be better," said his father, "for Souwanas to tell his story than + for you to make any further remarks of that kind." +</p> +<p> + At first Souwanas seemed to show some hesitancy in beginning his story in + the presence of his missionary, and he whispered to Sagastao his fears that + perhaps his father would not care for such trifles as Indian legends and + stories. +</p> +<p> + With his usual bluntness, the lad declared: +</p> +<p> + "O, you don't know our father if you think that way about him. He loves + nice stories as well as we do, and tells us lots of them; so go ahead, for + you are going home to dinner with us." +</p> +<p> + Thus assured, the old man began: +</p> +<p> + "I will tell you to-day about how it is that the rabbits are white in + winter. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago they were always brown, just like those that are lying there with + the ducks. It is true that they increase very fast, but then it is very + true that they have many enemies. They have not many ways to defend + themselves against their foes, who are of so many kinds. Almost all the + animals that live on flesh are always hunting for rabbits, and so are the + foxes of all kinds, the wild cats, wolves, and wolverines, and even the + little weasels and ermine. Then there are fierce birds—the eagle, the + hawks of all kinds and the owls—that are always on the lookout for + rabbits, young or old. +</p> +<p> + "The result was that with this war continually being waged against them the + poor rabbits had a hard time of it, and especially in winter; for they + found it very difficult to hide themselves when the leaves were off the + trees and the ground covered with snow. In those days in the long ago the + animals used to have a great council. There the great fathers or heads of + each kind of animal and bird used to meet together and talk about their + welfare and the welfare of each other. Then there was peace and friendship + among them while at the council. +</p> +<p> + "They appointed a king, and he presided as a great head chief. All the + animals that had troubles or grievances had a right to come and speak about + them and, if possible, have them remedied. +</p> +<p> + "Some queer things were said sometimes. At one council the bear found great + fault with the fox, who had deceived him, and had caused him to lose his + beautiful tail by telling him to go and catch fish in a big crack in the + ice. He sat there so long that the crack froze up solidly and to save his + life he had to break off his tail. +</p> +<p> + "But all the things they talked about were not so funny as that. They had + their troubles and dangers, and they discussed various plans for improving + their condition and considered how they could best defeat the skill and + cleverness of the human hunters. +</p> +<p> + "When the rabbit's turn came to be heard he had indeed a sorrowful tale to + tell. He said that his people were nearly all destroyed. The rest of the + world seemed combined against his race, and they were killing them by day + and night, in summer and winter, and they had but little power to fight + against their many enemies. They were almost discouraged, but had come to + the council to see if their brethren could suggest any remedy or plan to + save them from complete destruction. While the rabbit was speaking the + wolverine winked at the wildcat, while the fox, although he tried to look + solemn, could not keep his mouth from watering at the thought of the many + rabbits he intended yet to eat. +</p> +<p> + "Thus it can be seen that the poor, harmless rabbit did not get much + sympathy from that part of the crowd that killed his race all the rest of + the year. +</p> +<p> + "Still there were some animals, like the moose, and the reindeer, and the + mountain goat, that stood up in the council and spoke out bravely for the + rabbit. Indeed they told the animals that had only laughed at the rabbit's + sad story that, if nothing was done for the little rabbit and they went on + killing as they were doing, they would soon be the greatest sufferers, for + if the rabbits were all gone there was nothing else that they could get in + sufficient numbers to keep them alive. This, which is a fact, rather + sobered some of them at first; but they soon resumed their mocking at the + poor little rabbit and his story, and, as they were in the majority, the + council refused to do anything in the matter. +</p> +<p> + "When the moose heard the decision of the council he was very sorry for his + poor little brother the rabbit, so after thinking it over he told the + rabbit to jump up on one of his flat horns while he was holding them down. + Then the moose carried him out some distance from the council meeting, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "There is no hope for you here. The most of the animals live on you, and so + they will not do anything that will make it more difficult for you to be + caught than it is now. Your only chance is to go to Nanahboozhoo, and see + what he can do for you." +</p> +<p> + "Hurrah!" shouted Sagastao. "I thought it would be to Nanahboozhoo after + all." +</p> +<p> + Continuing, Souwanas said: +</p> +<p> + "The moose encouraged the rabbit by saying, 'Nanahboozhoo's name was once + Manabush, or Keche-Wapoose, Great Rabbit, and so I am sure he will be your + friend, as I think he is a distant relation.' +</p> +<p> + "Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route + described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was + stopping. The rabbit was such a timid creature that when he came near to + Nanahboozhoo he was much afraid that he would not be welcomed. However, his + case was desperate, and although his heart was thumping within him with + fear he hurried along to have the thing over as soon as possible. To his + great joy he found Nanahboozhoo in the best of humor and he was received + most kindly. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo saw how wearied and tired the rabbit was after the long + journey, and so he made him rest on some fragrant grass in the sunshine + while he went out and brought in for him to eat some of the choicest things + from his garden. Then afterward he had the rabbit tell of all his troubles + and of how he was treated at the council. +</p> +<p> + "This part of the story, of how they acted at the council, made + Nanahboozhoo very angry. +</p> +<p> + "'And that's the way they treated this little brother at the council we + have given them, where it is expected that the smallest and the weakest + shall have the same right to have his case heard and attended to as the + biggest and strongest! It is high time that somebody was coming to me with + council news if things are like this. Look out, Mister Fox, and Wolverine, + and Wild Cat, for if I get after you I will so straighten you out that you + will be sorry that the rabbit had to go to Nanahboozhoo for the help you + ought to have given him!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had worked himself up into such a furious temper that the + rabbit was almost frightened to death. But when he saw this Nanahboozhoo + only laughed at him, and said he was sorry to have scared him. +</p> +<p> + "'I was so angry,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'at those animals for ill-treating + you that I forgot myself; and now, little brother, what do you want me to + do for you?' +</p> +<p> + "They had a long talk about the matter and the decision was that there + should be two great changes. The first was that the eyes of the rabbit were + to be so increased in power that they should in future be able to see by + night as well as by day, and the second was that in all Northlands where + much snow falls during many months of the year rabbits shall change into a + beautiful white color, like the snow, and thus continue as long as the + winter lasts. And the rabbits now have a much better time than they had + formerly. They can glide away in the darkness from their enemies when in + the woods, and when out in the snow they are not easily seen and often + escape notice by remaining perfectly still." +</p> +<p> + But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note + to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more + welcome than Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + "But what about the red eyes of the ducks?" said the two children, whose + appetites for stories were simply—well, like those of other boys and + girls. +</p> +<p> + Here the father had to interfere and say that there had been quite enough + for one day. However, before the walk homeward began, Souwanas was pledged + to tell the other story at the first convenient opportunity. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH20"> CHAPTER XX.</a></h3> + <h4> + Passing Hunters and Their Spoils—The Vain Woman—Why + the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. +</h4> +<p> + As the home where Sagastao and Minnehaha lived was near a trail along which + numbers of Indian hunters were accustomed to travel when on their way to + the trading post with their furs, they frequently called in to see their + loved friends the palefaces. These hunters were always welcome, and as they + were very seldom in a hurry the children drew from them many a quaint + Indian legend or story of animal life. +</p> +<p> + It was also a great pleasure for the children to have the hunters, + returning from a successful trip, open their fur packs and spread out + before them the rich furs and tell them stories about these animals—the + silver fox, the otter, beavers, minks, martens, ermines, and sometimes even + about great bears and wolves, whose skin they had often had. These valuable + furs were generally well dressed and prepared for shipment by the + industrious women before they were taken to the trading post. Sometimes, + however, a hunter when on the trail to the trading post would find in one + of his traps an animal just caught, and not having time to return to his + wigwam and have the skin dressed and dried he would carry the animal just + as it was and sell it to the fur traders. +</p> +<p> + One day there called a number of Indians, and among them was a hunter with + a couple of martens which he had caught in his trap that very morning. + Sagastao and Minnehaha had never seen these little animals before, and they + handled them with much interest and asked several questions about them. +</p> +<p> + "Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The Indians looked at each other and a grim smile flitted over their + bronzed faces when they heard this question. +</p> +<p> + Their conduct only the more excited the curiosity of the children and they + both clamored for the answer. Then one of the Indians said: +</p> +<p> + "Ask Mary; she knows all about the story, and as a woman was in the affair + she can tell it better than we can." +</p> +<p> + With this answer the children had to be content, for the hunters, having + drank their cups of tea, soon took their departure. +</p> +<p> + When the children found Mary they at once demanded the story. +</p> +<p> + "What story?" said Mary. +</p> +<p> + "O, you know what we want, for you were in the kitchen and heard what was + said." +</p> +<a name="Illus022"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus022.jpg" width="245" height="194" +alt="Wigwams and Indians."> +</p> +<p> + But Mary still protested her ignorance, and declared that she had been so + busy caring for Souwanaquenapeke that she had not listened to half the + chatter that had passed between them and the Indians. +</p> +<p> + "O, I know you, sakehow Mary," said Sagastao. "You don't want to tell us + because there was a woman like yourself mixed up in it." +</p> +<p> + Mary bridled up with indignation, but before she could utter a word the + arms of Sagastao were around her neck, and he cried: +</p> +<p> + "Forgive me, sakehou! for speaking so foolishly. I do remember now that you + had left the kitchen with baby before Minnehaha asked the question." +</p> +<p> + This prompt apology and the sweet word "sakehow" restored harmony, and Mary + was now anxious to please them. +</p> +<p> + "What was the question which interested you?" asked Mary. +</p> +<p> + "Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + "And the men told us to go to you because there was a woman in it," added + Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + Mary smiled when she heard this. +</p> +<p> + "Yes," she said, "there was a foolish woman mixed up in the story. It was + like this, as far as I can remember, and it is a story from the North + people. Long ago a man had a wife who was a very proud, vain woman. She was + not contented with having her husband and her own people saying nice things + about her, but she wanted to be flattered and admired by every creature. + You know that I have told you that, in old times, animals could talk and do + many things. Well, this conceited woman, with her silly foolish way, began + attracting the different animals around her. Almost everybody was laughing + at her, but she seemed to think it great fun to have so many admirers. She + got a lesson one day when flirting with the bear. They were walking along + together and she let him put his arm around her, but he gave her such a hug + that he broke two of her ribs. She was a long time getting well and then + her husband gave her a great lecturing. You would have thought that this + would have cured her, but not a bit of it. When she was well again she was + just as silly as ever, though she took good care not to flirt with any + animal that could hug like a bear. She next bewitched the skunk with her + foolishness. But one day, as they walked together, a dog suddenly attacked + the skunk and in his anger and excitement he so perfumed the woman, instead + of the dog, with his odor that her husband found her out and gave her a + beating. +</p> +<p> + "Everybody was now laughing at her on account of her silly ways, and as her + husband had persons employed to see what creatures she went out walking + with she had to remain at home in her wigwam. But when a woman gets proud + and conceited and carries on like this one did she is hard to cure. The + fact was, her husband was too kind to her. He did not give her plenty of + work to keep her busy and out of mischief. Instead of making her chop the + wood and carry the water, and do other hard things, he did it for her, for + he was very proud of her and she was indeed a beautiful woman. He did, + however, make her stay in their wigwam instead of allowing her to go about + wherever she liked. +</p> +<p> + "She spent most of her time in fixing herself up in her beautiful clothes + and thinking what a lovely creature she was. But she soon missed the + flattery of her admirers and resolved that, in spite of her husband, she + would try to hear it again. So vigilant, however, were her husband and his + friends that they were too clever for her. +</p> +<p> + "One day her husband returned from hunting and visiting his traps and + snares. Among other animals that he had trapped was a beautiful marten. He + had caught it in what is called a dead-fall; that is, where a log is so + arranged that when the animal reaches the bait he is directly under the + log, which falls upon him the instant he pulls the bait. +</p> +<p> + "When the woman took up the marten which her husband had thrown at her feet + she noticed that it was still quite warm, but she said nothing about it to + her husband, who, picking up an ax and blanket, said that he was going off + to visit his more distant traps and would not be back for some days. Before + he left he made her promise that she would not leave the wigwam until his + return. +</p> +<p> + "The woman, as soon as she was sure that her husband was really gone, + picked up the marten. On examining it she was convinced that it was not + dead, only knocked senseless by the falling log, so she rubbed it, and + breathed into its nostrils, and then with a reed blew air into its lungs. +</p> +<p> + "Sure enough, the life was in it, and the first sign it gave was a big + sneeze or two. At this the woman wrapped it up in a warm covering and held + it until it was well again. The marten, of course, was very much frightened + when it found itself in the hands of a woman. It was about to struggle to + get free, when the woman spoke to it in its own language. At this it was + very much surprised, and more so when the woman told it how she had given + it back its life, and that now in return it must do what she desired. +</p> +<p> + "Any animal or human being would be willing to promise as much when its + life had been thus restored to it. +</p> +<p> + "'I will do anything I can for you,' said the marten. +</p> +<p> + "'I want you to go to your king marten,' said the woman, 'and tell him that + a beautiful lady has heard so many wonderful things about him that she is + very anxious to have a visit from him.' +</p> +<p> + "This the marten promised to do, and it was not very long before the king + marten came. Of course he had to be very cautious, as he had been warned of + the many who were watching the silly woman. +</p> +<p> + "Hardly, however, had he time to say much to her before the footsteps of + her husband were heard outside. The instant he opened the door of the + wigwam the king marten ran out, and disappeared in the forest. +</p> +<p> + "'What was that?' asked the husband. +</p> +<p> + "'O, dear, that was the marten you trapped. It must have come to life and + escaped,' said the woman, who thus cleverly saved herself and the king + marten. +</p> +<p> + "The man was suspicious, but as the marten which he had trapped was not to + be found he could not find fault with her, except to say that she ought to + have skinned the marten soon after he had brought it in. +</p> +<p> + "The king marten, who was a very conceited fellow, had been quite struck + with the beauty of the woman, and so, in spite of his narrow escape, he + resolved to go and see her again. By watching her husband's departure he + managed to have several brief visits, and at length became so infatuated + with her that he tried to coax her to run away with him. +</p> +<p> + "When she heard this she was very angry, for, with all her foolishness, she + had only acted as she did because of her vanity and love of flattery. Now + that the marten had dared make such a request she resolved that he should + be punished; so one day, when he was sitting beside her and saying a lot of + foolish flattery, she heard the footsteps of her husband approaching, but + did not warn the king marten. +</p> +<p> + "So the man thus caught the old marten sitting by the side of his wife. At + this he was much annoyed, and as the marten suddenly ran out the man asked + the woman what it meant. So she told him all that the marten had said, and + of his impertinence in asking her to leave him and become the marten's + wife. At this the man was very indignant, and so they arranged to punish + the marten. +</p> +<p> + "The next time the man went off he told his wife to fill the kettle with + water and put it on the fire to boil. Then the man took his traps and + started off as though he were going on a long journey. But he only went a + little way, just far enough to throw the marten off his guard, and, sure + enough, while he was watching he saw the marten go into the wigwam. +</p> +<p> + "Then the man came quietly to the door and listened. He heard the marten + urging his wife to leave and run away with him. Then he suddenly sprang + into the tent and shouted out: +</p> +<p> + "'Old king marten, what are you doing here? How dare you talk to my wife?' +</p> +<p> + "So saying, the man seized the kettle of boiling water and threw its + contents at the marten, severely scalding him. The marten tore at his + burning breast as he dashed away into the woods. And from that day to this + all martens have that whitish spot on their chests caused by that burn." +</p> +<p> + "What became of the woman?" said Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Never mind now. We have wasted too much time already on such a + good-for-nothing conceited flirt," said Mary. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH21"> CHAPTER XXI.</a></h3> +<h4> + Shooting Loons—Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red + Eyes, and Such Queer Feet—Nanahboozhoo Loses His + Dinner—Origin of Lichens—Why Some Willows are + Red—The Partridge. +</h4> +<p> + Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have the Indians take + them in their canoes for a couple of hours' trip on the bright waters of + the beautiful lake that spread out before their home. +</p> +<p> + These pleasant outings were sometimes rendered exciting and doubly + interesting by the sight of a black bear or a deer wandering on the shore + or swimming from some point on the island. At other times there would be + numbers of loons, or great Northern divers, as they are generally called. + Their wonderful quickness in diving, then the length of time that they + could remain under the water and the great distance they would swim before + coming to the surface were watched with great interest by both Sagastao and + Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + The Indians did not often hunt loons. In fact they found it so difficult to + shoot one that more than its value in ammunition was generally expended in + the attempt. The Indians always declared that these clever birds could see + the flash of their guns and dive down out of danger before the shot reached + them. +</p> +<p> + However, as some of them were desired for their beautiful feather-covered + skins, which make most valuable and beautiful caps and muffs, it was + decided that Souwanas and Kennedy should take the missionary's + breech-loading rifle, in addition to their own guns, and try to secure a + few. +</p> +<p> + The children begged to be allowed to accompany them, and as the day was + unusually fine and the lake almost without a ripple they were given a + holiday and allowed the privilege of an all-day outing with these two + trusty and experienced men. +</p> +<p> + A generous lunch, with the indispensable tea kettle, was placed in the + canoe by careful Mary, who, as usual, was angry that the children were to + be so long under the witchery of old Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + With the merry shouts of laughter from the children as their accompaniment + the two Indians skillfully plied their paddles, and it was not long before + they were some miles distant and on the lookout for loons. It often happens + that the things desired are the last to come. So it was this day. Wild + ducks in goodly numbers, and even geese and some swans and pelicans were + frequently seen. At length, however, strange, mournful sounds far ahead + were heard, and the experienced Indians knew that the birds for which they + were looking were not far away. Still it was some time before the first + long white neck and black head were seen in the distance, for the cry of + the loon not only differs from that of any other bird, but is very + far-reaching. +</p> +<p> + The excited children were now told to be very still and keep quiet, using + their eyes alone, and witness the contest between man's skill and the + birds' cleverness. +</p> +<p> + So accustomed have some old loons become to being fired at and missed by + Indians using the old-fashioned flintlock shotgun, which makes such a flash + when fired, that they just barely keep out of range. The instant they see + the fire flash—down they go, and then as the shot or bullet strikes the + place where they were they bob up again serenely in the same spot, or in + one not very far distant. This risky sport some of them will keep up for + hours, or until the disheartened hunters have wasted nearly all their + ammunition. +</p> +<p> + To-day, however, there was to be a new weapon tried against them, and, alas + for them, they were sadly worsted. Kennedy first loaded his old flintlock + shotgun and blazed away, but, as usual, they were out of sight under the + water before the shot struck the place where the loons had been. +</p> +<p> + For a time the loons were shy, and swam quite a distance away. But after a + while, as they found that Kennedy's gunshots could be dodged, they did not + bother to swim very far away. This was just what Souwanas was waiting for. + He now took up the rifle, and as soon as a loon came to the surface he + fired from this new weapon, that gave no flash to warn the poor bird of the + deadly bullet that was so rapidly speeding on its way. Thus it happened + that loon after loon was struck and several beautiful birds were + secured—greatly to the sorrow of the children, who delighted in watching + their clever diving and sudden reappearance after Kennedy discharged his + old gun. Out of deference to their feelings the Indians soon ceased + shooting, although with this new rifle they could easily have secured many + more. +</p> +<p> + "Let us now go ashore, on one of these islands," said Sagastao, "and have + our lunch." +</p> +<p> + "And a Nanahboozhoo story after," put in Minnehaha. +</p> +<p> + This plan was just what the Indians were thinking about, and so in a short + time they were all on the shore. Dry wood was abundant and a bright fire + was soon burning, and then, when the water was boiled and the tea made, the + lunch basket was opened and the meal was much enjoyed by all. +</p> +<p> + "Now, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "we are all ready for the story at the + same time, and if your pipe goes out I'll hand you a burning stick with + which you can light it again." +</p> +<p> + "Maybe I will keep you very busy," remarked the old man, much amused at the + offer—and so it proved, for his pipe to-day persisted in going out. +</p> +<p> + "One day," began Souwanas, "as Nanahboozhoo was walking along the shore of + a lake he became hungry. He considered what it would be best for him to do + in order to procure something to eat. He decided to deceive the waterfowls. + He saw a duck swimming along near the shore and spoke to the bird in this + fashion: +</p> +<p> + "'Come here, my brother.' +</p> +<p> + "'What is it?' said the duck, as it approached Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "'Kesha Munedoo (Gracious Spirit) has revealed words to me to tell to all + the waterfowl some very important things. Go and tell all sorts of + waterfowl to come, and when they are all together I will inform you what + has been revealed to me.' +</p> +<p> + "The duck obeyed Nanahboozhoo, who in the meantime made a very bare wigwam + of green boughs, or rather caused it to appear that he did, for he did not + exert much labor upon it. All sorts of waterfowl came to Nanahboozhoo and + they seemed anxious to hear what had been revealed. Nanahboozhoo received + them with great apparent friendliness and invited them to come into the + wigwam. When they had all entered, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'You must all dance, first, before I tell you what has been revealed to + me. All of you must stand close together around inside of the wigwam and + put your necks close together while dancing, and all of you must flap your + wings at the same time.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo commenced singing: +</p> +<p> + "'Pau-zau-gwa-be-she-moog,<br /> + Ke-ku-ma-mis-kwa-she-gun.' + </p> + <p> + ("'Shut your eyes,<br /> + And I'll make you wise.') +</p> +<p> + "These words Nanahboozhoo repeated three times. +</p> +<p> + "All the fowl kept time to the music and words of the song, and danced, + shutting their eyes. Nanahboozhoo continued singing, changing to the + following words: +</p> +<p> +"'Au-yun-ze-kwa-gau.' +</p> +<p> + "All the time such was Nanahboozhoo's power over the birds that they kept + singing and dancing and at the same time holding their heads close + together. Nanahboozhoo's voice was singing in the center of the tent, his + drum beating at the same time, while he in person went around in the wigwam + or lodge wringing the necks of the waterfowl and throwing them on the side + of the lodge. The loon, the great diver bird, was dancing on the open door + side of the lodge. He suspected that Nanahboozhoo was up to some of his + tricks, doing something bad, so he opened his eyes and saw. At once he gave + the alarm, and shouted: +</p> +<p> + "'Nanahboozhoo is killing us!' +</p> +<p> + "All the fowl that were still alive when they heard these words at once + flew out at the top opening of the lodge, except the loon, or diver, and he + being at the door turned and ran out of the lodge as fast as he could + toward the shore of the lake. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was so angry at him for daring to open his eyes, and then for + warning the others, enabling many of them to get away, that he ran after + him and stamped upon him as he had just reached the shore. Hence it is, + because of Nanahboozhoo's cruelty, that the loon has had a flat back and + red eyes, and its feet are so unlike those of any other waterfowl. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had made a large fire he took the waterfowls he had + killed before the diver gave the alarm, and covered them under the ashes, + leaving only their feet sticking out. While he was waiting for them to cook + he felt very sleepy, so he lay down to rest. +</p> +<p> + "But before he went to sleep he said, 'My face side has always done all the + watching. This is not fair. I will make my back do its share of the + watching.' +</p> +<p> + "So, as he cuddled down to have a sleep before the fire, he said to his + back: +</p> +<p> + "'Now, you do the watching, you lazy, broad back, while I am sleeping.' + Then, being very tired, he fell into a heavy sleep. +</p> +<p> + "After a time the watcher called out: +</p> +<p> + "'Nanahboozhoo! Indians are coming!' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo slightly raised himself, but he saw no Indians, so he lay + down to sleep again. +</p> +<p> + "But again and yet again, for three times, did his faithful watcher call + and warn him against his approaching enemies. Nanahboozhoo was now so + stupid with sleep that he only aroused himself a little, not enough to + enable him to detect the lurking enemy. So he became very angry with his + watcher, his broad back, and gave it a great thrashing, saying: +</p> +<p> + "'There! take that, you great stupid watcher, for so disturbing me with + your false reports!' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo fell asleep again. The broad back was very much offended + at the treatment he had received, for he knew he was right, and now, though + the Indians were close at hand, he did not again warn Nanahboozhoo, so the + enemies came and stole all of his cooked fowls. The Indians carefully + lifted out the fowls by their legs, which Nanahboozhoo left sticking up. + When they had eaten the bodies of the fowls they stuck back the legs in the + ashes, as Nanahboozhoo had left them. +</p> +<p> + "When at last his sleep was ended Nanahboozhoo arose ready for his meal of + nicely cooked fowl. Great, indeed, were his surprise and indignation when + he pulled out the feet from the ashes and found that the bodies of the + fowls were not there. +</p> +<p> + "He flew into a passion and resolved to punish his back. So he made a fire + of big trees and stood with his back very close to it. When his flesh began + to be badly burned it blistered, and made a noise like the roasting of + meat. Nanahboozhoo did not at first seem to mind the pain, and only said: +</p> +<p> + "'You may well say 'Zeeng, Zeeng,' in your burning. I will teach you a + lesson you will remember for not telling me that the Indians were stealing + my roasted waterfowl.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then went on his way, but in spite of his magic powers he + felt a sort of a soreness in his back. He twisted his head around and saw + the blisters that had been made by the fierce fire. So he thought how he + must get rid of them, for they bothered him, although nothing could injure + him for very long. While walking on the edge of a precipice he slipped—and + away he slid, far down the rocky side. When he reached the bottom, he + looked back, and there, on the rock, on which he had slid down, he saw + things which he had never seen before. +</p> +<p> + "'My nephews,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'when they see these things on the rocks, + will call them Wau-konug (lichen), and although they are poor food they + will keep them from starving when they have nothing better.' +</p> +<p> + "This is the Indian tradition of the origin of the patches of lichen + attached to the bare rocks. The Indians still call them 'no-scabs,' and + when boiled they make a kind of jelly food which is a little better than + starvation. +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, although his back was bleeding from his sliding down + the rough rocks, continued walking, sometimes along the shore and sometimes + in the thick bush. In one place where the thicket was very dense such was + his magic power that he pulled a lot of the thickets together and walked + over on their tops. When he looked back he saw that the blood from the + wounds in his back had given a red color to the bushes over which he had + walked. Then said Nanahboozhoo: +</p> +<p> + "'My nephews will call these bushes "Me-squah-be-me-sheen" (red willows). + They will use them to stop bleeding when they meet with any severe + accidents;' and such the Indians still do when they live among them. +</p> +<p> + "This is the tradition as to the origin of the red willow, once so common + in many of the Indian haunts. +</p> +<p> + "The reason why the partridge is called Kosh-ko-e-wa-soo (one that + startles) is because one made even Nanahboozhoo give a big jump. It + happened in this way: +</p> +<p> + "As Nanahboozhoo was walking along one day in the woods he saw a small + creature. This little thing thought it would be best for him to be brave in + the presence of Nanahboozhoo, and so when he was asked who he was he + answered: +</p> +<p> + "'I am one who startles.' +</p> +<p> + "'You cannot startle me,' said Nanahboozhoo. +</p> +<p> + "The little creature suddenly flew away and Nanahboozhoo resumed his + journey. By and by he reached a dangerous rocky point on the shore. Just as + he was at the worst point the partridge suddenly flew almost from under his + feet with a rumbling noise, and so startled him that he jumped up, sprang + quickly aside, fell into the water, and got a great wetting. So even + Nanahboozhoo had to confirm the name of the little partridge." +</p> +<p> + The return trip was not much enjoyed by the children. The dead loons in the + canoe did not look as attractive as they had appeared when swimming and + diving so gracefully in the lake. Souwanas was quick to notice their + depression of spirits, and he there and then resolved that he would never + again shoot any living thing in their presence, and he faithfully kept his + resolve. +</p> +<p> + Mary met them as they landed and her quick eyes detected the change in + their spirits, and as they wore their hearts on their sleeves for her she + quickly found out the cause of their sorrow. She was not slow in availing + herself of the opportunity afforded of giving Souwanas and Kennedy a + vigorous scolding for nearly breaking the hearts of her precious darlings, + by killing in their presence some of the birds whose play they had often + watched for hours together. +</p> +<p> + The two men took her scolding in their usual silent way, and then had a + quiet laugh together when her wrath had exhausted itself and she had + indignantly walked off with the children. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH22"> CHAPTER XXII.</a></h3> +<h4> + Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who + Lets Him Fall—A Short-lived Triumph—Why the Buzzard + has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. +</h4> +<p> + One beautiful warm day, when the leaves of the trees were all bright and + golden with their autumnal tints, the children were visiting at the tent of + Souwanas. +</p> +<p> + The old man was making a beautiful little bow and a quiver full of arrows + for Sagastao while the old wife was manufacturing an elaborate baby cradle, + of the Indian pattern, for Minnehaha, in which she could carry her favorite + doll in the style popular among the Indian girls. +</p> +<p> + The children were much interested in watching these highly-prized gifts + being prepared for them, and of course had much to say in the way of thanks + to those who were doing so much to add to their happiness. +</p> +<p> + While they were thus busy several canoes were seen coming from the south. + As the wind was favorable sails had been improvised out of blankets, each + fastened to a couple of oars, and with these simple appliances they sped + rapidly along. Seeing Souwanas's wigwam on the point of land the Indians + came to the shore and smoked and chatted for a short time ere they resumed + their journey toward the north. +</p> +<a name="Illus023"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus023.jpg" width="240" height="359" +alt="The Indian story-teller."> +</p> +<p> +They had in their canoes quite a variety of game, and among them a large + ill-smelling bird called a turkey-buzzard. It was said that the young + Indian hunter who had shot it thought at first that it really was a turkey, + but he found out his mistake when he went to lift it from the ground where + it had fallen. The odor was so offensive that at first he thought he would + leave it behind, but when he remembered that often some of the large + feathers were used in ornamental work he decided to bring it along. +</p> +<p> + The children were interested in its appearance, as this was the first dead + turkey-buzzard they had ever seen. +</p> +<p> + "Look, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "the poor birdie has no feathers on its + neck or head. It must be very cold there when the winter comes." +</p> +<p> + "Well, I think that, as likely as not, it was its own fault that it lost + its feathers," said Sagastao, and then he added as he poked the rank bird + over with a stick: +</p> +<p> + "I would not be surprised to hear that Nanahboozhoo had something to do + with it." +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo had," said Souwanas, "and it was because of a mean trick that + the buzzard played upon him. And now that these Indians are off, who are in + a hurry to reach Poplar Point, if you will sit down on the rocks in the + warm sunshine I will tell you the story." +</p> +<p> + No second invitation was necessary, so while the children seated themselves + near him on the; smooth granite rock the old man continued his arrow making + and told them the following story: +</p> +<p> + "One day when Nanahboozhoo was walking through the country he saw the + buzzard soaring up high in the air. Like an eagle, he was making graceful + circles round and round with very little effort. After a time the buzzard + flew down to the earth, and there he stood on a rock with his great wings + outstretched. Nanahboozhoo quietly approached and entered into conversation + with him. +</p> +<p> + "'Brother Buzzard,' he said, 'you must be very happy when sailing around up + there in the blue sky where you can so easily see everything that is going + on down here on the world below you. I wish you would take me up there on + your back and let me see how this world looks from that high place in the + blue sky, where you live so much.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard on hearing this request at once flew down to the side of + Nanahboozhoo and said: +</p> +<p> + "'I will with pleasure take you up on my back and let you see, as you + desire, how the world looks from that high place.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo, seeing how smooth was the back of the great bird, said: +</p> +<p> + "'Brother Buzzard, your back is so smooth that I am afraid I will slip off, + so you must be careful not to sweep round too rapidly in your circles in + the sky.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard told Nanahboozhoo that he would be very careful although at + the same time he was resolved, if it were possible, to play a trick on him; + for he had a grudge of some long standing against him which Nanahboozhoo + seemed to have forgotten. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard and held by his + feathers as well as he possibly could. The buzzard then took a short run, + sprang from the ground, and spreading his great strong wings speedily rose + up higher and higher in the sky. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo at first felt rather timid as he found himself thus rapidly + soaring through the air, especially as it was so difficult for him to keep + his seat. When the buzzard began circling round and round it was even more + difficult, for the body of the bird leaned over more and more as his speed + increased. But Nanahboozhoo was very clever, and after a while he became + more accustomed to his queer position and was very much interested in the + splendid sights of the great world beneath him, over which he could now see + for such a great distance. Lakes and rivers, forests and mountains, all + gave delight to Nanahboozhoo, who had wonderful powers of vision. +</p> +<p> + "At length, as they rose up higher and higher in the blue sky, Nanahboozhoo + shouted out in his delight as far away in the distance he recognized the + wigwam of his grandmother, Nokomis. Indeed so delighted was he that for a + moment he let go his hold on the buzzard and swung up his arms in his + excitement. The treacherous buzzard noticed this, saw it was the + opportunity for which he had been watching, and circled round so suddenly + that his body was tilted over, and before Nanahboozhoo could regain his + grip he slipped off the smooth back and fell like a stone to the ground. So + terrible was the force with which he struck the earth that he was knocked + senseless, and lay there for a long time like one dead. +</p> +<p> + "But, as I have told you, Nanahboozhoo was more than human and nothing + could really kill him. So it happened that after a while he recovered his + senses, but he was annoyed, disgusted, that he had allowed the buzzard to + play such a mean trick on him. +</p> +<p> + "Then he prepared to resume his journey, and of course he looked up to see + if there were any sign of the buzzard. He had not far to look, for there, + up in the sky, not far off, was the old buzzard laughing at the trick he + had played upon Nanahboozhoo, and much pleased with his own cleverness in + deceiving one known to be so crafty. +</p> +<p> + "'Laugh away, old buzzard,' said Nanahboozhoo. 'You have had the best of me + this time, but look out! For I will put a mark upon you for this trick of + yours that will enable your friends and your enemies to recognize you both + by day and by night.' +</p> +<p> + "But the buzzard, from his high safe place in the sky, only laughed back in + derision, and said: +</p> +<p> + "'No, indeed, Nanahboozhoo, you will do nothing of the kind. You have been + deceiving the other creatures, but in me you have found your match. You + cannot deceive me. And now, especially as you have threatened me, I will + always be on the watch for you.' +</p> +<a name="Illus024"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus024.jpg" width="260" height="194" +alt="'Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard.'"> +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo made no reply to this boastful speech, but he did a lot of + thinking, and he soon had his plans laid to teach Mr. Buzzard a lesson he + would never forget. +</p> +<p> + "Resuming his journey he pushed on as though nothing had happened. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard was at first suspicious and watched him for some time. Then + seeing nothing unusual in his movements he flew away into the distant sky. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, in order to carry out his plan to punish the buzzard, + resolved to turn himself into a dead deer. He knew that the buzzard lived + on dead animals of all kinds. He chose a high spot, visible from a great + distance, and there he laid himself down and changed himself into the body + of a great deer. It was not long before the various animals and birds that + subsist on such things began to gather round this dead body. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard, that has such wonderful eyes, to see great distances, saw + from afar this gathering of the birds and animals, and as he was ever on + the lookout for such things he soon joined the rest of the creatures around + the deer. He flew round and round it several times, for he was at first + somewhat suspicious. The closest inspection, however, showed him that it + was only a dead deer, and that was the unanimous opinion of all the other + animals and birds that gathered there. There could be no doubt in any + creature's mind but that it was a deer and that it was quite dead. +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard, now that all his suspicions were gone, in his great greed to + get the best he could savagely began, with his powerful beak, tearing a + hole in the side of the body that he might get down to the rich fat that is + around the kidneys. This is what those fierce, greedy birds always try to + get first. Deeper and deeper into the flesh he tore, until at length he was + able to crowd in his head and neck to reach the dainty morsels he so much + prized. +</p> +<p> + "This was just what Nanahboozhoo was waiting for, and when the head and + neck of the buzzard were completely hidden in the body up jumped the deer, + and as he did so the flesh closed up so tightly around the head and neck of + the buzzard that the greedy bird was there securely held. +</p> +<p> + "'Ha, ha, old buzzard! I did catch you after all, as I said I would,' said + Nanahboozhoo. 'Now pull out your neck and head.' +</p> +<p> + "The buzzard with very great difficulty at length succeeded in drawing his + head out of the side of the deer. The effort to do so, however, was so + great that he lost all of the beautiful feathers that once adorned his head + and neck. From that day they have never grown on him again, and there is + nothing there to be seen but the red rough-looking skin. +</p> +<p> + "'Never again,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'will feathers cover your neck or head, + and so your friends and enemies, as they see you, will be reminded of how + Nanahboozhoo punished you for playing one of your tricks on him. And also + from this time forward your food will only be of the rankest kind, and the + disagreeable odor will so cling to you that even in the darkest nights your + hateful presence will be detected and shunned.' +</p> +<p> + "Thus," added Souwanas, "the buzzard is the most despised of birds, because + he is such an ugly fellow, with his featherless head and neck, and because + his disagreeable odor taints the sweet air wherever he goes." +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH23"> CHAPTER XXIII.</a></h3> +<h4> + A Moonlight Trip on the Lake—The Legend of the + Orphan Boy—His Appeal to the Man in the Moon—How + He Conquered His Enemies. +</h4> +<p> + Moonlight nights in the Northland are often very beautiful. There in the + summer time the gloaming continues until nearly midnight. Then nothing can + be more glorious than to glide along amid the beautiful fir-clad rocky + islands in a birch canoe over the still transparent waters. So large and + luminous are the full moons of July and August that, with the west aglow + and with the wondrous aurora flashing and blazing in the north, there is + practically little night and no darkness at all. +</p> +<p> + Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have permission to go + with Mary and Kennedy in a large roomy birch canoe for a moonlight + excursion during one of those warm, brilliant nights. With plenty of rugs + or cushions, to make the coziest of seats in the center of the canoe, they + fairly reveled in the beauties of the romantic surroundings while they + floated on the moonlit lake. Often in some place of more than ordinary + beauty Kennedy would cease paddling, and then their very quietness added to + the charms of those happy outings. +</p> +<a name="Illus025"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus025.jpg" width="245" height="203" +alt="With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe."> +</p> +<p> + "Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "I was reading in one of my books about the + 'man in the moon.' Do you know anything about him?" +</p> +<p> + "He is looking at us very kindly to-night," said Minnehaha. "I really + believe I saw him laughing, he is so pleased we have come out to see him + this lovely night." +</p> +<p> + These remarks of the children caused all in the canoe to more closely scan + the great round moon that was shining with silvery whiteness straight in + front of them. +</p> +<p> + "There are lots of stories about the moon among our people," said Mary, + "but not a great many about the man in the moon. There is, however, a queer + one about how he came down and helped a poor orphan boy." +</p> +<p> + "O, tell it to us just now," said Minnehaha, "while he is watching and + listening." +</p> +<p> + "Do, Mary," said Sagastao, "and Minnehaha and I will watch the old fellow + and see how he likes to be talked about." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "Mary will be talking to him to his face, and not + behind his back, as people sometimes do when talking about others." +</p> +<p> + Thus the children ran on with their prattle. Mary and Kennedy were much + amused. +</p> +<p> + "Come, Mary, hurry up! Father said the gloaming would end about eleven, and + we must be at the shore by that time." +</p> +<p> + "Pretty late hours for little children," said Kennedy. +</p> +<p> + "Never mind that," said Sagastao; "we will make up for it in winter time, + when it gets dark at four o'clock." +</p> +<p> + With Sagastao on one side of her in the big canoe and Minnehaha on the + other—their favorite positions when listening to her fascinating stories + as she crooned them out in her soft, musical Cree—Mary told them the + story. +</p> +<p> + "Long ago," she began, "there was a poor orphan boy who had neither father + nor mother, uncle, aunt, nor any living relative that he knew of. He had a + very hard time of it, as the people did not seem to take kindly to him. So + he had to live just where he could. He managed to get along all right + during the pleasant summer time, but when the long cold winters began he + suffered very much. One winter some selfish people let him live with them + because he was willing to work hard for what little they did for him. They + treated him badly in many ways. They made him go out into the woods and cut + firewood, but when he brought it home they would only allow him to stay in + the cold entry-way which they had built to their winter dwelling. +</p> +<p> + "They made him go and hunt different animals for food, and then when he + brought, them home they cooked and ate the best themselves, and just threw + the fragments and bones to him as they would to a dog. Every member of the + household treated him very cruelly, except a nice little girl, the youngest + daughter of the family. She felt very sorry for him. She would secretly + take him better food, and she furnished him with a knife with which he + could cut the tough pieces of meat. She had to be very careful not to be + discovered, for if found out she would have been severely punished. So her + pity had to show itself on the sly, and the few words she was able to tell + him of her sympathy had to be whispered as she passed him, when nobody was + looking or listening. The poor boy up to this time had no ambition to + better himself, but her kind words and deeds made him resolve that he must + begin and do something for himself. But what could he do? Everybody seemed + against him but this little girl, and she could do nothing in the way of + helping him to escape from these people, who, now that he was becoming so + useful to them, would not let him go. What, really, could he do? +</p> +<p> + "Thus the days and weeks and months passed on and there seemed no chance of + escape. He had tried to run away, but had been caught and brought back and + beaten. +</p> +<p> + "One night when it was not very cold he went outside of the narrow entry + where he generally had to sleep and threw himself on the ground and cried + in his sorrow and despair. He seemed to be utterly unable to better + himself. As he lay there he began looking up at the great bright moon that, + now so large and round, was, he thought, looking earnestly at him. Soon he + was able to see that there was a great man in the moon. As he watched him + he was glad to notice that he was not looking crossly at him, but kindly, + and so he began crying to the man in the moon to come and help him to + escape from the miserable life he was leading. Sure enough, as the boy kept + on crying and pleading he saw the man in the moon beginning to come down to + this world. He came to the very spot where the unhappy boy was lying, but + instead of helping him he made him stand up and then he gave him a good + sound thrashing, making the boy, however, strike back at him as vigorously + as he could. The beating he got very much disheartened and discouraged the + boy, for it was not what he had expected. On the following night, when he + had recovered a little, he began reproaching the man in the moon. +</p> +<p> + "'I called for you,' he said, 'to come and help me against my enemies, and + now you have come and thrashed me.' +</p> +<p> + "But these words, instead of softening the man in the moon, caused him to + come down again and give the poor boy a far worse thrashing than before, + but for every blow he made the boy return one as good as he had received. +</p> +<p> + "Now for the first time the boy began to notice that the more he was beaten + the stronger he grew. Still he could not understand what the man in the + moon meant. So he came again, and they had another regular set-to, and the + boy had another good sound thrashing. He asked him what was the meaning of + his beating him thus. The man in the moon now spoke to him, but his words + were so much like a puzzle that at first the boy did not understand them. + This is what the man in the moon said: +</p> +<p> + "'Would you triumph o'er the strong?<br /> + + + + + Be strong.<br /> + Would you let them no more conquer?<br /> + + + + + Conquer.' + </p> +<p> + "For a time the boy repeated them over and over. He used to say that as the + result of these meetings with the man in the moon he had grown so strong + that he was nearly able to hold his own against his antagonist. Then one + day, when the man in the moon was puffing from the encounter, the latter + said: +</p> +<p> + "'Now by hard knocks and exercise I have put you on the way of ending your + troubles. Be strong, and conquer. Farewell! I am not coming again, as you + do not need me any more.' +</p> +<p> + "Then away he flew back to his place in the moon. +</p> +<p> + "The boy seemed now to know that he was to use his strength for his own + deliverance. To test himself he began tossing up the stones that were so + numerous on the shore of the lake. First he began with quite small ones, + but soon he found that he could pick up and throw about great big ones, + that were like rocks. When he returned from this last contest with the man + in the moon it was nearly daylight. +</p> +<p> + "At first the people began ordering him about as usual. But they soon had + reason to be sorry for their cruelty and abuse, for the boy seized one + after another of them and flung them with such violence against the rocks + that their brains were dashed out and their blood ran in streams down the + sides of the rocks—where it turned into seams in the rocks which can be + seen to this day. +</p> +<p> + "One person only, of all who lived in that dwelling, did the now strong boy + leave alive, and that was, of course, the good-hearted little girl who used + to speak kind words to him and befriend him when she could. +</p> +<p> + "They grew to be very fond of each other, and were afterward married and + lived in full possession of all the things that once belonged to the cruel + people for whom the little orphan boy had worked so long." +</p> +<p> + "Well, sakehou," said Sagastao, "I have been watching the man in the moon + while you have been telling the story about his queer way of helping the + boy to help himself, and he was looking pleased all the time. So I am sure + he is well satisfied with the way you have told the story." +</p> +<p> + Old Mary was delighted with these words from the lips of the lad she loved + with such a passionate devotion. +</p> +<p> + "But what do you think about it, little sister?" said the lad, calling to + Minnehaha, who was cuddled down on the other side of Mary. +</p> +<p> + But the darling gave no answer, for she had long ago slipped off into + Dreamland, and there she remained until the strong arms of Kennedy lifted + her up from the canoe and carried her home. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH24"> CHAPTER XXIV.</a></h3> +<h4> +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke—How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake—How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle—The Origin of Tobacco—Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. +</h4> +<p> + Wahkiegun, as Souwanas named the home of his white friends, always had a + warm welcome for Souwanas. Little Souwanaquenapeke had learned to love him + and nothing gave the grave old man greater pleasure than to have charge of + her for hours at a time. He often carried her away to his wigwam and with + great delight explained to visiting Indians how his name was woven into + that of the first little paleface born among his people. +</p> +<p> + Sagastao and Minnehaha, while of course pleased to see the love of the old + chief for their sweet little sister, were sometimes a little impatient when + they found that he would have his hour with her before they could draw a + Nanahboozhoo story out of him. +</p> +<p> + "You are all right," he would say in his dry, humorous way, "as far as you + go; you are only Crees," he would add with a smile, referring to the fact + that they had been born among the Cree Indians farther north; "but + Souwanaquenapeke is better, as she is a pure Saulteaux." +</p> +<p> + This of course would put Sagastao and Minnehaha on the defensive, for in + those days their own pride of birth was that they were Cree Indians. + Faithful old Mary, herself a Cree, would of course take their part, and it + was very amusing—laughable at times—to listen to the wordy strife. In + these discussions Mary was always the one to first lose her temper. When + this happened the penalty was to have the children throw a shawl over her + head and thus silence her. From their loving hands she quietly took her + punishment and was soon restored to good nature. Good-hearted Souwanas then + speedily responded to the call for a story. But the little Souwanaquenapeke + must be, if awake, in his arms, or, if asleep, in a little hammock or + native cradle beside him. +</p> +<p> + "What is it to be about to-day?" asked the old man, as the children, full + of eager anticipation, drew a couple of chairs up before him. +</p> +<p> + After some discussion Souwanas decided to tell them the Nanahboozhoo story + of how he lessened the power of the rattlesnakes to do harm. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, in starting off one day from his grandmother's wigwam, had + put on the disguise of a fine young hunter. He had not gone many miles on + his journey before he came to a little tent on the edge of the forest where + he found a young Indian mother full of grief over her sick child. + Nanahboozhoo could not but feel very sorry for her, especially when he + heard her story that a snake had crawled noiselessly into her tent and had + bitten her little girl while she slept. Nanahboozhoo felt such pity, both + for the weeping mother and the bitten child, that at once he set to work to + counteract the sad doings of the snake. He hurriedly went into the forest, + and there finding a certain plant he said, 'From this day forward the root + of this plant shall be a remedy for all people against the bites of + snakes.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo showed the mother that the roots were to be pounded and + made into a drink and a poultice. The glad mother quickly carried out his + instructions and the little girl was soon well again. The Indians have ever + since been very thankful to Nanahboozhoo for letting them know of this + plant, which they still use for such purposes and which they call + snakeroot. Nanahboozhoo remained until he saw that the little girl was + quite recovered. Then he said: +</p> +<p> + "'Now I will fix that snake so that he will not be able to do so much harm + in the future.' +</p> +<p> + "Then going out he caught the king of the snakes and gave him a great + scolding for the meanness of that one of his family which had crawled into + the tent of the Indian mother and so cruelly bitten that little girl while + she slept. Then getting very angry, for Nanahboozhoo was very + quick-tempered, he said: +</p> +<p> + "'Snakes, like other things, have the right to live. They are given their + place in the world, and their work. They are to keep down the mice, rats, + frogs, toads, and other things that might become too numerous. They have + their poisons given them to defend themselves if attacked. But they have no + right to go and kill or injure anyone doing them no harm. I'll teach you + snakes that in future you cannot quietly crawl about and bite innocent + people thus.' +</p> +<p> + "So he took a piece of the wampum from one of the strings with which he had + decorated himself, and having carefully carved the hard shells of which + wampum is made, Nanahboozhoo firmly fastened them to the snake's tail, and + said: +</p> +<p> + "'From this day forward may all snakes like you have those noisy rattles + upon them, so that all people will call you rattlesnakes. And may it be + that you can never move without making a noise with those rattles, so that + people will always be able to hear them and thus get ready to fight you, or + to get out of your way before you can do any harm.'" +</p> +<p> + "Well done, Nanahboozhoo!" shouted little Sagastao. "He's the one for me. + But why did he not kill all the rattlesnakes at once?" +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was, however, too clever to be caught trying to answer a question + that, although asked by a child, was beyond his knowledge, so he resorted + to his calumet, and as the smoke of it began to taint the air Sagastao + said, "Well, Souwanas, can you tell us where you Indians first got your + tobacco?" +</p> +<p> + This question was more to the taste of the old Indian, so while he smoked + he related the tradition of the introduction of tobacco among his people. +</p> +<p> + "Very many winters ago," said he, "as Nanahboozhoo was traveling on one of + his long journeys he visited a land of great high mountains. One day as he + was passing a great chasm in the mountains he saw some blue smoke slowly + coming up out of it. This excited his curiosity and he went to see what + caused it. As he drew near to it he was very much pleased with its odor. On + further investigation he found that the great cave from which the smoke + arose was inhabited by a giant who was the keeper of tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, on searching, found him half asleep in this cave among great + bales and bags of tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "The smell of the smoke of the tobacco had so pleased Nanahboozhoo that he + asked the giant to give him some. The giant refused in a very surly + fashion, saying that he only gave portions of it away to his friends the + Munedoos, who came once a year to smoke with him. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo, seeing that he was not going to be able to get any by thus + pleading for it, snatched up one of the well-filled tobacco bags, dashed + out with it, and fled away as rapidly as possible. The great giant was + fearfully enraged, and at once began the pursuit of this rash fellow who + had thus stolen his tobacco from under his very nose. +</p> +<p> + "It was a fearful race. Nanahboozhoo had to jump from one mountain top to + the next, and so on and on from peak to peak. Closely behind him followed + the giant, and Nanahboozhoo had all he could do to keep from being + captured. Fortunately for him he now knew the mountains well, and he + remembered one ahead of him the opposite side of which was very steep. When + he reached this top he suddenly threw himself down upon the very edge, and + as the giant passed over him Nanahboozhoo suddenly sprang up and gave him + such a push that he tumbled down into the fearful chasm. He was so bruised + and wounded that, as he got up and hobbled away down the far-off valley, + Nanahboozhoo watching him saw that he looked just like a great grasshopper. + He burst out laughing, and then shouted to the giant: +</p> +<p> + "'For your meanness and selfishness I change you into a grasshopper; + Pukaneh shall be your name and you will always have a dirty mouth.' +</p> +<p> + "And so it is to this day, for every little boy who has caught grasshoppers + knows that their saliva is as though they had been chewing tobacco. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo had rested himself a little he returned to the cave of + the giant and took possession of the great quantities of tobacco he found + there. He divided it among the Indian tribes, and from that time those who + live where it will grow have cultivated it and have supplied all the + others." +</p> +<p> + "I wish," said Minnehaha, "that Nanahboozhoo had left Pukaneh and his + tobacco in the cave, for I don't think tobacco smoke is very nice in the + house." +</p> +<a name="Illus026"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus026.jpg" width="245" height="357" +alt="Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push."> +</p> +<p> + Souwanas was amused with the little girl's opposition to his beloved weed, + and while she was talking took the opportunity to refill his calumet. When + it was in good smoking order he, urgently requested by Sagastao, resumed + his story-telling. +</p> +<p> + "Sometimes it did not fare so well with Nanahboozhoo. There were times when + his cleverness seemed to forsake him, and he got into trouble' that at + other times he would easily have avoided. For example, one day in the + summer time as he was hurrying along he became very thirsty. Soon, however, + he came to a river which has many trees on its banks. He pushed his way + through them until he came to the bank. Just as he was stooping down to + drink he saw some nice ripe fruit in the water. Without seeming to think of + what he was doing he dived into the quite shallow water to get the fruit, + hit his head against the rocky bottom and was pretty badly hurt. He was + vexed and angry as well as disappointed, but he took a good drink of the + water and then he lay down on the grass in the shade of the trees to rest. + As he lay there on his back he saw above him on the branches of the trees + the fruit which he had at first thought was in the water. +</p> +<p> + "Laughing at his own stupidity and climbing up into the trees he soon had + all the ripe fruit he could eat. +</p> +<p> + "Then on he went, and as his head was quite sore from the bump he had got + when he dived into the shallow river he determined to visit some wigwams + which he saw not far off. +</p> +<p> + "The people received him very kindly, with the exception of one surly, + cross old man. They quickly prepared some balsam and put it on his wounded + head. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was well pleased with this kindness, and said that he would + be glad to perform for them some kindly act in return. +</p> +<p> + "Before anyone else, however, could speak the cross old man sneered out: +</p> +<p> + "'O, if you think you are clever enough to do anything, grant that I may + live forever!' +</p> +<p> + "This request and the sneering way in which it was made caused the + quick-tempered Nanahboozhoo to become very angry, and he suddenly sprang up + and caught the Indian by the shoulders and violently throwing him on the + ground said: +</p> +<p> + "'From this time you shall be a stone, and so your request is granted.'" +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="CH25"> CHAPTER XXV.</a></h3> +<h4> +The Dead Moose—The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests—The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe—The Haze of the Indian +Summer. +</h4> +<p> + The sight of four stalwart Indians dragging on a dog sled the body of an + enormous moose on the ice in front of their home very much interested the + children. +</p> +<p> + Nothing would do but they must be wrapped up and allowed to go out and + examine it while the men rested and had a smoke. Its great horns, its + enormous ugly head, and then its coarse, bristle-like hair, had all to be + examined and commented upon. The opportune arrival of Souwanas, who had + been attracted by the sight of the moose, much pleased the children, and + just as soon as the investigation of the moose was over and the hunters had + proceeded on their journey the children insisted on Souwanas going home to + Wahkiegun with them and telling them something about the moose. They also + wanted to hear a wonderful story, which he knew, telling how Nanahboozhoo + helped the elks to conquer the moose. +</p> +<p> + When there is a disposition to surrender we are easily conquered. So it was + with Souwanas on this occasion. The children in their love for their friend + pleaded so importunately that a good cup of tea was prepared for and much + enjoyed by him before he began his story, his interested auditors as close + as possible around him. +</p> +<p> + "Once when Nanahboozhoo was journeying through the country," said Souwanas, + "he found a village of Indians who were very poor. They were called + Oomaskos, Elk people. They had nothing but the poorest of robes on their + backs, and they were nearly destitute of everything in the shape of traps, + weapons, and canoes. The village was strangely silent, for even the dogs, + that generally are around in such numbers, had disappeared. When + Nanahboozhoo saw this destitution and poverty he at once inquired the + reason, and was surprised and very angry to hear that they were great + gamblers. +</p> +<p> + "Not far off from them was another village whose people were called Mooswa, + or Moose people, and Nanahboozhoo soon found out that, while the + inhabitants of these two villages were antagonistic to each other, they + frequently met to gamble, and that the Moose people were nearly always + successful and had won from the Elk people nearly everything they + possessed. The latter were very much humiliated at Nanahboozhoo's finding + them in such a wretched condition, but they told him they were convinced + that some trickery had been practiced upon them by their opponents. They + also informed Nanahboozhoo that they would be glad if he would help them to + get back their much needed possessions. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo promised that he would assist them on condition that after + their possessions were regained they should give up the pernicious habit of + gambling. This they unanimously promised to do. The first thing + Nanahboozhoo did was to disguise himself as a whisky-jack and fly over to + the village of the Moose people and try to discover how it was that they + had been so invariably successful when they gambled with the Elk people. It + was as he suspected. His old enemies the Anamakquis, the evil spirits that + had destroyed his brother Nahpootee, the wolf, had sent one of their number + among the Moose people, and he had enabled them to win nearly all of the + dogs, as well as other things, from the Elk people. Indeed, he himself had + generally been the one who had tossed the plum stones with which they + gambled, and they had won by his magic powers. +</p> +<p> + "When Nanahboozhoo heard this he knew that his first work must be to secure + the magic muskamoot (medicine bag). So he flew round and round, and peering + in through the top of the wigwam, where the poles crossed each other, he + was fortunate enough to see the magic bag hanging up on a cross pole over + the place where the Anamakqui slept. He noticed also that it was well + guarded and that it would require some cleverness on his part to get it. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was, as you know, a very clever fellow. He quickly flew back + to the village of the Elk people and ordered the most industrious of the + women, who were skillful in making fire bags, to make one exactly as he + described. This was, of course, similar to the magic muskamoot he had seen + hanging up in the tent. +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo then put into it things that would have just the opposite + effect to those which were in the bag of the Anamakqui. He waited until it + was dark, and then, noiselessly flying back to the village of the Moose + people, he silently entered the wigwam at the top, where there was now a + wide opening, as it was in the warm summer time, very quickly exchanged the + bag he had with him for the magic muskamoot, and returned to the village of + the Elk people. It did not take him long to arrange his plans. The chief of + the Elks had a beautiful daughter, and it was given out that a fine young + chief from a far-away tribe had come to ask for her in marriage. The father + had welcomed this young chief—who was, of course, Nanahboozhoo—and as he + had brought costly gifts he was at once acknowledged as the accepted + son-in-law. +</p> +<p> + "The news spread rapidly and it soon reached the Moose village. When they + heard of the many gifts which this rich young stranger had brought with him + they, of course, were greedy to win them, as they had won the rest of the + Elks' property. It was not many days before a company of them came over to + the Elks, and meeting the beautiful daughter of the chief they said: +</p> +<p> + "'We have come over to have a game of plum stones with your lover, to see + if he is a better player than we are.' +</p> +<p> + "The girl went at once into the wigwam and informed her intended husband, + Nanahboozhoo, of the challenge of these people. She also told him that they + were very clever but that they had no idea of him being anything else than + what he appeared to be. Then she added: +</p> +<p> + "'Be sure to win; if you do not they will beat us with clubs and sticks. + For the custom is that the side that is defeated in the gambling must + submit to a beating by the conquerors.' +</p> +<p> + "Then Nanahboozhoo and the champion for the Moose people sat down on + opposite sides of the bowl in which were the plum stones, while the people + of each of the two villages ranged themselves behind their own champion. + When Nanahboozhoo shook the bowl, and then let the plum stones cease + rolling, it was seen that he had won every point. At this the Elks set up a + great shout of triumph. The Moose people shouted back: +</p> +<p> + "'Don't be so fast; the game is to be the best three out of five; just wait + until our man has played.' +</p> +<p> + "The plum stones were then handed to him and patting his medicine bag he + confidently shook them up, but when they had ceased rolling it was seen + that he had lost every point. +</p> +<p> + "The victory was now so nearly won that the Elks began to say: +</p> +<p> + "'Get your clubs ready to thrash the Moose people, for we are surely going + to be winners this day.' +</p> +<p> + "The Moose people were, however, not yet quite discouraged. 'There are + three tries yet,' they said, 'and our man may yet win.' But their hopes + were soon gone, for when Nanahboozhoo threw the plum stones the third time + he was as successful as at the first. +</p> +<p> + "This decided the game in favor of the Elks, who now rushed upon the Moose + people and thrashed them all the way back to their own village. +</p> +<p> + "The Moose were very much humiliated at this defeat. They had not only had + a good beating but, according to the custom of the tribes, they were + obliged to restore much of the property which they had won from the Elks in + their previous contests. A council was called not long after and there was + quite a discussion among them as to the best plan to be adopted to defeat + the Elks and regain supremacy. They decided on a trial of strength, for in + such encounters they had generally been victorious. They had two high poles + erected with a crossbar on the top, and the contest was to see which side + could produce the man who should throw the heaviest stone over that bar. + They sent their challenge to the Elks to meet them if they dare. +</p> +<p> + "The Elks quickly responded and were soon at the place where the Moose + people, who were awaiting them, had erected the high poles with the + crossbar. When everything had been arranged their strongest man took up a + heavy stone and, with a tremendous effort, succeeded in barely throwing it, + so that it struck the crossbar and carried it down to the ground. When the + crossbar had been replaced a son of the chief of the Elks went forward, as + though he would be the competitor on the side of the Elks. He pretended as + though he could not even lift the heavy stone which the Moose champion had + thrown. When the Moose people saw this they shouted out in triumph, and + began to get ready to give the Elks as good a beating as they had received + from them on a former occasion. +</p> +<p> + "Seeing them thus coming, Nanahboozhoo rushed forward, seized the heavy + stone, and sent it high up and far over the tops of the poles—thus winning + the victory again for the Elks. With a shout of triumph the Elks again + attacked the Moose and drove them in disgrace back to their own village. + The Moose people were now more humiliated than ever, but they determined to + try another plan; for they were resolved not to give up to the Elks, whom + they had so often defeated. After much consultation they said: +</p> +<p> + "'Let us have a contest at diving in the lake, that we may see if our + champion cannot remain longer under the water than any one of the Elks.' +</p> +<p> + "So they went over to the village of the Elks and told them they had come + to have another contest with them. To the proposal of the Moose the Elks + all agreed, and both parties proceeded to the lake. Here a large hole was + cut in the ice and the champion of the Moose prepared to go down into the + water. One of the brothers of the beautiful Indian girl who had been + selected as Nanahboozhoo's bride said to Nanahboozhoo: +</p> +<p> + "'As our bodies are tougher than yours you must let me compete this time.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo would not let him do this. He said: +</p> +<p> + "'I am not afraid of the cold water, and besides I have plenty of friends + down there.' +</p> +<p> + "And, sure enough, the mud turtle came up and said, in words that only + Nanahboozhoo could understand: +</p> +<p> + "'My brother, I have come up at the request of your brother, the wolf, to + aid you. Trust yourself in my care and no harm will come to you.' +</p> +<p> + "Nanahboozhoo was well pleased to hear this, for he knew that his spirit + brother had sent his friend the mud turtle to help him in this trial. +</p> +<p> + "The competitors now stripped themselves, and when the signal was given + they both dived into the water and disappeared. The Moose people had such + confidence in their champion that they had all brought with them very heavy + sticks with which they intended giving the Elks a great beating in return + for the two previous defeats. +</p> +<p> + "The Elks, however, were not dismayed. They only said: +</p> +<p> + "'Just wait until the contest is decided.' +</p> +<p> + "In the meantime the competitors under the water were so near together at + first that the people on the land heard the Moose say, 'Elk, are you cold?' + To which the mud turtle, who had covered the Elk competitor over with his + shell, replied: +</p> +<p> + "'No, Moose; but are you cold?' +</p> +<p> + "As the people on the shore could not hear any answer to this question it + gave some alarm to the Moose people about their champion, who they feared + must be benumbed with the cold. This was really the case, for in a short + time he came to the surface of the water so nearly frozen to death that he + had to be helped out of the water. +</p> +<p> + "When the mud turtle and Nanahboozhoo heard the shoutings of triumph of the + Elks they knew that the Moose champion had failed, and so they came up to + the surface. Nanahboozhoo swam ashore and joined in the pursuit of the + disheartened Moose people, who had again so signally failed. +</p> +<p> + "These repeated defeats very much angered and humiliated the Moose people. + They almost quarreled among themselves in their vexation as they talked + them over at their councils. Still they were in no humor to give up. They + had two very swift runners among them, and they decided to challenge the + Elks to a foot race. So they again sent a number of their party over to the + tent of the Elk people and said: +</p> +<p> + "'We are not at all satisfied yet, and we wish to know if the son of the + chief and his brother-in-law, the young stranger who has come into your + midst, will run a foot race against two of our young people.' +</p> +<p> + "This challenge was at once accepted and soon all preparations were made + for the great race. It was decided that it should be run on the ice of the + frozen lake, which was several miles round. Much snow had fallen, but the + people of both sides turned out for days and cleared out a good track. They + made it near the shore, and so that the finishing spot would be near where + was the starting point. +</p> +<p> + "The Moose felt quite certain of winning this time, because by their magic + their runners were to be turned into real Moose, with four legs, and they + argued that runners with four feet could surely beat those who had only + two. But there were others who had heard about this great race, and among + them was the wolf, the spirit brother of Nanahboozhoo, and so he came to + him the night before the race. +</p> +<p> + "'My brother,' he said, 'I will come and help you in this race. You are the + only one that can see me, so I will be on the track, about half way round, + and when you come there you can get on my back and I will carry you at a + greater speed. But you must keep your legs moving as if rapidly running, or + the people will suspect something unusual.' +</p> +<p> + "There was a great crowd to witness this race between the two great Moose, + to represent the Moose people, and the son of the chief and his unknown + brother-in-law to represent the Elks. When the signal was given away they + started over the icy trail. The Moose soon were at the front, with the + chief's son not far behind. Nanahboozhoo was purposely a little in the + rear, and so was able to spring upon the wolf's back without attracting + attention. +</p> +<a name="Illus027"></a> +<p class="ctr"><img src="images/Illus027.jpg" width="245" height="200" +alt="They were excited at his coming."> +</p> +<p> + "With this steed under him he sped along with marvelous rapidity. At the + half-way point of the race he overtook his brother-in-law, and giving him + his hand, they were soon far in front. When they rushed in ahead there was + great excitement. The Moose people were soon running back to their village + with the Elks whipping them to the very doors of their wigwams. +</p> +<p> + "After this the Moose dare not challenge the Elks to any further contest, + but they were so furious that they meditated murder in their hearts toward + the young stranger, who had, they now saw, been the cause of their many + defeats. Nanahboozhoo, however, easily thwarted their evil schemes, but at + length some of them were so bad that his anger was aroused and he exerted + all his magic power. +</p> +<p> + "'Moose you are by name,' he said to them, 'and for your bad deeds I change + you into the animals after whom you are named. Hereafter you will live in + the swamps, among the willows and young birch. On them you will have to + browse for a living. For a little variety in your food you may, in the + summer time, go out into the shallow waters and paw up and eat the great + roots of the water-lilies.' +</p> +<p> + "Thus the Elks again had peace and quietness. Gambling was never again + allowed among them, and Nanahboozhoo, after receiving their grateful + thanks, returned to his own country." +</p> +<p> + "What did he do after that?" asked Sagastao. +</p> +<p> + "Not much, for a while; but after a time he decided to go away up North. + Each fall, however, he comes and looks around to see how everything is + going on. Then he rests on some of the mountains and has a big smoke, which + settles down on the hillsides and valleys and makes the beautiful hazy time + which we all call the Indian Summer." +</p> +<p> + "Well," said Minnehaha, "if the smoke of Nanahboozhoo's big pipe of peace + makes the beautiful haze of the lovely Indian Summer, it is about the best + thing I have heard yet of tobacco smoke doing." +</p> +<p> + And so say we all. +</p> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="GLOS"> GLOSSARY</a></h3> +<p> + Ana-mak-qui, <i>Evil spirits or magicians</i>. +</p> +<p> + An-nun-gi-tee, <i>The ghost with big ears</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ja-koos, <i>Strong-armed</i>. +</p> +<p> + Keche-Wapoose, <i>Great Rabbit</i>. +</p> +<p> + Kin-ne-sa-sis, <i>Little Fish</i>. +</p> +<p> + Kosh-ke-e-wa-see, <i>Partridge</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ma-hei-gan, <i>Wolf</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mani-boos or Manitoos or Munedoos, <i>Spirits</i>. +</p> +<p> + Me-squah-be-me-sheen, <i>Red Willows</i>. +</p> +<p> + Minne-ha-ha, <i>Laughing Waters</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mis-ta-coo-sis, <i>Aspen Tree</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mis-mis, <i>Grandfather</i>. +</p> +<p> + Moos-wa, <i>Moose</i>. +</p> +<p> + Moo-she-kin-ne-bik, <i>Sea Monster</i>. +</p> +<p> + Musk-a-moot, <i>Medicine Bag</i>. +</p> +<p> + Mud-je-kee-wis, <i>West Wind</i>. +</p> +<p> + Na-nah-booz-hoo, <i>Son of Mud-je-kee-wis—West Wind</i>. +</p> +<p> + Nah-poo-tee, <i>Wolf</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ni-koo-chis, <i>Solitude—name of a giant</i>. +</p> +<p> + Nokomis, <i>Grandmother</i>. +</p> +<p> + Ome-mee, <i>Pigeon or Dove</i>. +</p> +<p> + Oo-kis-ki-mu-ni-sew, <i>Kingfisher</i>. +</p> +<p> + Oo-see-mee-id, <i>The Younger</i>. +</p> +<p> + Se-si-giz-it, <i>The Older</i>. +</p> +<p> + Pa-peu-pe-na-ses, <i>Laughing Bird</i>. +</p> +<p> + Pug-a-mah-kon, <i>A hammer</i>. +</p> +<p> + Puk-an-eh, <i>Grasshopper</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sa-gas-ta-oo-ke-mou, shortened to Sagastao, <i>The Sunrise Gentleman</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sa-ke-how, <i>Beloved</i>. +</p> +<p> + Se-se-pask-wut, <i>Sugar</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sis-tin-a-koo, <i>The magician who guarded the fire in the interior of the + earth</i>. +</p> +<p> + Shu-ni-ou, <i>Money</i>. +</p> +<p> + So-qua-a-tum, <i>Steadfast</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sou-wa-nas, <i>South Wind, The great Story-teller</i>. +</p> +<p> + Sou-wa-na-que-na-peke, <i>The Voice of the South Wind Birds</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wah-ki-e-gun, <i>The House</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wau-be-noo, <i>The East</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wakonda, <i>A supernatural Person</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wakontas, <i>Son of Wakonda</i>. +</p> +<p> + Wau-konug, <i>Lichen</i>. Wenonah, <i>Daughter of Nokomis and mother of + Nanahboozhoo</i>. +</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Algonquin Indian Tales, by Egerton R. Young + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALGONQUIN INDIAN TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 10891-h.htm or 10891-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/8/9/10891/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Andrea Ball and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Algonquin Indian Tales + +Author: Egerton R. Young + +Release Date: January 31, 2004 [EBook #10891] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALGONQUIN INDIAN TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Andrea Ball and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + +ALGONQUIN +INDIAN TALES + + +COLLECTED BY +EGERTON R. YOUNG + + +AUTHOR OF "BY CANOE AND DOG-TRAIN," "THE APOSTLE OF THE NORTH," +"THREE BOYS IN THE WILD NORTH LAND," ETC. + + +[Illustration: The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles.] + + + +1903 + + + + +CHIEF BIG CANOE'S LETTER + + +GEORGINA ISLAND, LAKE SIMCOE. +REV. EGERTON R. YOUNG. + + +DEAR FRIEND: Your book of stories gathered from among my tribe has very +much pleased me. The reading of them brings up the days of long time ago +when I was a boy and heard our old people tell these tales in the wigwams +and at the camp fire. + +I am very glad that you are in this way saving them from being forgotten, +and I am sure that many people will be glad to read them. + +With best wishes, +KECHE CHEMON (Charles Big Canoe), +Chief of the Ojibways. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + + +In all ages, from the remotest antiquity, the story-teller has flourished. +Evidences of his existence are to be found among the most ancient monuments +and writings in the Orient. In Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, and other ancient +lands he flourished, and in the homes of the noblest he was ever an honored +guest. + +The oldest collection of folklore stories or myths now in existence is of +East Indian origin and is preserved in the Sanskrit. The collection is +called _Hitopadesa_, and the author was Veshnoo Sarma. Of this collection, +Sir William Jones, the great Orientalist, wrote, "The fables of Veshnoo are +the most beautiful, if not the most ancient, collection of apologues in the +world." As far back as the sixth century translations were made from them. + +The same love for myths and legends obtains to-day in those Oriental lands. +There, where the ancient and historic so stubbornly resist any change--in +Persia, India, China, and indeed all over that venerable East--the man who +can recite the ancient apologues or legends of the past can always secure +an audience and command the closest attention. + +While the general impression is that the recital of these old myths and +legends among Oriental nations was for the mere pastime of the crowds, it +is well to bear in mind that many of them were used as a means to convey +great truths or to reprove error. Hence the recital of them was not +confined to a merely inquisitive audience that desired to be amused. We +have a good example of this in the case of the recital by Jotham, as +recorded in the book of Judges, of the legend of the gathering of the trees +for the purpose of having one of them anointed king over the rest. Of this +legend Dr. Adam Clarke, the commentator, says, "This is the oldest and, +without exception, the best fable or apologue in the world." + +The despotic nature of the governments of those Oriental nations caused the +people often to use the fable or myth as an indirect way to reprove or +censure when it would not have been safe to have used a direct form of +speech. The result was that it attained a higher degree of perfection there +than among any other people. An excellent example is Nathan's reproof of +David by the recital of the fable of the poor man's ewe lamb. + +The red Indians of America have justly been famous for their myths and +legends. We have never heard of a tribe that did not have a store of them. +Even the hardy Eskimo in his igloo of ice is surprisingly rich in folklore +stories. A present of a knife or some other trifle that he desires will +cause him to talk by the hour to his guest, whether he be the daring trader +or adventurous explorer, on the traditions that have come down to him. The +interchange of visits between the northern Indians and the Eskimos has +resulted in the discovery that quite a number of the myths recited in +Indian wigwams are in a measure, if not wholly, of Eskimo origin. On the +other hand, the Eskimo has not failed to utilize and incorporate into his +own rich store some that are undoubtedly of Indian origin. + +For thirty years or more we have been gathering up these myths and legends. +Sometimes a brief sentence or two of one would be heard in some +wigwam--just enough to excite curiosity--then years would elapse ere the +whole story could be secured. As the tribes had no written language, and +the Indians had to depend entirely upon their memory, it is not to be +wondered at that there were, at times, great divergences in the recital of +even the most familiar of their stories. We have heard the same legend +given by several story-tellers and no two agreed in many particulars. +Others, however, were told with very slight differences. + +We have adopted the course of recording what seemed to us the most natural +version and most in harmony with the instincts and characteristics of the +pure Indian. The close scientific student of Indian folklore will see that +we have softened some expressions and eliminated some details that were +non-essential. The crude Indian languages, while absolutely free from +blasphemy, cannot always be literally translated. _Verbum sat sapienti_. + +The method we have adopted, in the presentation of these myths and legends +in connection with the chatter and remarks of our little ones, while +unusual, will, we trust, prove attractive and interesting. We have +endeavored to make it a book for all classes. Here are some old myths in +new settings, and here are some, we venture to think, that have never +before been seen in English dress. These will interest the student of such +subjects, while the general style of the book will, we hope, make it +attractive to young readers. + +Nanahboozhoo, the personage who occupies the principal part in these myths, +is the most widely known of all those beings of supposed miraculous birth +who played such prominent parts in Indian legends. He does not seem to have +been claimed by any one particular tribe. Doubtless legends of him were +transmitted down from the time when the division of tribes had not so +extensively taken place; when perhaps the Algonquin, now so subdivided, was +one great tribe, speaking one language. + +The variety of names by which he is known is accounted for by these tribal +divisions and the rapid changes which took place in the language owing to +its having no written form to maintain its unity. + +What his original name was, when legends about him first began to be told, +is of course unknown. However, since the white race began to gather up and +record these Indian myths he has been known as Misha-wabus, Manabush, +Jous-ke-ha, Messou, Manabozho, Nanahboozhoo, Hiawatha, Chiabo, +Singua-sew--and even some other names have been heard. We have given him in +this volume the name of Nanahboozhoo as that was the one most frequently +used by the Indians among whom we lived or visited. + +There is more unanimity about his origin, among the tribes, than about his +name. The almost universal report is that he was the son of Mudjekeewis, +the West Wind. His mother was Wenonah, the daughter of Nokomis. + +The author desires very gratefully to record his indebtedness, for +assistance or hints received in the pleasant work of here clustering these +Indian folklore stories, to many friends, among them such Indian +missionaries as Revs. Peter Jones, John Sunday, Henry Steinham, Allan Salt, +and also to his Indian friends and comrades at many a camp fire and in many +a wigwam. He also wishes in this way to express his appreciation of and +indebtedness to the admirable Reports of the Smithsonian Institution. He +has there obtained verification of and fuller information concerning many +an almost forgotten legend. + +In regard to a number of the finest of the photographic illustrations in +the volume the author gratefully acknowledges his obligations to the Canada +Pacific Railway Company, without whose assistance it would have been +impossible to reach many of the sublime and romantic places here portrayed; +until very recently known only to the adventurous red Indian hunter, but +now brought within the reach of any enterprising tourist. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Introductory Note + + +CHAPTER I. + +The Children Carried Off by the Indians--The Feast in +the Wigwam--Souwanas, the Story-teller--Nanahboozhoo, +the Indian Myth--How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and +Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred--Why the Raccoon +has Rings on His Tail. + +CHAPTER II. + +The Children's Return--Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse--Her Pathetic History--Her Love for the Children--The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. + +CHAPTER III. + +More about Mary and the Children--Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees--How the Bees Got Their Stings--What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Love Story of Wakontas--His Test of the Two +Maidens--His Choice--The Transformation of Misticoosis. + +CHAPTER V. + +The Startling Placard--What Happened to the Little +Runaways--The Rescue--Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows--How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. + +CHAPTER VI. + +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo--How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf--Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Legend of the Bad Boy--How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Happy Christmas Holidays--Indians Made Glad with +Presents--Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. + +CHAPTER IX. + +Kinnesasis--How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. + +CHAPTER X. + +The Christmas Packet--The Distribution of Gifts--A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero--Souwanas Tells +How the Indians First Learned to Make Maple Sugar. + +CHAPTER XI. + +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease--The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. + +CHAPTER XII. + +The Naming of the Baby--A Canoe Trip--The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine--How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +In the Wigwam of Souwanas--How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo--The Treachery +of Gray Wolf--The Legend of the Whisky Jack. + +CHAPTER XV. + +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock--How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened--A Punishment for +Conceit. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun--How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters--Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Welcome Springtime in the Northland--How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians--The Revenge--The Flood--Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft--The Creation of a New World. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Among the Briers and Wild Roses--Why the Roses have +Thorns--Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. + +CHAPTER XX. + +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils--The Vain Woman--Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +Shooting Loons--Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet--Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner--Origin of Lichens--Why Some Willows are Red--The +Partridge. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall--A Short-lived Triumph--Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake--The Legend of the +Orphan Boy--His Appeal to the Man in the Moon--How +He Conquered His Enemies. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke--How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake--How the Rattlesnake +got Its Rattle--The Origin of Tobacco--Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +The Dead Moose--The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests--The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe--The Haze of the Indian +Summer. + + +Glossary + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +The rabbit tells Nanahboozhoo of his troubles + +With the children cuddled around, Souwanas began + +The wild and picturesque Ka-ka-be-ka Falls + +They howled with rage and terror + +The startling placard + +While her mate stood beside her + +Surrounding them were fierce Indian dogs + +The beautiful reflections in the water + +They tumbled the tall ghost over + +Their dog trains were in constant demand + +Where the fire was stolen + +The coyote was too quick for them + +Across a single log at a dizzy height + +Which white men now call Cathedral Mountain + +Their babies with them + +Gave him such a terrible beating + +The big rock was surely gaining on him [note: not in actual text] + +Sun dance lodge of the Blood Indians + +They both threw their magic sticks + +He took a leap into the open mouth + +He ran away west, to the great mountains + +Wigwams and Indians + +The Indian story-teller + +Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard + +With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe + +Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push + +They were excited at his coming + + + + +Algonquin Indian Tales + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The Children Carried Off by the Indians--The Feast in +the Wigwam--Souwanas, the Story-teller--Nanahboozhoo, +the Indian Myth--How the Wolves Stole His Dinner, and +Why the Birch Tree Bark is Scarred--Why the Raccoon +has Rings on His Tail. + +Without even knocking at the door there noiselessly entered our northern +home two large, unhandsome Indians. They paid not the slightest attention +to the grown-up palefaces present, but in their ghostly way marched across +the room to the corner where the two little children were playing on the +floor. Quickly but gently picking them up they swung them to their +shoulders, and then, without a word of salutation or even a glance at the +parents, they noiselessly passed out of that narrow door and disappeared in +the virgin forest. They were pagan Saulteaux, by name Souwanas and Jakoos. + +The Indian names by which these two children were called by the natives +were "Sagastaookemou," which means the "Sunrise Gentleman," and +"Minnehaha," "Laughing Waters." + +To the wigwam of Souwanas, "South Wind," these children were being carried. +They had no fear of these big Indians, though the boy was only six years +old, and his little sister but four. They had learned to look with laughing +eyes even into the fiercest and ugliest of these red faces and had made +them their friends. + +So even now, while being carried away among the dense trees, they merrily +laughed and shouted to each other. The bright patches of sunshine on the +ground, the singing birds, and the few brilliant-hued summer flowers, +brought forth their exclamations of delight, while all the time the grave, +silent Indians hurried them on deeper and deeper into the forest. Yet +carefully they guarded their precious loads, and as the antlered deer in +passing through the thick woods and under the low branches never strike +trunk or bough, so these sons of the forest glided swiftly on without +allowing any hurt to come to the children of the paleface, even if at times +the faint trail led them over slippery rocks and under low intertwining +branches. + +The wigwam of Souwanas was pitched in a beautiful spot at the edge of the +great forest near the sandy, rocky eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. This +great lake is well called The Sea, which is the meaning of its Indian name. +It is about as long as Lakes Ontario and Erie combined and in some places +is eighty miles wide. + +At the entrance of the wigwam, which was made of a couple of tanned +reindeerskins, the children were carefully lifted down from the men's +shoulders and then taken into this Indian abode. Coming in suddenly from +the bright sunshine it was some time before they could see distinctly. The +door flap of deerskin had dropped like a curtain behind them. All the light +there was came in through the hole in the top, where the poles of the +wigwam crossed each other. Presently, however, they were able to see a +circle of Indian children gathered around a small fire that smoldered on +the ground in the center of the tent. It was now in the pleasant summer +time, but the fire was needed for something else than warmth, as the little +Sagastao and Minnehaha discovered before long. They were soon seated in the +circle with the red children, who, young though they were, were a wee bit +startled at seeing these little palefaces. The white children, however, +simply laughed with glee. This outward demonstration seemed very improper +to the silent red children, who were taught to refrain from expressions of +their gladness or sorrow. + +The Indians had brought the white children for a characteristic reason. +They had said among themselves, "If the white father and mother love us as +they say they do we will test them by taking away their children without +asking permission." They also wished to show their own love for the +children, and so had really brought them to a children's feast. + +It was perhaps as queer a tea party as you ever heard of. There was no +table on which to put the good things prepared for the feast. No plates, no +cups and saucers, no knives, no spoons, not even a chair! There were no +cakes, no tarts, no jam, no pies, not even any bread and butter! + +"Well, what a feast!" you say. "Without any place to sit, or good things to +eat!" Not too fast! There were both of these. There was the lap of mother +earth, and so down on the ground, with bearskins and deerskins on it for +rugs, the children sat. Then the deerskin door was again opened and in came +Indians with birch-bark dishes, called _rogans_, in which were nicely +prepared wild ducks, rabbits, and partridges. But as they were uncooked +they could not yet be eaten by the now expectant, hungry children. + +Then began the preparation of the feast. Some of the Indians added dry wood +to the fire until there was a hot, smokeless blaze. Others took out their +sharp hunting knives and cleverly cut up the ducks, rabbits, and +partridges. Then these pieces were spitted on the ends of sharp points of +hard wood and skillfully broiled or toasted in the hot flames. As fast as +the dainty bits of meat were cooked and a little cooled they were given to +the children in their fingers, and in that way the little ones had their +feast. + +Now, please don't turn up your noses at such a feast. Think of it: out in a +wigwam in the lovely forest, where the wild birds sing and the squirrels +chatter, where is heard the music of the waves playing on the shore but a +few yards away, with great friendly Indians as your waiters! The very air +of that northern summer gives you an appetite ready for anything. + +Those little people, red and white, soon became the jolliest of friends, +and as the white children could speak the Indian language as well as their +own they were soon all chattering away most merrily while they daintily +picked the bones. Of course this way of eating was hard upon their hands, +faces, and clothing, but what healthy child ever gave a second thought--if +a first--to any of these things? + +After a time this feast, as all feasts must, came to an end. Then the +question was, "What shall we do next for the children?" for the whole day +had been planned by the grown-up Indians for the entertainment of the +little people. Canoes had been collected on the shore of Winnipeg, handy if +it should be decided that they all should go for an afternoon outing on the +water. However, Souwanas, who had gone out to look at the sky and observe +the winds and waves, now came in and reported that he thought they would +better put off the canoe trip to some time when the lake was more calm. It +was then suggested that the children be asked what would please them most. +The little folks, white and red, were not slow in giving their decision. + +"Tell us a story about Nanahboozhoo." + +"Who shall be the story-teller?" + +There was a hearty call for "Souwanas!" + +On coming in from investigating the weather, but a few minutes before, +Souwanas had seated himself on a robe and was now enjoying his calumet, or +pipe. Stoical though he was, his dark eyes flashed with pleasure at the +unanimous call of the children, but, Indianlike, it would have been a great +breach of manners if he had let his delight be known. Then, again, +Indianlike, it would never have done to have seemed to be in a hurry. The +Indian children well knew this, but who ever heard of white children that +could sit like statues, grave and dignified, while the story-teller took +time to finish smoking a large pipe of tobacco? + +So it was in this case. In their wild excitement and eagerness to have the +story begin, both Sagastao and Minnehaha sprang up and, rushing toward +Souwanas, vied with each other in seeing which could first pluck the +half-smoked calumet from his mouth. Such audacity appalled the Indian +children and fairly took the breath away from the older Indians. For was +not Souwanas a chief, and the calumet almost a sacred thing while between +his lips? + +Souwanas, however, was greatly delighted. Here was a new experience, and +the very boldness of the children of the palefaces was an evidence of their +unbounded confidence and love. To little Sagastao the calumet was +surrendered, and, with the children cuddled around him, Souwanas began his +story: + +[Illustration: "With the children cuddled around him Souwanas began his +story."] + +"Now, you must know that Nanahboozhoo was a queer fellow. He could make +himself as tall as a tree or as small as a turtle or snake. Nothing could +kill him. He could not be drowned even if dropped hundreds of feet into +the lake, nor burned to death even if he tumbled into the fire. He often +met with accidents, but he always came up right again and was ready for +some other adventure in some new shape. He has left his marks on the rocks +and trees, leaves and flowers. Almost anywhere we look we see signs that +Nanahboozhoo has been around. As his temper was very uncertain he sometimes +caused trouble and injured the appearance of things which were once more +beautiful than they are now. But in general he was the friend of our race +and worked changes that were for our good. + +"One day, as Nanahboozhoo was walking along on a sandy shore, he felt very +hungry. It was now in the autumn of the year. As he wandered on he saw an +object moving toward him. He had not long to wait before he saw that this +object was a great black bear. He pulled up a young tree by the roots and +hid himself, preparing to kill the bear when he should come near. When the +bear came near Nanahboozhoo made a big jump out of his hiding place and +killed the bear with one blow. Then he built a big fire, and having singed +all the hair off the bear he cut him up and nicely roasted him. When the +meat was cooked Nanahboozhoo cut it up into fine pieces, for he intended to +enjoy his feast by eating leisurely. + +"While he was thus busy preparing his feast he was annoyed by a strange +sound among the tree tops that rubbed together when the wind blew. +Nanahboozhoo was very quick-tempered, and as the noise continued he +determined to stop it. So he left his feast on the ground and climbed away +up one of those trees to the spot where the other pressed against it. He +was endeavoring to pull the two great trees apart when one of his hands got +caught between them and was firmly held. While struggling to get loose he +heard a pack of wolves running toward his bear meat. This made him struggle +the harder to get his hand free. The fierce wolves soon scented the food +and had a good time devouring it, in spite of the shoutings of +Nanahboozhoo. + +"When Nanahboozhoo at length got his hand free and came down he found +nothing left of his feast but the skull of the bear. He was very angry, not +only at the wolves that had eaten his feast but also at the trees that had +held him, the great Nanahboozhoo, in so tight a grip. As the wolves had run +away he could not, at present, punish them, but he resolved that he would +so punish these great birch trees that they would never give him such a +squeeze again. So he prepared a great whip and with it he severely thrashed +the trees. Up to this time the birch had been the most beautiful of trees. +Its great trunk was of the purest white, without any blemish or blotch upon +it. But ever since the thrashing Nanahboozhoo gave it it has had to carry +the marks of that terrible whipping; and that is why the white birch tree +is so covered with scars. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had ceased thrashing the trees he found himself so very +hungry that he resolved to eat the brains that were in the head of the +bear, that had been overlooked by the wolves. However, he found the skull +very hard. So he transformed himself into a little snake, and in this way +got inside of the bear's skull and enjoyed his feast. In fact he enjoyed it +too much, for when he was through with his eating he could not get out of +the skull, he was so full. However, he was able to roll along, skull and +all, but as he could not see where he was going he bumped along in a very +erratic manner until at length he tumbled into a big lake and sank at first +deep down under the waves. + +"When he came up to the surface he just put a part of the head of the bear +out of the water, as does the bear when swimming. Then he listened +intently. It was not long before Nanahboozhoo heard voices saying: + +"'Look! There is a bear swimming. Let us kill him." + +"So there was a chase on the lake, and it was not long before the Indians +came up, in their canoe, and one of them with his stone ax struck the +bear's head such a blow that he split open the skull. + +"This just suited Nanahboozhoo, and instantly he sprang out and made for +the shore. + +"Then Nanahboozhoo journeyed on and again he began to feel very hungry. The +brains of the bear were not much to one who had had his mind set on eating +the whole carcass. It was not long before he met the raccoon awkwardly +carrying a birch _rogan_ that he had stolen from a couple of blind men. +Seeing the merry smile on the raccoon's face, Nanahboozhoo bade him a good +day, and asked him what was amusing him. + +"The raccoon, who did not know that it was Nanahboozhoo with whom he was +talking, told him how he obtained the dish. When Nanahboozhoo heard this he +was very angry at the raccoon for his heartless trick. + +"It seems that there was quite a large settlement of people who had among +them a couple of blind men. As these Indians were hunters they had to be on +the move a good deal of the time following the game. As the other people +were kind-hearted, instead of killing these old blind men, now that they +were unable to hunt, they arranged for them a wigwam in a safe, quiet +place, near the lake. Then they gave them a kettle and bowl and other +necessary things and cut a large pile of wood and placed it close at hand. +In order that they might be able to get water for their cooking and yet not +stumble into the water their friends fastened a rope, for their guidance, +from the door of the wigwam to a post on the edge of the lake. + +"The old men were now quite comfortable. Their friends came frequently with +abundant supplies of food and the blind men were able to do their own work +and were happy together. They divided the day's work so that one day one +would be the cook while the other would bring in the wood and go for the +water. Next day they would change about. It gave each enough to do, and not +too much. + +"For a long time the two men lived contented and happy. But it happened +that one day the raccoon was out prowling along the shore, looking for +something to eat, when he happened to find the end of the rope that was +tied to the post at the water's edge. + +"Now you must know," said Souwanas, "that, next to the wolverine, the +raccoon is the biggest mischief in the woods. He is full of tricks, but he +is very cunning and suspicious. So before he interfered with the rope he +cautiously followed it up and found that its other end was at the wigwam of +these two old blind men. Hearing no noise, he cautiously peered into the +wigwam and saw them both sleeping near the fire. There was a smell of +something good to eat, and the raccoon decided to wait around to see if he +could not get hold of it. + +"While he was thus waiting the old men woke up, and one said to the other, +'My brother, I am feeling hungry; let us prepare our dinner.' + +"'Very well,' said the other; 'it is your turn to go to the lake for water +while I make the fire.' + +"When the raccoon heard this he ran down to the lake and quickly untied the +rope from the stake and, drawing it back, tied it to a clump of bushes on +the land. When the old man with the kettle felt his way along the rope +until he reached its end he tried to dip up the water as usual, but all in +vain. There was nothing but the dry earth and bushes. Not finding any water +he returned to his brother with the sad news that the lake had dried up, +and that already bushes were growing where yesterday there was plenty of +water. When his brother heard this doleful story he laughed at it, and +said: + +"'Why, that cannot be possible. No bushes could grow up in such a short +time.' + +"However his brother declared it was the case, and so the other one said, +'Well, let me go, and see if I can find some water.' + +"When the tricky raccoon heard this he hurried back and at once untied the +rope from the bushes and refastened it to the post near the water. When the +second brother came along he easily found the water, and filling the kettle +he returned to the wigwam where he vigorously accused his brother of lying. +He, poor fellow, could not understand it and was much perplexed. + +"The preparation of their dinner went on, and soon it was ready. There was, +however, another one present that the blind men had no suspicion of, and +that was the raccoon, who had now noiselessly come into the wigwam and +greedily sat watching the preparations. This dinner consisted of eight +pieces of meat which, when cooked, were placed in their _rogan_, or wooden +bowl. When ready they sat down with this bowl between them and began to +eat. Each took a piece of meat, and they talked of various things while +they ate. + +"The raccoon now noiselessly took four of the pieces of meat out of the +bowl and began eating them. Soon one of the men reached into the bowl, to +get another piece of meat, and finding only two pieces left, he said: + +"'My brother, you must be very hungry, to eat so fast. I have only had one +piece of meat, and there are only two left.' + +"'I have not taken them,' was the reply, 'but I suspect that you are the +greedy one who has eaten them.' + +"This made the other brother very angry, and as they thus went on arguing, +the raccoon, to make matters worse, and to have, as he told Nanahboozhoo, +some more sport with the old blind fellows, hit each of them a smart blow +on the face. The poor old men, each believing that the other had struck +him, began to fight; and so they upset the _rogan_ and lost the rest of +their dinner and nearly set the wigwam on fire. + +"The raccoon then seized the two remaining pieces of meat and the bowl, +and, with shouts of laughter, rushed out of the wigwam. The old men, +hearing this, perceived that they had been fooled, and they at once stopped +fighting and apologized to each other. + +"The raccoon's rascally trick made Nanahboozhoo very angry. Indeed he had +had a good deal of trouble to keep from letting the raccoon know who he +was. So just as soon as the raccoon had finished he said: + +"'I am Nanahboozhoo. Those old blind men are my brothers, and I'll teach +you a lesson you will never forget!' + +"So he seized the raccoon and killed him, and carried his body back to the +tent of the blind men and made out of it a great feast for them, and +declared that in future the old raccoons should have to carry as many +circles on their tails as pieces of meat that had been stolen out of the +_rogan_ of the blind men." + +"Good for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted Sagastao. "Mr. Raccoon couldn't play any +tricks on him. Now tell us another story." + +But here Minnehaha interposed. + +"I think," said she, "we had better go home now, for father and mother may +begin to think they have lost their little ones." + +"Let us wait until dark," said Sagastao, "and then Mary won't see our dirty +clothes!" For their greasy fingers had soiled them badly. + +The wishes of the little girl, however, prevailed, and so it was not long +ere the Indian salutations, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" were shouted to all, +and once more the two children were hoisted upon the shoulders of the big +Indians, and in the same manner in which they had been brought to the +wigwam in the forenoon they rode home in the beautiful gloaming. + +Very tired were they, yet not so weary but that they were able with their +little hands to rub some of the paint off the faces of their big stalwart +carriers and daub it on their own. The effect was so ludicrous that their +merry laughter reached the ears of their expectant parents even before they +emerged from the gloom of the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The Children's Return--Indignation of Mary, the Indian +Nurse--Her Pathetic History--Her Love for the Children--The +Story of Wakonda, and of the Origin of Mosquitoes. + +In reaching home the children were quietly received by their parents, who, +understanding Indian ways, had no desire to lessen their influence by +finding fault with them for carrying off the children. They treated the +matter as though it were one of everyday occurrence. + +Mary, the Indian nurse, however, did not regard the incident so calmly. +When the children were brought back dirty, greasy, bedaubed, and so tired +that they could hardly hold up their little heads, her indignation knew no +bounds, and as she was perfectly fearless she couched her sentiments in the +most vigorous phrases of the expressive Cree language. + +The history of Indian Mary was very strange. Indeed there was an incident +in her life so sad that from the day of her recovery she was considered to +be under the special care of the Good Spirit, so that even the most +influential chiefs or hunters had a superstitious fear of showing any +temper, or making any bitter retort, no matter what she might say. + +Years before this time Mary was the wife of a cruel pagan Indian who bore +the English name of Robinson. Although she was slight of figure, and never +very strong, he exacted from Mary a great deal of hard work and was vexed +and angry if, when heavily burdened with the game he had shot, she did not +move as rapidly along on the trail as he did, carrying only his gun and +ammunition. + +Once, when they were out in the woods some miles from his wigwam, he shot a +full-grown deer and ordered her to bring it into the camp on her back. +Picking up his gun he started on ahead, and being a large, stalwart man, +and moving with the usual rapidity of the Indians on the homeward trail, he +soon reached his wigwam. Unfortunately for him--and, as it turned out, for +Mary also--he found some free-traders[1] at his abode awaiting his return. +They had few goods for trade in their outfit, but they had a keg of fire +water, which has ever been the scourge of the Indians. + +[Footnote 1: Fur buyers who were not agents of the Fur Company.] + +Robinson informed them of his success in shooting the deer and that it was +even now being brought in. The traders not only purchased what furs +Robinson had on hand but also the two hind quarters of the deer which Mary +was bringing home. Robinson at once began drinking the fire water which he +had received as part payment. + +He was naturally irritable, and short-tempered even when sober, but he was +much more so when under the influence of spirituous liquors. The +unprincipled traders, knowing this, and wishing to see him in one of his +tantrums, began in a bantering way to question whether he had really shot a +deer, since his wife was so long in coming with it. + +This made him simply furious, and when Mary did at length arrive, laboring +under the two-hundred-pound deer, she was met by her husband now wild with +passion and the white man's fire water. Little suspecting danger she threw +the deer from her shoulders, where it had been supported by the carrying +strap across her forehead. Weary and panting, she turned to go into the +wigwam for her skinning knife, but ere she had gone a dozen steps she was +startled by a yell from Robinson which caused her instantly to turn and +face him. The sight that met her eyes was appalling. Before her stood her +husband with an uplifted gleaming ax in his hands and curses on his tongue. +Seeing that there was no chance to fly from him she threw herself toward +him, hoping thereby to escape the blow. She succeeded in saving her head, +but the ax buried itself in her spine. + +Mary's piercing screams speedily brought a number of Indians from +neighboring wigwams. When they found poor Mary lying there in agony, with +the ax still imbedded in the bones of her back, their indignation knew no +bounds. + +Indians, as a rule, have great self-control, but this sight so stirred them +that there was very nearly a lynching. Robinson, now sobered by his fears, +clearly foresaw that terrible would be his punishment, and while the +Indians and traders turned to attend to Mary's wounds the wretched husband +stealthily slipped away into the forest and was never again seen there. +Rumors, however, at length reached Mary that he had fled away to the +distant Kaministiquia River, where for a time he lived, solitary and alone, +in a little bark wigwam. One day, when out shooting in his canoe, he was +caught in some treacherous rapids and carried over the wild and picturesque +Ka-ka-be-ka Falls, about which so many thrilling Indian legends cluster. + +For seven years Mary was a helpless invalid. When she did recover her back +had so curved that she looked like a hunchback. As she was poor, and +utterly unable either to hunt or to fish, we helped her in various ways. +She was always grateful for kindness, and in return was very willing to do +what she could for us. She was exceedingly clever with her needle, and with +a little instruction was soon able to assist with the sewing required. +However, what especially won her to us and gave her a permanent place in +our home, was her great love and devotion to our little ones. + +[Illustration: "The wild and picturesque Ka-ka-be-ka Falls."] + +Little Sagastao was only a few months old when she installed herself as his +nurse, and for years she was a most watchful and devoted as well as +self-sacrificing guardian of our children in that Northern home. She seemed +to live and think solely for them. At times, especially in the matter of +parental discipline, there would be collisions between Mary and the mother +of the children; for the nurse, with her Indian ideas, could not accept +of the position of a disciplined servant, nor could she quietly witness the +punishment of children whom she thought absolutely perfect. Hence, if she +could not have things exactly as she wanted them, Mary would now and then +allow her fiery temper to obtain the mastery, and springing up in a rage +and throwing a shawl over her head she would fly out of the house and be +gone for days. + +Her mistress paid no attention to these outbursts. She well knew that when +Mary had cooled down she would return, and it was often amusing to see the +way in which she would attract the children's attention to her, peering +around tree or corner, and then come meekly walking in with them as though +they had only been for a pleasant outing of an hour or so. + +"Well, Mary," would be the greeting of her mistress, while Mary's quiet +response would be the Indian greeting of, "Wat cheer!" + +Then things would go on as usual for perhaps another six months, when Mary +would indulge again in one of her tantrums, with the same happy results. + +She dressed the children in picturesque Indian costumes--coats, dresses, +leggings, moccasins, and other articles of apparel of deer skin, tanned as +soft as kid, and beautifully embroidered with silk and bead work. Not a +spot could appear upon their garments without Mary's notice, and as she +always kept changes ready she was frequently disrobing and dressing them +up. + +When Souwanas and Jakoos came that morning and picked up the children Mary +happened to be in another room. Had she been present she would doubtless +have interfered in their movements. As it was, when she missed the children +her indignation knew no bounds, and only the most emphatic commands of her +mistress restrained her from rushing after them. All day long she had to +content herself with muttering her protests while, as usual, she was busily +employed with her needle. When, however, the two stalwart Indians returned +in the evening with the children on their shoulders the storm broke, and +Mary's murmurings, at first mere protests, became loud and furious when the +happy children, so tired and dirty, were set down before her. The Indians, +knowing of the sad tragedy in Mary's life, would not show anger or even +annoyance under her scathing words, but, with the stoical nature of their +race, they quietly endured her wrath. This they were much better prepared +to do since neither of the parents of the white children seemed in the +slightest degree disturbed by their long absence or the tirade of the +indignant nurse. With high-bred courtesy they patiently listened to all +that Mary had to say, and when the storm had spent itself they turned and +noiselessly retired. + +The children were worn out with their day's adventure, and their mother +intimated that Mary ought at once to bathe them and put them to bed. This, +however, did not satisfy Mary. It had become her custom to dress them up in +the afternoons and keep them appareled in their brightest costumes during +the rest of the day; therefore now the weary children, after being bathed, +were again dressed in their best and brought out for inspection and a light +supper before retiring. The bath and the supper had so refreshed them that +when Mary had tucked them into their beds they were wide awake and asked +her to tell them a story. But sleep was what they needed now more than +anything else, and she tried to quiet them without any further words, but +so thoroughly aroused were they that they declared that if she refused they +knew somebody who would be glad to have them visit him again, and that he +would tell them lots of beautiful things. + +This hint that they might return to the wigwam of Souwanas was too much for +Mary, who very freely gave utterance to her sentiments about him. The +children gallantly came to the defense of the old Indian and also of +Nanahboozhoo, of whom Mary spoke most slightingly, saying that he was a +mean fellow who ought to be ashamed of many of his tricks. + +"Well," replied Sagastao, "if you will tell us better stories than those +Souwanas can tell us about Nanahboozhoo, all right, we will listen to them. +But, mind you, we are going to hear his Nanahboozhoo stories too." + +"O, indeed," said Mary, with a contemptuous toss of her head, "there are +many stories better than those of his old Nanahboozhoo." + +"Won't it be fun to see whose stories we like the best, Mary's or +Souwanas's!" said Minnehaha, who foresaw an interesting rivalry. + +Mary had now committed herself, and so, almost without realizing what it +would come to, she found herself pitted against Souwanas, the great +story-teller of the tribe. However, being determined that Souwanas should +not rob her of the love of the children, she was tempted to begin her +story-telling even though the children were exhausted, and so it was that +when the lad asked a question Mary was ready. + +"Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "the mosquitoes bit us badly to-day. Do you +know why it is that there are such troublesome little things? Is there any +story about them?" + +"Yes. Wakonda, one of the strange spirits, sent them," said Mary, "because +a woman was lazy and would not keep the clothes of her husband and children +clean and nice." + +"Tell us all about it," they both cried out. + +Mary quieted them, and began the story. + +"Long ago, when the people all dressed in deerskins, there was a man whose +name was Pug-a-mah-kon. He was an industrious fellow, and had often to work +a good deal in dirty places. The result was that, although he had several +suits of clothes, he seemed never to have any clean ones. + +"It was the duty of his wife to scrape and clean his garments and wash and +resmoke them as often as they needed it. But she neglected her work and +would go off gossiping among her neighbors. Her husband was patient with +her for a time, but at length, when he heard that Wakonda was coming to +pay a visit to the people, to see how they were getting along, he began to +bestir himself so as to be decently attired, in clean, handsome apparel, to +meet this powerful being, who was able to confer great favors on him, or, +if ill-disposed, to injure him greatly. + +"He endeavored to get his wife to go to work and remove the dirt that had +gathered on his garments. She was so lazy that it was only from fear of a +beating that she ever did make any attempt to do as he desired. She took +the garments and began to clean them, but she was in a bad humor and did +her work in such a slovenly and half-hearted way that there was but very +little change for the better after the pretended cleaning. + +"When the news was circulated that Wakonda was coming, the husband prepared +to dress himself in his best apparel, but great indeed was his anger and +disgust when he found that the garments which he had hoped to wear were +still disgracefully grimy. + +"While the angry husband was chiding the woman for her indolence Wakonda +suddenly appeared. To him the man appealed, and asked for his advice in the +matter. + +"Wakonda quickly responded, and said: 'A lazy, gossiping wife is not only a +disgrace to her husband, she is annoying to all around her; and so it will +be in this case.' + +"Then Wakonda told her husband to take some of the dirt which still clung +to his garments, which she was supposed to have cleansed, and to throw it +at her. This the man did, and the particles of dirt at once changed into +mosquitoes. And so, ever since, especially in the warm days and nights of +early summer when the mosquitoes with their singing and stinging come +around to trouble us, we are reminded of this lazy, slovenly woman, who was +not only a trial to her husband, but by her lack of industry and care +brought such a scourge upon all the people." + +"Didn't Wakonda do anything else?" murmured the little lad; but that +blessed thing called sleep now enfolded both the little ones, and with +mutterings of "Nanahboozhoo--Wakonda--Souwanas--Mary"--they were soon far +away in childhood's happy dreamland. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +More about Mary and the Children--Minnehaha Stung by +the Bees--How the Bees Got Their Stings--What Happened +to the Bears that Tried to Steal the Honey. + +The next morning while Mary was dressing them the children told her of +their adventures in the wigwam of the Indians. Mary was really interested, +though she pretended to be disgusted at the whole thing, and professed, in +her Indian way, to be quite shocked when they both confidentially informed +her that they had had such a good time that they were going again even if +they had to run away and be whipped for it. + +This was terrible news for Mary, and placed her in an awkward position. To +tell the parents of the children's resolve was something she would never +do, as it might bring down upon them some of the punishment which was quite +contrary to her principles. Yet, on the other hand, to let them go and to +give no information might cause more trouble than she liked to think of. + +Neither could she bear the thought of the two children returning from +another day's outing with their neat clothing and pretty faces soiled and +dirty. Do as they might, she had never once informed on them, and she had +no mind to begin now. She earnestly pleaded with them not to carry out +their resolve. The little ones were shrewd enough to see that they had +thoroughly alarmed her, and they were in no hurry to surrender the power +which they saw they had over her. + +Mary never said a word in English. She understood a good deal that others +said, but she never expressed herself in other than the Indian language. +Hence both little Sagastao and Minnehaha always talked with her in her own +tongue. + +Minnehaha, seeing Mary's anxiety at their determination to run away to the +Indians, thought of compromising the matter by insisting that Mary should +tell them more tales. If she would do this they "would not run away very +soon;" especially did she emphasize the "very soon." This was hardly +satisfactory to Mary, but as it was the best promise she could get she was +obliged to consent. + +Little Sagastao, who was Mary's favorite, once more unsettled her when he +said, "Now, Mary, remember, we have only promised not to run away very +soon. That means that we intend to do it some time." + +It seems that the little conspirators had talked it all over in the morning +in their beds, and had decided how they would get stories out of Mary +without really promising not to run away to the wigwam of Souwanas. + +The children, being dressed, were taken down by Mary to prayers and +breakfast, after which an hour was allowed in summer-time for outdoor +amusement before the lessons began. Little Sagastao generally spent his +hour, either with his father or some trusty Indian, playing with and +watching the gambols of the great dogs, of which not a few were kept at +that mission home. Minnehaha was with her mother, and was interested in the +bestowal of gifts to the poor widows and children who generally came at +that hour. + +Owing to the isolated situation of the mission, and the fact that there +were no organized schools within hundreds of miles, some hours of the +forenoon were devoted to the education of the children in the home. The +afternoons, according to the season, were devoted to reading and amusement. + +Mary, the nurse, while able to read fluently in the Cree syllabics, had no +knowledge of English. As the children's education progressed they wanted to +teach Mary. She stubbornly resisted, however, declaring that if they taught +her to read English they would want to make her talk it. + +The mother noted the unusual expectancy manifested by the children during +the day, and on inquiring the reason was promptly informed that Mary had +promised to tell them a story, or legend, and "had got to do it." + +"Why has she _got_ to do it?" said the loving mother, struck with the +emphasis which they had placed on the word. + +The little mischiefs were cunning enough to see that they had nearly run +themselves into trouble, and were wisely silent. Mary also noticed this, +and at once her great loyalty to the little folk manifested itself, and +quickly turning to her mistress she said, with an emphasis which was quite +unusual: + +"Mary has promised them a story, and as she always keeps her word she has +_got_ to tell it." + +Saying this she quickly sprang from the floor, where she had been sitting, +and taking a child by each hand she marched with them out of the room. + +"Hurrah for you, Mary! you saved us that time," said little Sagastao. + +Mary would not have been sorry if in some way the parents received an +inkling of what was in the minds of the children, yet she had such peculiar +ideas that she would never herself be the one to convey that information. + +During the brief summer months the pleasantest walks were along the shores +of the lake. Many were the cosy little cave-like retreats where Mary often +led the children. There, with the sunlit waters before them, and the +rippling waves making music at their feet, the old nurse crooned out many +an Indian legend or exciting story about the red men of the past. To-day, +however, she was perplexed by the attitude of the children and could not +select any story that she thought of sufficient interest to divert their +minds from Souwanas and Nanahboozhoo. So for a time they wandered on along +the pleasant shore, or turned aside to gather the brilliant wild flowers. + +A scream of pain from Minnehaha interrupted their pleasure. In gathering +some wild lilies she was stung on both hands by some honey bees that were +in the flowers. Mary quickly made a batter of clay and bound up the wounded +hands in it. Then she sat down and took the child in her lap. + +"Naughty bees to sting me like this," said Minnehaha, with tears streaming +down her cheeks. "I was not doing them any harm." + +"Yes, you were, and so were we all," said the brother. "We were carrying +off the flowers from which they get their honey, which is their food." + +"Well, they might let us have a few flowers without stinging us," replied +Minnehaha. + +The intense pain of the stings rapidly abated under Mary's homely but +skillful treatment, and as the child still retained her place in Mary's lap +she said, + +"Can you tell us why such pretty little things as bees have such terrible +stings? My hands felt as if they were on fire when I was first stung, and I +could not help crying out with the pain." + +"Well," said Mary, "there was a time when the bees had no stings, and they +were as harmless as the house flies. They were just as industrious as they +are now, but they had any amount of trouble in keeping their honey from +being stolen from them, for every creature loves it. + +"In vain they hid their combs away up in hollow trees and in the clefts of +high rocks. The bears, which are very fond of honey, were ever on the +lookout for it, and were very clever in getting it when once they found +where it was hidden away. Birds with long beaks would suck it out, and even +the little squirrels were always stealing it. The result was that whole +swarms often starved in the long winters, because all their honey, which is +their winter food, was stolen from them. The bees were in danger of being +destroyed. They gave up working in great numbers together, and scattered +into little companies, and in the most secret places tried to store away a +little honey, just enough to keep them alive from season to season. But +even these little hives were often discovered and the honey devoured. + +"Things had come to such a pass with them that they had almost given up +hope of lasting much longer. + +"Fortunately for them, word was circulated that Wakonda, the strong +spirit--the one who sent the mosquitoes--was coming around on a tour, to +see how everything was progressing. He was greater than even Nanahboozhoo, +and was perhaps a relative of his, but he very seldom appeared, or did +anything for anyone. However, it happened that he had this year left his +beautiful home at Spirit Lake and was journeying through the country, and +he was willing to help all who were in real distress. + +"So the bees resolved to apply to him for help. Wakonda received them very +graciously, and ate heartily of the present of beautiful honey which some +of them had made and had succeeded in keeping out of the way of bears and +their other enemies. + +"When his feast of honey was over he listened to their tales of sorrow and +woe. He was indignant when he heard of the numbers of their enemies, and of +the persistency of their attacks upon such industrious little creatures. + +"For a time Wakonda was uncertain as to the best method to adopt to help +them. He dismissed them for that day, and told them to come again on a day +he mentioned, saying that by that time he would know just what to do--for +help them he would. The bees were so delighted with this news that they +could not keep it to themselves but must go and tell their cousins, the +wasps and hornets, and even bumblebees. + +"When the appointed time arrived the bees were on hand--and so were the +wasps, hornets, and bumblebees. Wakonda welcomed the bees most kindly, but +was a little suspicious about their visitors, and he asked some sharp +questions. But the bees were in such good humor about the help that was +coming that they did not refer to the bad habits of their cousins at all. +Then Wakonda made a speech to the bees, and told them how much he loved +them for their industrious habits, which he wished all creatures had. He +praised them for the fact that, instead of idly wasting the summer days, +they used them in gathering up food for the long, cold winter. + +"Then he proceeded to give them the terrible stings which they have had +ever since, and as the wasps and hornets claimed to be their cousins +Wakonda was good-natured enough to give them the same sort of weapons. +Some people, especially boys, think this was a, great mistake, and would be +very glad if Wakonda had refused to give stings to the yellow wasp and the +black hornet." + +"Well, what happened after the bees got their stings?" said Sagastao. + +"A good deal happened," said Mary, "and that very soon. A lot of them, +without as much effort to conceal their nest as formerly, selected a tall, +hollow tree, and using a big knot hole as the door began secreting their +honey in it. They had made the combs, and were now filling them, when along +came a couple of bears. These animals, as you have been told, are great +honey thieves, but they always had hard work to find where the timid bees +had cunningly hid it away, and now they could hardly believe that right +here before them was a great swarm of bees filling the air with their +buzzing as they flew in and out of the knot hole. + +"With saucy assurance they at once began climbing the tree, expecting to be +able to put their long paws into that big hole and draw out the combs. But +they never reached that knot hole. The noise they made in their climbing +alarmed the bees. Out they came in great numbers, and now, instead of +flying around in a panic, like so many house flies, and seeing their honey +devoured, they at once flew at their enemies, the bears. They stung them on +their noses and about their eyes and lips, and indeed in every spot where +they could possibly reach them with their terrible new weapons. + +"The bears could not make out what the trouble was. They howled with rage +and terror, yet they were resolved to get that honey, and still tried to +crawl up higher on the tree. But at length the bees mustered in such vast +numbers--for those away gathering honey, as they returned, joined in the +attack--that the bears became wild with pain and fear, and had to give up +their effort and drop to the ground. Even then the bees gave them no peace, +and continued to sting them until they were obliged to run into the dark +forest for relief. + +"Thus it happens now that almost all creatures that bother the bees are +similarly treated." + +[Illustration: "They howled with rage and terror."] + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "they need not have stung me because I was picking +a few flowers; but, after all, I am glad they have their stings or I +suppose we should never have any honey." + +"They are not big enough to have much sense," replied Sagastao, "and so +they go for everyone that gets in their way." + +Mary now carefully removed the clay poultices, which had effectually done +their work. A wash followed, in the waters of the lake which rippled at +their feet, and soon not the slightest trace of the sting remained. By the +time they reached home both pain and tears were well-nigh forgotten. + +That evening before the children were sent to bed they overheard Jakoos, +who had come to the house with venison to sell, telling in the kitchen a +story that he had heard from Souwanas about a naughty fellow, called +Maheigan, who tried to capture a beautiful kind-hearted maiden, Waubenoo, +and of how Nanahboozhoo thrashed him, and then afterward, because of some +naughty children not holding their tongues, Waubenoo was turned into the +Whisky Jack. + +What the little children overheard had very much excited their curiosity, +and so when Mary was putting them to bed they demanded from her the full +story. + +As this was one of the Saulteaux Indian legends, while Mary was a Cree, she +was not familiar with it. She told the children that she knew nothing about +it, but this by no means set their curiosity at rest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The Love Story of Wakontas--His Test of the Two +Maidens--His Choice--The Transformation of Misticoosis. + +A few days later Mary was annoyed by having the children tell her frankly +that they did not think she was a first-class story-teller. For if she had +been she ought to have been able to answer Minnehaha's question about what +Nanahboozhoo did to Maheigan when he tried to catch Waubenoo. + +Mary was vexed at herself that she was unable to answer the question, for +she well knew that the children would not rest satisfied until they had the +story told them by some one, possibly Souwanas himself. Indeed, knowing +them so well, she had fully resolved to post herself from one of the noted +story-tellers who have all the Indian legends at their tongue tips. But as +yet she was ignorant in this matter, and therefore fell considerably in the +children's estimation. Alary was somewhat hurt by noticing, perhaps for the +first time, Sagastao and Minnehaha whispering confidentially to each other. +The children conversed with Mary only in her own language, which at that +time they perhaps understood better than they did English. Now, much to +Mary's annoyance, their confidential whisperings were carried on in +English. Being sensitive and quick-tempered, when she saw this sudden break +in their affections toward her she was inclined to resent it, and asked the +reason why she was not allowed to know what they were talking about. + +Blunt little Sagastao spoke up at once: + +"Minnehaha and I have talked it over, and have decided that unless you tell +us better stories, and ones which you know all about, we're going to run +away to the wigwam of Souwanas." + +This was humiliating and distressing news. Mary fancied she had told them a +good story, and that with a few others like it she could satisfy their +curiosity and keep them at home until the brief summer would have passed. +Not so, however, thought the children. They saw their advantage and were +resolved to keep it, and when their lessons were over and they were left +entirely in the charge of Mary they taxed the little woman in a way that +obliged her to exercise all her gifts as a story-teller, and she was far +from being a poor one. + +One day she took them out in a graceful birch canoe among the picturesque +islands. They landed on one of these islands, and spent some time in +exploring its beauties and resting where grew a profusion of the fragrant +Indian grass. They were for a time much interested in the various wild +birds that then were so numerous and fearless. Beautiful gulls of +different varieties were there nesting, and by following Mary's directions +the children were delighted to find that they could approach very near to +the nests of some of them without disturbing the mother bird while her +mate, in fearless confidence, stood on guard beside her. + +[Illustration: The startling placard.] + +[Illustration: While her mate stood beside her.] + +"Now, Mary, hurrah for a story!" cried the children, as they sat at lunch. + +While Mary was wondering what she would tell them, Minnehaha, with all the +restless, inquisitive spirit of childhood, noticing the ceaseless rustling +movements of the leaves in the stately northern poplar while the leaves of +all the other trees were so still, said: + +"Why is it, Mary, that even while the leaves on the other trees are so +quiet those almost round ones are ever stirring?" + +Mary knew the Indian legend, and at once proceeded to narrate it. + +"It is believed by our people," said Mary, "that there are other persons +just as clever as Nanahboozhoo, and as able to do wonderful things, but +they are very seldom heard of. Some of them were the children of Wakonda, +the powerful spirit who dwelt in the region of Spirit Lake, where they say +it is always sunshine. Many strange things have been told about them, but +everybody says they are kind-hearted, and never did anything to injure any +of our people unless it was well deserved. The story is that long ago one +of these sons of Wakonda, whose name was Wakontas, could not find a wife +to suit him in his own beautiful country, and so he came to the regions +where the Indians dwelt. + +"For a long time he wandered throughout great regions of country before he +found anyone who interested him. However, in his journeyings Wakontas went +into the wigwam of some Indians where there were two lovely maidens, so +very beautiful that he fell in love with both of them. He was in the +disguise of a very fine-looking young hunter. So clever was he in the use +of his bow and arrow that at the end of every hunting excursion he returned +laden with the richest spoils of the chase. He fell more and more in love +with the two girls, and knowing, of course, that he could only get one of +them he found a great difficulty in making his choice. He had already gone +to the girl's father, and after finding out from him the price demanded for +his daughter, without mentioning which one, very quickly by his magic +powers he obtained the heavy price and laid it at the father's feet. Both +of the girls seemed equally pleased with him, and each one secretly hoped +that she might be the object of his choice. Still he hesitated, and +although he tried many experiments yet they so nearly equaled each other in +cleverness and beauty that he was still undecided. However, there was a +great difference in their dispositions. While one was proud and jealous, +and had a very bitter tongue, the other was just the opposite; while one +was very selfish, the other was generous and kind-hearted. But Wakontas was +not able to find this out at first, and after he had considered various +plans he decided that he would put on one of his many disguises and thus +try them. + +"So he started off as though going on a hunting expedition, but soon after +he was out of sight he quickly assumed the form of a poor and aged Indian, +and came to the home of these two beautiful sisters, and asked for +assistance. Wakontas chose a time when he knew the rest of the family were +away from the wigwam, in order that he might see how the two sisters would +act toward him. + +"When he walked into the wigwam, for nobody ever knocks at an Indian tent, +the maidens were a little startled at thus suddenly seeing this +rough-looking old beggar-man in their midst. The selfish, proud girl, whose +name was Misticoosis, at once began assailing him, and cried, 'Auwasta +kena!' (Get out; go away, you!) + +"In vain he pleaded that he was aged and hungry. She would not listen to +him. + +"Omemee, the other young Indian maiden, who had not said a word, but had +been pitying him from the first moment she saw how feeble and sad he +looked, now interfered, and remonstrated with her sister, whose tongue kept +up a constant stream of abuse. Taking the old man to her side of the wigwam +she seated him on a rug of deerskins and then built up before him a bright +fire. Then she quickly brought in venison, cooked it nicely, and gave him +the broth for drink and the meat for food. He thanked her gratefully, but +she checked his words and said that her greatest joy was in making others +happy. Not satisfied with what she had done, and noticing that his shoes +were old and worn, she took out of her beaded workbag a pair of splendidly +worked moccasins, and put them on his feet. + +"All this time, while this good-hearted, generous Omemee was treating the +poor old man so kindly, the proud, selfish Misticoosis was talking as hard +and as fast as she could against such deeds of kindness to all old people. +In her opinion, when they had got so old and helpless as that old fellow +was, they ought to be killed by their relatives. + +"The old man again expressed his thanks to the kind sister, and then went +his way. + +"Soon the girls began to think of arraying themselves for the return of +their friend and lover. The proud, selfish Misticoosis spent all the time +in fixing herself up in the most elaborate manner. She had lately become +quite jealous of her sister, and she was resolved to so outshine her in +appearance that the handsome young hunter would surely prefer her. But +Omemee (a name which means a dove) thought to herself: + +"'My father and mother and the rest of the family will soon be returning to +the wigwam, tired and hungry, and the best thing I can do will be to have a +good dinner ready for them all.' So, only taking time to comb and brush her +luxuriant hair and make herself neat and tidy for her work, she set about +cooking the meal. She skillfully prepared venison and bear's meat, and the +finest of fish. + +"Hardly had she finished her work and seen everything nicely cooked before +she heard the happy shoutings of her younger brothers, and the sweet +birdcalls of her little sisters. + +"As Omemee and her sister Misticoosis hurried out to greet them they were +surprised to see the handsome stranger gliding along in his beautiful canoe +alongside of the larger one of the family. Of course, the sight of their +lover excited the two girls. Misticoosis, who had spent all the hours in +arraying herself in her finery and adornment, boldly thrust herself to the +front, and crowded out the modest Omemee, who was flushed by the busy work +of cooking the dinner, and was wisely dressed in a costume which harmonized +with her face and with the work in which she had been engaged so +industriously. + +"The instant the handsome young Indian landed--fancy the amazement of the +two girls to notice that he had on his feet the same beautiful moccasins +that, not many hours before, Omemee had given to the aged feeble man! +Before anyone could utter a word he came striding up to the girls, and +said: + +"'As an old, weary man, I came to your wigwam a few hours ago. Misticoosis +gave me nothing but abuse, yet my only crime was that I was old. Her tongue +went on and on without stopping, and all of her words were words of abuse +for the old man and anger that he should have been left to live so long. +But Omemee, kind-hearted Omemee, pitied the poor old man. She made him sit +down on a couch of deerskins, that he might rest his tired limbs. She +built a fire and warmed him. She took of the best of the venison, and made +him food and drink, and then ere he left she put on his feet the most +beautiful of her moccasins. All her gifts to the unknown old man were the +best she had. + +"'See the beautiful moccasins, the gift of Omemee! + +"'I was that old man--I am now the lover long seeking a bride. I have made +my choice. Two beautiful maidens for a time divided my heart. There is no +division now. By testing them I have found out that only one is lovely +within. + +"'That no man may have to put up through life with the unceasing clatter of +the tongue of Misticoosis, she will be from this time the unbeautiful aspen +tree, while her tongue shall be the leaves that will never again be still +even in the gentlest breeze. The leaves of other trees shall rest at times, +but the aspen leaves, now the tongue of Misticoosis, shall ever be restless +and unquiet.' + +"And even while he was speaking, Misticoosis, who was amazed and ashamed at +the words he spoke, became rooted to the ground, and gradually turned into +an aspen tree. + +"Then, turning from her to the maiden of his choice, he exclaimed: + +"'But Omemee, the loving, the tender, the kind-hearted, thou art my heart's +choice!' + +"Saying this, the handsome hunter opened his arms, and Omemee sprang toward +him. For a moment he held her in his arms; then he said: + +"'I am Wakontas, and to the beautiful home of Wakontas thou shalt be +taken.' + +"Then there was a wonderful transformation; as quickly as a butterfly +bursts from its chrysalis, so suddenly was Omemee transformed into a +beautiful dove and the hunter as quickly assumed the same lovely form. +Together they arose into the air, and flew away to the unknown but +beautiful home of Wakontas, in the land of perpetual sunshine." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The Startling Placard--What Happened to the Little +Runaways--The Rescue--Mary Tells Them the Legend of the +Swallows--How Some Cruel Men were Punished who Teased +an Orphan Boy. + +When Mary entered the children's bedroom one bright, pleasant morning she +was amazed at finding both of the beds empty and a piece of foolscap paper +pinned to the dressing table. The writing on it was beyond her power to +read. She remembered now that the children had begged her not to come very +early in the morning to wake them up, and as their requests were as a law +she had lingered as long as she dared, and indeed had only gone to call +them when her mistress had asked the reason for their nonappearance. Not +until she had shown the paper, with its inscription, to the kitchen maid, +who could read English, did its full meaning burst upon her. Of course, she +was very much troubled, and yet such was her loyalty to the children that +she hesitated about letting the parents know what had occurred. She was +fully aware that she could not long keep the startling news from them, and +yet she was still resolved that never should any information be imparted by +her that might bring down upon them any punishment, no matter how much +deserved. + +It was a long, rough trail through the primitive forest to the wigwam of +Souwanas. How long the children had been away she could not tell. Mary, +with Indian shrewdness, had felt their beds, and had found them both quite +cold, so she knew the little mischiefs had been off at least an hour. She +interrogated not only the maid in the kitchen but also Kennedy, the man of +all work, outside. Neither of them had seen or heard anything of the +children, and as they did not share Mary's ideas the escapade of the +children was soon known. + +The parents were naturally alarmed when they heard the news. At once the +father, accompanied by Kennedy and the dogs, Jack and Cuffy, started off on +the trail of the runaways. The intelligent dogs, having been shown a couple +of garments recently worn by the missing boy and girl and being told to +find them, at once took up the trail in the direction of the wigwam of +Souwanas, running with such rapidity that if they had not been restrained +by the voice of their master they would very quickly have left him and his +Indian attendant far behind. + +At length, with a sudden start, both dogs, growling ominously, dashed off +ahead, utterly regardless of all efforts made by their master to restrain +them. This suspicious conduct on the part of the dogs of course alarmed the +father and his Indian companion, and as rapidly as the rough trail would +allow they hurried on in the direction taken by the dogs. Soon their ears +were greeted by a chorus of loud and angry yelping. Fear gave speed to both +the men, and soon they dashed out from the forest into the opening of an +Indian's clearing. Here was a sight that filled them with alarm, and almost +terror. Standing on a pile of logs were little Sagastao and Minnehaha. +Sagastao erect and fearless, with a club about as large as an ordinary +cane, while behind him, leaning against a high fallen log, was Minnehaha. +Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian dogs, among whom Jack +and Cuffy, wild and furious, were now making dire havoc. One after another, +wounded and limping, the curs skulked away as the two men rushed up to the +children. + +"Ha! ha! hurrah for our Jack and Cuffy; aren't they the boss dogs!" shouted +the fearless little runaways, and now that the victory was won they nimbly +sprang down from their high retreat and, apparently without the slightest +fear, congratulated both their father and the Indian on the superiority of +their own dogs. + +Trembling with anxiety, the anxious father, thankful at the narrow escape +of his children, as he clasped them in his arms could not but be amazed at +the indifference of the little ones to the great danger from which they had +just escaped. After petting Jack and Cuffy for their great bravery and +courage the return journey was begun, much to the regret of the children, +who pleaded hard to be allowed to resume their trip to the wigwam of +Souwanas to hear the stories of Nanahboozhoo. + +[Illustration: "Surrounding them were several fierce, wolfish Indian +dogs."] + +The father was perfectly amazed at this request, and of course it was +sternly refused. He had started off in pursuit of the runaways with a +resolve to punish them for this serious breach of home discipline, but his +alarm at their danger and his thankfulness for their escape had so stirred +him that he could not punish them nor even chide them at the time. All he +could do was to bring them safely home again and, as usual in such +emergencies, turn them over to the tender mercies of their mother. + +Sturdily the children marched on ahead for a while, then Kennedy, the +Indian, took Minnehaha in his arms. He had not carried her many hundred +yards before the weary little one fell fast asleep, softly muttering as she +slipped off into the land of dreams, "Wanted to hear about Nanahboozhoo." + +Great was the excitement at home when the party returned. Sagastao rushed +into the arms of his mother, and without the slightest idea of having done +anything wrong began most dramatically to describe how "our Jack and Cuffy +thrashed those naughty Eskimo dogs" that chased Minnehaha and him upon that +great pile of logs. Mary in the meantime had taken from Kennedy's arms the +still sleeping Minnehaha, and almost smothered her with kisses as she bore +her away to bed. + +There was great perplexity on the part of the parents to know just what to +do to impress upon the little ones that they had been very naughty in thus +running away, for it was very evident from the utterances of both that they +had not considered the matter in that light. Now, in view of the weariness +of Minnehaha, it was decided to leave the matter of discipline in abeyance +until a little of the excitement had passed away. + +In the meantime Sagastao was ready to talk with everybody about the whole +affair. It seems that he and Minnehaha had decided that Mary was "no good" +in telling stories. He said her stories neither frightened them nor made +them cry, but Souwanas was the boss man to tell Nanahboozhoo stories. He +said they got up before anybody was stirring, that morning, and dressed +themselves so quietly that nobody heard them. They remembered the trail +along which Souwanas and Jakoos had carried them. After they had walked for +some time they came to where there was a larger trail, and they turned into +it, and came upon a lot of dogs that had been chasing some rabbits. Soon +the rabbits got away from the dogs, when they reached those trees that had +been chopped down. Minnehaha was the first to notice that the dogs had +turned back, and were coming after them, and she shouted: + +"'O, look! those dogs think we are rabbits, and they are coming for us!'" + +"When I saw they really were coming," said Sagastao, "Minnehaha and I +jumped up on the logs, and we climbed up as high as we could, and I took up +a stick, and then I stood up with Minnehaha behind me, and I shook the +stick at them, and--and I shouted: + +"'A wus, atimuk!'" (Get away, you dogs!) + +"They came so near on the logs that I hit one or two of them, while all of +the others on the ground kept barking at us. But I kept shouting back at +them, 'A wus, atimuk!' My! it was great fun. Then all at once we heard Jack +and Cuffy, and, I tell you! soon there was more fun, when our big dogs +sprang at them. Every time an Eskimo was tackled by Jack or Cuffy he went +down, and was soon howling from the way in which he was shaken. And they +had nearly thrashed the whole of them when papa and Kennedy came rushing +up. I wished they had been there sooner, to have seen all the fun." + +Thus the lad's tongue rattled on, while it was evident he was utterly +unconscious of the danger they had been in. + +After some deliberation it was decided that, in view of this runaway being +the first offense of the kind, the punishment should be confinement to +their own room the next day, until six o'clock in the evening, on a diet of +bread and water. At this Mary was simply furious. She well knew, however, +that it was necessary for her to control herself in her master's and +mistress's presence. She managed to hold her tongue, but her flashing eyes +and an occasional mutter, which would come out as she went about her usual +duties, showed the smoldering fire that was burning inside. The children +had been duly lectured for their breach of discipline and then, that +evening, consigned to their room for their imprisonment which was to last +until the next evening. That night Mary took up her mattress and blankets +and went and slept on the floor between the two beds of the children, and +in spite of orders, so the maid said, she secretly carried up a goodly +sized bundle from the kitchen. + +The day was one of unusual quietness, as the lively pair, who generally +kept the house full of music, were now supposed to be away in humiliation +and disgrace. All regretted that the punishment had to be inflicted and the +children made to realize their naughtiness in thus running away, and all +were looking forward to the hour of six o'clock with pleasant anticipation. +When it arrived word was sent to the children that their hours of +imprisonment were over, and that they were to present themselves in the +library. Quick and prompt was the response, and noisily and hurriedly the +two darlings came rushing down the stairs, followed by Mary. They were +arrayed in their most beautiful apparel, and were evidently prepared by +their nurse to go with her for a walk. + +The father, feeling that it was necessary, began to make a few remarks +expressive of regret that he had thus been obliged to punish them, when he +was interrupted by little Sagastao with the honest and candid remark, +spoken in a way which, while perfectly fearless, was yet devoid of all +rudeness or impertinence: + +"O, father dear, you needn't feel badly about us at all, as Mary has been +with us all day and has told us lovely stories." + +"And Mary brought us taffy candy," broke in darling Minnehaha, with equal +candor; "and some currant cakes and other nice things, so we got on very +well after all." + +These candid utterances on the part of the two children not only amazed but +amused the parents, and were another revelation of Mary's wonderful love +for the children and her defiance of disciplinary measures which she +thought might cause the slightest pain or sorrow. And here she stood in the +open door, and as soon as their father's words and their own rather +startling "confessions" were ended she called them to her and away they +went for a long walk along the beautiful shore of the lake, leaving their +parents to conjecture whether the punishment that had been inflicted would +produce any very salutary results. + +When the children were gathered that evening in the study with their +parents little Sagastao said: + +"Papa, Minnehaha and I have been talking it all over with Mary and she has +shown us that it was naughty on our parts to run away as we did; and we are +sorry that we did anything that caused you and mamma sorrow and anxiety +about us, and so, ... Well, we know you will forgive us." And as the four +little arms went twining around the parents' necks there was joy and +gladness all round, and it was evident that there was no danger of the +escapade being repeated. + +The following are a couple of the legends that Mary told them while they +were prisoners in their own room that day. + + +THE LEGEND OF THE SWALLOWS. + +"Long ago," said Mary, "there were some Indian families who lived on the +top of a very high hill, like a mountain. They had quite a number of small +children, and I am sorry to say they were very naughty and would often +disobey their parents. One of their bad deeds was to run away, and thus +make the father and mother very unhappy until they returned. Their parents +were very much afraid that some of the Windegoos or wild animals would +catch them when they thus ran away by themselves, with no strong man to +guard them. + +"So the parents tried to make their homes as nice as possible for them. +They made all sorts of toys for them and gave them nice little bows and +arrows, and other things, that ought to have amused them and kept them +happy at home. All the efforts of their parents, however, were of no use. +They soon were tired of their home amusements, and when their parents' +backs were turned they would run away. + +"At length their conduct became so bad, and the parents found themselves so +powerless to prevent it, that they decided to appeal to the Indian Council +for assistance. For a time the stern commands of the Chief were listened to +and obeyed. Then they neglected his words, and about as frequently as ever +they were found playing truant from their homes and parents. + +"At length, on one occasion when they had all run away and had been off for +several days and could not be found, their fathers and mothers called upon +Wakonda to look for them and to send them home. Wakonda was very angry when +he heard about these naughty children running away so much, and so he set +off in a hurry to find them. After a long search he discovered them on the +bank of a muddy river making mud huts and mud animals. He was so angry at +them that he at once turned them into swallows, and said, 'From this time +forward you will ever be wanderers and your homes will always be made of +mud,' and so it has been." + +"I say, Mary, did you remember that yarn because Minnehaha and I ran away?" +said Sagastao. + +"Well, we were not making mud huts," said Minnehaha. + +Mary was not to be caught, however, even if she did love them so much, and +she did not answer Sagastao's question, although in her heart she was not +sorry if he saw something in the legend that would deter him from again +running away. + + +HOW SOME CRUEL MEN WERE PUNISHED WHO TEASED AN ORPHAN BOY. + +"There was once an old grandmother who was left alone with only an orphan +grandson. All of her other relatives were dead. This boy was a very +industrious little fellow, and did all that he could to help his +grandmother. They both had to work very hard to have sufficient to keep +them from starving. Together they would go out in their canoe and catch +fish. They also set many snares in the forest to catch rabbits, partridges, +and other small game. + +"Because they were so poor the clothing of this orphan boy was made partly +of rabbitskins and partly of the skins of birds. When he was not busy +helping his grandmother he, like other little boys, was pleased to go out +and play with the other children of the village. Some of the men of the +village were very fond of teasing him, and some were even cruel to him, +because of the poor clothing he had to wear. Often the poor boy would +return to the wigwam of his grandmother crying and weeping because the men +of the village had not only teased him on account of his poor clothing but +had almost torn his coat into pieces. His grandmother entreated the men to +stop teasing the poor boy, who could not help his poverty. She would +patiently mend his poor torn clothes and try to cheer him up with the hope +that soon these foolish, cruel men would see how wrong it was to treat him +thus. + +"But they only seemed to get worse instead of better, and so the +grandmother got very angry at last and determined to have it stopped. + +"So she went off to Wakonda and told him all about it. Wakonda was very +busy just then, but he gave her some of his magical powers and told her +what to do when she reached her home. + +"When she arrived there she found her grandson almost naked from the abuse +of the cruel men, who, finding that she was absent, had been more cruel +than ever to him. She then informed him that she was able now to put a stop +to all their cruel actions. So she told him to dive into a pool of water +that was near at hand. He did as she had commanded, and there he found an +underground channel that led out into the great lake. + +"When he came up to the top of the water in the lake he found himself +transformed into a beautiful seal. He at once begun playing about in the +waves as seals are often seen doing. + +"It was not long before he was seen by the people of the village, and, of +course, the men were very anxious to secure this valuable seal. Canoes were +quickly launched and away the men paddled with their spears to try and +capture it. But the boy, now transformed into the seal, quickly swam away +from them, as instructed by his grandmother, and so kept them busy paddling +on and on farther from the shore. When they seemed almost discouraged the +seal would suddenly dive down, and then reappear in the water just behind +them. Then, before the men could turn around and spear him, he as suddenly +dived under the water again. The pursuit was so exciting that these cruel +men did not notice how far out from land they had now come. They did, +however, after a time see their danger, for suddenly a fierce gale sprang +up, and the waves rose in such fury that they upset the canoes and all of +the wicked men were drowned. When the old grandmother saw this she once +more exerted the magical powers with which she had been intrusted by +Wakonda, and calling to her grandson to return home he instantly complied +with her request. He speedily swam back to her, and she at once transformed +him into his human form. + +"Thus freed from his tormentors, he very rapidly grew up to manhood and +became a great hunter, and was kind to his grandmother as long as she +lived." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Souwanas Tells of the Origin and Queer Doings of +Nanahboozhoo--How He Lost His Brother Nahpootee, +the Wolf--Why the Kingfisher Wears a White Collar. + +"Who was this Nanahboozhoo that we are hearing so much about?" + +Thus was the old story-teller addressed by Sagastao, who always was anxious +to learn about those who interested him. + +The old man began in this way: + +"When the great mountains are wrapped in the clouds we do not see them very +well. So it is with Nanahboozhoo. The long years that have passed since he +lived have, like the fogs and mists, made it less easy to say exactly who +he really was, but I will try to tell you. Nanahboozhoo was not from one +tribe only, but from all the Indians. Hence it is that his very name is so +different. + +"The Ojibway call him Mishawabus--Great Rabbit; the Menomini call him +Manabush. He had other names also. One tribe called him Jouskeha, another +Messou, another Manabozho, and another Hiawatha. His father was +Mudjekeewis, the West Wind. There was an old woman named Nokomis, the +granddaughter of the moon, who had a daughter whose name was Wenonah. She +was the mother of twin boys, but at their birth she died and so did one of +the boys. Nokomis wrapped the living child in soft dry grass, laid it on +the ground at one end of her wigwam, and placed over it a great wooden bowl +to protect it from harm. Then in her grief she took up the body of Wenonah, +her daughter, and buried it, with the dead child, at some distance from her +wigwam. When she returned from thus laying away her dead she sat down in +her wigwam, and for four days mourned her loss. At the end of that time she +heard a slight noise in her wigwam, which she soon found came from that +wooden bowl. Then as the bowl moved she suddenly remembered the living +child, which she had forgotten in her great grief at the loss of its +mother. When she removed the bowl from its place, instead of there being +the baby boy she had placed there she beheld a little white rabbit, and on +taking it up she said, 'O my dear little rabbit, my Manabush!' Nokomis took +great care of it and it grew very rapidly. + +"One day, when Manabush was quite large, it sat up on its haunches and +hopped slowly across the floor of the wigwam, and caused the earth to +tremble. + +"When the bad Windegoos, or evil spirits who dwell underground, felt the +earth to thus tremble they said, 'What is the matter? What has happened? A +great Munedoo (spirit) is born somewhere.' And at once they began to devise +means by which they might kill Manabush, or Nanahboozhoo, as he was now +called, when they should find him. + +"But Nanahboozhoo did not long continue to look like a rabbit. As he was +superior to other people he could change himself to any form he liked. He +was most frequently seen as a fine strong young Indian hunter. He called +the people his uncles. When he grew up he said to his grandmother, the old +Nokomis, that the time had come when he should prepare himself to go and +help his uncles, the people, to better their condition. This he was able to +do, seeing he was more than human, for his father was the West Wind and his +mother a great-granddaughter of the moon. Sometimes he was the beautiful +white rabbit; then he would be a wolf or a wolverine; then he would be a +lovely bird. He could even change himself to look like a dry old stump or a +beautiful tree. Sometimes he would be like a little half-frozen rabbit; +then he would be a mighty magician, and often a little snake. He was just +as changeable in his disposition as in his outward appearance. Sometimes he +was doing the best things imaginable for his uncles, the Indian people, and +at other times he was full of mischief and trickery. But on the whole he +was a friend, and although quick-tempered and fiery yet he did lots of fine +things for the people, for he was really one of the best of the Munedoos of +the early times. + +"When the time came for him to leave his grandmother's wigwam he built one +for himself, and then he asked Nokomis to prepare for him the sacred +magical musical sticks which she alone could make. His grandmother made +him four sticks, and with these he used to beat time when singing his queer +songs. Some of them were very queer, and ended up with 'He! he! ho! ho! ha! +ha! hi! hi!' Others were in reference to some special benefits he would +confer on his uncles. In one of them, referring to his going to steal the +fire for them, he sings: + + "'Help to my uncles I'm bringing, + Their sorrows I'll change into singing. + From their enemies the fire I'll steal, + That its warmth the children may feel. + + "'Disguised will be Nanahboozhoo, + That his work may the better be done; + But his jolly deeds ever will tell who + Has been sporting around in his fun.' + +"At first he was a jolly fellow, full of fun, and did lots of good things +for his uncles. He showed them the plants and roots good for food, and +taught them the arts of surgery and medicine, but as the years went by he +did some things that caused him to be feared very much. His uncles always +went to him when they got into trouble, but whether he would help them or +not depended much on the humor he was in when they came. + +[Illustration: The beautiful reflections in the water.] + +"After he had lived for years in the first wigwam which he had built, and +taught the people of the earth many things, his father, the West Wind, held +a council with the North Wind and the South Wind and the East Wind, and +as Nanahboozhoo was never married, and was living such a lonely life, they +determined to restore to life, and give to reside with him, his twin +brother who had died at his birth. The name of this brother was Nahpootee, +which means the Skillful Hunter. Nanahboozhoo was very fond of him, and +took great care of him. He grew very rapidly, and he and Nanahboozhoo were +very great friends. Like Nanahboozhoo, Nahpootee could disguise himself in +any form he chose. One favorite form he often assumed was that of a wolf, +as he was often away on hunting excursions. The evil spirits, or Windegoos, +who dwell under the land and sea, had never been able to do much harm to +Nanahboozhoo, he was too clever for them; and although they often tried he +generally worsted them. Now they were doubly angry when they heard that +Nahpootee had been restored to life and was living with him. Nanahboozhoo +warned his brother of their enmity, and of the necessity of being on his +guard against them. + +"These brothers moved far away and built their wigwam in a lonely country +on the shore of a great lake which is now called Mirror Lake, because of +its beautiful reflections. Here, as he was a hunter, Nahpootee was kept +busy supplying the wigwam with food. Once, while he was away hunting, +Nanahboozhoo discovered that some of the evil Munedoos dwelt in the bottom +of the very lake on the shores of which they had built their wigwam. So he +warned his brother, Nahpootee, never to cross that lake, but always to go +around on the shore, and for some time he remembered this warning and was +not attacked. But one cold winter day, when he had been out for a long time +hunting, he found himself exactly on the opposite side of the lake from the +wigwam. The ice seemed strong, and as the distance was shorter he decided +that, rather than walk around on the shore, he would cross on the ice. When +about half-way across the lake the ice broke, he was seized by the evil +Munedoos and drowned. + +"When Nahpootee failed to return to the wigwam Nanahboozhoo was filled with +alarm and at once began searching everywhere for his loved, lost brother. +One day when he was walking under some trees at the lake he beheld, high up +among the branches, Ookiskimunisew, the kingfisher. + +"'What are you doing there?' asked Nanahboozhoo. + +"'The bad Munedoos have killed Nahpootee,' Ookiskimunisew replied, 'and +soon they are going to throw his body up on the shore and I am going to +feast on it!' + +"This answer made Nanahboozhoo very angry, but he concealed his feelings. + +"'Come down here, handsome bird,' he said, 'and I'll give you this collar +to hang on your neck.' + +"The kingfisher suspected that the speaker was Nanahboozhoo, the brother of +Nahpootee, and he was afraid to descend. + +"'Come down, and have no fear,' said Nanahboozhoo, in a friendly tone. 'I +only want to give you this beautiful necklace to wear, with the white +shell hanging from it.' + +"On hearing this the kingfisher came down, but suspecting that Nanahboozhoo +would be up to some of his tricks he kept a sharp watch on him. +Nanahboozhoo placed the necklace about the neck of the bird so that the +beautiful white shell should be over the breast. Then he pretended to tie +the ends behind, but just as he had made a half knot in the cord, and was +going to tighten it and strangle the bird, the latter was too quick for him +and suddenly slipped away and escaped. He kept the necklace, however, and +the white spot may be seen on the breast of the kingfisher to this day. + +"Soon after this the shade or ghost of Nahpootee appeared to Nanahboozhoo +and told him that, as his death was the result of his own carelessness, in +not keeping on the land, he would not be restored to live here, but was +even now on his way to the Happy Hunting Grounds, in the Land of the +Setting Sun, beyond the Great Mountains. + +"Nanahboozhoo was deeply moved by the loss of his brother, who had been +such a pleasant companion to him. So great was his grief that at times the +earth trembled and the evil spirits dwelling under the land or water were +much terrified, for they knew they would be terribly punished by +Nanahboozhoo if he should ever get them in his power. But it was a long +time before he had an opportunity to get his revenge on them for the death +of his brother. How he did it I will tell you at some future time." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The Legend of the Bad Boy--How He was Carried Away +by Annungitee, and How He was Rescued by His Mother. + +"Tell us, Mary, a story about the boys of the old times among the Indians," +said Sagastao. + +"About bad boys," said Minnehaha with a mischievous look in her eyes; "for +this morning brother and papa had to have a 'settlement,' and it might do +Sagastao good to hear about other bad boys and what was done with them." + +These words of Minnehaha made Mary very angry. She thought more of Sagastao +than she did of any other member of the family, and nothing threw her into +a rage quicker than for anyone to cross him or even to question the wisdom +of anything he said. Now, indignant that his father had been obliged to +call him into his study for some misdemeanor, Mary was greatly annoyed to +hear these words. + +"O, pshaw, Sakehow," said Sagastao; "do not be so touchy. I deserved the +talking to that papa gave me. It was wrong of me to whack that Indian boy +with my bat as I did, and I ought to have been punished; so if you have any +jolly good stories about bad Indian boys, and how they were punished, why, +let us have one." + +This confession of her favorite, who, after his temper cooled, was always +quick to admit that he had been in the wrong, quite pacified Mary, and she +settled down on the wolfskin rug with the children and began her story. + +"Long ago all the Indians believed in Windegoos and other spirits that were +more or less friendly to good people. Some were man-eaters and, of course, +were always to be feared. Some Indians were in such fear of these cannibals +that they would never leave the wigwam after dark for fear of being gobbled +up by some of the monsters that might be skulking about. + +"There was one great creature called Annungitee, or Two Faced. He had a +great habit of looking out for bad boys, very bad boys. It was said that he +could not see really good boys; that they were like glass, and he could not +see them. But when a boy became very bad he was then so black that he was +easily seen, and Annungitee could espy him a long way off and was very +likely to come after him. + +"Fortunately Annungitee always made a noise when he was passing along. This +was a good thing for bad boys, for it gave them time to scurry into the +wigwams, out of his way. He was so big that when he set one of his feet +down on the ground there would be sounds like the ringing of bells and the +hooting of owls. When he put the other foot down the sound was like the +roaring of buffalo bulls when they are going to fight each other. Even when +he tried to move softly there would be sounds like birds and beasts crying +out. All the Indians who had heard this great terrible fellow were afraid +of him, and yet no two were able to give the same description of him. But +they did agree on one thing, and that was that when he caught a very wicked +man, which he did sometimes, or very bad boys, which he often did, he just +threw him into one of his big ears and held him there. Indeed, it was +believed that he could hold three big men or six bad boys in one of his +ears at the same time. Nobody knew where he lived, as no one had been found +brave enough to follow and see, and no daring hunter had ever found his +abode in any of his hunting expeditions. + +"Now a certain Indian man and his wife who lived in a wigwam quite apart +from other families had one boy. He was their only child. He had been a +very bad, cruel, unkind boy. His father had to work hard as a hunter to +obtain sufficient game to keep them from starving. His mother cut the wood, +carried up the water from the distant river, dressed the skins of the +animals that were shot by her husband, and did all the work of the wigwam. +The boy would not lift a finger to help in any way. One day the mother, who +was quite sick, asked him to go for some water. He refused, and was very +saucy to her. Then she asked him if he would please bring in some wood for +her, as she felt cold. No, he would not do anything of the kind. She then +became quite angry with him, and said: + +"'If you do not be a better boy I will put you out of the wigwam, and +Annungitee will toss you into his ear.' + +"All the same, she did not really believe he would, as she had not heard of +Annungitee or any other kind of ghost being around for a long, long time. +She only said what she did to frighten the bad boy into obedience. Indeed +she had often said to him, when she was angry with him, 'I do hope a ghost +will catch you.' But the more she talked to him the worse he became. So one +day when he had been very lazy and very rude to her she sprang up and, +seizing him by the arm, undertook to put him out of the wigwam. He became +much frightened at this and began to cry. But she, knowing that he deserved +to be punished, pushed him out and securely fastened the doorway, calling +out: + +"'May Annungitee catch you!' + +"She did not really mean it, of course. No mother could wish her boy to +have such a terrible misfortune. The frightened boy then began running +round and round the wigwam, trying to find some place where he could get +in, but he could find no opening. After a while his crying and his efforts +to get into the wigwam ceased, and all became still and silent. His mother +listened attentively, and every moment expected to hear his voice again, +but there was no sound except something like the sound of the singing of +birds and the rattling of small bells dying away in the distance. At this +she became very much frightened and began to cry, and to call for her boy. +She threw open the door flap and began to search all around her wigwam for +her son. But all in vain! He was nowhere to be found. + +"When the father came home from his hunting she told him of the sudden +disappearance of their boy, and he, too, was very much alarmed. They set +out and visited the lodges of all the people around. But no one had seen or +heard anything of the missing boy. They returned to their own silent wigwam +very sorrowful, and for days they mourned over the loss of their son. One +night, as the mother was weeping on account of her great loss, she heard +some one crying out to her: + +"'Hi! Hi!' and at the same time she heard the sounds of bells ringing and +owls hooting. This happened several nights, and then one night there was a +voice saying: + +"'You said, "Ghost, take that boy." Hi! Hi!' + +"Next morning the wife told her husband what she had heard during the +previous night, and she added: + +"'I believe the ghost Annungitee has taken our boy.' + +"Her husband was very angry when he heard this, and said: + +"'Yes, a ghost has taken our boy. You gave him to him, and he has taken +you at your word. So why should you complain? It serves you right.' + +[Illustration: "They tumbled the tall ghost over."] + +"At this the mother lifted up her voice and cried out so loud that it could +be heard a great distance. + +"'Husband,' she said, 'I deserve what you have said, but I am going to try +and get back our boy, and so to-night I will hide in the pile of wood that +is outside the wigwam, and if the ghost comes along again, as he has been +coming, I will catch him by the leg, and you must rush out and try to +rescue our son.' + +"So that night she hid herself in the wood pile, and, sure enough, after a +while she heard the sound of bells ringing and animals softly crying out, +and then a loud 'Hi! Hi!' after which all was still. + +"Then, as she cautiously looked out from her hiding place, there before her +was a great creature standing beside the wigwam. He was so tall that his +head was higher than the smoke hole at the top, and he was peeping down +into the wigwam. But, big as he was, she had a mother's loving heart after +all, and as she thought of her boy fastened up there in one of his big ears +she was determined to rescue him if possible. So she cautiously moved along +until she was able to seize one of his legs, which she did with all her +strength, and at the same instant she shouted for her husband to come and +help. Out he rushed, and between them they tumbled the tall ghost over and, +sure enough, in one of his big ears they found their little boy. + +"Poor little fellow. He was half-starved, and so thin and weak that he +could hardly stand. But they helped him into the wigwam and gave him some +soup, made out of some birds that his father had killed that day. + +"The tall ghost was so frightened by the sudden way in which he had been +seized that as soon as he could get up he hurried away, and was never seen +in that part of the country again. Some tribes say he went South, and +there, when he was stealing children and carrying them off in his ears, he +was caught by the angry parents and burned to death on a big wood pile." + +"Did the little boy get better?" asked Minnehaha. + +"O yes, he did, after a while; but he was a long time in getting over the +fright he had had. It did him good, however, for after that he was never +rude and saucy to his mother and did all he could to help her." + +"Did it do the mother any good?" asked Sagastao, who had not been +altogether satisfied with her treatment of the boy. + +"Yes, indeed," said Mary; "for after that terrible fright she was never +known to shout out at her boy such words as, 'I hope the ghost will catch +you,' or any other of the unpleasant ones which she sometimes had used when +she was angry with him." + +"Thank you, Sakehow," said both the children. "A pretty good story, that." + +Then what a jolly romp they had with Jack and Cuffy! The two splendid dogs +were the children's special protectors and companions. + +[Illustration: "Their dog trains were in almost constant demand."] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Happy Christmas Holidays--Indians Made Glad with +Presents--Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the +Fire from the Old Magician and Gave It to the Indians. + +The Christmas holidays were times of innocent festivities and gladness +among the Indians and their white friends, both at the mission and at the +trading post. + +The gifts which it was possible to give to the Indians were not of very +great value, but they were articles much needed and were always prized by +the recipients even if they were never very profuse in their words of +thanks. Minnehaha and Sagastao were wild with delight at these times, and +were eager to be the almoners of the mission, and carry the gifts to the +Indians whom they loved so well. The fact that the temperature of those +bright, cold Northern winters kept steadily many degrees below zero did not +chill their ardor nor lessen their enthusiasm. Their dog trains were in +almost constant demand, for they kept flying over the various icy trails +until in the different wigwams all had been remembered with some useful +gift. + +Faithful Mary had made for them the warmest of fur and blanket suits. +Dressed in these, and tucked in among the robes in the cariole by their +careful driver, they sped along the trails. They made the woods echo with +their merry shouts and laughter--unless it was so bitterly cold that they +had to be completely covered up. It is not to be wondered at that there +were times when, on reaching some distant wigwam, there were little hard, +white spots on their cheeks or noses which told the watchful Indians that +the Frost King had been at work and that speedily those frostbites must be +removed. Little cared they for the momentary pain that ensued, when the +frozen parts were being thawed out. They were out for a good time, and they +had too much grit and courage to let such trifles as a few frostbites +disturb their happiness. The bright fires burning in the center of the +wigwams, or in the fireplaces at the end or side of the little Indian +houses, were of course always welcome after a long run in the bitter cold. + +"Tell us, Souwanas," said Sagastao one very cold day, as they were gathered +around his wigwam fire, "how it was that Nanahboozhoo stole the fire from +those who were guarding it and gave it to the Indians." + +"It must not be too long a story," said Minnehaha, "as we have yet to go to +the wigwam of Kinnesasis, Little Fish, with his presents, and it would be +too bad to be late when they know we are coming." + +So Souwanas pledged himself to make the story as short as he could without +spoiling it, and then, after a few more whiffs from his beloved calumet, he +began: + +"It was long ago, when there were fewer people in the forests and on the +prairies than now. They did not have as many comforts as they have now, and +one of the rarest things among them was fire. Sometimes when the +lightning's flash set a tree on fire they would have it for a little while, +but they did not seem to be able to keep it going, and they were often very +cold and generally had to eat their food without cooking it. + +"Nanahboozhoo was then still living with his grandmother, Nokomis, and was +sorry to see that she often suffered from the cold and that the food was +miserable because it was not cooked. So he set his wits to work and decided +that something must be done. As he should now have to deal with the Muche +Munedoos, evil spirits, he had to be very careful. He put himself in +various disguises and at length he heard all about how the coyote had +stolen some of the fire from the watchers in the underground world, who +possess enormous quantities of it. It frightened him a little when he heard +that there was so much fire in the world under us, but he was not apt to be +afraid very long and so as he went on searching, and on the sly listening +to the talks of windegoos and others, he found that the fire for which he +had been so long searching was in the possession of a fierce old medicine +warrior who guarded it with the greatest care. Those who had employed the +coyote to get it had intrusted its keeping to him. In those days they had +an idea that fire was such a dangerous thing that it would be almost +certain destruction to the race if it was given to all. This old warrior +had his two daughters, who were great, fierce women, to assist him in +guarding the fire. + +"Several attempts had been made to steal the fire ere Nanahboozhoo resolved +to see what he could do. All of these other efforts had failed, and the +parties who tried them were killed. Nokomis heard of these unsuccessful +attempts and tried to dissuade her grandson, Nanahboozhoo, from such a +dangerous enterprise. + +"Nanahboozhoo, however, was a very skillful fellow, and although this was +one of his first great undertakings, for it was long ago, he was not to be +stopped by her fears, and so away he went. As the ice was not yet on the +waters he took his birch canoe and paddled eastward as far as he could. +Then he hid his canoe where he could easily find it on his return. + +"The next thing he did was to transform himself into a rabbit, and in that +shape he hurried on until he saw in the distance the sacred wigwam where +dwelt the old guardian of the fire and his two daughters, who were famous +for their height and their strength. To excite the pity of these daughters +Nanahboozhoo jumped into some water, and then crawling out, wet and cold, +he slowly approached the wigwam. Here the two daughters found him, and he +looked so miserable that they took pity on him and at once carried him into +the wigwam and set him down near the sacred fire, that he might soon get +warm and dry." + +[Illustration: "Where the fire was stolen out of the center of the earth."] + +"How very kind that was of the old man's daughters," said Minnehaha. + +"I don't know about that," said the more matter-of-fact Sagastao; "folks +sometimes get into trouble by taking up everything that comes along. +Remember that old rascal that humbugged father." + +But Souwanas, remembering his promise, adroitly shunted off the youngsters +and resumed his story. + +"The two girls, after seeing how contented and happy the rabbit seemed to +be as it warmed itself by the fire, again returned to their duties in +different parts of the large wigwam. The rabbit soon after hopped a little +nearer to the fire, that he might be able to seize hold of a burning stick +or brand, but as he moved the ground shook and trembled under him so that +it awoke the old man, who had fallen into a heavy sleep. Thus disturbed, he +called out to his daughters in alarm: + +"'My daughters, what was it that caused the ground to tremble?' + +"The girls replied that they did not know. They had done nothing beyond +their usual work except to bring in to warm a poor little shivering +half-frozen rabbit that they had found outside. At first the old man was a +little suspicious and, rolling over, he took a good look at Nanahboozhoo. +But he had made himself into such a poor little wretched half-drowned +rabbit that the old man's suspicions were completely dispelled, and he +turned over again and went to sleep. + +"Nanahboozhoo was pleased to hear the old man snoring again, and he only +waited now until the two girls should both be busy in the wigwam on the +opposite side from the door; then he suddenly changed himself into a fleet +young Indian runner, and quickly seizing hold of a burning stick he dashed +out of the wigwam and away he rushed toward the place where he had left his +canoe. + +"Of course there was instant pursuit. The two daughters, although they were +magicians, like their father, well knew that they would be punished by the +superior evil spirits if they allowed any of the sacred fire to be stolen, +and they were furious at the cunning and deceitful Nanahboozhoo, whom they +now recognized, for playing such a trick upon them. Shouting to their +father, to arouse him, they immediately ran after the retreating +Nanahboozhoo, who with the burning brand in his hand was speeding rapidly +over the trail. But, fleet as he was, he soon discovered that the two +girls, by their magic, were rapidly gaining upon him. They were the +fleetest of runners, even if they were girls, and it was for that reason +that they and their father were intrusted with the sacred fire. Great +honors were to be theirs if they guarded it to the satisfaction of those +who had intrusted it to them, while, on the other hand, great would be +their disgrace if they failed in their duty. + +"When they found that they were gaining on Nanahboozhoo, and were likely +to regain possession of the firebrand, with shouts and threats they +declared that severe indeed would be his punishment, when he fell into +their hands, for his abuse of their kindness and his trickery. + +"Nanahboozhoo felt that he was indeed in a tight place. He did not, +however, intend to be overtaken, and he sped on, if possible faster than +ever, until there was only a large dried-up, barren meadow between him and +the spot where he had tied his canoe on the shore of the lake. The girls +were only a few hundred yards behind him, and he resolved to fight them +with this sacred fire. So, as he rapidly continued his flight, he plunged +the now blazing firebrand into the dry grass, here and there, on each side +of the trail. The wind was in his face, and it carried back the fierce +blaze and dense black smoke and not only quickly hid him from the sight of +his pursuers but also made it very dangerous for them to follow him. + +"Nanahboozhoo thus succeeded in reaching his canoe, and fixing the burning +brand in one end of the boat he was soon rapidly paddling over the waters +toward his distant home. The flying sparks of the torch burnt him badly in +several places, but he did not much mind this, and he dared not stop to +dress his wounds for fear that his pursuers would yet overtake him. + +"Fortunately he succeeded in reaching his distant home. There at the shore +to welcome his return was Nokomis, who had been full of anxiety about him. +She carefully dressed his burnt face and hands and gladly received the gift +of the fire, which has been such a blessing to the Indians ever since. + +"At first there was a good deal of trouble among the Indians to keep the +fire burning. Sometimes the watchers appointed to look after it, especially +in the summer months, would forget to add fresh fuel, or would go to sleep +and neglect it. Then they would have to send off to some perhaps distant +wigwam, where the people had been more careful, and secure some live coals +from them. + +"Nanahboozhoo was troubled about this. He feared that if it were allowed to +die out at the same time in all of the wigwams he might not be so +successful again if he had to try to get a fresh supply from the fierce old +man and his now wrathful daughters. So he went out into the woods and at +length a good spirit came to him in a dream and told him of various ways in +which the fire could be obtained. He showed him how it could be made, by +rapid friction, with dry sticks. Another way he revealed to him was by the +striking together of a flint stone and a piece of iron; sparks of fire +could thus be produced which, caught in punk, would soon become a blaze. So +now the Indians do not have to cover up the fires as they were formerly +obliged to do; thanks to Nanahboozhoo's dreams, they can make it fresh +whenever they want it." + +"Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo for his good work this time!" said Sagastao. + +"Well, I think he was a mean fellow, to so fool those two nice girls who +took him in and warmed him when he was a poor little wet shivering rabbit!" +said Minnehaha. + +"Took him in?" the lad retorted. "Well, I guess it was well he was able to +take them in as he did, by setting fire to that old grass in the meadow, +for if he had not done so they would soon have had his scalp." + +But here Minnehaha appealed to Souwanas, and said: + +"I have been wondering how it was the old man and his daughters got the +fire in the first place from out of the underground. Will you not tell us +that story some time?" + +The old man looked grave and was silent for a minute or two, then he +replied: + +"I think you had better ask Kinnesasis. He knows the story better than I +do, for in his youth he traveled far West, into the land of the high +mountains, where the legend is that the fire was stolen out of the center +of the earth." + +"All right. Thank you, Souwanas. We are going to take Kinnesasis some +presents, and while there we will ask him for the story." + +Here an Indian lad rushed into the wigwam with the word that Kennedy was +coming with their cariole. The children were well wrapped up, and soon with +their usual happy, "Wat cheer! Wat cheer!" they were speeding homeward. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Kinnesasis--How the Coyote Obtained the Fire from the +Interior of the Earth. + +A great time the children had in the wigwam of Kinnesasis. He was such a +jolly little old Indian, and he was specially happy to-day when the +children opened out the gifts and presented them. He was more than +delighted with a suit of black clothes sent him from a distance by friends +who had heard about him and his needs. He quickly put on the whole suit, +which fitted him very nicely, and then much amused the children by saying: + +"I am sure the man who made these clothes is in heaven, or, if not yet +dead, he will go to heaven when he dies." + +"Why, Kinnesasis, it is the kind friends who sent you these clothes you +ought to thank, and not make such a fuss over the man who made them; he was +paid for making them," said Sagastao. But Kinnesasis could only think of +the man who made the suit of which he was so proud. + +Kinnesasis's old wife was, if possible, still more delighted with her +presents than the old man with his. She and Minnehaha were always the best +of friends, and now as the child handed her gift after gift of warm +clothing and food her joy knew no bounds, and, old as she was, when some +warm shoes were given her, she sprang up and began singing an Indian song, +while with all the agility of a young maiden she spun around the wigwam in +rhythmic measure to her words, which, roughly translated, are as follows: + + "The Good Spirit has pity on me, + Though for days I had little to eat, + I was wretched and sad in my heart, + I was cold, O so cold! in my feet. + + "But now I have plenty of meat, + Clothes for my body, shoes for my feet, + I'll not grumble, nor sorrow, but praise + The Good Spirit the rest of my days." + +"Well done!" shouted the children when the old woman stopped. They were +greatly delighted with her performance. Kinnesasis, however, who, as well +as his wife, was now a church member, professed to be much shocked at +seeing her thus dancing, as though in the wild excitement of the Ghost +Dance. But both Sagastao and Minnehaha stood up for the old wife. They said +the words she sang were good enough for the church, any day, and they were +sure nobody could find fault with her thus showing how glad and thankful +she was. + +And nobody ever did find fault and soon was the affair almost forgotten, +for now the merry jingling of more dog bells was heard, and who should come +into the wigwam of Kinnesasis but the parents of Sagastao and Minnehaha! + +Cordially were they greeted. At first it was difficult for them to +recognize the staid little gentleman in his full suit of broadcloth as the +lively but generally ill-clothed Kinnesasis. The visitors--who quickly saw +and were delighted with the transformation--greeted him as though he were +some distinguished stranger. This vastly amused the children. Screaming +with laughter at Kinnesasis's pretense of keeping up the farce, they +shouted out, "Why, this is only our dear old Kinnesasis. He is no great +stranger. It is only Kinnesasis with his new clothes." + +"Well," then was asked, "who is that charming old lady over there with such +a fine shawl and brilliant handkerchief on, and such fancy new shoes on her +feet? Surely she is a stranger." + +"No! No!" the children again shouted. "Why, that is Kinnesasis's wife, with +her new presents on! My! doesn't she look nice!" + +Here the little ones seized hold of the happy old Indian woman and made her +get up and show herself off in her new apparel, of which she was just as +proud as Kinnesasis. + +"And she gave us such a jolly dance in them, papa! Wouldn't you like to see +her do it again?" cried Minnehaha. + +But here Kinnesasis, pretending to be shocked beyond measure, in a most +diplomatic manner directed the attention of the parents to some other +matter, and so the mischievous child did not succeed in making a church +scandal by inducing one of the flock to dance before the missionary. + +"Tell us, Kinnesasis," said Sagastao, "how it was that that old man and his +daughters first obtained the fire which Nanahboozhoo so cleverly stole from +them and gave to the Indians long ago." + +At first Kinnesasis hesitated about telling the old legend, saying that he +did not think the father and mother of the children would care for such +stories. + +"Don't they, though!" cried the children. "You don't know them very well, +then, if you don't know that they like stories just about as well as we +do." + +And with this they at once appealed to the parents, who of course sided +with them and expressed their desire to listen to this story that the +children had told them they were to hear from dear old Kinnesasis. + +Throwing some more logs on the fire, around which the white visitors with +the Indians gathered, Kinnesasis began: + +"It was long ago, when I was a young lad, that I heard the story from the +old story-tellers of our people. I had traveled with my father for many +days far toward the setting sun. We reached the land of the great +mountains, and there, with our people of those regions, we spent some +moons. It was while we were among them that I heard from the ancient +story-teller the legend of how the fire was stolen from the center of the +earth, where it was kept hidden away from the human family. + +"That there was such a thing as fire was well known. It had been seen +bursting out of the tops of distant mountains, and there had been times in +great thunderstorms, when the lightning had set fire to dead trees--and +indeed in this latter way the Indians had become acquainted with its value +to the human race. But they had not taken care to keep it burning, and no +one had been appointed to specially look after it. + +"The reason why fire had not been from the first given to men was because +when the race was created the fire was not much needed. The earth was then +much warmer than it is now. There was no snow or ice ever seen except on +the tops of the very highest mountains. Great animals now all dead, and +others that could only live in the hottest countries, lived all over these +great lands. Then there was abundance of fruit and nuts and roots that were +all very good for food. Then some great disaster happened to the world and +soon it began to grow colder and many animals, and even families, perished. +Snow and ice appeared where they were never seen before. There was great +suffering from the cold. The hunters began to kill the animals for food. +They were now not satisfied with the fruit and roots, they wanted something +better. + +"So the fire was much needed. But where it was, or how to get it, was the +question. Fortunately an old dreamer dreamed a dream about it. As the +council assembled to hear his dream he told them that the fire was +preserved in the heart of the earth by a magician called Sistinakoo, and +that it was kept very carefully surrounded by four walls, one within the +other, in each of which was a single door. At the first door a great snake +kept guard. At the second door a mountain lion or panther was the guardian. +A grizzly bear guarded the third door, and at the fourth and last door +Sistinakoo himself kept watchful care over the precious fire that smoldered +on a stone altar just inside this last wall. + +"When the council heard all this they were almost discouraged. They thought +it would be impossible for anyone to get by all of these guards and steal +the fire. + +"They first asked the fox to try, but he only reached the first door when +the great snake nearly made a meal of him. Thoroughly frightened, he rushed +back to the top of the earth and told of his narrow escape. + +"For a time nothing more was done to try and get the fire. The people +continued to suffer, for the earth kept getting colder and colder and ice +and snow were now to be found in lands that had previously been comfortably +warm. So the council was called again, and the question again raised as to +what could be done. + +"It happened that there came to the council a very old man who remembered a +tradition, handed down from his forefathers, which said that part of the +earth beneath us was hollow, and that some of the animals, even the great +buffaloes, had dwelt in those underground regions before they came to dwell +on the surface of the earth. He said that the coyote, the prairie wolf, was +the last one to leave, and that he was sure that he still remembered the +route to the very spot where Sistinakoo, the head chief of the regions, +guarded the fire so jealously." + +"Why should they so guard the fire, and be so careful about letting people +have it, when we know how good it is?" asked Minnehaha. + +"Because," replied Kinnesasis, "there was a tradition that at some time or +other the fire should get the mastery over men, and the whole world be +burned by it, and they thought that they would carefully guard it from +getting scattered about by careless people who might set the world on +fire." + +"Well, go on, Kinnesasis, and tell us the rest of the story," said the +impatient Sagastao. + +"So when the Indian council heard this story they sent for the king of the +coyotes and told him of their wish that he should return to that underworld +and bring up the fire for their use. + +"To their surprise and great delight the coyote said he would go, and he +immediately began his preparations for the journey. So greatly had the cold +increased that he found the dark mouth of the entrance under the mountains +almost surrounded by snow and ice. After traveling for some time in the +darkness he reached the outer wall, where he waited, a little distance from +the door, until the snake was taking his usual sleep. Then he quickly +stepped past him. Knowing the habits of the other animals, he waited until +they were asleep and then he noiselessly passed them all. Even Sistinakoo +himself was sound asleep. So the coyote crept silently up to the fire and +lighted the large brand or torch that was securely fastened to his tail. +The instant it began to blaze up, as the coyote rushed out through the +first door, Sistinakoo shouted, 'Who is there? Some one has been here and +has stolen the fire!' + +[Illustration: "The coyote was too quick for them all."] + +"He at once began to make a great row and loudly called to the different +keepers to close the doors in the walls. But the coyote was too quick for +them all, and ere the sleepers were wide enough awake to do anything he had +passed through all the doors and was far on his way to the top of the +ground. The fire was gladly received by the people, but after some time, +when some big prairies and forests had been burned up by it, the men got +fearful that the world might be destroyed and so they intrusted it to the +care of the old magician and his two daughters, with orders to be very +careful to whom they gave any. It was from them Nanahboozhoo stole it, to +scatter it once more freely among the people as we now have it. + +"But the tradition was still believed in the days of my grandfather that, +good as the fire was to warm us, and cook our food, it would yet become our +master, and do the world much harm." + +Kinnesasis was thanked by all for his recital of this suggestive legend, +especially by his older listeners, who saw much in it that was in harmony +with the earlier beliefs of other nationalities. + +By this time, however, the dogs in their trains were impatiently barking, +and longing to get back home for their suppers. So, after farewell +greetings to Kinnesasis and his wife, one cariole after another was loaded, +and away the happy ones sped over the icy expanse of the frozen lake. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +The Christmas Packet--The Distribution of Gifts--A Visit +by Dog Train, at Fifty-five Below Zero--Souwanas Tells +How the Indians first Learned to Make Maple Sugar. + +How great the excitement was which attended the arrival of the Christmas +packet can hardly be realized by persons who have never been exposed to the +privations of a land which the mail reaches every six months, and where +they wait half a year for the daily paper. After this long waiting it is no +wonder that a great shout was raised when far away in the distance the +long-expected, heavily-loaded dog-trains were seen that for several hundred +miles had carried the precious messages of love and the tokens of good will +from dear ones far away. + +This year an extra train well loaded with much-needed supplies for the +mission was among the arrivals. Its coming was hailed with special delight +by the children; for even in that Northland Santa Claus was not unexpected, +and it was surmised by some of the wee ones that possibly some of his gifts +would arrive about that time. + +And they were not disappointed, for loved ones far away in more favored +lands had remembered these little ones in their Northern home, where the +Frost King reigns, and many and varied were the gifts which they now +received. + +"I am going to take Souwanas some of my candies," said Sagastao. + +"And I am going to give him a nice red silk handkerchief," said Minnehaha. + +The children had by this time pretty well learned his weakness for these +things, and it was a pleasure now for them to think that they had it in +their power to make him happy. + +The next morning was, as usual, bright and cloudless, but it was bitterly +cold. The mercury was frozen in one thermometer, and in the other one the +spirit indicated fifty-five below zero. Yet so impatient were these +spirited children to be off with their gifts to Souwanas, and with +something also for each member of the family, that their pleadings +prevailed. A cariole with plenty of fur robes was soon at the door, and +with old Kennedy as their driver they were soon speeding away behind a +train of dogs. + +Indians are naturally alert and watchful, and so the merry jingle of the +silvery bells was heard while the cariole was still at some distance on the +trail. Cordially were they welcomed, and strong arms speedily carried them +into the cosy wigwam where, in the center, burned a great fire of dry +spruce and birch wood. + +As the cold was so intense, and the children had permission to remain for +two hours, it was decided that Kennedy should return home at once with the +dogs, as it would have been cruel to have kept them out in the cold so +long. + +The heavy wraps were soon removed and the children were comfortably seated +on the fur rugs provided for them. Then they very proudly opened their +parcels and distributed the contents--their own gifts as well as those +which had been sent to Souwanas and his family from the mission. Minnehaha +reserved her special gift for the last. When all of her others had been +bestowed she unfolded the beautiful red silk handkerchief and, going over +to Souwanas, she did her best to tie it nicely around his neck. + +The old man, genuine Indian that he was, was much moved by her winsome ways +and handsome gift. + +He said but little, but there was a soft, kindly look in his eyes that +showed his gratitude more than any words could have done. It meant a good +deal more than perhaps he would like to admit and those who saw it were +thankful that they had observed it, knowing that it meant so much. +Sagastao, who had already given him several presents, had held on to his +box of candies. He had learned that for such things the old man could be +coaxed to do almost anything, and now he held them out, and said: + +"Now, Souwanas, as all the presents have been passed around, I have got +some fine sweeties for you, but we must have a first-class Nanahboozhoo +story for them." + +"O yes!" said Minnehaha. "And as it is to be for sweeties let us have a +nice sweet story of Nanahboozhoo this time." + +"A sweet story you want? Well, before I begin let us fix up the fire and +all get comfortably seated around it." + +Then, as they usually did, the two white children cuddled as close to the +inimitable story-teller as they could. Little cared they for the cold +without or even for the occasional puffs of smoke which seemed at times to +prefer to enter the eyes of the listeners rather than to go out at the +orifice at the top of the wigwam. + +"A sweet story," musingly said the old man, "in this land of fish, and +bears, and wolves, and wildcats, and wolverines!" Then he paused long +enough to fill his mouth again with the candies which he enjoyed so much. + +"A sweet story. Then it must be of a land, south of this, where for some +years I dwelt, many, many moons ago. A land where the Se-se-pask-wut-a-tik +(sugar maple tree) grows and flourishes in all its beauty. + +"There, in those wigwams, long ago lived the people whom we call the +Hurons, the Dakotahs and the Ojibways. These Ojibways are cousins of my own +people, the Saulteaux. Well, the story I want to tell you had its beginning +long, long ago. One day there came a great embassage of Indians from the +far South with words of peace and good will. They said that in their +country they had no cold weather, and very seldom saw any snow. They said +that the trees were different, and that many things grew there that they +did not see in our Northern country. They brought with them many presents +and were kindly received by our people, and then, after some weeks of +feasting and speech-making, they returned home laden with the best gifts +our tribes could bestow. + +"Among the presents which these Southern Indians brought was a large +quantity of sugar. This was the first time it was ever seen among the +Indians of the North. It was very much prized, and was very carefully +divided among the people so that each one had a small quantity. It did not +last very long, for everybody was fond of it. When it was all gone the +people were sorry, and the question was asked, 'Why cannot we send a +company of our own people and get more of it?' + +"This suggestion met with the favor of the tribes, and a large party of the +best runners was selected, and being well supplied with rich presents and +pipes of peace they started off to find the Southland and to obtain +abundance of the sugar. Some weeks passed by before word was heard from +them, and the news was very bad. Fierce wars had broken out among the +tribes that lived between ours and those who dwelt in that far South. Our +Indians had to fight for their lives. Many of them were killed, others were +badly wounded, and of the large company that started out not more than half +ever returned to their homes. The expedition was a complete failure. + +"Still there was the memory of the sugar among them, and it happened that +one day in the council somebody said: + +"'Why not send to Nanahboozhoo?' + +"Good!" shouted Minnehaha; "that is just what I thought they would do." + +"Well, hold on," said her more matter-of-fact brother; "just as like as not +Nanahboozhoo would give them salt instead of sugar, if he were in one of +his tantrums." + +Souwanas was not displeased at this interruption on the part of the +children, and gladly availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to +once more help himself to the sweets. + +Earnestly appealing to Souwanas, Minnehaha, who always looked on the bright +side of things, and who had a quick intuition quite beyond her years, said: + +"It could not be a sweet story if Nanahboozhoo gave them salt instead of +sugar; could it, Souwanas?" + +The old man, as soon as his mouth was sufficiently emptied to resume his +story, amused by the earnestness with which the child appealed to him, +replied with the words, "Tapwa, tapwa!" (Verily, verily!) + +Sagastao, however, unwilling to give in, retorted, "O 'tapwa, tapwa' +doesn't mean anything, anyway." + +Souwanas only laughed at this criticism, and proceeded with his story. + +[Illustration: Across a single log at a dizzy height.] + +"So it was decided to send a deputation to Nanahboozhoo to tell him of +the wish of the tribes to have Se-se-pask-wut (sugar), as had the tribes of +the Southland. + +"The deputation who started off to find Nanahboozhoo had a great deal of +difficulty in finding him. It seems that a great strife had arisen between +Nanahboozhoo and some of the underground Muche Munedoos--bad spirits, +sometimes called the Ana-mak-quin--who had determined to kill Nokomis, the +grandmother of Nanahboozhoo, because of their spiteful hatred of +Nanahboozhoo, whom they knew they could not kill because he had +supernatural powers. + +"Nanahboozhoo had, as usual, been playing some of his pranks on them, and +that was why they were determined to kill Nokomis." + +"What were some of the tricks that Nanahboozhoo had been up to this time?" +asked Sagastao. + +"It would take me too long to tell you now," replied Souwanas. + +"Nanahboozhoo dearly loved his grandmother, although he was often giving +her great frights, just as other grandsons sometimes do. So when he heard +of what the Muche Munedoos were threatening he took up his grandmother on +his strong back and carried her far away and made for her a tent of maples +in a great forest among the mountains. The only access to it was across a +single log at a dizzy height over a wild rushing river. + +"It was now in the fall of the year, and the leaves of these trees were all +crimson and yellow, so brilliant that when seen from a long distance they +looked like a great fire. Thus it happened that when the bad spirits +following after Nanahboozhoo and Nokomis saw the brilliant colors through +the haze of that Indian Summer day they thought the whole country was on +fire, and they turned back and troubled them no more. Nanahboozhoo was +pleased that the beautiful maple trees had been of so much assistance to +him. He decided to dwell among them for some time, so he prepared a very +comfortable wigwam for himself and his grandmother. + +"It was in the wigwam among the maples that the deputation found +Nanahboozhoo. He received them kindly, and listened to their story and +their request. + +"At first Nanahboozhoo was perplexed. He was such a great traveler that he +had often been down in the great Southland, and well knew how the sugar was +there made. He had seen the fields of sugar cane, and knew the whole +process by which the juice was squeezed out and then boiled down into +sugar. He also knew that it required a lot of hard work before the sugar +was made. + +"When Nokomis heard the request of the deputation to her grandson she was +very much interested--for had not Nanahboozhoo several times, when +returning from those trips to the South, brought back to her some of the +sugar?--and she had liked it very much; and so now she added her pleadings +to theirs that he would in some way grant them their request. + +"Of course Nanahboozhoo could not refuse now, so he told them that, as the +beautiful maple trees had been so good to him and Nokomis, from this time +forward they should, like the sugar cane of the South, yield the sweet sap +that when boiled down would make the sugar they liked so much. + +"He told them, however, that it was not for the lazy ones to have, but only +for those who were industrious and would carry out his commands. Then +Nanahboozhoo described to them the whole process of sugar making. He told +them that only in the spring of the year would the sweet sap flow. Then +they were to have ready their tapping gouges, their spiles and buckets. +Great fireplaces were to be built and here, as fast as the sap was gathered +from the trees, it was to be boiled down in their little kettles into the +nice molasses; and then a little more, so that when it cooled it would +harden into sugar. + +"'Now,' added Nanahboozhoo, 'go back to your people and tell them that it +depends on their industry between now and the spring who shall have the +most of the sugar you love so well.' Then he skillfully modeled out a stone +tapping gouge of the shape required to make the incision in the tree from +which the sap would flow. With his knife he made a sample spile of cedar, +the thin end of which was to be driven into the hole made by the gouge and +along which the sap would flow. Then he told them to make plenty of buckets +of birch bark, and thus be ready when the time came to secure an abundant +supply of sap. Thus the art of making maple sugar first came to be known. +Nanahboozhoo gave it to the Indians long ago. Then when the palefaces came +they followed the same process. That is the way Nanahboozhoo showed us how +to get the maple sugar." + +But here the sound of the barking of the dogs, and the sweet tones of the +silvery bells on the collars of the dogs that had come for the children, +told that the two hours had passed away. + +"Thank you ever so much," said the grateful Minnehaha, as she rose to have +loving hands carefully wrap her up for the return ride, "for that sweet, +sweet story. It was so good of Nanahboozhoo to tell them about the sap in +the maple trees, even if it is only there in the spring time." + +"I think old Nokomis deserves a good deal of the credit," said Sagastao. +"It seems to me that Nanahboozhoo would not have done it if she had not +made him." + +"Well, Nanahboozhoo did it, anyway, and so we and the Indians have our +maple sugar and molasses, and I am glad. And so, hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" +Thus replied Minnehaha. + +Here Souwanas lifted the well-wrapped-up child, and carried her out to the +cariole, where she and her brother were speedily covered and tucked in +among the warm robes. + +"Marche! Marche!" was shouted to the dogs by the driver, and away they sped +over the icy trail with such speed that it was not long ere they were again +safe and happy in their own cozy home. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Mary Relates the Legend of the Origin of Disease--The +Queer Councils Held by the Animals Against Their Common +Enemy, Man. + +"Mary, how is it that I get sick sometimes," said Sagastao the following +summer, "and have to take medicine that I dislike? Why can't we always be +well?" + +For the last week or ten days Mary had been most devoted and faithful in +watchful care over her restless charge, who had been very sick but was now +rapidly recovering. + +"As soon as you are a little stronger I will tell you the legends of +sickness and medicine, as handed down by our Indian forefathers," said +Mary, "but now you must only rest, and eat, and sleep." + +"Well, Sakehow" (beloved), his pet name for his faithful nurse, "I will try +and mind you; don't forget." + +The next week was one of rapid recovery, and very proud, indeed, was Mary +when she led forth the two children, in the bright sunshine of a delightful +summer day, to a cozy resting place among the rocks where the waves of Lake +Winnipeg rippled on the sandy beach at their feet. + +Minnehaha was eager for a story about the sweet birdies or the brilliant +flowers, but the young invalid had his way this time, and Mary proceeded to +tell the story of the Indians' idea as to the origin of sickness and +disease. + +"Long, long ago," said Mary, "all the animals and birds on this earth lived +in peace and harmony with the human family. Then there was food for all in +abundance without any shedding of blood. Even the wild animals, that now +live by killing and devouring each other, found plenty of food in the +fruits and vegetables that then were so abundant. + +"Men and women also lived on similar things, and were contented and happy. +But as the years went on the people became so numerous, and their +settlements spread over so much of the earth, that many of the poor animals +began to be cramped for room. + +"Even this could have been borne, but by and by men began to make bows and +arrows, spears and knives, and other weapons, and began to use them on the +defenseless animals. Then soon they began to eat the flesh of the animals, +and presently they found that they preferred the meat thus obtained to the +fruits and vegetables of the earth. + +"Formerly they had made their garments out of the fiber of the trees and +plants, which the women carefully prepared and wove; but after a while they +discovered that the skins of the buffalo and deer and other animals, when +well prepared, made better and more durable garments and wigwams than the +materials they had previously used. As time went on the destruction of +the larger animals increased, and men became so much more cruel than +formerly that even the frogs and worms, that in the earlier days were never +harmed, were now destroyed without mercy, or by sheer carelessness or +contempt. Thus the animals came to be in such a sad plight that it was +resolved by them to call great councils of their members together to +consult upon what could be done for their common safety. + +"The bears were the first to assemble. They gathered together on the peak +of a great smoky mountain, which the white men now call Cathedral mountain, +and the great white bear from the Northland was appointed chairman." + +[Illustration: "Which the white men now call Cathedral Mountain."] + +"Well, that was funny," said Minnehaha. "Just fancy a big white bear +sitting up in a chair! Why, he would need a whole sofa to hold him." + +"Don't be silly, child," said the patronizing brother. "It was a bears' +council and, of course, the chairs used were bears' and not men's." + +When Mary was appealed to to settle the question she could only say, "As +the council was held on the top of a mountain perhaps the bears sat on the +rocks. But never mind; let me go on with the story. + +"After the white bear had made his speech he took his seat and said he was +now ready to hear the statements of the different bears who had assembled +to lodge their complaints against the way in which men killed their +relatives, devoured their flesh for food, and made garments and robes out +of their skins. + +"Nearly every kind of bear had grievous statements to make, and so +blood-curdling were some of their recitals that it was decided to begin war +at once against the human race. + +"Then the question was asked, 'What weapons shall we use against them?' +After some discussion it was decided to use bows and arrows, the favorite +weapons of their enemies. + +"'And what are they made of?' was the next question. + +"This was soon answered by a bear who had been caught when young and kept +captive for a couple of years in the wigwam of one of their enemies. He had +often seen the process of making bows, and he was now able to tell all +about it, and even to do the work himself. It was not long before the first +bow, with some arrows, was manufactured, and there was great excitement +when the first trial of it was made. A large strong bear was selected to +shoot the first arrow. To their great disappointment the trial was not a +success, for it was found that when the bear let the arrow fly, after +drawing back the bow, his long claws caught in the string and spoiled the +shot. Other bears tried, but they all had long claws, and they all failed. +Then some one suggested that this difficulty could be overcome by their +cutting off their long claws. But here the chairman, the white bear, +interposed, saying that it was very necessary that they should have their +long claws in order to climb trees, or up steep rocky places. 'It is +better,' said he, 'for us to trust to our claws and teeth than to man's +weapons, which certainly were not designed for us.' + +"The bears remained in council until they got very hungry, but think as +much as they might they could not devise any satisfactory plan, for they +are stupid animals after all, and they dispersed to their different homes +no better able to fight the human race than before. + +"Then the deer next held a council. Representatives of all the different +kinds of deer, from the great elk and moose down to the smallest species in +existence, assembled in a beautiful forest glade. The moose was selected as +chief. After a long discussion it was resolved that in revenge for man's +tyranny they would inflict rheumatism, lumbago, and similar diseases upon +every hunter who should kill one of their number unless he took great care +to ask pardon for the offense. That is the reason why so many hunters say, +just before they shoot, 'I beg your pardon, Mr. Deer, but shoot you I must, +for I want your flesh for food.' They know that if they do this they are +safe. + +"The Cree legend is that it is the bear that has to be propitiated by +gentlemanly expressions when he is being approached to be killed. I well +remember being with a couple of hunters closely following up a bear, and +just before they fired they kept saying, 'Excuse us for shooting you, +Brother Bear, but we must do it. We want your warm fur robe, our families +want your meat, our girls want your grease to put on their heads, so you +must excuse us, Brother Bear. Please do, Brother Bear; please do.' Thus +they went on at a great rate until he was killed. + +"But many forget it, and the spirit of their chief knows it and is angry, +and he strikes those hunters, or their relatives, down with rheumatism or +some other painful disease. + +"Next the fishes and snakes and other reptiles held their council, and they +decided that as the human race had now become such enemies to them they +would trouble them with 'fearful dreams' of snakes twining about them, and +blowing their poisonous breath in their faces, by which they would lose +their appetites and die, while others of them would seek opportunity to +make the water they drank, or even the air they breathed, unwholesome. The +poisonous ones were also directed to use every opportunity to kill with +their deadly bites whenever possible. + +"The birds also held a council, over which the crow was appointed chairman. +The eagle objected, and wanted the place, but he was voted down because +there were so few of his kind, and these were only hunted for their +feathers to adorn the war bonnets of the great chiefs and warriors. The +crow was appointed because he was always with the human race and knew the +various schemes and tricks they were inventing to injure the birds and +animals of various kinds. After much deliberation the birds decided to give +colds, and coughs, and throat diseases, and consumption, to the human +race, and to thus lessen their numbers that there might be room for all +creatures. + +"The insects and smaller animals then held their council, and the grubworm +was appointed to preside over the gathering. He was so elated over his +election, and that they had arranged a scheme which should be fatal +especially to women, that he fell over backward and could not get on his +feet again. So from that time the grubworm has only been able to wiggle in +that way. There was any amount of talking and buzzing among the crowd. The +frog was especially noisy and angry in his remarks. + +"'It is high time,' said he, 'that we began to do something against this +cruel human race, or we will soon be swept off the earth. See how my back +is ugly with lumps and sores because men have so kicked and knocked me +about!' + +"Others followed in the same strain of indignant protest against man's +cruelty. Even the flies and mosquitoes had something to complain of. + +"Well, after the buzzing, and the croakings, and the hummings and angry +talkings were over, they settled down to business. + +"Some were appointed to poison the waters so that malarias and fevers +should attack the now hated race. Others, such as the flies and mosquitoes, +were to carry in their bites and stings many diseases. Thus it has come to +pass that there is more damage done to the hated human beings by these +bites and stings than the mere smarting pain caused at the time of the +bite. Thus, because the human race changed from being all kindness to the +rest of the creatures, both great and small, into being cruel and savage, +all these various creatures have combined to bring dreadful diseases among +men in revenge for their own wrongs." + +"That is too bad," said Minnehaha. "Why could they not have kept on loving +each other all the time, instead of things being as they are now?" + +Sagastao, who had laughed at the idea of the mosquitoes coming to a +council, and of their having anything to complain of, said, "I would like +to know what mosquitoes lived on in those good old days you speak about. +Now they are after me lively enough." And he slowly lifted up his hand, on +the back of which a couple were rapidly filling themselves with his blood. + +But Mary, who, Indian like, was wise and observant, only said, "Wait a +minute or two and I will show you." Then she quickly hurried back into a +swampy place and soon returned with a thick juicy leaf, to the under side +of which several mosquitoes were still clinging, with their bodies +distended with its juice. + +"There," she said, as she carefully held the leaf sideways, "that is what +most of the mosquitoes still live on. They attack our race in revenge for +our being so cruel as to kill so many of the animals, large and small, but +this, as you can easily see, is their natural food." + +This appeal to the eye quite silenced the children, who had considered the +whole story as only an Indian legend to be amused with. + +Mary, who had often been worsted by the sharp criticisms and inquiries with +which they were apt to receive her pet Indian legends, was quite delighted +at her apparent triumph, so she hastily sprang up, saying: + +"It is time we were going home. Some other day I will tell you the story of +how the medicines came." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The Naming of the Baby--A Canoe Trip--The Legend of +the Discovery of Medicine--How the Chipmunk Carried the +Good News. + +There was great excitement among a number of Indian men and women who had +gathered on the shore in front of the mission one pleasant summer morning. +Grave Indians, with Souwanas in their midst, were calmly discussing some +object of interest, while Mary and a party of women, some of whom had their +babies with them, were much more noisy, talking rapidly about something +which was evidently a matter of exciting interest. Even Sagastao and +Minnehaha were rushing in and out of the house and running from one group +of Indians to the other, full of eager inquiries and pleasant +anticipations. What could it all be about? + +Let us ask the children, for such little people often know more than we are +likely to give them credit for. Here comes Minnehaha, and we ask her the +cause of such an early gathering of the Indians, and the reason why they +are so unusually interested in some matter unknown to us. + +[Illustration: "Their babies with them."] + +"Why, don't you know?" the bright little girl promptly replies. "They have +come to form a Naming Council, to give my little baby sister an Indian +name. You see," she added, "Sagastao and I were born among the Cree +Indians, but baby was born here among the Saulteaux. Just think: the first +little white baby born among them! And they want to give her a nice +Saulteaux name. The reason why they are talking so much now, before they +form the council, is that lots of them have pet names they want to give our +baby, but of course she can only have one." + +"Yes," said Sagastao, "and our old Mary is trying to get the women to +oppose the name that Souwanas will offer, just because she is down on him. +But I'll bet he will beat her yet." + +"You should not say, 'I'll bet.' Mother has often told you that it was very +rude," reprovingly said little Minnehaha. "You never learned it from father +or mother. You must have picked that up from some rough trader." + +"Well, all right, I'll not say it again, but I'll bet--no, I mean--hurrah! +for Souwanas and his side, anyway," and off he ran. + +"Dear me!" said the little sister. "I do have so much trouble with that +boy!" + +Soon the council assembled. The men and women arranged themselves in a big +circle and spent some time in drinking some strong, well-sweetened tea that +had been prepared for them. They had been desirous of having their usual +pagan ceremonies, but of course this could not be allowed, so the +ceremonies of tea drinking and their usual smoking were substituted. Then +the little baby was brought in by her nurse and handed to one of the oldest +women. She took the child, and after kissing her and uttering some words of +endearment passed her on to the woman on her left. She in her turn kissed +her, uttered some kindly words, and passed her on to the next. So baby went +from hand to hand until she had made the complete circle of women and men. +This was the ceremony of adopting the child into the tribe. + +Mary, the nurse of the older children, was excluded from this circle as she +was of another tribe. After some more tea had been drunk the child was +again sent on her rounds. This time each person, as he or she held the +child, pronounced some Indian name that he or she wished the babe to be +called. Mary, who had now crowded herself into the circle, persisted in +having a voice in the matter. She wanted the child to be called +Papewpenases (Laughing Bird), but she was voted down by the crowd, who +said: + +"No, that is Cree; we must have Saulteaux." + +With a certain amount of decorum each name suggested was discussed, only to +be rejected. + +For a time there was quite a deadlock, as no name could be decided upon. + +"Now that you have all spoken," said Souwanas, "and cannot come to any +agreement, I, as chief, will make the final decision. This is the first +white child born among us, as Sagastao and Minnehaha, whom we all love, +were born at Norway House, among the Crees. Most of the names which you +have suggested have some reference to birds and their sweet songs. A +compound name, which will include these ideas and mine, Souwanas (South +Wind), can surely be found." + +This suggestion was well received, as Florence was born in the spring of +the year, when the birds, returning from the South, filled the air with +melody after the long stillness of that almost Arctic winter. + +So busy brains and wagging tongues were at work, and the result was the +formation of the following expressive name, which was quickly bestowed upon +the child. It was first loudly announced by Souwanas himself: +Souwanaquenapeke; which in English is, "The Voice of the South Wind Birds." + +At once all the Indians took it up and uttered it over and over again, so +that it would not be forgotten. Even Sagastao and Minnehaha, who could talk +as well in the Indian language as in English, took up the word and shouted +out, Souwanaquenapeke, until they had it as thoroughly as their own. + +Mary alone was vexed, and so annoyed that she could not conceal her +disappointment. This was particularly noticed by Sagastao, and as soon as +Minnehaha joined them they slipped quietly away together. Having obtained +permission they took a canoe and went for a paddle on the quiet lake. Mary, +like all other Indians, was passionately fond of the water, and in spite of +her crooked back was a strong and skillful paddler. + +The children were placed in the center of the canoe, on a fur rug, while +Mary seated herself in the stern and paddled them over the beautiful sunlit +waves. + +For a time but little was heard, for the children were absorbed in the +scenes of rarest beauty or watched some fish, principally the active gold +eyes, sporting in the water around them. + +After a while the children began to clamor for a story, but Mary would not +speak a word. Sagastao suspected the cause of Mary's unusual silence. + +"What is the use, sakehou," he protested, "of your being in a pet because +baby was not named Papewpenases? The name they gave her pleased everybody +else; you must be pleased too." + +"If you are cross and won't speak to us we will go and run away to +Souwanas; won't we?" said Minnehaha. + +This was too much for Mary, and she quickly surrendered and made an excuse +about thinking of some beautiful story to tell them when they should land +on that little rocky island just ahead of them. + +"Very well," said Sagastao, "let us have the one about how medicines were +discovered and given to the Indians to cure diseases." + +"Just the one I was thinking about," said Mary; "and while we rest on the +lovely white sand I will tell you the story." + +A few vigorous strokes of the paddle sent the canoe well up on the sandy +shore, and soon they all landed. A good romp relieved them of the stiffness +caused by the cramped position in the canoe. Then as they cuddled down in +the warm sand Mary began her story. + +"You remember, little sweethearts, how the animals of various kinds held +councils and decided to be revenged on the human family for their cruelty +by sending diseases among them. Well, these creatures did as they said they +would and the result was that lots of men died, and also the women and +children, that did the creatures no harm, were getting different kinds of +sicknesses and many of them were dying. + +"Were there no diseases among them before these times?" inquired Minnehaha. + +"No; not what you might call diseases," replied Mary. "The people lived +such simple lives that, with the exception of accident, such as being +drowned in great storms or killed by falling trees, or something that way, +nearly all the people died of old age." + +"Then they had no doctors in those days?" asked Sagastao. + +"No; there were no medicine men in those times. Although there were those +skillful to set broken limbs or attend to any who happened to be +accidentally wounded, but that was nearly all. Then all at once these +diseases sent by the angry animals began to appear among them, and, of +course, there was much alarm. The people did not know what had brought +them, nor how to get rid of them. Many people were sick and numbers of them +died. + +"You see, the animals held their councils in secret, and away from the +presence of men, and so it would never have been known if the ground +squirrel, called by some the chipmunk, had not gone and told all about the +councils to the men. He had always been friendly to the human race. He had +attended a number of the councils and was the only animal that had ventured +to say anything in the favor of man. By doing this he so enraged the other +animals that some of them fell upon him with great fury, and would have +torn him in pieces if he had not been able to escape into his hole in the +ground. As it was, they so tore and wounded him with their teeth and claws +that the stripes remain in his back to this day. + +"Well, when he was healed enough to get around again he visited the abodes +of the human race and was very sorry to find that the diseases sent by the +other angry animals were causing much suffering and many deaths, so he +revealed the whole thing to a number of men and told them to be on their +guard. But even this was not sufficient. It was felt that, now that these +diseases were spreading among them, they must have some remedies for the +cure of them or they would all soon be destroyed. + +"While thus wondering what they should do their little friend the ground +squirrel came to their help again. He went about among the trees and +plants, who were always friendly to man, and he told them of the sad +calamities that had come to the human race. + +"When the trees and plants heard what had been done by the animals to +injure and destroy their friends they speedily held councils among +themselves and resolved that they would do all they could to overcome the +evil. + +"First the great trees held their councils, talked over the matter, and +decided what they could do in the way of furnishing remedies to cure these +diseases that were doing so much injury. The pine and the spruce and the +balsam trees said, 'We will give of our gums and balsams.' The slippery elm +said it would give of its bark to make the soothing healing drink. The +sassafras said it would give of its roots to make the healthful tea that +will bring back health again. The prickly ash and the sumach and others +volunteered their help, and spoke of the wonderful healing power there was +in them, if rightly used. + +"When the plants came to their council the numbers that wanted to help were +very great. No one was able to keep a record of them and of the healing +powers they professed to have. There was the mandrake, with its May apples, +and the wintergreen, with its pretty red berries; the catnip and the +bone-set, which are so good for colds; the lobelia, which is such a quick +emetic; the spikenard, the peppermint, the snakeroot, sarsaparilla, +gentian, wild ginger, raspberry, and scores of others. All cheerfully +offered assistance. + +"When the ground squirrel, who had for days been attending the council of +the trees and plants, had made out his list of what remedies each tree and +plant could furnish he was very much delighted, and then, thanking them for +their offered assistance, he rapidly returned to the abodes of mankind and +informed them of his great success. + +"Of course they were very much pleased, and very grateful to the ground +squirrel for his kindness and his interest in their happiness. This is the +reason why the chipmunk, or ground squirrel, lives near the homes of men. +You never see an Indian shoot them or the boys or girls try to snare them. +They are always welcome among the trees and the wigwams. The Indians love +them because they spoke up for man when the other animals turned against +him, and because it was one of their ancestors that made the trees and +plants reveal their good medicines for the cure of the sick." + +"Now I know why it was, when I was out with the Indian boys, that they +never would shoot an arrow at a chipmunk, even when I asked them to," said +Sagastao. + +"Yes," said Mary, "all of the Indians have heard their fathers tell of the +kindness of the old father chipmunk in the days when the animals knew so +much and could talk, and so they warn the children against injuring these +pretty little creatures." + +But it was now time they were returning. The light canoe was once more +pushed down into the lake, and soon they were merrily gliding along over +the clear, transparent waters to their cozy home. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +In the Wigwam of Souwanas--How Gray Wolf Persecuted +Waubenoo, and How He was Punished by Nanahboozhoo. + +"We have come to-day for a nice story about Nanahboozhoo," said Minnehaha, +as she and Sagastao lifted the deerskin door at the wigwam of Souwanas, and +entered with all the assurance of children who knew they were welcome. + +"Did he ever do anything to punish bad fellows who were cruel to their +wives and children?" asked Sagastao. "Because, if he did, I wish he would +come and thrash old Wakoo, that bad fellow who has been thrashing his wife +again because he said she did not snare enough rabbits to suit him." + +Souwanas, who was one of the kind-hearted Indians, never cruel to any of +his family, was much amused at the fire and indignation with which the +young lad spoke. So after he had had comfortable seats arranged for the +children among the robes and blankets he endeavored to satisfy their +demands. "Nanahboozhoo," he said, "did such things long ago, but once, +when he was giving a good thrashing to a man who had been very cruel to his +wife, the wife, as soon as she was able, sprang up from the place where her +husband had knocked her to, seized a paddle and attacked Nanahboozhoo with +such fury that he resolved never to interfere again, if he could help it, +in a quarrel between man and wife. And," added the old man, with a merry +twinkle in his eye, "it is best for everybody, if possible, to keep out of +such quarrels." + +"Yes, but, mismis" (grandfather, Minnehaha's pet name for Souwanas), "you +surely know a nice story in which Nanahboozhoo helped some one without +getting into trouble himself." + +"Of course I do, my grandchild," said the old man, "and I know you will be +pleased with it. + +"My story is about a lovely Indian maiden who was bothered by a cruel +hunter. He was determined that she should marry him, although she did not +like him, and Nanahboozhoo came to her rescue. + +"The maiden's name was Waubenoo. She had the misfortune to lose both her +father and mother when she was about eighteen years old. There were four +children, all much younger than she, left in her sole care. They had no +uncles or aunts, or other relatives, near, to take care of them, and so +Waubenoo had to hunt and fish to get food for her little brothers and +sisters. Fortunately her father had left a number of good traps and nets, +and plenty of twine for snares, and so the industrious girl got on fairly +well. The great lake near her wigwam was well supplied with fish, and the +forests all round had in them many rabbits and partridges and other small +game. When great storms arose on the big lake, and Waubenoo could not go +out alone in her birch bark canoe to visit her nets, some of the Indians, +who were pleased to see how kind and industrious she was, would overhaul +her nets and bring in what fish were caught. Thus she toiled on, and with +the assistance of these kind Indians she did very nicely. Her little +brothers and sisters loved her dearly, and did what they could to help in +the simpler and easier part of the work. Every decent person among the +Indians was pleased with her industrious habits, and often, in their quiet +way, had some cheery words of encouragement for her. + +"But there was one exception, and this was a selfish Indian hunter who, +seeing what a fine-looking, strong woman she had become, and so clever in +her work with both nets and traps, resolved that she should be his wife, to +work for him and do his bidding. This man had been married before and, if +the reports were true which had been told, it was likely that his wife had +died because of his cruelties to her. So he resolved, in his selfishness, +to take Waubenoo from caring for her brothers and sisters to be his wife, +and to hunt and fish for him, that he might live a life of idleness. + +"Her parents being dead this selfish young Indian did not have to go to her +father to buy her to be his wife. All he thought he had to do was to go and +tell her she had to be his wife and come and do as he commanded her. So +harsh and cold were his words, and so very rough and forbidding his looks, +that, while Waubenoo was frightened, she was grave and high spirited enough +to indignantly refuse his request, and to order him never to trouble her +again. + +"This, of course, made him very angry. He refused to go, and continued to +insist on her going with him. + +"Fearing that he might revenge himself upon her by doing her or the +children some harm, she told him that it was her duty to stay with the +little ones whom the death of the parents had left in her care; that they +might perish if she now left them. + +"But nothing would turn away his anger, and if it had not happened just +then that some friendly Indians came along he would have cruelly beaten +her. Before them he durst not strike her, and so, muttering some threats, +he sulkily strode away into the forest. + +"Poor Waubenoo was now sadly troubled. Lighthearted and free, she had +cheerfully worked and toiled for her loved ones, but now here comes this +cruel, fierce-looking man, whom she could only look on with fear and dread, +and threatens to drag her away from them all. Gray Wolf, for that was his +name, had a bad reputation among the Indians. The young men shunned him and +the maidens took good care to be out of the way when he was around. That he +would persist in his attempts to get Waubenoo all were convinced, but that +he should succeed no one desired. Still, while Indian ideas on some of +these things are so peculiar that no one seemed disposed to interfere, at +the same time some of them were generally on the lookout for her +protection. As for brave Waubenoo, while certain that he would still +trouble her, she was resolved never to submit to him. + +"Thus the weeks rolled on, with Gray Wolf looking for some opportunity to +carry her off, and making several attempts to do so, which Waubenoo, ever +alert and watchful, succeeded in preventing. + +"At length his persistent attempts became so annoying that she was obliged +to neglect much of her work in order to keep on her guard. Food was getting +scarce because she dared not now go far from her wigwam to hunt for the +partridges and rabbits and other small creatures she was so clever in +snaring. + +"At length she resolved to go to Nanahboozhoo and seek his aid in getting +rid of this troublesome fellow. When Nanahboozhoo heard her sad story he +became very angry. He was indignant that such a commendable maiden, one who +had been so kind to her little brothers and sisters, should be bothered by +a big, selfish, lazy fellow who only wanted her because she was so +industrious and so clever at her work. + +"Nanahboozhoo had heard much about her kindly treatment of the children, +and of her skill in providing for their wants, so he lost no time in going +back with her to her wigwam. At first the younger children were much afraid +of him, as they, like all other Indian children, had heard such wonderful +tales about him. But he was in such a jolly good humor that day, and was so +delighted with everything he saw about Waubenoo's wigwam and with the +proofs of her industry that he soon made friends with all the children. How +to go to work to give Gray Wolf such a lesson that he would never trouble +them any more he hardly knew at first. However, he had not been there many +hours before he had to come to a decision, for one of the little children +came rushing into the wigwam with the terrible news that Gray Wolf, +carrying a big dog whip and looking very angry, was coming along the trail. +Nanahboozhoo only laughed when he heard this, and he very quickly decided +what to do. 'Sit down there,' he said to Waubenoo, 'in that dark side of +the wigwam, with a blanket over your head, and keep perfectly still until I +call you; and you, children, must keep quiet. Do not be frightened or say a +word, no matter what happens.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, who, as you know, could change himself into any form he +liked, suddenly transformed himself so as to look exactly like Waubenoo. So +perfect was his resemblance to her, even to his dress, that her brothers +and sisters could not have detected the disguise. Indeed, the young ones +could not help looking over to the spot where the real Waubenoo sat in the +gloom with the blanket drawn over her head. But they were Indian children, +early trained to be quiet and do as they were told, and so they fully +obeyed his commands. + +"Of course, when Gray Wolf came into the wigwam he was completely +deceived, and now, thinking that he had caught Waubenoo when there were no +friendly Indians around, he at once began speaking very fiercely to her: + +"'I have asked you for the last time,' he said, 'and now I have come with +my dog whip and I intend giving you a good thrashing and then driving you +to my wigwam. I intend to call you Atim, my dog, and like a dog I am going +to thrash you.' + +[Illustration: "Gave him such a terrible beating."] + +"He then savagely raised the whip to strike, as he thought Waubenoo, but +the blow never reached its victim, or even Nanahboozhoo in his disguise, at +whom it was aimed, for Nanahboozhoo was so enraged that anybody in the +shape of a man could be so cruel and selfish as to come and threaten a kind +young woman like Waubenoo that he suddenly sprang at Gray Wolf, and seizing +him by his scalp lock he dragged him out of the wigwam, and then wrenching +the heavy whip out of his hand gave him such a terrible beating that he +remembered it as long as he lived. Then roughly throwing him to the ground, +Nanahboozhoo, still in the disguise of Waubenoo, hurried into the wigwam +and said to the real Waubenoo: + +"'Now, while he is weak and cowed, go out and talk sternly to him, and tell +him that if he ever troubles you again it will be worse for him than this +has been.' + +"When Waubenoo came out her appearance so terrified Gray Wolf that he tried +to get up and skulk away, weak as he was. Waubenoo, glad that her enemy +was so conquered that he would not be likely to trouble her much more, did +as Nanahboozhoo requested her. + +"Nanahboozhoo was heartily thanked by Waubenoo and the children for thus +ridding them of this bad Indian, who had for so long made their lives +miserable. Ere he left Nanahboozhoo warned the children to say nothing +about his coming, 'for,' said he, 'if Gray Wolf finds out who it was that +thrashed him he may yet be troublesome.' + +"Well would it have been for all if the children had remembered this +advice," added Souwanas. + +"O tell us what they did, and what happened," shouted Sagastao. + +"Not to-day," said the old man; "it is time you both were back at your +lessons, and as I am going that way with some whitefish I will take you +with me in my canoe." + +"But is that all about the story of Waubenoo and the children?" said +Minnehaha. + +"Yes," said Souwanas, "until we come to the next. For a long time after +Gray Wolf received the beating he kept away from them, although his heart +was full of anger and revenge. Although he was a big fellow he feared to +again threaten her who, although she seemed but an ordinary-sized Indian +maiden, possessed the strength that had enabled her to give him such a +thrashing." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +The Pathetic Love Story of Waubenoo--The Treachery +of Gray Wolf--The Legend of the Whisky Jack. + +"It came about in this way," said Souwanas, "and it is such a sad story +about beautiful Waubenoo." + +"Will it make me cry?" said the tender-hearted Minnehaha. "If so, I do not +think I want to hear it." + +"Stay and hear it, you little pussy," said Sagastao. "I am sure it is not +worse than the Babes in the Wood." + +"Well, you always cry first, when we read that story together," said +Minnehaha. + +At this the lad had nothing to say, for in spite of his apparent +brusqueness his heart melted more quickly, and his eyes filled easier with +tears, at a pathetic story, than did his sister's. + +"Well, go ahead, Souwanas," said Sagastao. "We each have a pocket +handkerchief, and when they are used up you can lend us a blanket." + +At this quaint speech everybody laughed, and then the old man began his +second story about Waubenoo. "It all came about because little children +have long tongues, and this story should warn little children that, while +they have two eyes and two ears, they have but one tongue, and that they +should not at any time talk about or repeat half of what they have seen and +heard. + +"The little brothers and sisters of Waubenoo had been warned that they +should say nothing about the visit of Nanahboozhoo to their wigwam. In +fact, Nanahboozhoo was such a queer fellow that he did not at any time want +people to be gossiping about him, and, if he had done any good deed for +anyone, he did not wish them to be ever speaking about it. Then another +reason why Nanahboozhoo did not want them to talk about his visit and help +was the fear that Gray Wolf, finding out how it was that he had received +such a beating, would be more bitter and revengeful against Waubenoo and +would again try to get her in his power. The little children were, of +course, delighted that their wigwam was no longer visited by Gray Wolf, +whose coming had always filled them with terror, while Waubenoo was so +pleased at having thus got rid of him that she was happier and brighter +than she had been for a long time. It was not long before some of the other +Indians noticed the change. They were surprised that Gray Wolf had so +suddenly stopped his visits, and that he seemed so dejected and sullen. +Naturally their curiosity was excited, and they were anxious to find out +what had happened." + +"Better to have been minding their own business," broke in young Sagastao, +who seemed to see the drift of the story. + +"Be quiet, and do not interrupt Souwanas," said Minnehaha, who often felt +called upon to restrain her brother's impulsiveness. + +"Of course," Souwanas continued, "Gray Wolf had so suffered that he had +very little to say, and if ever teased about Waubenoo he fell into a great +passion. + +"Waubenoo herself was too sensible to gratify their idle curiosity, but the +very return of her brightness, and her unwillingness to talk about the +matter, only added to the foolish desires of outsiders to find out what had +really occurred. So some of these naughty busybodies began questioning the +children when they could get them away from Waubenoo, for in her presence +they were as mute as she was. They pestered and bothered the children and +tried in various ways before they succeeded. But one day, while Waubenoo +was away overhauling her traps, some of those wicked meddlers visited her +wigwam and succeeded in getting one of the smallest ones--I just forget now +whether it was a boy or a girl." + +"A girl, of course," shouted Sagastao. + +"No, indeed; I am sure it was a naughty boy," said Minnehaha. + +"Well, no matter which; but one of them said: 'Nanahboozhoo!' + +"This one word, Nanahboozhoo, was quite enough to startle and alarm them, +for Nanahboozhoo was also much feared, as he sometimes did dreadful things. + +"The fact that Nanahboozhoo had been in their very midst, although they +were a long time in hearing anything more than the one word from the now +frightened children, was quite enough to excite the whole village, for the +news was soon spread abroad by the tattlers. + +"Such busybodies could not be satisfied with only hearing that Nanahboozhoo +had visited the wigwam of Waubenoo. Of course they wanted to hear about +what he said and did, and I am sorry to have to say that after a while, +with coaxing and presents, they managed to get from the children the whole +delightfully exciting story. + +"When Gray Wolf, who was so jeered and laughed at by all who dare, heard +from the gossipers how it had happened that he had received such a +thrashing he was doubly wild and furious. + +"When Waubenoo found out that all was known about how Nanahboozhoo had +helped her she was very sorry that her little brothers and sisters had been +so naughty and disobedient. She also knew that now she would have to be +more careful than ever against the movements of Gray Wolf. But the fact was +that he had been so cowed by his beating that he was afraid to openly +attack her, lest she should get Nanahboozhoo to help her again and it might +be worse for him than it was at his first meeting. But he treasured up +revengeful feelings in his heart and resolved that at some time or other he +would dreadfully punish her. + +"Some years passed by, and the older children, next to Waubenoo, were able +to do most of the hunting and fishing as well as to be on guard against +any of the evil doings of Gray Wolf. Thus they were able, in a measure, to +repay their sister, whom they dearly loved, although they were so +thoughtless, for all her great kindness to them. + +"One fall there came to the village a splendid Indian hunter. He was of the +same tribe, but lived with his people, most of the time, at a distant part +of the country. He was so pleased with this village, where dwelt Waubenoo, +that he decided to remain for the winter and hunt. He was such a very +pleasant fellow and such a great hunter that he soon made many friends. +Gray Wolf was the only man who seemed to hate him, and he was even so rash +as to insult him openly in an Indian gathering. + +"Soquaatum, for this was the young warrior's name, stood the insults of +Gray Wolf for some time, then, when he saw that some of the young hunters +began to think he was afraid of Gray Wolf, he suddenly sprang at him and +knocked him down, and then seizing him by his belt, he shook him as easily +and thoroughly as a wildcat would a rabbit. Then he threw him from him and +sat down among the people as though nothing had happened. + +"That evening, when he and the relatives with whom he lived were seated +around the fire in the wigwam, he heard for the first time the story of +Waubenoo: of her great industry, her love for her little brothers and +sisters, and how she had been threatened by Gray Wolf and then befriended +by Nanahboozhoo. + +"This story very much interested Soquaatum, and especially as in his +hunting he had met her younger brother, now a fine strapping hunter, and +had become very fond of him, although he was much younger. So he resolved +that as soon as he could he would visit her wigwam and seek her +acquaintance." + +"Ho! Ho! So this is to be a love story," said Sagastao. + +"Be quiet, do," said his sister. "All love stories do not end well. +Remember, there was Gray Wolf!" + +Souwanas profited by the interruption, for it gave him an opportunity to +light his pipe with flint and steel, and he then resumed the story. + +"Soon after Soquaatum arrayed himself in his most attractive costume and +called at the tent of Waubenoo. His excuse was that he wanted to see her +brother and arrange some hunting excursion. + +"Waubenoo, who had often heard her brother speak of his great skill as a +hunter, and had also heard how easily and thoroughly he had handled Gray +Wolf, received him most kindly and at once made him welcome. + +"Well, it is not surprising that he should soon fall in love with Waubenoo, +and so pleased was she with his manner, as well as his attractive +appearance, that she became very fond of him, and it was not many days +after their first meeting before it was noised abroad that Soquaatum and +Waubenoo were lovers. + +"Soquaatum remained until about the middle of the winter. Then he returned +to his distant home to make all preparations for receiving his wife, for +whom he was to come in the spring. + +"Gray Wolf was, of course, furious when he heard that Waubenoo was to be +married, and to the man who had humiliated him in the presence of so many +people. Though angry and revengeful, he was at heart a cowardly fellow, and +now that Waubenoo's brother was full-grown he was afraid of him, as well as +of Soquaatum while he was in the neighborhood. But his fears did not +prevent him from thinking of schemes for revenge which, however, came to +nothing, because the friends of Waubenoo were so vigilant and well +prepared. + +"At length one of his plans succeeded, and this is how it happened: + +"Gray Wolf enlisted a young Indian who was equally bad with himself to help +him. As Soquaatum had now been gone for some weeks to his home, which was +far east from that region, Gray Wolf and his wicked companion went a good +long distance--many miles--in that direction. There they made a hunting +lodge and laid their plans to capture Waubenoo. Then Gray Wolf's companion +went back and remained secreted near the wigwam of Waubenoo. One night he +saw her two brothers leave, about midnight, for some distant traps that +would take them all day to reach. + +"As soon as this bad fellow was satisfied that they were well out of sight +and hearing he rushed up to the tent of Waubenoo and hastily aroused her +from her sleep. He had arrayed himself as though he was gaining on her, +she began calling: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' Alas! he was far away, but there +was another who, fortunately, was near. Nanahboozhoo had been out hunting +and he had a sled which he was dragging, loaded with game. He was surprised +as he heard this calling, 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' and as he continued +listening it became hoarse and then only like a whisper. He could stand it +no longer; he rushed through the woods and there he saw Waubenoo, dashing +along on snow-shoes, calling in a low whisper: 'Soquaatum! Soquaatum!' +while not a hundred feet behind her was Gray Wolf, yelling in triumph that +he would soon capture her. Unfortunately Nanahboozhoo was not in a very +good humor that day. He had heard of some little children that had been +tattling about him, and he had heard that the children in the tent of +Waubenoo had told about his visit. + +"However, when he saw who it was that was in danger, and heard her cry to +him for help when she saw him, and especially when he saw who it was that +was after her, he quickly turned Waubenoo into a bird and without any +trouble she quickly flew up into a tree out of the reach of danger. + +"Ever since that Waubenoo has been the Whisky Jack, and if you will listen +to Whisky Jack when he is not scolding or clamoring at your camp for food +his voice is like that of the lost Indian maiden, with a bad cold, calling +for her lover." + +"What did Nanahboozhoo do to Gray Wolf?" said Sagastao. + +"Hush," said Minnehaha. "Don't you know Nanahboozhoo doesn't like to have +children talk about him?" + +This excessive caution on the part of the little girl vastly amused +Souwanas. Then he told them that Nanahboozhoo turned Gray Wolf into a dog +and made him draw home his heavy load of meat. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +A Novel Race: the Wolverine and the Rock--How the +Wolverine's Legs were Shortened--A Punishment for +Conceit. + +There was great excitement one morning among the children in the schoolroom +when Mary came in with the word that some hunters with their dog sleds had +called, and that they had with them a great wolverine which had been killed +in the woods not very far away. The children ran out to look at it. + +Now the wolverine is known to be such a cunning, clever animal that the +killing of one is quite an event among the Indians, and the lucky hunter +who succeeds in destroying one is the hero of the hour. A man may on one +hunting trip kill several bears or wolves, or many other animals, and there +is not much said about it, but to kill a wolverine, that pest and scourge +of the hunters, is indeed a feat that any man is proud of. + +"Why is it called a wolverine?" asked Sagastao. + +"Because it was once like a wolf, and had small feet and long legs, but now +its legs are short and its feet are very large." + +"What shortened its legs and made its feet become so large?" asked +Sagastao. + +It was too cold a day to remain any longer outside looking at the +wolverine, or to learn more about it, so the children were obliged to +return to their warm schoolroom, where their lessons were resumed. + +It was evident, however, that both Sagastao and Minnehaha were ready with a +couple of questions for Mary, and it was not long after school hours that +they sought her and asked: + +"Mary, what was it that shortened the legs of the wolverine? and what made +his feet so big?" + +"The wolverine," replied Mary, "was once the finest of all the different +kinds of wolves. He had the softest and nicest of fur. His legs were long, +and his feet were firm and handsome, but he was an awfully conceited +fellow. He fancied he was the handsomest creature in existence and looked +down with contempt on all the other kinds of wolves. He used to go to the +side of the clear transparent lake, where he could see his shadow reflected +in the water, and he would strut up and down and say: 'O dear, what a +lovely creature I am!' + +"It is true he was very clever in many ways. He was so swift that he could +run down even the antelope and the elk, and at all the great animal +gatherings, where the different creatures met in council, he was the +swiftest there, and easily won the chief prizes at the great races which +the animals used to hold. Indeed, he won so many races that at length he +could get no animal to compete with him. He even tried to get up races with +the birds, but they laughed at him for his conceit. + +"One day he happened to be hunting among the mountains. Near the top of +one he saw a large ball-like rock, standing there apart from the other big +rocks. Coming up close to this great round rock he said to it: + +"'Was that you I saw walking just now?' + +"'No; I cannot walk, I have lain here for a long time,' said the rock. + +"The wolverine retorted that he was sure he had seen the rock walking. + +"This made the rock angry and he told the wolverine that he was telling a +falsehood. Then the saucy wolverine replied: + +"'You need not speak to me in that way, for I have seen you walking.' + +"Then the wolverine ran off a little distance and challenged the rock to +catch him. But the rock did not reply to this and the bold wolverine came +close up to the rock, struck it with his paw, and said: + +"'Come, now, see if you can catch me!' + +"'I cannot run,' said the rock, 'but I can roll.' + +"At this the conceited wolverine began to laugh. 'That will do! All I want +is a race. You can run or roll, just as you like.' + +"Then the race began; the wolverine started down the mountain side at a +great rate, and the rock came rolling behind him. At first the big rock did +not move very fast, and the wolverine laughed as he looked back and saw the +rock was so far behind. But the rock came on faster and faster, and now it +made the wolverine do his very best to keep ahead of it. On they rushed, +over the sticks and stones and rough places, down--down that great, long +mountain side. At length, swift and strong as he was, the wolverine began +to get tired, and although he was running as he never did before in his +life the big rock was surely gaining on him. By and by he was so frightened +that in looking behind at the rock, now close at his heels, he tripped over +a stick and down he fell. The rock rolled over him and, just as it had +completely crushed him down to the earth, there it stopped. + +"Then the wolverine, whose head was not crushed under the rock, cried out: + +"'Get off! go away! you are hurting me. You are crushing my bones.' + +"But the rock replied: + +"'You tormented me and told me I was telling a falsehood, and you +challenged me to a race with you; and now that I have caught you I will not +stir until some one stronger comes and takes me off.' + +"Then the wolverine lifted up his voice and cried to his relatives, the +wolves and foxes, to come and remove the rock. + +"When these animals came and saw him in such a plight, they asked him: + +"'How came you to get under the rock?' + +"The wolverine replied: + +"'I challenged the rock to catch me, and it rolled on me.' + +"When the wolves and the foxes heard this they were not very sorry. They +knew how conceited the wolverine had been about his speed, indeed they +were all smarting because of the ease with which he had beaten them, and +so, instead of helping him at once, they said he deserved his punishment. + +"After a time, however, they began to be sorry for the poor wolverine, who +was crying out piteously for help, but they found they were not able to +remove the rock. They could not even stir it in the least. + +"'Get out of the way,' said the wolverine, 'and I will call my other +friends, the thunder and the lightning.' + +"In a few minutes a great black cloud was seen rapidly coming out of the +west. As it came rushing along the foxes and the wolves were very much +frightened by the great noise it made. However, they had courage enough to +ask the lightning to take off the fine coat of the wolverine but not to +kill him. Then they ran back and watched to see the lightning do its work. +The lightning promised to do what had been asked of him; for he had heard +of this proud, conceited wolverine, who had boasted that he could run like +lightning, and now he was just going to teach him a lesson. So he darted +back a distance to gather force, and then he came on with a rush and struck +the rock and knocked it into small pieces. He also completely stripped the +skin from the back of the wolverine but did not kill him. When the +wolverine got up and stood there naked, with all his beauty gone, he was +very angry at the lightning. + +"'You are like other so-called friends I have heard about,' he said; 'you +cannot do a thing but you must overdo it and spoil all. You had no need to +tear my beautiful fur coat from my back when you knew I only asked you to +come and strike the rock.' + +"Then the poor, shivering wolverine gathered the pieces of his coat and +carried them to his sister the frog, who dwelt in a marsh, and he asked her +to sew them together. The frog had sore eyes, and when she sewed them +together she did not do it properly. Hence the wolverine was very angry, +and he hit her a crack on the head and knocked her into the water. Then he +took up the coat and went and found his youngest sister, the mouse. He told +her of his troubles, and how the frog had so badly done her work. Then he +showed the mouse how he wanted the coat to be sewed. His little sister felt +badly for her big brother, and so she set to work and with great care sewed +all the pieces together in their right places. When the wolverine saw how +nicely she had done her work he was much pleased. + +"'You mice may live everywhere,' he said, in real gratitude, 'and in spite +of all your enemies you will never be destroyed.' + +"Then the wolverine tried to put on his coat, but, alas! he found his legs +had been shortened and his feet very much flattened out by the terrible +crushing he had had under that big stone which he had been so foolish as to +challenge to a race." + +"Guess he didn't run many more races," said Sagastao. + +"No, indeed," was the reply; "he was so mortified and angry that from that +day to this the wolverine has always been a sulking, solitary animal, and +playing all the mean tricks he can on all kinds of animals as though he had +a spite against them. He now has not one friend who ever cares for him, +unless it is his little sister the mouse." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The Legend of the Twin Children of the Sun--How They +Rid the Earth of Some of the Great Monsters--Their Great +Battle with Nikoochis, the Giant. + +One pleasant summer day, when the children had the pleasure of a canoe +outing with Mary and Kennedy, they decided to visit the wigwam of their old +friends, Kinnesasis and his wife. They had not seen them for some time, and +as Souwanas was away on a long hunting excursion they could not expect any +Nanahboozhoo stories until his return. Kinnesasis was a capital +story-teller, and they were eager to reach his wigwam. There, after making +both him and his wife happy with some gifts, they knew they could get some +interesting stories in return. + +They met with a hearty welcome and spent a happy day there. Among the +stories Kinnesasis told them, as handed down by his forefathers, the +following is perhaps the most interesting: + +"Long ago there were great monsters on this earth. Some of them were +enormous animals and fiercer than any that now exist. Then there were +magicians, and other evil spirits, like windegoos, some of whom were tall, +giant cannibals, that filled the people with terror. They lay in wait and +caught the children, and even the grown-up people, as the wild beasts now +catch their prey. Then they kindled up great fires and roasted them and ate +them. + +"Often, when the parents went to look for their children, they also were +caught and eaten. + +"The people were rendered very miserable not only by these great monsters +in human form, but also by the attacks of the enormous animals that then +lived. Indeed they began to fear that they would all soon be killed, unless +help came to them. + +"These people were worshipers of the sun, whom they called the great Sun +Father, and some tribes still have their sun dances in his honor. When he +saw that the people were in such great trouble and were likely to be all +killed by their cruel enemies he resolved to deliver them from their foes. +So he disguised himself and came down to the earth and married a beautiful +woman of the Northland. They had lovely twin boys, whose names were +Sesigizit, the older, and Ooseemeeid, the younger. They grew so rapidly +that they were able to walk when only a few days old. Their sun father +disappeared as soon as they were born, going to the far Eastland. + +"Strange to say, although these two boys grew so rapidly at first, they as +suddenly ceased growing, and so remained quite small. But they were very +intelligent, and were ever asking questions. + +"'Who is our father?'" they inquired of their mother one day. + +[Illustration: Sun dance lodge of the Blood Indians.] + +But she ignored the question, and although they kept bothering her it was +a long time before she would give them any information at all, and that was +very little. However, she did tell them that they were more than ordinary +children and finer than other boys, but then there are lots of mothers who +say such things to their own little ones. + +"As they were now big enough, she brought out of hiding a couple of bows, +and quivers full of arrows, and some magic rabbit sticks, and gave them to +the boys. + +"'These were left for you by your father,' said the mother, ere he went +away, and he gave commands that they were to be given to you as soon as you +were able to use them.' + +"The children were, of course, anxious to try their bows and arrows and +these magic sticks. So very soon after they had received them they resolved +to go off on a hunting expedition. + +"The mother, who was anxious about them, warned them of the various +monsters in human shape, great windegoos and cannibals, that were ever +lying in wait to catch and roast and eat little boys. She also told them of +the animals that were so enormously large that they could catch them up and +swallow them as easily as a turkey does a grasshopper. + +"Thus she tried to put them on their guard against the terrible foes that +had devoured so many of their people. The boys, however, were not much +frightened, and they eagerly set off on their journey. + +"They were especially warned by their anxious mother not to go to the +east, as there was a narrow lake there to which many of these evil +creatures came for water, especially a great monster wolf that had devoured +many people. Yet they immediately started off in that direction, for, like +some other boys, they did not obey even their mother. It was noon before +they reached the lake. At first, as they examined it, everything seemed +very quiet and still. + +"'Mother must have been mistaken,' said Sesigizit; 'I do not see any living +thing here.' + +"But as they wandered farther along the shore, suddenly Ooseemeeid cried +out: + +"'O see that great wolf on the other side!' + +"They dropped down as quickly as they could, but the fierce brute had +already caught sight of them. He was very much larger than any of the +wolves that now howl in the dark forests. He not only destroyed many of the +people, but when he came to springs, or small streams, he either drank up +all the water or so spoiled it that it was unfit for use. + +"The boys shot their arrows at him, but his sides were so tough, for he had +bones like jointed armor upon them, that he was only slightly wounded. He +was, however, made very angry by their attacks, and he picked up a magic +stick and threw it at them. They would have fared badly if they had not so +suddenly thrown themselves upon the ground that it passed over them. + +"When the boys saw that their arrows were not swift enough to kill such a +great animal they decided to use the magic rabbit sticks which their +father, the sun, had given them, with orders that they were only to be used +when the arrows failed. + +"The wolf, when he saw that one of his magic sticks had missed its aim, was +more savage than ever, and he seized his remaining one, for he only had +two, and he threw it with all his power at the boys. This time they both +jumped high up from the ground and the stick passed under them. + +"It was their turn now, and so they both threw their magic sticks with such +force that the great bony armor of the wolf was crushed in and he was +killed. + +"Sesigizit quickly ran around the lake to the spot where the great body lay +and cut out the heart of the wolf, while Ooseemeeid secured the two magic +sticks that the wolf had thrown at them, as well as their own weapons, and +then with these trophies they returned to their own home. + +"'Where have you been?' asked the anxious mother when they appeared. + +"'We have been to the lake,' they replied. + +"She could hardly believe it. + +"'My boys,' she said, 'you surely are mistaken, for no one who goes there +returns. The great monsters that devour our people live there, and they let +no one escape.' + +"Then they told her of their battle with the great wolf, and how they had +killed him. They also showed her his heart, which they had brought home +with them. + +"She was very much excited. She called the people together, and there was +great rejoicing at the death of this terrible wolf which had been such a +scourge to them. + +"Some time after Sesigizit and Ooseemeeid asked their mother if she knew +where grew any good tough wood suitable for making bows and arrows. Her +answer was: + +"'Far away in the foothills is a canyon, or ravine, where a forest of just +such wood as you need is growing, but the path that leads to it is narrow, +and there sits guard a great monster giant who kills and throws into the +ravine everyone who has attempted to get any of that wood. And in addition +there is a fierce mountain lioness prowling around somewhere on the route, +and she has already killed many people and carried them off to her den.' + +"Ooseemeeid at once desired to set off and get a supply of this wood, but +Sesigizit, when he found out how fearful their mother was that they would +both be killed if they made the attempt, at first refused to go. His +objection, however, vanished when he saw his brother making ready to start, +and in spite of their mother's fears they started off. + +"They had not gone very far when they met the great mountain lioness. She +was out hunting food for her cubs. These she had hidden in a den which was +away up on a precipitous mountain side. + +"Ooseemeeid asked her if she knew the way to the canyon where grew the good +wood. + +"'Yes,' she replied. 'I am just going that way, and I will show you the +route.' She said this because she wished in this way to allure the two boys +to walk near to her den, and there she would kill them for food for her +cubs. + +"So she led them until they came to a place where the path was very +dangerous, because it was on a narrow, shelving rock around the mountain +side. Here the monster lioness asked the boys to walk on ahead of her, but +they refused, saying that they had been taught never to walk in front of +their elders. The lioness urged, but the boys were firm, and so she had to +yield and let them have their way. + +"When in the most dangerous part of the pass the boys pretended to be very +much alarmed, and asked to be permitted to walk between her and the +mountain side. At first she was suspicious, but they seemed now to be so +cowardly and afraid that she thought they were not able to do her any harm, +so she walked on the outer edge of the pass and let them have the inside, +and also allowed them to put their hands on her as though to steady +themselves. When they came to the most dangerous spot, where it was so +narrow that even a mountain lion had to be careful, they both suddenly drew +their magic sticks and, giving her a great shove, sent her over the side of +the narrow rocky ledge and down she fell--to be dashed to pieces thousands +of feet below. + +"With a shout of triumph the two boys carefully pushed on and, finding the +den, quickly killed the cubs and cut off the right forepaw from each one to +carry home. + +"From this high pass they could now see the canyon where grew the good +wood for which they were seeking. They also saw the lodge of the monster +giant who guarded the narrow path that led to it. They saw by its size that +he must be an enormous creature, and so they looked to see that their +arrows and magic sticks were all in good order and handy for use. + +"The great giant had heard their shout of triumph when they had destroyed +the mountain lioness and it made him very angry, for he hated any noise or +disturbance; his name, Nikoochis, which means solitude, indicated this. + +"When he saw the small boys he was at first inclined to laugh in derision +at them, but when they had come near enough to shoot their magic arrows at +him he soon began to roar with the stinging pain they gave him. + +"In vain he tried to catch the active little fellows; he was so big and +clumsy, and they were so quick in their movements, that it was an utter +impossibility for him to get his hands upon them. + +"Then he began tearing up great rocks and stones and tried to crush them by +hurling these at them. Here the boys' father, the sun, came to their help, +and he shone so fiercely into the eyes of the great monster that he was +unable to see very well, and the boys easily kept out of the way of the +rocks thrown at them. + +[Illustration: "They both threw their magic sticks."] + +"The monster was big and fat and unaccustomed to exertion, and he was soon +tired out. Indeed he was so big that the arrows of the boys seemed only +like pins and needles sticking into him, and the boys began to fear that +their quivers would be emptied before they had conquered him. Just then +they met an old witch with a bundle of sticks which she was carrying to her +wigwam. She was very angry with Nikoochis, for he would not allow her even +to gather the dry sticks that fell to the ground in the forest he was +guarding. The result was that she had to wander far away to get the little +fuel she needed in her wigwam. + +"The boys told her of their battle with this selfish old monster, and that +even now he was badly wounded by their arrows, which, however, did not seem +to reach any vital spot. She told them that the only place where their +weapons could be effectual in killing him was in the top of his skull. That +they must first in some way crack it with their magic rabbit sticks, and +then they could shoot their arrows into his brain. Hearing this they +quickly resumed their attack upon him. In vain he tore up great rocks and +hurled them with all his force at them. They either cleverly jumped on one +side or sprang up into the air out of the way. + +"Then, watching for their opportunity, they waited until he stooped down, +and when he was struggling to loosen from the earth a great rock as big as +a house Sesigizit threw, with all his power, his magic rabbit stick. It +struck the giant fair on the top of his head with such force that it broke +off a piece of his skull. The next instant Ooseemeeid fired one of his +arrows so accurately that it pierced into the brain through the spot thus +left exposed. + +"With a roar of rage and pain the great monster fell, rolled down into the +deep canyon, and died. + +"After securing his big flint knife, which dropped from his belt, the boys +hurried into the canyon and gathered a lot of fine wood for arrow shafts +and returned to their mother. When she asked them where they had been they +replied that they had been to the canyon, and that they had killed both the +mountain lioness and the great giant. + +"At first she could hardly believe this, but as they had brought the paws +of the cubs and the flint knife of the great giant, why, she just had to +believe it. Great indeed were the rejoicings of the people at being thus +rid of these creatures." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Souwanas Tells of the Queer Way in which Nanahboozhoo +Destroyed Mooshekinnebik, the Last of the Great Monsters. + +One cold day Souwanas, who had not been seen by the children for some +time--he had been away on a long hunting excursion--quite unexpectedly +walked into the mission house during the school hours of Sagastao and +Minnehaha. The news of his coming was hailed with delight by the children, +and it required a certain amount of firmness on the part of the heads of +the household to keep them at their studies. They were, however, quickly +pacified, and returned with diligence to their lessons, when informed that +their old friend had been invited to stay all day and doubtless would have +a story of some kind for them when their studies were all over. + +The venison and bear's meat which he had brought were quickly purchased at +a price that well pleased him. Then he sat down for a rest and a smoke in +the kitchen. Of course he had his usual tiff with Mary, the nurse, who was +very jealous of him because he had so won the love and confidence of the +children. Souwanas was greatly amused at her jealousy of him, especially +since he was told by one of the Indian maids that the children had been +overheard gravely debating between themselves which was the better +story-teller, Mary or Souwanas. + +When peace again reigned some illustrated volumes from the library were +given to Souwanas for his inspection. He was not able to read English, but +he was very fond of looking at pictures. + +There was one book that had a special fascination for him, in fact when he +first examined it, and had had some of its illustrations explained to him, +it gave this superstitious Indian about the biggest fright he had ever +received. It was a book in which were pictured and described many of the +great extinct monsters of the old times. These enormous hideous creatures, +whose bones and fossil remains are still occasionally to be found, quite +alarmed him. Yet the book was generally about the first one he desired to +see. + +On this present visit, however, Souwanas, while as usual eager again to +inspect this book, was observed to look at it in a very different spirit. +The explanation came out later, when he had the children around him--indeed +almost the whole household--listening to a new Nanahboozhoo story which he +had secured from some famous old Indian whom he had met while far away on +his long hunting excursion. + +"Yes, it is true," he began, "that there did once live on this earth, both +in the land and in the water, great animals like those here shown in this +book. I have been to the wigwam of the great Shuniou and from him I have +learned much about them, as handed down in the tradition of our +forefathers. Great and terrible were they, and the people of those times +lived in great terror of them, for the bows and arrows and even the stone +war clubs of the strongest warriors were powerless to kill or even +dangerously wound such monsters. It was well for the inhabitants of the +earth in those days that these great monsters were few in number and that +they were constantly fighting among themselves, for so large and terrible +were they that only animals as big and fierce of other kinds could battle +with them. + +"But there was one great monster that lived in the water, and as he had no +enemies big enough to attack him he lived on, even long after the other +great animals were all killed off. + +"Shuniou said that the tradition was that a great rush of waters caused +many of the last of the great monsters that had tusks of ivory to be +carried to the far Northland, and there, as the terribly cold winter set +in, they were all frozen to death. + +"This must be true," added Souwanas, "for it was not many years ago that +the Hudson Bay Company sent their men there to get this ivory, which they +intended to ship to England. They came back with word that some of the dead +bodies had been seen where the ice broke up. But this great monster in the +water, as I have said, lived on after the rest were all supposed to have +died off or been killed. He was a terrible scourge to those Indians whose +wigwams were on the shores of the great sea in which he lived. They were +in mortal terror when they ventured out in their canoes to fish. This they +had to do, as they depended almost entirely on fish for their living, and +there were times when the fish left the shallow waters near the shore and +went out far from land. There the Indians had to follow and catch them or +they and their families would starve. + +"Happily for them, sometimes for months together no one would hear or see +anything of this great sea monster. Then, perhaps, suddenly he would rise +up right under a canoe in which were several Indians, whom he would easily +catch and swallow one by one. He would sometimes rush after a herd of deer +that had gone out swimming in the waters. He would catch and easily swallow +several of them." + +"Well, I should think that the big horns of a moose or reindeer would give +him some trouble to swallow," said Sagastao. + +"He was so large," said Souwanas, "that the horns or body of the largest +deer did not seem to bother him in the least degree." + +"I wonder if it were not one of his great grandfathers that swallowed +Jonah," said the observant Minnehaha. + +"The Indians at length came to be so much distressed by the loss of so many +of their number, and by their inability to slay the monster, that they +resolved to ask Nanahboozhoo to come and help them if he possibly could. + +"I ought to have told you," said Souwanas, "that this great monster was +called by the Indians Mooshekinnebik. + +"Nanahboozhoo at once responded to their request, for he was very angry +when he heard how many industrious fishermen had been swallowed by this +creature. He was doubly angry when he returned with the deputation who had +gone for him and further learned that, only the day before, Mooshekinnebik +had been mean enough to come near to the shore and catch and swallow some +boys and girls who had been out swimming that warm summer day. + +"When Nanahboozhoo informed Nokomis of the request of the people for his +help to deliver them from the long hated Mooshekinnebik she was very much +frightened, and more so when he told her of the strange and dangerous plan +he was going to adopt to carry out his purpose. It was this: he was going +to allow himself to be swallowed by this monster who had already destroyed +so many people." + +"O how dreadful!" said Minnehaha. "We will never hear any more nice stories +about Nanahboozhoo." + +"All a pack of lies; there never were any such monsters," snapped out old +Mary, who could not longer conceal her jealousy at seeing how interested +the children were in the story. + +"Hold on, Mary; not so fast," cried Sagastao, taking the book from Souwanas +and showing the pictures to Mary. + +"There, Sakehow," he said, using his favorite term of endearment, "look +for yourself and see those lovely creatures--some of them quite big enough +to swallow us all without winking." + +But Mary was stubborn, as well as jealous, and would not give in, even when +Kennedy, the favorite dog driver, who was present, told her that even now +there were some of the great tusks and bones of animals that the officers +called mammoths over at the Hudson Bay Company's fort ready to be shipped +to England next summer. She was, however, quickly silenced when Sagastao +sat down beside her and throwing his head into her lap said, very +coaxingly: + +"Now, Mary, just be quiet and let us hear Souwanas tell the rest of the +story of what Nanahboozhoo did to Mooshekinnebik." + +Peace being thus restored, Souwanas, who had been much amused by Mary's +ire, resumed his story: + +"When Nokomis heard her grandson describe how he was going to let the +monster swallow him she resolved to come and pitch her tent on the +seashore, among the people who had been so troubled, and there to await the +return of her grandson, if he should ever come back from such a perilous +adventure. + +"Nanahboozhoo asked his mother for some magic singing sticks, and also for +a very sharp knife. Then he made for himself a small raft of logs and, +bidding her good-bye for a short time, he sprang on it and was soon +floating out, in search of the dreaded creature, over the great waters. + +"When well out from the shore he began to make music with his magic sticks +and to sing a defiant song: + + "'Ho, ho! great fish down in the sea, + Come, if you dare, and swallow me. + My brothers all you're fond of eating, + 'Tis time some one gave you a beating. + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho! + + "'You see I am not far away, + So come and taste me while you may; + Yet not afraid am I, no, no! + So hurry up, old fish. Ho, ho! + He, he! Hi, hi! Ho, ho! Ho, ho!' + +"Nanahboozhoo sang this brave song over and over, to the weird harmony of +his magic music sticks, until he reached the place where the great fish was +resting. + +"When the great monster Mooshekinnebik heard the voice of Nanahboozhoo he +came up to the surface of the water to find out who was making all that +music and shouting out such defiant words. + +"When he saw that it was only one young man on a raft of dry logs, he +ordered one of his children to go and knock the raft to pieces and swallow +that noisy fellow. But this was not what Nanahboozhoo wanted, and so he +shouted out: + +"'I want the old father fish to eat me.' + +"This made old Mooshekinnebik very angry, and so, open mouthed, he rushed +furiously at Nanahboozhoo who, when the great monster was close enough, +took a leap into the open mouth and was immediately swallowed up. + +"For a short time after being swallowed Nanahboozhoo was unconscious, but +he soon recovered himself and was able to look around and see the queer +prison in which he was now confined. It was fortunate for him that he had +eyes like a cat, and so could see as well in the dark as in the light. He +found that he was not the only inmate of this queer prison; there were a +lot of creatures whom he called his brothers--the bear, the deer, the fox, +the beaver and even the squirrel. Nanahboozhoo inquired of them and they +told him how they had been captured and the length of time they had been in +that horrid place. They also informed him that many others who had been +captured were now dead. Nanahboozhoo found that they were quite hopeless, +and looked forward to nothing but death. However he called them around him +and informed them that he had willingly come among them for the purpose of +affording a speedy deliverance. + +"This was indeed good news. Then he explained to them the plan he had in +his mind, and said that it was necessary for them to kick up a rumpus in +the interior of this monster, that they would thus make him so very sick +that he would have to go near to land, and when they should have him there +he thought he had another plan that would enable them all to escape. + +[Illustration: "He took a leap into the open mouth."] + +"They all agreed to do anything they could to help on his plans, so +Nanahboozhoo took out his magic singing sticks and began to play and sing. + +"At once the bear, the deer, the fox, the beaver, and indeed all of the +creatures that were still alive, caught up the lively tune, and such a +dancing and jumping and flying around was hardly ever seen before. + +"This internal commotion very much disturbed Mooshekinnebik. He could not +make out what was the matter. He shook himself thoroughly, but that did no +good; then he darted off through the water at a great rate, but this also +was of no use. Then he rolled over and over and over in the water. This of +course stopped the dancing and hubbub inside for a time, but as the walls +of the prison were soft, also the floor and ceiling, nobody was hurt, and +so the instant it ceased they were up and at it again, harder than ever. +Mooshekinnebik never had such a turn in his life. He did not know what to +do. Still Nanahboozhoo kept singing louder and louder, while the dancers +kept up their wild antics around him. + +"At length Nanahboozhoo decided that the monster was about enough +frightened for him to do something else, and so he drew out his sharp knife +and gave Mooshekinnebik a good stab near his heart. + +"This threw him into convulsions and added to his terror, and he began +swimming toward the shore. When Nanahboozhoo knew this he kept stabbing him +more and more, until at length his body was heard to scrape on the shallow +sandy ground. At this Nanahboozhoo with a mighty effort plunged his knife +with all his power deep into the monster's heart. + +"The instant he did this Mooshekinnebik was thrown into a number of mighty +convulsions, and in one of them, with one tremendous effort, he fairly +threw himself out of the water on the shore, and there he died. + +"So great and terrible had been these dying convulsions that all the +creatures inside, and even Nanahboozhoo himself, had become unconscious +from being so knocked about. + +"How long they remained so they did not know. Nanahboozhoo was the first to +regain his senses, and he was indeed very sorry to see that all of his +comrades were still unconscious. He had some difficulty in getting out from +under the bodies of his comrades, who were piled up on him. He was glad +that the monster was dead, but he was uncertain whether they were on the +shore or at the bottom of the water. So he speedily determined to find out. +He climbed up over the bodies of his comrades to the place that he thought +was the thinnest, and there, with his keen knife, he began cutting through +the roof of this queer prison. + +"To his great delight he was soon able to see the sunshine coming through. +When he had cut a hole big enough to let in some air and sunshine he took +up his magic singing sticks and began singing, for the purpose of reviving +all those imprisoned with him. His song was not much to us, but it was a +great deal to those shut up in such a prison. It was: + + "'Kesik-in-na-win, + Kesik-in-na-win.' + (I see the sky, + I see the sky.) + +"As Nanahboozhoo continued to sing this over and over, one after another +his brothers sneezed and opened their eyes. They were indeed a happy lot at +the prospect of deliverance. + +"When Nanahboozhoo saw that they were all now recovered he again set to +work with his knife, and it was not long before he had a hole large enough +to permit all of the imprisoned creatures to make their escape. + +"The news soon spread, and it was not long before Nokomis, with others, +came to see the huge dead monster, and there were great rejoicings." + +"And this," added Souwanas, "is the tradition, as told by Shuniou, of how +Nanahboozhoo destroyed Mooshekinnebik." + +"What became of the little monsters?" asked Minnehaha. + +"The Indians," replied Souwanas, "under the leadership of Nanahboozhoo made +such a war upon them that they were soon annihilated." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Welcome Springtime in the Northland--How Nanahboozhoo +Killed the Great White Sea Lion, the Chief of the +Magicians--The Revenge--The Flood--Escape of Nanahboozhoo +and the Animals on the Raft--The Creation of a New World. + +The coming of the pleasant springtime was hailed with great delight. Seven +or eight months were found to be a very long spell of cold winter weather, +and so when with a rapidity unknown in more Southern climates the winter +broke up, and the welcome warm weather made its appearance, everybody +seemed to feel its genial influence. + +The first little wild flowers were looked for with intense interest, and +great indeed was the joy of the children when some were found. The sweet +singing birds that in the previous autumn, on the first signs of the coming +down from the colder North of the Frost King, had flitted away to the +summer Southland were now returning in multitudes. The air was full of +their melody, and as scores of them, fearless and trustful, made themselves +at home in the bird resorts around Wahkiegum, great indeed was the +children's delight as they welcomed them back to their haunts in the North. + +And really it did seem as though the birds were glad to be there again, +for it is only in the North that these birds sing their sweet love songs to +each other and build their nests and hatch out their little broods. + +The Whisky Jacks, that had been croaking out their hoarse cries all winter, +seemed to get sulky and vexed that they were now so little admired, and so +they flitted away farther north and buried themselves in the interior of +the deepest forests. + +In the joyousness of those happy days up in those high latitudes, when the +changes of every twenty-four hours can easily be noticed, Sagastao and +Minnehaha for a time troubled neither Souwanas nor Mary for Indian legends +or stories. There was in the rapid melting of the snow, the breaking up of +the immense ice fields on the lake, the appearance of the land, and then +the grass and flowers, and the planting of seeds in their little gardens, +enough to keep them busy and happy. + +But even all these things at length lost their interest. The flights of the +wild geese, swans, and ducks had all ceased. They, with many other kinds of +migrating birds, were busy nesting. The sweet songsters around the home +were everyday companions, and, while the children loved them as much as +ever, the excitement of their coming had died away. So when one day they +saw Souwanas coming over the now sparkling waters in his canoe they were +delighted to welcome him. As usual, when he reached the shore the contents +of his canoe were examined speedily. There the children found a couple of +beavers that had but lately been trapped, and a dozen or more muskrats that +Souwanas had speared in the marshes. These animals were the result of one +night's hunting, and now Souwanas was on his way home to have them skinned +and the pelts prepared for sale to the fur traders. + +The children's curiosity was much aroused by the sight of the beavers and +muskrats, and they questioned the old man about them. The queer, broad, +scaly tail of the beavers much interested them, and drew from Souwanas an +interesting account of the various purposes for which the clever, +industrious beavers use this apparently awkward appendage. + +"Do you know any Nanahboozhoo stories in which he tells anything about +beavers or muskrats?" asked Sagastao. + +"Yes, indeed," replied Souwanas; "in nearly all the stories that are told +about the forming of the new land after the great flood both the beaver and +the muskrat are mentioned, as well as the other animals." + +"Tell us one of the stories," urged little Minnehaha. + +The arrival of some other canoes at this point interrupted the +conversation. The newcomers were on their way to the wigwam of Souwanas, +who was their chief. He was about to go on with them, but when he saw the +look of disappointment on the faces of the children he, with his usual +thoughtful kindness, transferred the two beavers and the muskrats from his +own canoe to one of the late arrivals. Then telling the people to give them +to his wife, to have them all cooked and ready for dinner, by which time he +would join them, he sent the people on their way. Having lighted his +calumet, with the children seated near him, he began: + +"Nanahboozhoo's life commenced long before the great flood of waters that +covered the earth, about which all of our tribes have heard something. He +had his own wigwam and furnished it with everything he wanted. One day when +walking on the shore of a great river he saw some sea lions lying on the +sandy beach, basking in the sun. These animals, like the beaver, could live +as well in the water as on the land. As he closely watched them from a +distance, and saw the rich, shiny skins, he thought what a nice tobacco +pouch could be made out of one of them. When Nanahboozhoo once set his +heart on anything he at once began to work hard to secure it. He tried +various plans to capture one of these sea-lions, but none of them +succeeded. They were too clever to be caught as other animals are, and he +saw that he would have to adopt some unusual method. He decided that he +would go down very early to the spot on the bank of the river where they +were in the habit of sunning themselves and disguise himself as an old +stump of a tree, then, when they came out and were enjoying the sunshine, +he would shoot the fine old white one with the beautiful glossy skin that +he had so much admired. As on other days the lions came, and when they saw +this stump the white lion, which was a kind of king among them, said: + +"'I never saw that big stump before. I think it must be Nanahboozhoo.' + +"Another one said he thought the same thing. + +"Others only laughed, and said, 'It is only an old pine stump.' + +"However, as a number of them were suspicious, it was decided to go up and +shake it and see if it would move, and thus really find out. They went to +it, and three of them together used their greatest efforts to move it. + +"Nanahboozhoo had to make one of the hardest efforts of his life to hold +firm. However, he succeeded, and so the lions only said: + +"'It really is a stump of a tree, but it is very strange we did not notice +it before.' Then they rolled about on the warm sand in the sunshine until +one after another fell asleep. + +"Nanahboozhoo now noiselessly and quickly turned himself into a young +hunter, then taking up his bow and arrow he shot the white lion. His arrow +stuck fast in his body and badly wounded him, but did not kill him. At once +the lions all plunged into the river and disappeared. Nanahboozhoo was +sorry that he did not get the lion's skin, indeed he was greatly vexed and +annoyed to have to return to his wigwam without it. A day or two after, as +he was walking in the woods, he met with a very old woman. She had a bundle +of slippery elm bark, out of which poultices were made by the Indians for +wounds and bruises, and also some roots for medicine. + +"'Where are you going, nookoom (grandmother), and what are you going to do +with the bark and roots?' + +"'O' said she, 'you cannot imagine what trouble we are in, for Nanahboozhoo +has shot and badly wounded one of our chiefs, and great efforts are going +to be made to catch and kill him.' + +"She also told him that she had been honored in being sent for to come and +use all of her healing arts to try and restore the wounded chief to health +again, and that now she was on her way to his abode to poultice him with +the slippery elm bark, and to give him medicine, made by boiling the roots, +to allay the great fever from which he was suffering. + +"Nanahboozhoo thus discovered that these lions, as he had supposed them to +be, were wicked magicians who had been doing a great deal of harm, and who +when they chose to do so could change themselves into the form of lions and +live either under the water or on land, as best suited them, to escape from +being killed by those whom they had injured. As the old woman was very +talkative, Nanahboozhoo soon obtained from her all the information he +desired. Among other things she told him that sometimes people came to her +for bad medicines, to give to persons with whom they had quarreled, and in +this way they would kill them with the poisons which she made out of +toadstools and other deadly things. + +"Hearing these dreadful facts from her own lips Nanahboozhoo resolved to +kill her, but first he had her tell him where the wounded chief's abode +was, and all about what was expected of her when she arrived there. He then +speedily tomahawked her, and clothing himself in her garments he made +himself look exactly like her, after which he took up her bundle of bark +and roots and went to the dwelling of the chiefs. + +"There he found quite a crowd assembled, but all were in confusion and +excitement on account of the wounded chief. When they saw, as they thought, +the old woman coming, whom they were eagerly expecting, they made way for +her. Nanahboozhoo went straight to the place where the wounded chief lay. + +"He was surprised to see that the arrow which he had shot was still +sticking in his side. He made a great ado about preparing the poultices and +medicine, and set everybody around him doing something to help carry out +his plans. Then when all were hurrying, and none looking at him, +Nanahboozhoo pushed the arrow with such force into the body of the chief +that it killed him instantly. Then with a shout of triumph he made his +escape. + +[Illustration: "He ran away west, to the great mountains."] + +"There was, of course, great excitement among the people. They at once +called a council and consulted what they should do to destroy Nanahboozhoo. +They were, as I have told you, magicians, and had power to raise the +waters, and so they resolved to drown him. They accordingly called on the +waters to rise and rush over the plains and forests in the direction in +which he lived. Nanahboozhoo had traveled with great speed back to his +wigwam, but hardly had he reached it ere he heard the roar of the floods of +water that were coming to overwhelm him. He saw his great danger and he ran +away west, to the great mountains; but the floods of water continued rising +and drove him up higher and higher. When he saw that he was nearing the +highest peak he began to think what he must do next. Around him in the +raging waters were quantities of logs and trees, and among them, or on the +now small peak of land, were numbers of various animals. + +"With all his powers he set to work and it was not very long ere he had a +large raft made out of the floating logs. As the last spot of land was now +being overwhelmed by the flood, and he pitied the animals that were +swimming about, he took them on the raft with him. As Nanahboozhoo knew all +the animals and their languages he held a council on the raft. He told them +that if he could get even a very little of the old world that was drowned +he could make a new world for them all. He first asked the otter if he +would try, and see if he could dive down and bring up a little portion of +the earth. The otter at once made the attempt, but after a while he came up +to the surface apparently quite dead. Nanahboozhoo reached out and lifted +him in and placed him in a sunny spot on the raft. Then the beaver tried. +He took a great header and down he dived, resolved to succeed if possible, +but after a time even he came up apparently as lifeless as the otter. +Nanahboozhoo lifted his body up out of the water and laid it in the sun by +the side of the otter. The muskrat next volunteered to try what he could +do, so down he dived and, after a much longer time than the others had been +down, he too floated up senseless and cold. Nanahboozhoo took him up, and +as he did so he noticed that there was earth in his mouth and on his paws. +He carefully collected this in his hand, and then placed the body of the +muskrat beside the otter and the beaver. He then blew upon the earth and +thus made it dry and porous, so that when it was placed in the water it +would not sink but float. He then put a lively little mouse upon it, which +by running round and round upon the earth made it grow larger and larger. +Nanahboozhoo then put a squirrel upon it for the same object. Then the +marten and mink--for the new earth was now so extended that it could hold +up these light animals. + +"For a time Nanahboozhoo had to guard the now rapidly growing young world +from the larger animals with a stick, for fear they would sink it. They +were all very tired of having to remain huddled together so long on the +raft, and were eager to follow the smaller creatures that seemed so happy +on the new earth, even if it were not very large as yet. As there was much +to be done to fit this new world up for them to dwell upon, everyone had to +do what he could. The birds were sent to fly over the water to pick up +branches and seeds. + +"By and by Nanahboozhoo decided that the earth, which had now grown beyond +the reach of his eyes, was large enough, and so he revived the otter, the +beaver and the muskrat, and with them and all the other animals around him +he took possession of the new world. + +"In order to ascertain the size of the world he sent a wolf to run to the +end of it and then to return at once to him. The wolf easily made the +journey in one day. Nanahboozhoo then kept him with him for some time, and +again sent him off. The second journey took him five days, the third ten, +the fourth a month, then he was gone a year and then five years. Thus it +went on, until at length Nanahboozhoo started off a young wolf just able to +run on the long journey. This one died of old age ere he had completed the +trip. Nanahboozhoo then said that the world was large enough, and commanded +it to cease from growing." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Among the Briers and Wild Roses--Why the Roses have +Thorns--Why the Wild Rabbits are White in Winter. + +One day as the children were out in the clearings back of their home, +gathering some of the wild strawberries that grew there and also some of +the wildflowers that bloomed during the short brilliant summer, they were +delighted to see Souwanas coming along the road with his gun on his +shoulder and some ducks and rabbits in his hand. + +Very cordial were their greetings, but soon the quick eyes of the kindly +Indian noticed that there were several long red scratches and even some +drops of partly dried blood on the hands of his little friends. It was +hardly necessary for him to ask the cause of the wounds, as the bunches of +sweet briers and wild roses, with their sharp needle-like thorns, in the +happy children's hands told the tale. + +Putting down his gun and game, Souwanas quickly gathered some of the sweet +fragrant grass which is there so abundant, and skillfully twisting it into +little coils he wound one around each of the bunches of flowers which the +children had gathered, and which they were still having trouble to hold on +account of the thorns. + +The bouquets thus arranged could now be carried without inflicting any +more wounds or pain. Amid their chat and laughter, for these white children +were taught, like Indian children, not to be afraid of a few scratches or a +little pain, Minnehaha, who was industriously wiping the blood from some +wounds on her little white hands with her apron, said: + +"How is it, Souwanas, that all these rosebushes and briers have such sharp +thorns on them?" + +"I suppose Mary would say that Nanahboozhoo, the rascal, had something to +do with it," put in Sagastao. + +At this reference to Mary there was a mischievous twinkle in the eyes of +the old Indian. + +"Yes," he replied, "Nanahboozhoo had lots to do with it, and yet when you +hear the story you will see that he was not such a rascal at the time he +did it as Mary would make out, but almost as good as her pet, Wakonda, who +gave the bees their stings." + +"O tell us all about it now," said Minnehaha. "We have this forenoon as a +half holiday, and papa is to join us in about an hour for a walk in the +woods." + +The kind-hearted old Indian had been pleased with the plucky way in which +the children had slighted their wounded hands, and before he began his +story he acted the part of the skillful physician. He found some soft juicy +leaves which he crushed and spread on the ugly red scratches. The effect +was magical, and the children who had so bravely treated their wounds with +indifference gratefully acknowledged the sudden cessation of the smart. + +Selecting a pretty spot under a clump of balsam trees, where some +boulder-like stones afforded them comfortable seats, the children cuddled +down with their old friend, to hear how the roses got their thorns. + +"Long ago the roses were the most abundant of flowers, but they grew on +bushes that were smooth and fragrant, and such delicious eating that all +the animals that eat grass or browse were constantly seeking for and +devouring not only the rose flowers but also the bushes on which they grew. +The result was that the roses of all kinds were in danger of being +exterminated. In those days trees and flowers and other things had greater +powers of thinking and acting than they have now, and so the roses of +different kinds met in council to decide what could be done to preserve +those of them that were still left in existence. It was decided that a +deputation of them should be sent to Nanahboozhoo to implore his +assistance. + +"He is such an eccentric fellow, and assumes so many disguises, that they +had a good deal of difficulty in finding him. They traveled long distances, +and inquired of the various wild animals they met and even consulted the +trees and hills. At length they were informed that he was now living in a +valley among the mountains and experimenting as a gardener. They hurried +away as fast as the fierce wind which they had hired to carry them could +blow them along. At first when they reached his abode they were very much +frightened, as it was easy to observe from the loud angry tones in which +Nanahboozhoo, although afar off, was speaking, that he was in a great rage. +However, they had come too far to be easily discouraged. They quietly drew +near, and hiding behind some dense balsam trees they carefully listened to +find out the cause of his anger. Fortunately, they could not have come at a +better time for themselves, for it seems that Nanahboozhoo had become very +much interested in his work as a gardener. All the things he had planted +had grown so well that in order to protect them from prowling wild animals +he had set all around the garden a fine hedge of rosebushes. So many were +required that Nanahboozhoo had been obliged to transplant bushes from a +great distance around, for they did not grow so abundantly as formerly. + +"The morning of the very day on which the deputation of the rosebushes +arrived Nanahboozhoo had returned from one of his short adventures. Fancy +his indignation at finding that in his absence all sorts of animals, from +the rabbit to the mountain elk, had visited his abode, and had not only +completely eaten that lovely hedge of rosebushes, but had also greatly +injured the beautiful garden, of which he was so proud! + +"When the deputation of roses understood the cause of his wrath they at +once left their hiding places and, aided by a sudden puff of wind, came +before Nanahboozhoo. The sight of them excited his curiosity, as it had +seemed to him that every rosebush had been destroyed. Before he could say a +word, however, the rosebushes, who were then able to talk, at once +presented their petition and pleaded for his powerful assistance to save +them from being exterminated by their enemies. + +"Nanahboozhoo listened to their petition, and after some consultation with +the rose bushes it was decided to cover the stocks and branches, up to the +very beautiful flowers, with small thorn-like prickles, so that every +animal henceforth would be afraid to either devour or closely approach +them, as they had been accustomed to do in the past. With this protection +granted them they were more than pleased, and so it now happens that roses +of many kinds still exist in various parts of the world." + +"Thank you very much for that story," said Minnehaha. "Even if Nanahboozhoo +did put prickles on the rosebushes he was not a rascal, for we would not +have had any roses at all but for what he did." + +For a wonder, Sagastao was silent for a time; but at length he found +something to say, and his words were a bit of a confession and promise of +amendment: + +"Now that I know why it is that the prickles are on the wild roses I'll not +get mad even if my fingers bleed when I am gathering a bouquet for mother." + +At this moment the two favorite dogs, Jack and Cuffy, came bounding up. By +this the children knew that their father was not far behind, and they were +not disappointed. At first he looked anxious when he saw the little hands +wrapped up in green leaves, but as with merry laughs they told him what the +leaves were for everything was bright again. + +Souwanas was greeted very cordially, as usual, and assured that at the +mission house he would find in the mistress a willing purchaser of his +ducks and rabbits. The children were always interested in the game, +although Minnehaha strongly declared that it was a pity to kill the pretty +creatures. Souwanas and their father were chatting together while the +children were turning the ducks and rabbits over. + +"See what red eyes some of the ducks have," said Sagastao. "They look as +though they had been crying." + +"Guess you would have cried too," rather indignantly replied Minnehaha, "if +you had been shot as they were." + +"Huh!" he replied with a tinge of contempt, "how could they cry after being +shot? I don't believe that is it at all. And, look here, Minnehaha, I am +going also to ask why it is that, while all the rabbits were so white in +winter, they are all now so brown in summer." + +Quickly the resolve was carried out, and so, while Minnehaha was telling +her father what a beautiful story they had heard about the roses, Sagastao, +with his hand on the shoulder of the old Indian, who was seated on a rock, +was eagerly firing at him his double-barreled question: "Why have some +ducks such red eyes, and why are the rabbits white in winter and brown in +summer?" + +"Both done by Nanahboozhoo," said the old man with a smile, as he took his +pipe out of his mouth. + +"Hurrah for Nanahboozhoo!" shouted the lad. + +This outburst on the part of Sagastao at once attracted the attention of +the others to him and Minnehaha wanted to know what was the matter now. + +"Why, did you not hear? Souwanas says that Nanahboozhoo gave the ducks the +red eyes and makes the rabbits to be white in winter and brown in summer." +Then turning to Souwanas he asked, "How does Nanahboozhoo do it?" + +Here the father, while amused at the lad's enthusiasm, interposed, and +said: + +"You have already kept Souwanas a long time, and perhaps he is busy." + +"Busy!" said the irrepressible Sagastao, who was shrewd beyond his years. +"Busy! Why Souwanas would rather tell stories than do anything else--unless +to smoke his pipe." + +Then he glibly told Souwanas in Saulteaux what had passed between him and +his father in English, and added, "Is that not so, Souwanas?" + +The old Indian smiled, and said kindly: + +"How can I help enjoying telling stories when I have such good little +listeners?" + +"But what about his dinner?" asked the kind-hearted Minnehaha. "If we keep +him here telling stories he will be too late to get back to his wigwam for +his dinner. I think we had better take him home with us." + +This was quickly decided upon, and that there might be no mistake a piece +of bark was quickly cut from a birch tree and a few lines written upon it +telling the good mother in the home that they had met Souwanas, and that he +was entertaining the children with Nanahboozhoo stories and would be with +them to dinner. Then Jack, the great dog, was called and sent back with the +missive, with orders to give it to his mistress. + +As the dog dashed away homeward the mischievous Sagastao said: + +"My! don't I wish I was in the kitchen when Mary hears that we are out here +with Souwanas listening to stories about Nanahboozhoo! Won't she be hopping +mad!" + +"It will be better," said his father, "for Souwanas to tell his story than +for you to make any further remarks of that kind." + +At first Souwanas seemed to show some hesitancy in beginning his story in +the presence of his missionary, and he whispered to Sagastao his fears that +perhaps his father would not care for such trifles as Indian legends and +stories. + +With his usual bluntness, the lad declared: + +"O, you don't know our father if you think that way about him. He loves +nice stories as well as we do, and tells us lots of them; so go ahead, for +you are going home to dinner with us." + +Thus assured, the old man began: + +"I will tell you to-day about how it is that the rabbits are white in +winter. + +"Long ago they were always brown, just like those that are lying there +with the ducks. It is true that they increase very fast, but then it is +very true that they have many enemies. They have not many ways to defend +themselves against their foes, who are of so many kinds. Almost all the +animals that live on flesh are always hunting for rabbits, and so are the +foxes of all kinds, the wild cats, wolves, and wolverines, and even the +little weasels and ermine. Then there are fierce birds--the eagle, the +hawks of all kinds and the owls--that are always on the lookout for +rabbits, young or old. + +"The result was that with this war continually being waged against them the +poor rabbits had a hard time of it, and especially in winter; for they +found it very difficult to hide themselves when the leaves were off the +trees and the ground covered with snow. In those days in the long ago the +animals used to have a great council. There the great fathers or heads of +each kind of animal and bird used to meet together and talk about their +welfare and the welfare of each other. Then there was peace and friendship +among them while at the council. + +"They appointed a king, and he presided as a great head chief. All the +animals that had troubles or grievances had a right to come and speak about +them and, if possible, have them remedied. + +"Some queer things were said sometimes. At one council the bear found great +fault with the fox, who had deceived him, and had caused him to lose his +beautiful tail by telling him to go and catch fish in a big crack in the +ice. He sat there so long that the crack froze up solidly and to save his +life he had to break off his tail. + +"But all the things they talked about were not so funny as that. They had +their troubles and dangers, and they discussed various plans for improving +their condition and considered how they could best defeat the skill and +cleverness of the human hunters. + +"When the rabbit's turn came to be heard he had indeed a sorrowful tale to +tell. He said that his people were nearly all destroyed. The rest of the +world seemed combined against his race, and they were killing them by day +and night, in summer and winter, and they had but little power to fight +against their many enemies. They were almost discouraged, but had come to +the council to see if their brethren could suggest any remedy or plan to +save them from complete destruction. While the rabbit was speaking the +wolverine winked at the wildcat, while the fox, although he tried to look +solemn, could not keep his mouth from watering at the thought of the many +rabbits he intended yet to eat. + +"Thus it can be seen that the poor, harmless rabbit did not get much +sympathy from that part of the crowd that killed his race all the rest of +the year. + +"Still there were some animals, like the moose, and the reindeer, and the +mountain goat, that stood up in the council and spoke out bravely for the +rabbit. Indeed they told the animals that had only laughed at the rabbit's +sad story that, if nothing was done for the little rabbit and they went on +killing as they were doing, they would soon be the greatest sufferers, for +if the rabbits were all gone there was nothing else that they could get in +sufficient numbers to keep them alive. This, which is a fact, rather +sobered some of them at first; but they soon resumed their mocking at the +poor little rabbit and his story, and, as they were in the majority, the +council refused to do anything in the matter. + +"When the moose heard the decision of the council he was very sorry for his +poor little brother the rabbit, so after thinking it over he told the +rabbit to jump up on one of his flat horns while he was holding them down. +Then the moose carried him out some distance from the council meeting, and +said: + +"There is no hope for you here. The most of the animals live on you, and so +they will not do anything that will make it more difficult for you to be +caught than it is now. Your only chance is to go to Nanahboozhoo, and see +what he can do for you." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Sagastao. "I thought it would be to Nanahboozhoo after +all." + +Continuing, Souwanas said: + +"The moose encouraged the rabbit by saying, 'Nanahboozhoo's name was once +Manabush, or Keche-Wapoose, Great Rabbit, and so I am sure he will be your +friend, as I think he is a distant relation.' + +"Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route +described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was +stopping. The rabbit was such a timid creature that when he came near to +Nanahboozhoo he was much afraid that he would not be welcomed. However, +his case was desperate, and although his heart was thumping within him +with fear he hurried along to have the thing over as soon as possible. To +his great joy he found Nanahboozhoo in the best of humor and he was +received most kindly. + +"Nanahboozhoo saw how wearied and tired the rabbit was after the long +journey, and so he made him rest on some fragrant grass in the sunshine +while he went out and brought in for him to eat some of the choicest things +from his garden. Then afterward he had the rabbit tell of all his troubles +and of how he was treated at the council. + +"This part of the story, of how they acted at the council, made +Nanahboozhoo very angry. + +"'And that's the way they treated this little brother at the council we +have given them, where it is expected that the smallest and the weakest +shall have the same right to have his case heard and attended to as the +biggest and strongest! It is high time that somebody was coming to me with +council news if things are like this. Look out, Mister Fox, and Wolverine, +and Wild Cat, for if I get after you I will so straighten you out that you +will be sorry that the rabbit had to go to Nanahboozhoo for the help you +ought to have given him!' + +"Nanahboozhoo had worked himself up into such a furious temper that the +rabbit was almost frightened to death. But when he saw this Nanahboozhoo +only laughed at him, and said he was sorry to have scared him. + +"'I was so angry,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'at those animals for ill-treating +you that I forgot myself; and now, little brother, what do you want me to +do for you?' + +"They had a long talk about the matter and the decision was that there +should be two great changes. The first was that the eyes of the rabbit were +to be so increased in power that they should in future be able to see by +night as well as by day, and the second was that in all Northlands where +much snow falls during many months of the year rabbits shall change into a +beautiful white color, like the snow, and thus continue as long as the +winter lasts. And the rabbits now have a much better time than they had +formerly. They can glide away in the darkness from their enemies when in +the woods, and when out in the snow they are not easily seen and often +escape notice by remaining perfectly still." + +But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note +to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more +welcome than Souwanas. + +"But what about the red eyes of the ducks?" said the two children, whose +appetites for stories were simply--well, like those of other boys and +girls. + +Here the father had to interfere and say that there had been quite enough +for one day. However, before the walk homeward began, Souwanas was pledged +to tell the other story at the first convenient opportunity. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +Passing Hunters and Their Spoils--The Vain Woman--Why +the Marten has a White Spot on His Breast. + +As the home where Sagastao and Minnehaha lived was near a trail along which +numbers of Indian hunters were accustomed to travel when on their way to +the trading post with their furs, they frequently called in to see their +loved friends the palefaces. These hunters were always welcome, and as they +were very seldom in a hurry the children drew from them many a quaint +Indian legend or story of animal life. + +It was also a great pleasure for the children to have the hunters, +returning from a successful trip, open their fur packs and spread out +before them the rich furs and tell them stories about these animals--the +silver fox, the otter, beavers, minks, martens, ermines, and sometimes even +about great bears and wolves, whose skin they had often had. These valuable +furs were generally well dressed and prepared for shipment by the +industrious women before they were taken to the trading post. Sometimes, +however, a hunter when on the trail to the trading post would find in one +of his traps an animal just caught, and not having time to return to his +wigwam and have the skin dressed and dried he would carry the animal just +as it was and sell it to the fur traders. + +One day there called a number of Indians, and among them was a hunter with +a couple of martens which he had caught in his trap that very morning. +Sagastao and Minnehaha had never seen these little animals before, and they +handled them with much interest and asked several questions about them. + +"Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. + +The Indians looked at each other and a grim smile flitted over their +bronzed faces when they heard this question. + +Their conduct only the more excited the curiosity of the children and they +both clamored for the answer. Then one of the Indians said: + +"Ask Mary; she knows all about the story, and as a woman was in the affair +she can tell it better than we can." + +With this answer the children had to be content, for the hunters, having +drank their cups of tea, soon took their departure. + +When the children found Mary they at once demanded the story. + +"What story?" said Mary. + +"O, you know what we want, for you were in the kitchen and heard what was +said." + +[Illustration: Wigwams and Indians.] + +But Mary still protested her ignorance, and declared that she had been so +busy caring for Souwanaquenapeke that she had not listened to half the +chatter that had passed between them and the Indians. + +"O, I know you, sakehow Mary," said Sagastao. "You don't want to tell us +because there was a woman like yourself mixed up in it." + +Mary bridled up with indignation, but before she could utter a word the +arms of Sagastao were around her neck, and he cried: + +"Forgive me, sakehou! for speaking so foolishly. I do remember now that you +had left the kitchen with baby before Minnehaha asked the question." + +This prompt apology and the sweet word "sakehow" restored harmony, and Mary +was now anxious to please them. + +"What was the question which interested you?" asked Mary. + +"Why has the marten that queer white spot on its throat?" asked Minnehaha. + +"And the men told us to go to you because there was a woman in it," added +Sagastao. + +Mary smiled when she heard this. + +"Yes," she said, "there was a foolish woman mixed up in the story. It was +like this, as far as I can remember, and it is a story from the North +people. Long ago a man had a wife who was a very proud, vain woman. She was +not contented with having her husband and her own people saying nice things +about her, but she wanted to be flattered and admired by every creature. +You know that I have told you that, in old times, animals could talk and +do many things. Well, this conceited woman, with her silly foolish way, +began attracting the different animals around her. Almost everybody was +laughing at her, but she seemed to think it great fun to have so many +admirers. She got a lesson one day when flirting with the bear. They were +walking along together and she let him put his arm around her, but he gave +her such a hug that he broke two of her ribs. She was a long time getting +well and then her husband gave her a great lecturing. You would have +thought that this would have cured her, but not a bit of it. When she was +well again she was just as silly as ever, though she took good care not to +flirt with any animal that could hug like a bear. She next bewitched the +skunk with her foolishness. But one day, as they walked together, a dog +suddenly attacked the skunk and in his anger and excitement he so perfumed +the woman, instead of the dog, with his odor that her husband found her out +and gave her a beating. + +"Everybody was now laughing at her on account of her silly ways, and as her +husband had persons employed to see what creatures she went out walking +with she had to remain at home in her wigwam. But when a woman gets proud +and conceited and carries on like this one did she is hard to cure. The +fact was, her husband was too kind to her. He did not give her plenty of +work to keep her busy and out of mischief. Instead of making her chop the +wood and carry the water, and do other hard things, he did it for her, for +he was very proud of her and she was indeed a beautiful woman. He did, +however, make her stay in their wigwam instead of allowing her to go about +wherever she liked. + +"She spent most of her time in fixing herself up in her beautiful clothes +and thinking what a lovely creature she was. But she soon missed the +flattery of her admirers and resolved that, in spite of her husband, she +would try to hear it again. So vigilant, however, were her husband and his +friends that they were too clever for her. + +"One day her husband returned from hunting and visiting his traps and +snares. Among other animals that he had trapped was a beautiful marten. He +had caught it in what is called a dead-fall; that is, where a log is so +arranged that when the animal reaches the bait he is directly under the +log, which falls upon him the instant he pulls the bait. + +"When the woman took up the marten which her husband had thrown at her feet +she noticed that it was still quite warm, but she said nothing about it to +her husband, who, picking up an ax and blanket, said that he was going off +to visit his more distant traps and would not be back for some days. Before +he left he made her promise that she would not leave the wigwam until his +return. + +"The woman, as soon as she was sure that her husband was really gone, +picked up the marten. On examining it she was convinced that it was not +dead, only knocked senseless by the falling log, so she rubbed it, and +breathed into its nostrils, and then with a reed blew air into its lungs. + +"Sure enough, the life was in it, and the first sign it gave was a big +sneeze or two. At this the woman wrapped it up in a warm covering and held +it until it was well again. The marten, of course, was very much frightened +when it found itself in the hands of a woman. It was about to struggle to +get free, when the woman spoke to it in its own language. At this it was +very much surprised, and more so when the woman told it how she had given +it back its life, and that now in return it must do what she desired. + +"Any animal or human being would be willing to promise as much when its +life had been thus restored to it. + +"'I will do anything I can for you,' said the marten. + +"'I want you to go to your king marten,' said the woman, 'and tell him that +a beautiful lady has heard so many wonderful things about him that she is +very anxious to have a visit from him.' + +"This the marten promised to do, and it was not very long before the king +marten came. Of course he had to be very cautious, as he had been warned of +the many who were watching the silly woman. + +"Hardly, however, had he time to say much to her before the footsteps of +her husband were heard outside. The instant he opened the door of the +wigwam the king marten ran out, and disappeared in the forest. + +"'What was that?' asked the husband. + +"'O, dear, that was the marten you trapped. It must have come to life and +escaped,' said the woman, who thus cleverly saved herself and the king +marten. + +"The man was suspicious, but as the marten which he had trapped was not to +be found he could not find fault with her, except to say that she ought to +have skinned the marten soon after he had brought it in. + +"The king marten, who was a very conceited fellow, had been quite struck +with the beauty of the woman, and so, in spite of his narrow escape, he +resolved to go and see her again. By watching her husband's departure he +managed to have several brief visits, and at length became so infatuated +with her that he tried to coax her to run away with him. + +"When she heard this she was very angry, for, with all her foolishness, she +had only acted as she did because of her vanity and love of flattery. Now +that the marten had dared make such a request she resolved that he should +be punished; so one day, when he was sitting beside her and saying a lot of +foolish flattery, she heard the footsteps of her husband approaching, but +did not warn the king marten. + +"So the man thus caught the old marten sitting by the side of his wife. At +this he was much annoyed, and as the marten suddenly ran out the man asked +the woman what it meant. So she told him all that the marten had said, and +of his impertinence in asking her to leave him and become the marten's +wife. At this the man was very indignant, and so they arranged to punish +the marten. + +"The next time the man went off he told his wife to fill the kettle with +water and put it on the fire to boil. Then the man took his traps and +started off as though he were going on a long journey. But he only went a +little way, just far enough to throw the marten off his guard, and, sure +enough, while he was watching he saw the marten go into the wigwam. + +"Then the man came quietly to the door and listened. He heard the marten +urging his wife to leave and run away with him. Then he suddenly sprang +into the tent and shouted out: + +"'Old king marten, what are you doing here? How dare you talk to my wife?' + +"So saying, the man seized the kettle of boiling water and threw its +contents at the marten, severely scalding him. The marten tore at his +burning breast as he dashed away into the woods. And from that day to this +all martens have that whitish spot on their chests caused by that burn." + +"What became of the woman?" said Sagastao. + +"Never mind now. We have wasted too much time already on such a +good-for-nothing conceited flirt," said Mary. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Shooting Loons--Why the Loon has a Flat Back, Red +Eyes, and Such Queer Feet--Nanahboozhoo Loses His +Dinner--Origin of Lichens--Why Some Willows are +Red--The Partridge. + +Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have the Indians take +them in their canoes for a couple of hours' trip on the bright waters of +the beautiful lake that spread out before their home. + +These pleasant outings were sometimes rendered exciting and doubly +interesting by the sight of a black bear or a deer wandering on the shore +or swimming from some point on the island. At other times there would be +numbers of loons, or great Northern divers, as they are generally called. +Their wonderful quickness in diving, then the length of time that they +could remain under the water and the great distance they would swim before +coming to the surface were watched with great interest by both Sagastao and +Minnehaha. + +The Indians did not often hunt loons. In fact they found it so difficult to +shoot one that more than its value in ammunition was generally expended in +the attempt. The Indians always declared that these clever birds could see +the flash of their guns and dive down out of danger before the shot reached +them. + +However, as some of them were desired for their beautiful feather-covered +skins, which make most valuable and beautiful caps and muffs, it was +decided that Souwanas and Kennedy should take the missionary's +breech-loading rifle, in addition to their own guns, and try to secure a +few. + +The children begged to be allowed to accompany them, and as the day was +unusually fine and the lake almost without a ripple they were given a +holiday and allowed the privilege of an all-day outing with these two +trusty and experienced men. + +A generous lunch, with the indispensable tea kettle, was placed in the +canoe by careful Mary, who, as usual, was angry that the children were to +be so long under the witchery of old Souwanas. + +With the merry shouts of laughter from the children as their accompaniment +the two Indians skillfully plied their paddles, and it was not long before +they were some miles distant and on the lookout for loons. It often happens +that the things desired are the last to come. So it was this day. Wild +ducks in goodly numbers, and even geese and some swans and pelicans were +frequently seen. At length, however, strange, mournful sounds far ahead +were heard, and the experienced Indians knew that the birds for which they +were looking were not far away. Still it was some time before the first +long white neck and black head were seen in the distance, for the cry of +the loon not only differs from that of any other bird, but is very +far-reaching. + +The excited children were now told to be very still and keep quiet, using +their eyes alone, and witness the contest between man's skill and the +birds' cleverness. + +So accustomed have some old loons become to being fired at and missed by +Indians using the old-fashioned flintlock shotgun, which makes such a flash +when fired, that they just barely keep out of range. The instant they see +the fire flash--down they go, and then as the shot or bullet strikes the +place where they were they bob up again serenely in the same spot, or in +one not very far distant. This risky sport some of them will keep up for +hours, or until the disheartened hunters have wasted nearly all their +ammunition. + +To-day, however, there was to be a new weapon tried against them, and, alas +for them, they were sadly worsted. Kennedy first loaded his old flintlock +shotgun and blazed away, but, as usual, they were out of sight under the +water before the shot struck the place where the loons had been. + +For a time the loons were shy, and swam quite a distance away. But after a +while, as they found that Kennedy's gunshots could be dodged, they did not +bother to swim very far away. This was just what Souwanas was waiting for. +He now took up the rifle, and as soon as a loon came to the surface he +fired from this new weapon, that gave no flash to warn the poor bird of the +deadly bullet that was so rapidly speeding on its way. Thus it happened +that loon after loon was struck and several beautiful birds were +secured--greatly to the sorrow of the children, who delighted in watching +their clever diving and sudden reappearance after Kennedy discharged his +old gun. Out of deference to their feelings the Indians soon ceased +shooting, although with this new rifle they could easily have secured many +more. + +"Let us now go ashore, on one of these islands," said Sagastao, "and have +our lunch." + +"And a Nanahboozhoo story after," put in Minnehaha. + +This plan was just what the Indians were thinking about, and so in a short +time they were all on the shore. Dry wood was abundant and a bright fire +was soon burning, and then, when the water was boiled and the tea made, the +lunch basket was opened and the meal was much enjoyed by all. + +"Now, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "we are all ready for the story at the +same time, and if your pipe goes out I'll hand you a burning stick with +which you can light it again." + +"Maybe I will keep you very busy," remarked the old man, much amused at the +offer--and so it proved, for his pipe to-day persisted in going out. + +"One day," began Souwanas, "as Nanahboozhoo was walking along the shore of +a lake he became hungry. He considered what it would be best for him to do +in order to procure something to eat. He decided to deceive the waterfowls. +He saw a duck swimming along near the shore and spoke to the bird in this +fashion: + +"'Come here, my brother.' + +"'What is it?' said the duck, as it approached Nanahboozhoo. + +"'Kesha Munedoo (Gracious Spirit) has revealed words to me to tell to all +the waterfowl some very important things. Go and tell all sorts of +waterfowl to come, and when they are all together I will inform you what +has been revealed to me.' + +"The duck obeyed Nanahboozhoo, who in the meantime made a very bare wigwam +of green boughs, or rather caused it to appear that he did, for he did not +exert much labor upon it. All sorts of waterfowl came to Nanahboozhoo and +they seemed anxious to hear what had been revealed. Nanahboozhoo received +them with great apparent friendliness and invited them to come into the +wigwam. When they had all entered, he said: + +"'You must all dance, first, before I tell you what has been revealed to +me. All of you must stand close together around inside of the wigwam and +put your necks close together while dancing, and all of you must flap your +wings at the same time.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo commenced singing: + + "'Pau-zau-gwa-be-she-moog, + Ke-ku-ma-mis-kwa-she-gun.' + + ("'Shut your eyes, + And I'll make you wise.') + +"These words Nanahboozhoo repeated three times. + +"All the fowl kept time to the music and words of the song, and danced, +shutting their eyes. Nanahboozhoo continued singing, changing to the +following words: + + "'Au-yun-ze-kwa-gau.' + +"All the time such was Nanahboozhoo's power over the birds that they kept +singing and dancing and at the same time holding their heads close +together. Nanahboozhoo's voice was singing in the center of the tent, his +drum beating at the same time, while he in person went around in the wigwam +or lodge wringing the necks of the waterfowl and throwing them on the side +of the lodge. The loon, the great diver bird, was dancing on the open door +side of the lodge. He suspected that Nanahboozhoo was up to some of his +tricks, doing something bad, so he opened his eyes and saw. At once he gave +the alarm, and shouted: + +"'Nanahboozhoo is killing us!' + +"All the fowl that were still alive when they heard these words at once +flew out at the top opening of the lodge, except the loon, or diver, and he +being at the door turned and ran out of the lodge as fast as he could +toward the shore of the lake. + +"Nanahboozhoo was so angry at him for daring to open his eyes, and then for +warning the others, enabling many of them to get away, that he ran after +him and stamped upon him as he had just reached the shore. Hence it is, +because of Nanahboozhoo's cruelty, that the loon has had a flat back and +red eyes, and its feet are so unlike those of any other waterfowl. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had made a large fire he took the waterfowls he had +killed before the diver gave the alarm, and covered them under the ashes, +leaving only their feet sticking out. While he was waiting for them to cook +he felt very sleepy, so he lay down to rest. + +"But before he went to sleep he said, 'My face side has always done all the +watching. This is not fair. I will make my back do its share of the +watching.' + +"So, as he cuddled down to have a sleep before the fire, he said to his +back: + +"'Now, you do the watching, you lazy, broad back, while I am sleeping.' +Then, being very tired, he fell into a heavy sleep. + +"After a time the watcher called out: + +"'Nanahboozhoo! Indians are coming!' + +"Nanahboozhoo slightly raised himself, but he saw no Indians, so he lay +down to sleep again. + +"But again and yet again, for three times, did his faithful watcher call +and warn him against his approaching enemies. Nanahboozhoo was now so +stupid with sleep that he only aroused himself a little, not enough to +enable him to detect the lurking enemy. So he became very angry with his +watcher, his broad back, and gave it a great thrashing, saying: + +"'There! take that, you great stupid watcher, for so disturbing me with +your false reports!' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo fell asleep again. The broad back was very much +offended at the treatment he had received, for he knew he was right, and +now, though the Indians were close at hand, he did not again warn +Nanahboozhoo, so the enemies came and stole all of his cooked fowls. The +Indians carefully lifted out the fowls by their legs, which Nanahboozhoo +left sticking up. When they had eaten the bodies of the fowls they stuck +back the legs in the ashes, as Nanahboozhoo had left them. + +"When at last his sleep was ended Nanahboozhoo arose ready for his meal of +nicely cooked fowl. Great, indeed, were his surprise and indignation when +he pulled out the feet from the ashes and found that the bodies of the +fowls were not there. + +"He flew into a passion and resolved to punish his back. So he made a fire +of big trees and stood with his back very close to it. When his flesh began +to be badly burned it blistered, and made a noise like the roasting of +meat. Nanahboozhoo did not at first seem to mind the pain, and only said: + +"'You may well say 'Zeeng, Zeeng,' in your burning. I will teach you a +lesson you will remember for not telling me that the Indians were stealing +my roasted waterfowl.' + +"Nanahboozhoo then went on his way, but in spite of his magic powers he +felt a sort of a soreness in his back. He twisted his head around and saw +the blisters that had been made by the fierce fire. So he thought how he +must get rid of them, for they bothered him, although nothing could injure +him for very long. While walking on the edge of a precipice he +slipped--and away he slid, far down the rocky side. When he reached the +bottom, he looked back, and there, on the rock, on which he had slid down, +he saw things which he had never seen before. + +"'My nephews,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'when they see these things on the rocks, +will call them Wau-konug (lichen), and although they are poor food they +will keep them from starving when they have nothing better.' + +"This is the Indian tradition of the origin of the patches of lichen +attached to the bare rocks. The Indians still call them 'no-scabs,' and +when boiled they make a kind of jelly food which is a little better than +starvation. + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, although his back was bleeding from his sliding down +the rough rocks, continued walking, sometimes along the shore and sometimes +in the thick bush. In one place where the thicket was very dense such was +his magic power that he pulled a lot of the thickets together and walked +over on their tops. When he looked back he saw that the blood from the +wounds in his back had given a red color to the bushes over which he had +walked. Then said Nanahboozhoo: + +"'My nephews will call these bushes "Me-squah-be-me-sheen" (red willows). +They will use them to stop bleeding when they meet with any severe +accidents;' and such the Indians still do when they live among them. + +"This is the tradition as to the origin of the red willow, once so common +in many of the Indian haunts. + +"The reason why the partridge is called Kosh-ko-e-wa-soo (one that +startles) is because one made even Nanahboozhoo give a big jump. It +happened in this way: + +"As Nanahboozhoo was walking along one day in the woods he saw a small +creature. This little thing thought it would be best for him to be brave in +the presence of Nanahboozhoo, and so when he was asked who he was he +answered: + +"'I am one who startles.' + +"'You cannot startle me,' said Nanahboozhoo. + +"The little creature suddenly flew away and Nanahboozhoo resumed his +journey. By and by he reached a dangerous rocky point on the shore. Just as +he was at the worst point the partridge suddenly flew almost from under his +feet with a rumbling noise, and so startled him that he jumped up, sprang +quickly aside, fell into the water, and got a great wetting. So even +Nanahboozhoo had to confirm the name of the little partridge." + +The return trip was not much enjoyed by the children. The dead loons in the +canoe did not look as attractive as they had appeared when swimming and +diving so gracefully in the lake. Souwanas was quick to notice their +depression of spirits, and he there and then resolved that he would never +again shoot any living thing in their presence, and he faithfully kept his +resolve. + +Mary met them as they landed and her quick eyes detected the change in +their spirits, and as they wore their hearts on their sleeves for her she +quickly found out the cause of their sorrow. She was not slow in availing +herself of the opportunity afforded of giving Souwanas and Kennedy a +vigorous scolding for nearly breaking the hearts of her precious darlings, +by killing in their presence some of the birds whose play they had often +watched for hours together. + +The two men took her scolding in their usual silent way, and then had a +quiet laugh together when her wrath had exhausted itself and she had +indignantly walked off with the children. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Nanahboozhoo's Ride on the Back of the Buzzard, who +Lets Him Fall--A Short-lived Triumph--Why the Buzzard +has No Feathers on His Head or Neck. + +One beautiful warm day, when the leaves of the trees were all bright and +golden with their autumnal tints, the children were visiting at the tent of +Souwanas. + +The old man was making a beautiful little bow and a quiver full of arrows +for Sagastao while the old wife was manufacturing an elaborate baby cradle, +of the Indian pattern, for Minnehaha, in which she could carry her favorite +doll in the style popular among the Indian girls. + +The children were much interested in watching these highly-prized gifts +being prepared for them, and of course had much to say in the way of thanks +to those who were doing so much to add to their happiness. + +While they were thus busy several canoes were seen coming from the south. +As the wind was favorable sails had been improvised out of blankets, each +fastened to a couple of oars, and with these simple appliances they sped +rapidly along. Seeing Souwanas's wigwam on the point of land the Indians +came to the shore and smoked and chatted for a short time ere they +resumed their journey toward the north. + +[Illustration: The Indian story-teller.] + +They had in their canoes quite a variety of game, and among them a large +ill-smelling bird called a turkey-buzzard. It was said that the young +Indian hunter who had shot it thought at first that it really was a turkey, +but he found out his mistake when he went to lift it from the ground where +it had fallen. The odor was so offensive that at first he thought he would +leave it behind, but when he remembered that often some of the large +feathers were used in ornamental work he decided to bring it along. + +The children were interested in its appearance, as this was the first dead +turkey-buzzard they had ever seen. + +"Look, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "the poor birdie has no feathers on its +neck or head. It must be very cold there when the winter comes." + +"Well, I think that, as likely as not, it was its own fault that it lost +its feathers," said Sagastao, and then he added as he poked the rank bird +over with a stick: + +"I would not be surprised to hear that Nanahboozhoo had something to do +with it." + +"Nanahboozhoo had," said Souwanas, "and it was because of a mean trick that +the buzzard played upon him. And now that these Indians are off, who are in +a hurry to reach Poplar Point, if you will sit down on the rocks in the +warm sunshine I will tell you the story." + +No second invitation was necessary, so while the children seated +themselves near him on the; smooth granite rock the old man continued his +arrow making and told them the following story: + + +"One day when Nanahboozhoo was walking through the country he saw the +buzzard soaring up high in the air. Like an eagle, he was making graceful +circles round and round with very little effort. After a time the buzzard +flew down to the earth, and there he stood on a rock with his great wings +outstretched. Nanahboozhoo quietly approached and entered into conversation +with him. + +"'Brother Buzzard,' he said, 'you must be very happy when sailing around up +there in the blue sky where you can so easily see everything that is going +on down here on the world below you. I wish you would take me up there on +your back and let me see how this world looks from that high place in the +blue sky, where you live so much.' + +"The buzzard on hearing this request at once flew down to the side of +Nanahboozhoo and said: + +"'I will with pleasure take you up on my back and let you see, as you +desire, how the world looks from that high place.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo, seeing how smooth was the back of the great bird, said: + +"'Brother Buzzard, your back is so smooth that I am afraid I will slip off, +so you must be careful not to sweep round too rapidly in your circles in +the sky.' + +"The buzzard told Nanahboozhoo that he would be very careful although at +the same time he was resolved, if it were possible, to play a trick on him; +for he had a grudge of some long standing against him which Nanahboozhoo +seemed to have forgotten. + +"Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great buzzard and held by his +feathers as well as he possibly could. The buzzard then took a short run, +sprang from the ground, and spreading his great strong wings speedily rose +up higher and higher in the sky. + +"Nanahboozhoo at first felt rather timid as he found himself thus rapidly +soaring through the air, especially as it was so difficult for him to keep +his seat. When the buzzard began circling round and round it was even more +difficult, for the body of the bird leaned over more and more as his speed +increased. But Nanahboozhoo was very clever, and after a while he became +more accustomed to his queer position and was very much interested in the +splendid sights of the great world beneath him, over which he could now see +for such a great distance. Lakes and rivers, forests and mountains, all +gave delight to Nanahboozhoo, who had wonderful powers of vision. + +"At length, as they rose up higher and higher in the blue sky, Nanahboozhoo +shouted out in his delight as far away in the distance he recognized the +wigwam of his grandmother, Nokomis. Indeed so delighted was he that for a +moment he let go his hold on the buzzard and swung up his arms in his +excitement. The treacherous buzzard noticed this, saw it was the +opportunity for which he had been watching, and circled round so suddenly +that his body was tilted over, and before Nanahboozhoo could regain his +grip he slipped off the smooth back and fell like a stone to the ground. So +terrible was the force with which he struck the earth that he was knocked +senseless, and lay there for a long time like one dead. + +"But, as I have told you, Nanahboozhoo was more than human and nothing +could really kill him. So it happened that after a while he recovered his +senses, but he was annoyed, disgusted, that he had allowed the buzzard to +play such a mean trick on him. + +"Then he prepared to resume his journey, and of course he looked up to see +if there were any sign of the buzzard. He had not far to look, for there, +up in the sky, not far off, was the old buzzard laughing at the trick he +had played upon Nanahboozhoo, and much pleased with his own cleverness in +deceiving one known to be so crafty. + +"'Laugh away, old buzzard,' said Nanahboozhoo. 'You have had the best of me +this time, but look out! For I will put a mark upon you for this trick of +yours that will enable your friends and your enemies to recognize you both +by day and by night.' + +"But the buzzard, from his high safe place in the sky, only laughed back in +derision, and said: + +"'No, indeed, Nanahboozhoo, you will do nothing of the kind. You have been +deceiving the other creatures, but in me you have found your match. You +cannot deceive me. And now, especially as you have threatened me, I will +always be on the watch for you.' + +[Illustration: "Nanahboozhoo then mounted on the back of the great +buzzard."] + +"Nanahboozhoo made no reply to this boastful speech, but he did a lot of +thinking, and he soon had his plans laid to teach Mr. Buzzard a lesson he +would never forget. + +"Resuming his journey he pushed on as though nothing had happened. + +"The buzzard was at first suspicious and watched him for some time. Then +seeing nothing unusual in his movements he flew away into the distant sky. + +"Nanahboozhoo, in order to carry out his plan to punish the buzzard, +resolved to turn himself into a dead deer. He knew that the buzzard lived +on dead animals of all kinds. He chose a high spot, visible from a great +distance, and there he laid himself down and changed himself into the body +of a great deer. It was not long before the various animals and birds that +subsist on such things began to gather round this dead body. + +"The buzzard, that has such wonderful eyes, to see great distances, saw +from afar this gathering of the birds and animals, and as he was ever on +the lookout for such things he soon joined the rest of the creatures around +the deer. He flew round and round it several times, for he was at first +somewhat suspicious. The closest inspection, however, showed him that it +was only a dead deer, and that was the unanimous opinion of all the other +animals and birds that gathered there. There could be no doubt in any +creature's mind but that it was a deer and that it was quite dead. + +"The buzzard, now that all his suspicions were gone, in his great greed to +get the best he could savagely began, with his powerful beak, tearing a +hole in the side of the body that he might get down to the rich fat that is +around the kidneys. This is what those fierce, greedy birds always try to +get first. Deeper and deeper into the flesh he tore, until at length he was +able to crowd in his head and neck to reach the dainty morsels he so much +prized. + +"This was just what Nanahboozhoo was waiting for, and when the head and +neck of the buzzard were completely hidden in the body up jumped the deer, +and as he did so the flesh closed up so tightly around the head and neck of +the buzzard that the greedy bird was there securely held. + +"'Ha, ha, old buzzard! I did catch you after all, as I said I would,' said +Nanahboozhoo. 'Now pull out your neck and head.' + +"The buzzard with very great difficulty at length succeeded in drawing his +head out of the side of the deer. The effort to do so, however, was so +great that he lost all of the beautiful feathers that once adorned his head +and neck. From that day they have never grown on him again, and there is +nothing there to be seen but the red rough-looking skin. + +"'Never again,' said Nanahboozhoo, 'will feathers cover your neck or head, +and so your friends and enemies, as they see you, will be reminded of how +Nanahboozhoo punished you for playing one of your tricks on him. And also +from this time forward your food will only be of the rankest kind, and the +disagreeable odor will so cling to you that even in the darkest nights your +hateful presence will be detected and shunned.' + +"Thus," added Souwanas, "the buzzard is the most despised of birds, because +he is such an ugly fellow, with his featherless head and neck, and because +his disagreeable odor taints the sweet air wherever he goes." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +A Moonlight Trip on the Lake--The Legend of the +Orphan Boy--His Appeal to the Man in the Moon--How +He Conquered His Enemies. + +Moonlight nights in the Northland are often very beautiful. There in the +summer time the gloaming continues until nearly midnight. Then nothing can +be more glorious than to glide along amid the beautiful fir-clad rocky +islands in a birch canoe over the still transparent waters. So large and +luminous are the full moons of July and August that, with the west aglow +and with the wondrous aurora flashing and blazing in the north, there is +practically little night and no darkness at all. + +Nothing gave the children greater pleasure than to have permission to go +with Mary and Kennedy in a large roomy birch canoe for a moonlight +excursion during one of those warm, brilliant nights. With plenty of rugs +or cushions, to make the coziest of seats in the center of the canoe, they +fairly reveled in the beauties of the romantic surroundings while they +floated on the moonlit lake. Often in some place of more than ordinary +beauty Kennedy would cease paddling, and then their very quietness added +to the charms of those happy outings. + +[Illustration: With Mary and Kennedy in the birch canoe.] + +"Say, Mary," said Sagastao, "I was reading in one of my books about the +'man in the moon.' Do you know anything about him?" + +"He is looking at us very kindly to-night," said Minnehaha. "I really +believe I saw him laughing, he is so pleased we have come out to see him +this lovely night." + +These remarks of the children caused all in the canoe to more closely scan +the great round moon that was shining with silvery whiteness straight in +front of them. + +"There are lots of stories about the moon among our people," said Mary, +"but not a great many about the man in the moon. There is, however, a queer +one about how he came down and helped a poor orphan boy." + +"O, tell it to us just now," said Minnehaha, "while he is watching and +listening." + +"Do, Mary," said Sagastao, "and Minnehaha and I will watch the old fellow +and see how he likes to be talked about." + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "Mary will be talking to him to his face, and not +behind his back, as people sometimes do when talking about others." + +Thus the children ran on with their prattle. Mary and Kennedy were much +amused. + +"Come, Mary, hurry up! Father said the gloaming would end about eleven, and +we must be at the shore by that time." + +"Pretty late hours for little children," said Kennedy. + +"Never mind that," said Sagastao; "we will make up for it in winter time, +when it gets dark at four o'clock." + +With Sagastao on one side of her in the big canoe and Minnehaha on the +other--their favorite positions when listening to her fascinating stories +as she crooned them out in her soft, musical Cree--Mary told them the +story. + +"Long ago," she began, "there was a poor orphan boy who had neither father +nor mother, uncle, aunt, nor any living relative that he knew of. He had a +very hard time of it, as the people did not seem to take kindly to him. So +he had to live just where he could. He managed to get along all right +during the pleasant summer time, but when the long cold winters began he +suffered very much. One winter some selfish people let him live with them +because he was willing to work hard for what little they did for him. They +treated him badly in many ways. They made him go out into the woods and cut +firewood, but when he brought it home they would only allow him to stay in +the cold entry-way which they had built to their winter dwelling. + +"They made him go and hunt different animals for food, and then when he +brought, them home they cooked and ate the best themselves, and just threw +the fragments and bones to him as they would to a dog. Every member of the +household treated him very cruelly, except a nice little girl, the youngest +daughter of the family. She felt very sorry for him. She would secretly +take him better food, and she furnished him with a knife with which he +could cut the tough pieces of meat. She had to be very careful not to be +discovered, for if found out she would have been severely punished. So her +pity had to show itself on the sly, and the few words she was able to tell +him of her sympathy had to be whispered as she passed him, when nobody was +looking or listening. The poor boy up to this time had no ambition to +better himself, but her kind words and deeds made him resolve that he must +begin and do something for himself. But what could he do? Everybody seemed +against him but this little girl, and she could do nothing in the way of +helping him to escape from these people, who, now that he was becoming so +useful to them, would not let him go. What, really, could he do? + +"Thus the days and weeks and months passed on and there seemed no chance of +escape. He had tried to run away, but had been caught and brought back and +beaten. + +"One night when it was not very cold he went outside of the narrow entry +where he generally had to sleep and threw himself on the ground and cried +in his sorrow and despair. He seemed to be utterly unable to better +himself. As he lay there he began looking up at the great bright moon that, +now so large and round, was, he thought, looking earnestly at him. Soon he +was able to see that there was a great man in the moon. As he watched him +he was glad to notice that he was not looking crossly at him, but kindly, +and so he began crying to the man in the moon to come and help him to +escape from the miserable life he was leading. Sure enough, as the boy kept +on crying and pleading he saw the man in the moon beginning to come down to +this world. He came to the very spot where the unhappy boy was lying, but +instead of helping him he made him stand up and then he gave him a good +sound thrashing, making the boy, however, strike back at him as vigorously +as he could. The beating he got very much disheartened and discouraged the +boy, for it was not what he had expected. On the following night, when he +had recovered a little, he began reproaching the man in the moon. + +"'I called for you,' he said, 'to come and help me against my enemies, and +now you have come and thrashed me.' + +"But these words, instead of softening the man in the moon, caused him to +come down again and give the poor boy a far worse thrashing than before, +but for every blow he made the boy return one as good as he had received. + +"Now for the first time the boy began to notice that the more he was beaten +the stronger he grew. Still he could not understand what the man in the +moon meant. So he came again, and they had another regular set-to, and the +boy had another good sound thrashing. He asked him what was the meaning of +his beating him thus. The man in the moon now spoke to him, but his words +were so much like a puzzle that at first the boy did not understand them. +This is what the man in the moon said: + + "'Would you triumph o'er the strong? + Be strong. + Would you let them no more conquer? + Conquer.' + +"For a time the boy repeated them over and over. He used to say that as the +result of these meetings with the man in the moon he had grown so strong +that he was nearly able to hold his own against his antagonist. Then one +day, when the man in the moon was puffing from the encounter, the latter +said: + +"'Now by hard knocks and exercise I have put you on the way of ending your +troubles. Be strong, and conquer. Farewell! I am not coming again, as you +do not need me any more.' + +"Then away he flew back to his place in the moon. + +"The boy seemed now to know that he was to use his strength for his own +deliverance. To test himself he began tossing up the stones that were so +numerous on the shore of the lake. First he began with quite small ones, +but soon he found that he could pick up and throw about great big ones, +that were like rocks. When he returned from this last contest with the man +in the moon it was nearly daylight. + +"At first the people began ordering him about as usual. But they soon had +reason to be sorry for their cruelty and abuse, for the boy seized one +after another of them and flung them with such violence against the rocks +that their brains were dashed out and their blood ran in streams down the +sides of the rocks--where it turned into seams in the rocks which can be +seen to this day. + +"One person only, of all who lived in that dwelling, did the now strong boy +leave alive, and that was, of course, the good-hearted little girl who used +to speak kind words to him and befriend him when she could. + +"They grew to be very fond of each other, and were afterward married and +lived in full possession of all the things that once belonged to the cruel +people for whom the little orphan boy had worked so long." + +"Well, sakehou," said Sagastao, "I have been watching the man in the moon +while you have been telling the story about his queer way of helping the +boy to help himself, and he was looking pleased all the time. So I am sure +he is well satisfied with the way you have told the story." + +Old Mary was delighted with these words from the lips of the lad she loved +with such a passionate devotion. + +"But what do you think about it, little sister?" said the lad, calling to +Minnehaha, who was cuddled down on the other side of Mary. + +But the darling gave no answer, for she had long ago slipped off into +Dreamland, and there she remained until the strong arms of Kennedy lifted +her up from the canoe and carried her home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Souwanas's Love for Souwanaquenapeke--How Nanahboozhoo +Cured a Little Girl Bitten by a Snake--How the +Rattlesnake got Its Rattle--The Origin of Tobacco--Nanahboozhoo +in Trouble. + +Wahkiegun, as Souwanas named the home of his white friends, always had a +warm welcome for Souwanas. Little Souwanaquenapeke had learned to love him +and nothing gave the grave old man greater pleasure than to have charge of +her for hours at a time. He often carried her away to his wigwam and with +great delight explained to visiting Indians how his name was woven into +that of the first little paleface born among his people. + +Sagastao and Minnehaha, while of course pleased to see the love of the old +chief for their sweet little sister, were sometimes a little impatient when +they found that he would have his hour with her before they could draw a +Nanahboozhoo story out of him. + +"You are all right," he would say in his dry, humorous way, "as far as you +go; you are only Crees," he would add with a smile, referring to the fact +that they had been born among the Cree Indians farther north; "but +Souwanaquenapeke is better, as she is a pure Saulteaux." + +This of course would put Sagastao and Minnehaha on the defensive, for in +those days their own pride of birth was that they were Cree Indians. +Faithful old Mary, herself a Cree, would of course take their part, and it +was very amusing--laughable at times--to listen to the wordy strife. In +these discussions Mary was always the one to first lose her temper. When +this happened the penalty was to have the children throw a shawl over her +head and thus silence her. From their loving hands she quietly took her +punishment and was soon restored to good nature. Good-hearted Souwanas then +speedily responded to the call for a story. But the little Souwanaquenapeke +must be, if awake, in his arms, or, if asleep, in a little hammock or +native cradle beside him. + +"What is it to be about to-day?" asked the old man, as the children, full +of eager anticipation, drew a couple of chairs up before him. + +After some discussion Souwanas decided to tell them the Nanahboozhoo story +of how he lessened the power of the rattlesnakes to do harm. + +"Nanahboozhoo, in starting off one day from his grandmother's wigwam, had +put on the disguise of a fine young hunter. He had not gone many miles on +his journey before he came to a little tent on the edge of the forest where +he found a young Indian mother full of grief over her sick child. +Nanahboozhoo could not but feel very sorry for her, especially when he +heard her story that a snake had crawled noiselessly into her tent and had +bitten her little girl while she slept. Nanahboozhoo felt such pity, both +for the weeping mother and the bitten child, that at once he set to work to +counteract the sad doings of the snake. He hurriedly went into the forest, +and there finding a certain plant he said, 'From this day forward the root +of this plant shall be a remedy for all people against the bites of +snakes.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo showed the mother that the roots were to be pounded and +made into a drink and a poultice. The glad mother quickly carried out his +instructions and the little girl was soon well again. The Indians have ever +since been very thankful to Nanahboozhoo for letting them know of this +plant, which they still use for such purposes and which they call +snakeroot. Nanahboozhoo remained until he saw that the little girl was +quite recovered. Then he said: + +"'Now I will fix that snake so that he will not be able to do so much harm +in the future.' + +"Then going out he caught the king of the snakes and gave him a great +scolding for the meanness of that one of his family which had crawled into +the tent of the Indian mother and so cruelly bitten that little girl while +she slept. Then getting very angry, for Nanahboozhoo was very +quick-tempered, he said: + +"'Snakes, like other things, have the right to live. They are given their +place in the world, and their work. They are to keep down the mice, rats, +frogs, toads, and other things that might become too numerous. They have +their poisons given them to defend themselves if attacked. But they have no +right to go and kill or injure anyone doing them no harm. I'll teach you +snakes that in future you cannot quietly crawl about and bite innocent +people thus.' + +"So he took a piece of the wampum from one of the strings with which he had +decorated himself, and having carefully carved the hard shells of which +wampum is made, Nanahboozhoo firmly fastened them to the snake's tail, and +said: + +"'From this day forward may all snakes like you have those noisy rattles +upon them, so that all people will call you rattlesnakes. And may it be +that you can never move without making a noise with those rattles, so that +people will always be able to hear them and thus get ready to fight you, or +to get out of your way before you can do any harm.'" + +"Well done, Nanahboozhoo!" shouted little Sagastao. "He's the one for me. +But why did he not kill all the rattlesnakes at once?" + +Souwanas was, however, too clever to be caught trying to answer a question +that, although asked by a child, was beyond his knowledge, so he resorted +to his calumet, and as the smoke of it began to taint the air Sagastao +said, "Well, Souwanas, can you tell us where you Indians first got your +tobacco?" + +This question was more to the taste of the old Indian, so while he smoked +he related the tradition of the introduction of tobacco among his people. + +"Very many winters ago," said he, "as Nanahboozhoo was traveling on one of +his long journeys he visited a land of great high mountains. One day as he +was passing a great chasm in the mountains he saw some blue smoke slowly +coming up out of it. This excited his curiosity and he went to see what +caused it. As he drew near to it he was very much pleased with its odor. On +further investigation he found that the great cave from which the smoke +arose was inhabited by a giant who was the keeper of tobacco. + +"Nanahboozhoo, on searching, found him half asleep in this cave among great +bales and bags of tobacco. + +"The smell of the smoke of the tobacco had so pleased Nanahboozhoo that he +asked the giant to give him some. The giant refused in a very surly +fashion, saying that he only gave portions of it away to his friends the +Munedoos, who came once a year to smoke with him. + +"Nanahboozhoo, seeing that he was not going to be able to get any by thus +pleading for it, snatched up one of the well-filled tobacco bags, dashed +out with it, and fled away as rapidly as possible. The great giant was +fearfully enraged, and at once began the pursuit of this rash fellow who +had thus stolen his tobacco from under his very nose. + +"It was a fearful race. Nanahboozhoo had to jump from one mountain top to +the next, and so on and on from peak to peak. Closely behind him followed +the giant, and Nanahboozhoo had all he could do to keep from being +captured. Fortunately for him he now knew the mountains well, and he +remembered one ahead of him the opposite side of which was very steep. When +he reached this top he suddenly threw himself down upon the very edge, and +as the giant passed over him Nanahboozhoo suddenly sprang up and gave him +such a push that he tumbled down into the fearful chasm. He was so bruised +and wounded that, as he got up and hobbled away down the far-off valley, +Nanahboozhoo watching him saw that he looked just like a great grasshopper. +He burst out laughing, and then shouted to the giant: + +"'For your meanness and selfishness I change you into a grasshopper; +Pukaneh shall be your name and you will always have a dirty mouth.' + +"And so it is to this day, for every little boy who has caught grasshoppers +knows that their saliva is as though they had been chewing tobacco. + +"When Nanahboozhoo had rested himself a little he returned to the cave of +the giant and took possession of the great quantities of tobacco he found +there. He divided it among the Indian tribes, and from that time those who +live where it will grow have cultivated it and have supplied all the +others." + +"I wish," said Minnehaha, "that Nanahboozhoo had left Pukaneh and his +tobacco in the cave, for I don't think tobacco smoke is very nice in the +house." + +[Illustration: Nanahboozhoo gave him a great push.] + +Souwanas was amused with the little girl's opposition to his beloved weed, +and while she was talking took the opportunity to refill his calumet. When +it was in good smoking order he, urgently requested by Sagastao, resumed +his story-telling. + +"Sometimes it did not fare so well with Nanahboozhoo. There were times when +his cleverness seemed to forsake him, and he got into trouble' that at +other times he would easily have avoided. For example, one day in the +summer time as he was hurrying along he became very thirsty. Soon, however, +he came to a river which has many trees on its banks. He pushed his way +through them until he came to the bank. Just as he was stooping down to +drink he saw some nice ripe fruit in the water. Without seeming to think of +what he was doing he dived into the quite shallow water to get the fruit, +hit his head against the rocky bottom and was pretty badly hurt. He was +vexed and angry as well as disappointed, but he took a good drink of the +water and then he lay down on the grass in the shade of the trees to rest. +As he lay there on his back he saw above him on the branches of the trees +the fruit which he had at first thought was in the water. + +"Laughing at his own stupidity and climbing up into the trees he soon had +all the ripe fruit he could eat. + +"Then on he went, and as his head was quite sore from the bump he had got +when he dived into the shallow river he determined to visit some wigwams +which he saw not far off. + +"The people received him very kindly, with the exception of one surly, +cross old man. They quickly prepared some balsam and put it on his wounded +head. + +"Nanahboozhoo was well pleased with this kindness, and said that he would +be glad to perform for them some kindly act in return. + +"Before anyone else, however, could speak the cross old man sneered out: + +"'O, if you think you are clever enough to do anything, grant that I may +live forever!' + +"This request and the sneering way in which it was made caused the +quick-tempered Nanahboozhoo to become very angry, and he suddenly sprang up +and caught the Indian by the shoulders and violently throwing him on the +ground said: + +"'From this time you shall be a stone, and so your request is granted.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +The Dead Moose--The Rivalry Between the Elk and the +Moose People, and Their Various Contests--The Disaster +that Befell the Latter Tribe--The Haze of the Indian +Summer. + +The sight of four stalwart Indians dragging on a dog sled the body of an +enormous moose on the ice in front of their home very much interested the +children. + +Nothing would do but they must be wrapped up and allowed to go out and +examine it while the men rested and had a smoke. Its great horns, its +enormous ugly head, and then its coarse, bristle-like hair, had all to be +examined and commented upon. The opportune arrival of Souwanas, who had +been attracted by the sight of the moose, much pleased the children, and +just as soon as the investigation of the moose was over and the hunters had +proceeded on their journey the children insisted on Souwanas going home to +Wahkiegun with them and telling them something about the moose. They also +wanted to hear a wonderful story, which he knew, telling how Nanahboozhoo +helped the elks to conquer the moose. + +When there is a disposition to surrender we are easily conquered. So it was +with Souwanas on this occasion. The children in their love for their friend +pleaded so importunately that a good cup of tea was prepared for and much +enjoyed by him before he began his story, his interested auditors as close +as possible around him. + +"Once when Nanahboozhoo was journeying through the country," said Souwanas, +"he found a village of Indians who were very poor. They were called +Oomaskos, Elk people. They had nothing but the poorest of robes on their +backs, and they were nearly destitute of everything in the shape of traps, +weapons, and canoes. The village was strangely silent, for even the dogs, +that generally are around in such numbers, had disappeared. When +Nanahboozhoo saw this destitution and poverty he at once inquired the +reason, and was surprised and very angry to hear that they were great +gamblers. + +"Not far off from them was another village whose people were called Mooswa, +or Moose people, and Nanahboozhoo soon found out that, while the +inhabitants of these two villages were antagonistic to each other, they +frequently met to gamble, and that the Moose people were nearly always +successful and had won from the Elk people nearly everything they +possessed. The latter were very much humiliated at Nanahboozhoo's finding +them in such a wretched condition, but they told him they were convinced +that some trickery had been practiced upon them by their opponents. They +also informed Nanahboozhoo that they would be glad if he would help them to +get back their much needed possessions. + +"Nanahboozhoo promised that he would assist them on condition that after +their possessions were regained they should give up the pernicious habit of +gambling. This they unanimously promised to do. The first thing +Nanahboozhoo did was to disguise himself as a whisky-jack and fly over to +the village of the Moose people and try to discover how it was that they +had been so invariably successful when they gambled with the Elk people. It +was as he suspected. His old enemies the Anamakquis, the evil spirits that +had destroyed his brother Nahpootee, the wolf, had sent one of their number +among the Moose people, and he had enabled them to win nearly all of the +dogs, as well as other things, from the Elk people. Indeed, he himself had +generally been the one who had tossed the plum stones with which they +gambled, and they had won by his magic powers. + +"When Nanahboozhoo heard this he knew that his first work must be to secure +the magic muskamoot (medicine bag). So he flew round and round, and peering +in through the top of the wigwam, where the poles crossed each other, he +was fortunate enough to see the magic bag hanging up on a cross pole over +the place where the Anamakqui slept. He noticed also that it was well +guarded and that it would require some cleverness on his part to get it. + +"Nanahboozhoo was, as you know, a very clever fellow. He quickly flew back +to the village of the Elk people and ordered the most industrious of the +women, who were skillful in making fire bags, to make one exactly as he +described. This was, of course, similar to the magic muskamoot he had seen +hanging up in the tent. + +"Nanahboozhoo then put into it things that would have just the opposite +effect to those which were in the bag of the Anamakqui. He waited until it +was dark, and then, noiselessly flying back to the village of the Moose +people, he silently entered the wigwam at the top, where there was now a +wide opening, as it was in the warm summer time, very quickly exchanged the +bag he had with him for the magic muskamoot, and returned to the village of +the Elk people. It did not take him long to arrange his plans. The chief of +the Elks had a beautiful daughter, and it was given out that a fine young +chief from a far-away tribe had come to ask for her in marriage. The father +had welcomed this young chief--who was, of course, Nanahboozhoo--and as he +had brought costly gifts he was at once acknowledged as the accepted +son-in-law. + +"The news spread rapidly and it soon reached the Moose village. When they +heard of the many gifts which this rich young stranger had brought with him +they, of course, were greedy to win them, as they had won the rest of the +Elks' property. It was not many days before a company of them came over to +the Elks, and meeting the beautiful daughter of the chief they said: + +"'We have come over to have a game of plum stones with your lover, to see +if he is a better player than we are.' + +"The girl went at once into the wigwam and informed her intended husband, +Nanahboozhoo, of the challenge of these people. She also told him that they +were very clever but that they had no idea of him being anything else than +what he appeared to be. Then she added: + +"'Be sure to win; if you do not they will beat us with clubs and sticks. +For the custom is that the side that is defeated in the gambling must +submit to a beating by the conquerors.' + +"Then Nanahboozhoo and the champion for the Moose people sat down on +opposite sides of the bowl in which were the plum stones, while the people +of each of the two villages ranged themselves behind their own champion. +When Nanahboozhoo shook the bowl, and then let the plum stones cease +rolling, it was seen that he had won every point. At this the Elks set up a +great shout of triumph. The Moose people shouted back: + +"'Don't be so fast; the game is to be the best three out of five; just wait +until our man has played.' + +"The plum stones were then handed to him and patting his medicine bag he +confidently shook them up, but when they had ceased rolling it was seen +that he had lost every point. + +"The victory was now so nearly won that the Elks began to say: + +"'Get your clubs ready to thrash the Moose people, for we are surely going +to be winners this day.' + +"The Moose people were, however, not yet quite discouraged. 'There are +three tries yet,' they said, 'and our man may yet win.' But their hopes +were soon gone, for when Nanahboozhoo threw the plum stones the third time +he was as successful as at the first. + +"This decided the game in favor of the Elks, who now rushed upon the Moose +people and thrashed them all the way back to their own village. + +"The Moose were very much humiliated at this defeat. They had not only had +a good beating but, according to the custom of the tribes, they were +obliged to restore much of the property which they had won from the Elks in +their previous contests. A council was called not long after and there was +quite a discussion among them as to the best plan to be adopted to defeat +the Elks and regain supremacy. They decided on a trial of strength, for in +such encounters they had generally been victorious. They had two high poles +erected with a crossbar on the top, and the contest was to see which side +could produce the man who should throw the heaviest stone over that bar. +They sent their challenge to the Elks to meet them if they dare. + +"The Elks quickly responded and were soon at the place where the Moose +people, who were awaiting them, had erected the high poles with the +crossbar. When everything had been arranged their strongest man took up a +heavy stone and, with a tremendous effort, succeeded in barely throwing it, +so that it struck the crossbar and carried it down to the ground. When the +crossbar had been replaced a son of the chief of the Elks went forward, as +though he would be the competitor on the side of the Elks. He pretended as +though he could not even lift the heavy stone which the Moose champion had +thrown. When the Moose people saw this they shouted out in triumph, and +began to get ready to give the Elks as good a beating as they had received +from them on a former occasion. + +"Seeing them thus coming, Nanahboozhoo rushed forward, seized the heavy +stone, and sent it high up and far over the tops of the poles--thus winning +the victory again for the Elks. With a shout of triumph the Elks again +attacked the Moose and drove them in disgrace back to their own village. +The Moose people were now more humiliated than ever, but they determined to +try another plan; for they were resolved not to give up to the Elks, whom +they had so often defeated. After much consultation they said: + +"'Let us have a contest at diving in the lake, that we may see if our +champion cannot remain longer under the water than any one of the Elks.' + +"So they went over to the village of the Elks and told them they had come +to have another contest with them. To the proposal of the Moose the Elks +all agreed, and both parties proceeded to the lake. Here a large hole was +cut in the ice and the champion of the Moose prepared to go down into the +water. One of the brothers of the beautiful Indian girl who had been +selected as Nanahboozhoo's bride said to Nanahboozhoo: + +"'As our bodies are tougher than yours you must let me compete this time.' + +"Nanahboozhoo would not let him do this. He said: + +"'I am not afraid of the cold water, and besides I have plenty of friends +down there.' + +"And, sure enough, the mud turtle came up and said, in words that only +Nanahboozhoo could understand: + +"'My brother, I have come up at the request of your brother, the wolf, to +aid you. Trust yourself in my care and no harm will come to you.' + +"Nanahboozhoo was well pleased to hear this, for he knew that his spirit +brother had sent his friend the mud turtle to help him in this trial. + +"The competitors now stripped themselves, and when the signal was given +they both dived into the water and disappeared. The Moose people had such +confidence in their champion that they had all brought with them very heavy +sticks with which they intended giving the Elks a great beating in return +for the two previous defeats. + +"The Elks, however, were not dismayed. They only said: + +"'Just wait until the contest is decided.' + +"In the meantime the competitors under the water were so near together at +first that the people on the land heard the Moose say, 'Elk, are you cold?' +To which the mud turtle, who had covered the Elk competitor over with his +shell, replied: + +"'No, Moose; but are you cold?' + +"As the people on the shore could not hear any answer to this question it +gave some alarm to the Moose people about their champion, who they feared +must be benumbed with the cold. This was really the case, for in a short +time he came to the surface of the water so nearly frozen to death that he +had to be helped out of the water. + +"When the mud turtle and Nanahboozhoo heard the shoutings of triumph of the +Elks they knew that the Moose champion had failed, and so they came up to +the surface. Nanahboozhoo swam ashore and joined in the pursuit of the +disheartened Moose people, who had again so signally failed. + +"These repeated defeats very much angered and humiliated the Moose people. +They almost quarreled among themselves in their vexation as they talked +them over at their councils. Still they were in no humor to give up. They +had two very swift runners among them, and they decided to challenge the +Elks to a foot race. So they again sent a number of their party over to the +tent of the Elk people and said: + +"'We are not at all satisfied yet, and we wish to know if the son of the +chief and his brother-in-law, the young stranger who has come into your +midst, will run a foot race against two of our young people.' + +"This challenge was at once accepted and soon all preparations were made +for the great race. It was decided that it should be run on the ice of the +frozen lake, which was several miles round. Much snow had fallen, but the +people of both sides turned out for days and cleared out a good track. They +made it near the shore, and so that the finishing spot would be near where +was the starting point. + +"The Moose felt quite certain of winning this time, because by their magic +their runners were to be turned into real Moose, with four legs, and they +argued that runners with four feet could surely beat those who had only +two. But there were others who had heard about this great race, and among +them was the wolf, the spirit brother of Nanahboozhoo, and so he came to +him the night before the race. + +"'My brother,' he said, 'I will come and help you in this race. You are the +only one that can see me, so I will be on the track, about half way round, +and when you come there you can get on my back and I will carry you at a +greater speed. But you must keep your legs moving as if rapidly running, or +the people will suspect something unusual.' + +"There was a great crowd to witness this race between the two great Moose, +to represent the Moose people, and the son of the chief and his unknown +brother-in-law to represent the Elks. When the signal was given away they +started over the icy trail. The Moose soon were at the front, with the +chief's son not far behind. Nanahboozhoo was purposely a little in the +rear, and so was able to spring upon the wolf's back without attracting +attention. + +[Illustration: They were excited at his coming.] + +"With this steed under him he sped along with marvelous rapidity. At the +half-way point of the race he overtook his brother-in-law, and giving him +his hand, they were soon far in front. When they rushed in ahead there +was great excitement. The Moose people were soon running back to their +village with the Elks whipping them to the very doors of their wigwams. + +"After this the Moose dare not challenge the Elks to any further contest, +but they were so furious that they meditated murder in their hearts toward +the young stranger, who had, they now saw, been the cause of their many +defeats. Nanahboozhoo, however, easily thwarted their evil schemes, but at +length some of them were so bad that his anger was aroused and he exerted +all his magic power. + +"'Moose you are by name,' he said to them, 'and for your bad deeds I change +you into the animals after whom you are named. Hereafter you will live in +the swamps, among the willows and young birch. On them you will have to +browse for a living. For a little variety in your food you may, in the +summer time, go out into the shallow waters and paw up and eat the great +roots of the water-lilies.' + +"Thus the Elks again had peace and quietness. Gambling was never again +allowed among them, and Nanahboozhoo, after receiving their grateful +thanks, returned to his own country." + +"What did he do after that?" asked Sagastao. + +"Not much, for a while; but after a time he decided to go away up North. +Each fall, however, he comes and looks around to see how everything is +going on. Then he rests on some of the mountains and has a big smoke, which +settles down on the hillsides and valleys and makes the beautiful hazy +time which we all call the Indian Summer." + +"Well," said Minnehaha, "if the smoke of Nanahboozhoo's big pipe of peace +makes the beautiful haze of the lovely Indian Summer, it is about the best +thing I have heard yet of tobacco smoke doing." + +And so say we all. + + + + +GLOSSARY + + * * * * * + +Ana-mak-qui, _Evil spirits or magicians_. + +An-nun-gi-tee, _The ghost with big ears_. + +Ja-koos, _Strong-armed_. + +Keche-Wapoose, _Great Rabbit_. + +Kin-ne-sa-sis, _Little Fish_. + +Kosh-ke-e-wa-see, _Partridge_. + +Ma-hei-gan, _Wolf_. + +Mani-boos or Manitoos or Munedoos, _Spirits_. + +Me-squah-be-me-sheen, _Red Willows_. + +Minne-ha-ha, _Laughing Waters_. + +Mis-ta-coo-sis, _Aspen Tree_. + +Mis-mis, _Grandfather_. + +Moos-wa, _Moose_. + +Moo-she-kin-ne-bik, _Sea Monster_. + +Musk-a-moot, _Medicine Bag_. + +Mud-je-kee-wis, _West Wind_. + +Na-nah-booz-hoo, _Son of Mud-je-kee-wis--West Wind_. + +Nah-poo-tee, _Wolf_. + +Ni-koo-chis, _Solitude--name of a giant_. + +Nokomis, _Grandmother_. + +Ome-mee, _Pigeon or Dove_. + +Oo-kis-ki-mu-ni-sew, _Kingfisher_. + +Oo-see-mee-id, _The Younger_. + +Se-si-giz-it, _The Older_. + +Pa-peu-pe-na-ses, _Laughing Bird_. + +Pug-a-mah-kon, _A hammer_. + +Puk-an-eh, _Grasshopper_. + +Sa-gas-ta-oo-ke-mou, shortened to Sagastao, _The Sunrise Gentleman_. + +Sa-ke-how, _Beloved_. + +Se-se-pask-wut, _Sugar_. + +Sis-tin-a-koo, _The magician who guarded the fire in the interior of the +earth_. + +Shu-ni-ou, _Money_. + +So-qua-a-tum, _Steadfast_. + +Sou-wa-nas, _South Wind, The great Story-teller_. + +Sou-wa-na-que-na-peke, _The Voice of the South Wind Birds_. + +Wah-ki-e-gun, _The House_. + +Wau-be-noo, _The East_. + +Wakonda, _A supernatural Person_. + +Wakontas, _Son of Wakonda_. + +Wau-konug, _Lichen_. + +Wenonah, _Daughter of Nokomis and mother of Nanahboozhoo_. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Algonquin Indian Tales, by Egerton R. 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