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/* restore default */ +} +.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap:first-letter { + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; +} + + +.mtq {margin-top: .25em;} +.mt1 {margin-top: 1em;} +.mt1h {margin-top: 1.5em;} +.mt2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.mt4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.mt6 {margin-top: 6em;} +.mt8 {margin-top: 8em;} + +.mb1h { margin-bottom: 1.5em; } +.mb2 { margin-bottom: 2em; } +.mb4 { margin-bottom: 4em; } +.mb8 { margin-bottom: 8em; } + +.ltsp2 { letter-spacing: 0.2em; } +.wdsp2 { word-spacing: 0.2em; } + +.fs80 { font-size: 80%; } +.fs120 { font-size: 120%; } +.fs150 { font-size: 150%; } +.fs200 { font-size: 200%; } + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full { width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + font-size: 90%; +} +table.toc, table.toi { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.toi { + margin: 1em auto; + width: 80%; + max-width: 32em; +} +table.toi td.tdl { + padding-left: 1.5em; + text-indent: -1.5em; +} +table.toi td.tdr { vertical-align: bottom; } +table td { padding-top: .5em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right; padding-left: 1em; } + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; + color: gray; +} + +.bbox {border: 2px solid;} +.title-box { + border: 2px solid; + padding: .5em; + max-width: 26em; + margin: 0 auto; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} +.allcap { text-transform: uppercase; } +.bold { font-weight: bold; } + +figcaption { font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%; } + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: 1.5em auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed; margin: .75em auto; } + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; margin-top: .25em; } + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} +.transnote h2 { margin-top: 1em; } + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp49 {width: 49%;} +.illowp48 {width: 48%;} +.illowp20 {width: 15%;} +.illowp47 {width: 47%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76997 ***</div> +<div class='x-ebookmaker-drop'> +<figure class="figcenter illowp49" id="cover" style="max-width: 80.25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Book cover"> +</figure> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[i]</span></p> +</div> + +<div class='mt8 mb8'> +<h1> +WIGWAM WONDER TALES +</h1> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii"></a><a id="Page_iii"></a><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p> +</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i004" style="max-width: 62.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i004.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “There will be no living with him,” said the crow + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[v]</span></p> +</div> + +<div class='title-box'> +<div class='bbox'> + +<div class='mt2 mb2'> +<p class="center mt1 fs200 ltsp2 bold">WIGWAM</p> +<p class='center fs200 ltsp2 wdsp2 bold mtq'>WONDER TALES</p> +</div> + +<hr class='full'> + +<div class='mt2'> +<p class="center fs80">BY</p> +<p class='center fs150 wdsp2'>WILLIAM THOMPSON</p> +</div> + +<div class='mt6'> +<p class="center fs80">ILLUSTRATED BY</p> +<p class='center fs120 wdsp2 mb4'>CARLE MICHEL BOOG</p> +</div> + +<hr class='full'> + +<p class="center mt1h ltsp2 fs120">NEW YORK</p> +<p class='center ltsp2 fs120'>CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS</p> +<p class='center mb1h ltsp2'>1919</p> +</div></div> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[vi]</span></p> +</div> + +<div class='mt8'> +<p class='center fs80'> + <span class="smcap">Copyright, 1919, by</span><br> + CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS</p> + +<hr class='r5'> + <p class='center fs80'> + Published September, 1919 +</p> +</div> + +<div class='mt8 mb2'> +<figure class="figcenter illowp20" id="i006" style="max-width: 17.5625em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i006.jpg" alt="Publisher’s colophon"> +</figure> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="DEDICATION"> + DEDICATION + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>This book is affectionately dedicated to H. T., +who for ten years has been my constant companion. +We have travelled together from the Gulf of Mexico +to the Arctic Ocean. Have climbed glaciers of +Alaska and shivered in the fogs of Newfoundland. +Have rocked in the crafts of the North Sea fishermen. +Have looked from the Phœnician ruins of Eze to +the island of Corsica. Have enjoyed the nature +smiles of southern Europe from Italy to Setubal, the +ancient Cetubriga of the Romans. Have strolled +along the highways and byways of Germany, Holland, +France, Belgium, Moresnet, Italy, and romped +together in the cork-groves of Portugal and the olive-groves +of Spain. We have shared the same room in +spooky inns along the trails of Don Quixote in La +Mancha, and have ridden fourth-class with a first-class +ticket hundreds of kilometres ... because +dogs were not allowed in first-class compartments on +European railways.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_viii"></a><a id="Page_ix"></a>[ix]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS + </h2> +</div> + +<table class="toc"> +<tr> +<th class="tdl"></th> +<th class='tdr'><span class='allsmcap'>PAGE</span></th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_GIANT_BUTTERFLY_AND_THE">The Giant Butterfly and the Mouse</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#WACTU_THE_ANIMAL_PAINTER">Wactu, the Animal Painter</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_15'>15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#ALITOCI_AND_THE_GIANT_BIRDS">Alitoci and the Giant Birds</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_28'>28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#NIONA_AND_THE_MOON_MAN">Niona and the Moon Man</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_40'>40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#WHY_DOGS_DO_NOT_TALK">Why Dogs Do Not Talk</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_56'>56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#MR_FISH_AND_YONI">Mr. Fish and Yoni</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#FIRE_BOY_AND_WATER_BOY">Fire Boy and Water Boy</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_92'>92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#OLD_SPOT_AND_THE_CUPIDS">Old Spot and the Cupids</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_107'>107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_UNDERWATER_PEOPLE">The Underwater People</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap"><a href="#WATC_AGIC_KILLS_THE_TALKING-BIRDS">Watc’ Agic Kills the Talking-Birds</a></span></td> +<td class='tdr'><a href='#Page_144'>144</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_x"></a><a id="Page_xi"></a>[xi]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"> + ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> +</div> + +<table class="toi"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i004'>“There will be no living with him,” said the crow</a></td> +<td class='tdr'><i>Frontispiece</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class='tdr'><span class='allsmcap'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i019'>Every one laughed. What a joke! This tiny mouse offering to release the sun!</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i023'>“Come down,” said Ayas. “I wish to discuss a business offer with you”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>9</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i027'>Over their heads they heard a little voice calling, “They fit perfectly”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>13</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i031'>This he did, much to the amazement of the beaver</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>17</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i035'>Wactu waited patiently for the color-sprites to dance on the snow and lakes</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>21</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i043'>On and on the frightened old man was carried</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>29</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i047'>Down the big tree he lowered himself</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>33</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i051'>The birds walked off in another direction</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>37</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i055'>“Niona, you are so, so beautiful”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>41</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i061'>Niona felt herself being drawn up and up</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>47</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i067'>“I’m coming!”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>53</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i071'>So Nudi and his dog, Happy, would wander off to the mountains</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>57</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[xii]</span> +<a href='#i075'>One day, trailing a bear, Happy told all she knew of Neti’s romance</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>61</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i079'>“Yes,” said Tiki, “she has told that which she should not.”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>65</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i087'>There he found a strange and very large fish splashing and floundering</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>73</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i097'>“My! how fast we are going!”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>83</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i103'>“Mr. Fish! Mr. Fish!” called Yoni</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>89</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i111'>“We have brought a goose and caribou tongues, and we will share them with you”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>97</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i115'>Looking up to her he waved his hand and smiled</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>101</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i119'>He sat without discomfort in the midst of the flames</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>105</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i127'>“You’ve got a fine catch this morning”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>113</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i135'>It was but the work of a few seconds and all was over</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>121</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i139'>“How really clever Old Spot is”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>125</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i145'>They suddenly saw a man passing along in the dusk</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>131</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i151'>“Do ha-s tei-ul tuk,” which means “Do not kill me”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>137</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i155'>He looked up and saw a giant frog standing on his left foot</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>141</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i159'>Once there was a man who wandered all over the earth</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>145</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i163'>“My good brother, what have you on your back?”</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>149</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><a href='#i167'>And he began to sing in a harsh voice</a></td> +<td class='tdr'>153</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_xiii"></a><a id="Page_xiv"></a><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> + + +<p class='center fs200 bold mt4'>Wigwam Wonder Tales</p> +</div> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_GIANT_BUTTERFLY_AND_THE"> + THE GIANT BUTTERFLY AND THE + MOUSE + </h2> + + +<p class='drop-cap'><span class='allcap'>When</span> Ayas was a small child, +hardly able to walk, he would +try to catch the sunbeams that played +with his fingers and toes. Onitu, an old +woman who had noticed his efforts, smiled +and said: “He will be a sun-catcher some +day; in all truth, Ayas will be a sun-catcher.”</p> + +<p>Of course, the people did not know the +meaning of her strange remark, and looked +serious.</p> + +<p>Ayas grew to be a man, and travelled +the long, lonely trails of the forest in search +for game. One day, being very tired, as +it was oppressively warm, he lay down to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> +sleep. During his slumber something that +passed scorched his leather coat. This +made him very angry, for upon the coat +he had worked long days with needle and +thread, putting many colored beads in +fantastic design. As he arose, his coat +fell from his back, and the thread holding +the beads parted, scattering them upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>“I’ll find out my enemy!” declared +Ayas, so loud that the animals of the forest +became frightened and ran to their holes, +or scampered away in many directions.</p> + +<p>Unstringing his bow, lashed many times +around with caribou sinew, he made a +snare across the road, and over the spot +where he had been sleeping. Then he +went home.</p> + +<p>The next day the sun did not rise, or +the next, and the medicine-men were consulted; +but they were as much mystified +as the people, who met in their lodges, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> +many of them too frightened to speak. +“Had the Great Spirit deserted his people? +Was this the end of all things?”</p> + +<p>Ayas’ sister, who suspected her brother +had been up to some mischief, went to +him and said: “What have you been doing +that the sun does not give light?”</p> + +<p>He replied: “I set a snare the other +day; I will go and see if I have caught +anything.”</p> + +<p>So he went back to the wood where he +had set his snares, and the nearer he approached +the hotter it became. When +he arrived at the opening of the trail he +saw he had snared the sun. He tried to +release it, but it would not keep still, jumping +up and down so fast Ayas could not +grasp the snares.</p> + +<p>“Keep still!” he cried, but his command +was of no avail. So he called all +the animals from near and far to help him; +but it was so hot they dared not approach, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> +fearing their fur would be scorched, and +as winter was drawing near, they would +not risk that which kept them warm.</p> + +<p>A wee ground-mouse was looking on +from his tiny hole under a great ant-hill +that had been deserted. He called to +Ayas and said: “Go to the giant butterfly +who makes wings over there in the dead +pine. If he will agree to make for me a +pair of wings and guarantee a good fit that +I may fly back should the sun take me +with him, I’ll release it.”</p> + +<p>Every one laughed. What a joke! This +tiny mouse offering to release the sun when +the great animals of the forest dare not +attempt it! A lynx, just ready to spring +at the silly little creature, was prevented +from doing so by Ayas, who gave him a +stroke across his snout. This is the reason +the lynx has such a short nose.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i019" style="max-width: 62.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i019.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Every one laughed. What a joke! This tiny mouse + offering to release the sun! + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Ayas looked at the ant-hill. How large +it was, and how small the beings that had +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a><a id="Page_6"></a><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> +made it. “Perhaps the mouse can do as +it agrees,” he thought.</p> + +<p>It was so hot the grass began to scorch, +and leaves became seared. Something must +be done.</p> + +<p>“Go to the butterfly and tell him I wish +to speak to him,” Ayas demanded of the +mouse.</p> + +<p>“He will not come and scorch his wings. +He has the finest pair in all the lands about +here,” answered the mouse.</p> + +<p>Ayas thought the mouse was right; so +he started off for the wing factory. When +he got near the old tree he called, and +slowly, from a great hole in the trunk +peered the face of Mr. Butterfly.</p> + +<p>“Come down,” said Ayas. “I wish to +discuss a business offer with you.” The +great winged creature slowly drew himself +out of the hole, and spreading his wings, +glided to the earth. He was so enormous +Ayas was but a tiny being compared to +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i023" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i023.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “Come down,” said Ayas. “I wish to discuss a business + offer with you” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“The sun has become entangled in my +snare,” said Ayas, “and a young and very +tiny mouse promises that he will release +it if you will furnish him with a pair of +wings. The fit must be guaranteed as +well as the quality, as he may be required +to make a long journey, and must be assured +they will stand the strain; and in +addition, they must be made of material +that will be able to withstand great heat.”</p> + +<p>“What will be my compensation?” +asked Mr. Butterfly.</p> + +<p>“What do you expect?” asked Ayas.</p> + +<p>“That is not the way I bargain,” replied +Mr. Butterfly. “What is it worth +to you?”</p> + +<p>Ayas thought a moment. Knowing that +if the sun was not released, soon all the +hunting-grounds would be destroyed by +fire, he decided to make a good offer, so +he said: “I’ll give you five portions of +clover honey, two hundred fresh wild roses, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a><a id="Page_10"></a><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> +and build a long ladder to your hole, that you +may not need to fly when you grow old.”</p> + +<p>This appealed to Mr. Butterfly, for his +wing joints did not work as smoothly as +when he was younger.</p> + +<p>“Throw in a measure of goose oil and +it’s a bargain,” said he.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” said Ayas. “Have you +any wings in stock that will fit?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell without seeing your friend; +bring him here and upon your return I’ll +have a few pairs ready for a try-on.”</p> + +<p>So Ayas went back and told the mouse +he had fixed up the matter, so they returned +together, the mouse in the pouch +of Ayas’ coat. Many wings were tried +on, and finally little Johnny Mouse selected +a pair that seemed satisfactory, although +not bigger than the wings of a sparrow.</p> + +<p>“Go up the tree and fly down,” said +Mr. Butterfly, and up crawled the mouse +until he had gone so far they could not see +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +him. Over their heads they heard a little +voice calling, “They fit perfectly. My! +this is wonderful!” And down glided the +wee mouse in little circles to the ground.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i027" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i027.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Over their heads they heard a little voice calling, “They + fit perfectly” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Now to keep my promise,” said he, +flying around Ayas’ head and settling on +his right shoulder.</p> + +<p>Saying good-afternoon to Mr. Butterfly, +who was to call for his supplies the following +day, Ayas and the mouse returned to +the struggling sun. Going to the strings +of sinew, the mouse began to gnaw, and +very soon, one after another of the strands +holding the sun parted. With one great +effort, it burst the remaining bonds and +started again on its path of day, giving +light to all the world.</p> + +<p>If it had not been for the mouse the sun +would have remained a prisoner, and there +would have been no day. If it had not +been for the sun, bats would have always +remained mice.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a><a id="Page_14"></a><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="WACTU_THE_ANIMAL_PAINTER"> + WACTU, THE ANIMAL PAINTER + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>As long as the birds could remember, +Wactu had lived among them. This +was a very long time ago, and before the +rays of the sun had penetrated the deep +mist that surrounded the earth. It was +only now and then that the people living +in the lowlands could see the golden shafts +of light tipping the great mountain-tops +as they stood like mighty gods, covered +with garments of snow. The snows, melting +slowly, formed lakes high up in the +mountain valleys, and across the great +glaciers and fields of ice all the colors of +the painter’s palette passed like a pageant +of beauty among the mountain peaks.</p> + +<p>For ever so long Wactu had stripped the +white birches that he called the “white +ghosts of the forest” of their bark and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +made baskets of it, for what reason the +magpie and owl had been very much perplexed +to know.</p> + +<p>One morning a large timber-wolf called +to discuss a matter of importance with +Wactu, who was the King of the Kingdom +of Animals, and master of the woodlands.</p> + +<p>“I’m growing very tired of so much +sameness of color among my subjects,” +he said to the wolf. “It’s always black or +white. Why don’t you go up the mountain +and bathe in the lake and roll on the +snows, and become beautiful of color? +See!” pointing to the rays of light piercing +the mist, “See! Is that not more fair than +your gray costume?”</p> + +<p>But old wolf only grunted an indifferent +acknowledgment, for he had little +sentiment for anything but his appetite. +His indifference caused Wactu to ejaculate: +“You are the most acrimonious of +all my people. Go bring me a young +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a><a id="Page_18"></a><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> +beaver, and mind you do not devour him +before he serves my purpose.”</p> + +<p>Wactu had decided upon a plan by +which there was to be a change of fashion +among his subjects, and he began preparations +then and there.</p> + +<p>Old wolf returned with a young whimpering +beaver-cub, crying at the top of +his voice, for Mr. Wolf had not been over-careful +in handling the youth, who, being +accustomed to the tender solicitude of fond +parents, did not understand the rougher +ways of one who at any moment was liable +to devour him. Wactu instructed the wolf +to hold Young Beaver tight as he wanted +to pluck a few hairs from his back and +tail. This he did, much to the amazement +of the beaver, who, though crying lustily, +was more frightened than hurt.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i031" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i031.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + This he did, much to the amazement of the beaver + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Take him back to his mother,” demanded +Wactu, “and mind your appetite +does not prompt you to rashness, for I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> +may want you to bring him to me again.” +So Mr. Wolf disappeared in the wood.</p> + +<p>Wactu always had his suspicions that +Mr. Wolf feasted on Young Beaver, for +when he needed more hair for his brushes, +he always looked carefully for the places +he had plucked, but could not find them; +so he of course knew that Mr. Wolf had +not brought him the same animal. As +Mr. Wolf had served him well he never +made any reference to the matter.</p> + +<p>For many days that followed Wactu +made journeys to the mountains, and +waited patiently for the color-sprites to +dance on the snow and lakes; and as they +appeared, he caught them and thrust them +into his baskets. There were red, blue, +green, orange, and yellow sprites—indeed, +all the colors of the rainbow. Several times +one end of the arch dipped into the waters +of the lakes, and as Wactu knew the spirits +of his departed friends formed the beautiful +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a><a id="Page_22"></a><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> +colors, he was careful not to capture them, +so waited for the rainbow to pass before +collecting material for his interesting undertaking.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i035" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i035.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Wactu waited patiently for the color-sprites to dance on + the snow and lakes + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>When Wactu returned to his lodge, the +owls, eagles, and hawks would go far out +on the limbs of the tall trees so that he +could not hear them, and discuss the state +of his mind, for they had “never seen him +do such strange things before.” Once or +twice they flew down, unbeknown to their +master, and lifted the baskets, but, finding +them very light, they were convinced that +they contained nothing that would do +them harm.</p> + +<p>Being King of the Kingdom of Animals +and Birds, Wactu knew the language of +all his people; so one morning, while he +was tying up the beaver hairs and making +brushes of different sizes—some with long +handles and some with short—he called +the skylark, the long-eared owl, the raven, +the sparrow-hawk, the cuckoo, the chaffinch, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +the gray wag-tail, the spotted +flycatcher, the crested titmouse, the woodpecker, +the robin, the nightingale, the +blackbird, the crow, and all the other +feathered people of his empire, and said:</p> + +<p>“My good people, it will be many thousands +of years before the mists and clouds +surrounding this great world are dispersed +by the goddess of the sun. It is my purpose +to hasten the work of Nature, by +painting all of my people in the colors of +the rainbow. Could you bathe in the rays +of the sun, I would be saved all my trouble. +You would then be like a queen on her +throne, arrayed in all the glories of color. +Who will be the first to change his or her +plain garment for one of beauty? I have +collected all the colors to complete Nature’s +works.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>“I will,” called Mr. Peacock, as Wactu +reached for his colors, and placed them beside +him in rows.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span></p> + +<p>“Step right up and I will begin,” said +Wactu in a pleased tone. So the peacock, +with his long flowing tail trailing behind +him, his head bowed in an embarrassed, +coy way, approached Wactu, who, after +placing him in a position most convenient, +began to apply the mystical tints that were +to make Mr. Peacock the most vain and +conceited of all featherdom.</p> + +<p>Beginning at the head, he painted the +neck, wings, and body. When the tail +was to be renovated, he had to stand up +and go around, as it was so long. Once +or twice he stepped on it. The peacock +winced though it did not hurt him at all.</p> + +<p>“There will be no living with him,” +said the crow as he noticed the peacock +straighten up and throw his head back +in a haughty manner.</p> + +<p>“Right you are,” said the raven.</p> + +<p>“Such arrogance,” said the wren, loud +enough for Mr. Peacock to hear.</p> + +<p>Wactu, having completed his toilet, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +asked him to step off a bit so that he could +see if the colors had run. This he did +’midst expressions of admiration from some, +and, Wactu was sorry to know, suppressed +jeers of others.</p> + +<p>“Me next,” said Miss Robin Redbreast +as she surveyed the plain, soiled whiteness +of her clothing.</p> + +<p>“Get on my knee,” said Wactu in a +gentle voice, for she was very small and +timid. “What colors for you, Miss +Robin?”</p> + +<p>“Red on my breast, and for the others, +those that will not soil easily.”</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Mr. Peacock, who had +always heretofore mingled with his people +on an equal social footing, had strutted +away, and was standing alone in self-satisfied +admiration, his beautiful tail spread +like a giant fan. The humming-bird afterward +told his mate he heard him say, “I +am more beautiful than the sun,” and Mrs. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +Humming-Bird replied, “I really believe +he thinks it is so.”</p> + +<p>One by one the birds were bedecked with +new garments. The old fogies like the +raven, crow, and blackbirds said, “None +of it for us,” and went away quite satisfied +with their old clothes.</p> + +<p>There were many animals who had come +out of mere idle curiosity, standing about +wondering what would happen to them if +old Wactu did not use up all of his colors. +Mr. Porcupine felt quite confident that +the royal decorator would not insist upon +any reform in <i>his</i> apparel, no matter what +changes he made in the others.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="ALITOCI_AND_THE_GIANT_BIRDS"> + ALITOCI AND THE GIANT BIRDS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Alitoci, a beaver chief, who had +become too old to work, spent most +of his time when the weather was not too +cold along the rivers, fishing. He had +three dogs that helped him in winter, but +in summer they did no work, though they +must eat; so Alitoci fished for them.</p> + +<p>One day he was sitting by a dark water-hole +full of fish, saying to himself: “Here +shall I get plenty of food for my faithful +dogs.”</p> + +<p>So he fished until he had caught all he +could carry. As he was not strong, he +had but few. He climbed up the bank +to return home.</p> + +<p>It was growing dark, and as his head +was bowed from age, he could not see a +great bird hovering over him. This bird +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a><a id="Page_30"></a><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> +was enormous in size, and its wings spread +like the limbs of a large tree. Suddenly +it swooped upon him, and took him up +toward the clouds that were piled in the +heavens like great banks of snow. On +and on the frightened old man was carried. +Still remembering his faithful dogs, he +held on to his strings of fish until his hands +were so tired he had to let them fall to +the earth, many thousands of feet below.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i043" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i043.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + On and on the frightened old man was carried + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>His coat was old and he could hear the +sinew giving under his weight, for though +aged, he was still a heavy man, and there +was a great strain on the coat.</p> + +<p>The old man could see only the wings +of the giant bird as they went up and down, +slowly, in flight.</p> + +<p>“Where are you taking me?” said he +in great terror; but the bird did not reply.</p> + +<p>After a long journey over rivers and +mountains, he was dropped into a large +nest that rested on the limbs of a dead +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +tree. The bird said to his young ones, who +seemed very much frightened: “Take good +care of the old man; I will go for food.” +So the bird departed to seek young animals +like the rabbit, ermine, and small fox, as +his children were too young to eat the +larger game.</p> + +<p>When it was growing light, for the morning +dawned while the father bird was away, +the mother returned. She was not quite +so large and strong as her husband, but +she also was big enough to carry a man +for miles through the air.</p> + +<p>“How does it happen that you smell of +a man?” she asked her children.</p> + +<p>“We should smell of a man when father +brought one here for us,” the young ones +said in chorus, without meaning to deceive +their mother.</p> + +<p>They were so large, although very young +birds, that they could easily hide the man +under their wings, and their mother did +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a><a id="Page_34"></a><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> +not know he was there, which was well +for the old man, for she would have eaten +him had she known the truth.</p> + +<p>The old man trembled so that it shook +the birds, and the mother, thinking them +ill, said: “Why do you shake so; are you +not well?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” they replied, “we are very +well indeed.”</p> + +<p>She seemed satisfied.</p> + +<p>The old man thought of his poor dogs +who were waiting for food, and of the fish +he had lost after working so hard to catch +them. The fear for his own safety worried +him, too, but greatest of all his troubles +was the weight of the birds sitting on him, +and the added weight of the mother caused +him still more distress. When the sun +came up he was sure he would be seen.</p> + +<p>As the sun rose higher and higher, one +by one the birds fell asleep. “Now is my +chance,” thought the old man, lame and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +out of breath. So out of the nest he crawled +and down the big tree he lowered himself. +He waited at times to hear if there was +any chattering in the nest, but heard none, +so he went on and reached the ground in +safety.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i047" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i047.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Down the big tree he lowered himself + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Now,” thought the old man, “if I +should try to return home they might +wake up and find me gone and follow me, +and take me back to the nest.”</p> + +<p>He began to collect knots and dry wood +which he piled at the foot of the tree. After +heaping them as high as he could reach, +he gathered dry blades of grass which he +put under the pile of wood. Then striking +together two pieces of flint which he took +from his pocket, he lighted the grass and +this lighted the fagots. The flames ran +higher and higher until they set fire to +the nest. The wings of the birds were +burned, and they fell to the ground. They +tried to fly, but could not. The old man +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a><a id="Page_38"></a><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> +walked as fast as he could, and hid behind +a tree. The birds walked off in another +direction. They did not suffer as only +their feathers were burned.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i051" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i051.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + The birds walked off in another direction + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>And this is the way it came about that +great birds like the ostrich, the emu, and +the auk, though having feathers and wings, +cannot fly.</p> + +<p>Thus were the birds punished for trying +to prevent the old man from returning +and feeding his hungry dogs, who had +always served their master so faithfully.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="NIONA_AND_THE_MOON_MAN"> + NIONA AND THE MOON MAN + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>There once lived on the shores of the +beautiful Lake Athabasca an Indian +chief whose name was Wyani, and his two +daughters, Wiona and Niona.</p> + +<p>Wiona helped her father cure the moose +and caribou skins, and put the fish to dry +on racks in the sun, for food for the dogs +during the winter.</p> + +<p>Niona, the younger daughter, was very +beautiful. She would sit by the lake where +she could see her reflection, and arrange +her hair, putting in her tresses large eagle +feathers and wild flowers. She would make +to adorn her feet beautiful moccasins of +white deer-skin decorated with beads and +many colored silks, and would say to herself: +“Niona, you are so, so beautiful.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i055" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i055.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “Niona, you are so, so beautiful” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span></p> + +<p>Then she would glance at her pretty +feet, and her slippers beaded in wild roses +and big leaves, and sigh, saying to herself: +“How fortunate to be so beautiful.”</p> + +<p>When her father would call to her to +help him, she would say, “Oh, father! +Do it yourself!” or call to Wiona to help +her father. Sometimes she would say: +“I must make myself beautiful like the +sun.”</p> + +<p>A young Cree brave would come to visit +her. He was a great hunter and feared +no man. One day while he was sitting +near her when she was adorning herself, +she leaned too far over the water to admire +her reflection, and fell into the lake. +He pulled her out, saying: “If you were +not so vain this would not have happened.”</p> + +<p>“Do not scold me,” Niona said, as she +caught her breath and shook the water +from her dress.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span></p> + +<p>“You are very beautiful, but you are +also very selfish,” said the young man.</p> + +<p>“All who are very beautiful are selfish,” +Niona replied.</p> + +<p>“That is not so,” said the Indian.</p> + +<p>“Old Father Bear and Mother Lynx and +Brother Fox tell me I am beautiful; even +the birds, more beautiful than I am, say +I am beautiful. Are they not proud of +their plumage? Why should I not be!” +exclaimed the maiden.</p> + +<p>“You are very beautiful,” the young Indian +repeated, “but you are not kind to +your father; and your sister is very tired. +Why do you not consider them? They +are both very good to you.”</p> + +<p>“I have no time. I must make myself +like the sun; the beauty of everything +comes from the sun, and I must be like +her. She paints the clouds and rainbow +and flowers and water—everything. I am +the child of the sun and gather the beautiful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +things of color that I may adorn myself. +You also think me beautiful. That +is pleasing to me. I know myself that I +am beautiful.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but beauty is not everything,” he +replied.</p> + +<p>“Do not scold me. You would not like +me if I were like the Old Man in the +Moon.”</p> + +<p>“I should like you better if you were +helpful, and considerate of those who love +and serve you; and mind, you better not +let the Moon Man hear you speak slightingly +of him or he may ‘make medicine.’ ”⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class='footnotes'> +<div class='footnote'> +<p class='fnote'><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1">[1]</a> The Shaman of the Indian and Eskimo of Greenland, North America and +Siberia are supposed to have supernatural power. The exercise of this +power is called “making medicine.”</p> +</div></div> + +<p>“Shoot an arrow at the Moon Man,” +said Niona. “Who’s afraid of him!”</p> + +<p>Suddenly it became very dark, and the +moon seemed to draw nearer to the earth.</p> + +<p>“Save me! Save me!” cried Niona, +but her companion had disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<p>Niona thought, “How silly it was to be +afraid of the old dead moon,” and cried +out in defiance:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Boil the moon; save your passion;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Boil your lazy head,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hiding thus in idle fashion</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In your starry bed.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The Old Man in the Moon seemed to +frown and to come closer and closer. +Niona felt herself being drawn up and up; +faster and faster she seemed to fly until +the light of the camp-fires could no longer +be seen. The stars grew larger and brighter +and Niona began to feel very cold. Up +and up she went until she could see the +earth but dimly, and only as a round ball. +Suddenly she stopped, and a voice said: +“This is the end of your journey. You +must live here. You thought only of yourself, +of your beauty. Your time you spent +in idleness. You did no good for any one. +This is your punishment.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i061" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i061.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Niona felt herself being drawn up and up + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span></p> + +<p>Niona looked around. There were no +flowers, or lakes, no trees, no people. There +were only mountains of dead rocks, craters +of extinct volcanoes, and deep-sea beds, +but no water.</p> + +<p>“What a terrible place,” thought Niona, +without speaking.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the Old Man of the Moon, +“it is so. We once had all, but age came +upon us, as it has now come to you.”</p> + +<p>“To me?” cried Niona.</p> + +<p>“Yes, to you,” he replied. “Look into +the Grotto of Shadows yonder.”</p> + +<p>Niona walked to a deep cave and looked +down. There she saw reflected the face +of an old woman, older than any she had +ever seen on earth.</p> + +<p>“Horrors!” she cried, “How can I escape +this awful fate?”</p> + +<p>“There is but one way,” said the Moon +Man. “Come with me.”</p> + +<p>They ascended a high mountain and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +looked afar to the “City of Good Works.” +One end of a rainbow rested in a great +square of the city, and people, bejewelled +and wearing beautiful costumes, were dancing +around it. There was music, such as +Niona had never heard in the woods, and +great gardens with flowers bursting into +bloom, and birds of wondrous plumage, +too numerous to imagine.</p> + +<p>“This,” said the Moon Man, “is the +abode of contentment.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! How can I get there?” cried +Niona.</p> + +<p>“There is but one way,” he answered +as she looked in wonderment. “You must +go back to earth and there seek out those +who need help and comfort; be kind to +the aged, and share your blessings with +those who most need them. If you promise +to do this, you may return.”</p> + +<p>“I promise, I promise!” cried Niona, +“When may I go?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span></p> + +<p>“At once,” answered the Moon Man, +taking a great bow and an arrow that was +so long its head rested on a mountain miles +away. On the other end was a little compartment, +lighted with many colored lights, +and containing chairs and a table which was +set with the most dainty fruits and cakes.</p> + +<p>“Get in, hold tight, and keep your +promise.” As he spoke he touched her +lightly on the shoulder, and she began at +once to regain her youth and beauty.</p> + +<p>She stepped into the fairy car.</p> + +<p>“Remember your promise,” said the +Moon Man sternly. “Are you ready?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Niona.</p> + +<p>Before she could say more, she found +herself flying toward earth; nearer and +nearer she flew. Soon a light appeared, +then another and another. Soon she could +see the great lake, then her old father who +was sitting outside his lodge. He was crying, +“Niona, Niona, come back!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span></p> + +<p>“I’m coming!” she called, as the great +arrow plunged into the earth, stopping just +in time so Niona could step out and be +welcomed by her father.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i067" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i067.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “I’m coming!” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“I’ve come to help you gather wood, +and to fish, and to sew caribou-skins, and +make snares, and cure the moose-skins, and +to hunt, and to draw water.”</p> + +<p>He looked up and smiled, he had grown +very old.</p> + +<p>“Where are your fine clothes?” he +asked.</p> + +<p>Niona looked down at her feet, and behold! +she was in rags!</p> + +<p>“I shall not need them now, good father. +I have come to serve you.”</p> + +<p>For many moons she had been faithful +to her promise made to the Man in the +Moon, when, one day, there came from +the forest, a handsome brave, with a deer +slung over his shoulder—not the Indian +she had admired before her strange journey, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a><a id="Page_54"></a><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> +but one nobler and taller. Walking toward +the old man he said: “You have a beautiful +daughter. May I wed her when the +moon is full?”</p> + +<p>“She is a good daughter, and may do +as she thinks best,” replied the chief.</p> + +<p>Niona grew to love the young Indian, +and they were married and devoted their +lives to her father as long as he lived. They +lived to be very old, beloved by their tribe +for their good works. When they died +they were mourned by all who knew them. +It is said they are now living in the beautiful +City of the Rainbow.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="WHY_DOGS_DO_NOT_TALK"> + WHY DOGS DO NOT TALK + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>At the foot of a mountain, with his +daughter Neti and his dog, lived +Nudi, an Indian whose wife had left him. +He was fond of both, but of the two he +loved his dog more dearly as she gave to +him affection and obedience.</p> + +<p>At the time the incidents of this story +happened all dogs could talk. Then language +was very primitive, but as the dog +has for nearly all time been a friend of +man and his companion, each learned the +language of the other, as does man when +associating with a people speaking another +language.</p> + +<p>The dog, being also the most sociable of +all animals, learned that man could hunt +with more skill when in quest of food, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a><a id="Page_58"></a><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> +before he became his companion, would +follow on his trail and devour the meat +discarded by him. When the dog found +man a kindly being, he would join in the +hunt, each finding the other helpful. Man +found the dog had more highly developed +the instinct for location, and that his sense +of smell and his hearing were more acute, +combining also the pleasure he enjoyed in +associating with man rather than with his +own kind. So man and dog became fast +and enduring friends, and as some one has +said of the latter, “the most intimate and +companionable comrade for man of all the +kingdom of animals.”</p> + +<p>So Nudi and his dog, Happy, would +wander off to the mountains in search of +game, and fish the waters for trout so plentiful +in the dark, winding streams that +came down with such a rush from the +upper reaches of the mighty mountain that +Nudi called “The Giant.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i071" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i071.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + So Nudi and his dog, Happy, would wander off to the + mountains + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Sometimes they would have much to +say, sometimes little. Happy would always +consider the moods of Nudi—if he +was not disposed to talk, she would run +along beside him if the path was wide, +and if not, follow at his heels in silence.</p> + +<p>There was something Happy had for a +long time wanted to tell Nudi, about his +daughter, but she would always hesitate, +for she felt that perhaps it would not be +right as it was natural for all creatures to +love some one. Neti was very beautiful; +she had many young braves who admired +her, and she was very fond of their wooing, +as she was also fond of the pretty trinkets +they would bestow upon her. But the +youth Neti liked the most, her father did +not favor, so, unknown to him, she would +go for long walks with her lover, and Happy +knew, as she had followed them, that he +had kissed her and said to her words of +affection which Neti liked, even though +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a><a id="Page_62"></a><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> +she blushed and had taken her hand from +his.</p> + +<p>One day, trailing a bear, Happy told all +she knew of Neti’s romance. This vexed +the father, so he threatened not to allow +Neti to go more than twenty paces from +the lodge, and to take from her all the +baubles she had received from her admirers, +this being the most severe punishment he +could inflict. He also went to Tiki, the +Shaman of the tribe, and asked him to +make medicine and bring upon the lover +some evil.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i075" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i075.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + One day, trailing a bear, Happy told all she knew of + Neti’s romance + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“No,” said the Shaman, “It is not upon +the young brave, but upon your dog that +I shall bring punishment.”</p> + +<p>“No, no!” said Nudi, “My dog is my +friend. You shall not bring upon her any +misfortune!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Tiki, “she has told that +which she should not. We cannot ourselves +judge of another’s affection. We must +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +choose according to the dictates of our +own hearts.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i079" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i079.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “Yes,” said Tiki, “she has told that which she should not.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>So the Medicine Man used his powers +so that dogs could never talk again; but +left them the capacity to understand the +language of all mankind. Though he took +from all dogs the power of speech, he left +to them fidelity, patience, and affection, +and made them so nearly human that many +who have loved them mourn their loss almost +as much as one of their own kind. +For has not the dog much of human intelligence +with none of man’s conceit, +hypocrisy or ingratitude? Does he not +cling to his master no matter how humble +may be his lot or how spare may be his +meal? He will even forgive those who +abuse and neglect him. No matter what +may be the adversity that befalls those +around him, he is still their loyal, clinging +friend.</p> + +<p>What an object-lesson is this patient, +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a><a id="Page_66"></a><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> +trusting creature that shares man’s companionship, +a companionship that if broken +by the loss of the master, has sometimes +ended in the death of man’s best and truest +friend.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="MR_FISH_AND_YONI"> + MR. FISH AND YONI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Yoni, an old Indian, had lost his wife +by death, so, to the custom of his +people, he covered her body with birch-bark, +and wrapped it in a large moose-skin. +Then, with the help of his friends, +he put the body on a platform high up in +the boughs of a tall, young spruce-tree.</p> + +<p>He then cut his hair very short, as a +sign of mourning, and began to think how +alone he would be during the long winter +days.</p> + +<p>The frost had come and touched the +trees and bush, and the beautiful colors +that the artist of Nature was painting +upon them, just a little while before Nature +destroyed the picture, began to appear +in places here and there, all over the +land. The fine birds that sang to Yoni, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +and the plain little wrens he loved best +were leaving, one by one, to wing their +ways to the Southland where the sun is +always warm and smiling, and Jack Frost +and his bearded old relation Father Winter +are unknown.</p> + +<p>Yoni had been very happy during the +many years of his life. He was a good +hunter, so of deer meat and fish he always +had a plentiful supply. But his age, even +with all the pleasant memories of the years +gone by, meant to him in his solitude only +sorrow and loneliness. He would have +been glad if his wife, many years younger +than he, could have lived to help him in +his old age, but this was not to be.</p> + +<p>He would sit outside his lodge, and watch +the beavers working on their dam just +across the river, and recall how he had +told his wife, Noimi, who was very pretty +in his eyes, that there was no one to compare +with her in all the graces and virtues, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +that she must not go for wood when the +nights were cold; and if she did, he would +call her back and insist that she go into +the tipi and sit by the fire, and if she wished, +she could sew on the skins that would keep +them warm during the winter.</p> + +<p>He would waken at night, and out of +the silence would come, from far across +the lonely hills, the barking of the great +timber-wolves, sounding like big dogs. +Sometimes a stealthy bear would come +with its cubs and tear down his fish-racks, +and carry off the fish he had dressed and +was drying for the winter. In the morning +he would go out to see what damage they +had done. He would never get angry, saying +in a low voice: “Let them eat. It’s +very bad to be hungry.” Then he would +smile at their destruction, and with thin, +trembling hands, try to straighten the +poles.</p> + +<p>Twice a day he would pull up his nets +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +that were made of willow fibre. Sometimes +there were many fish, and sometimes only +a few—but he never complained, for there +were always enough for his needs now that +he was all alone—having not even a dog. +The preceding fall he had had two, but +one had wandered away and he had given +the other to Moni, his friend, who lived +just around the bend of the river, and who +was busy hauling wood for his winter fires, +so did not come to visit him so often as in +summer. Moni was growing old also, and +his children had left him, all but a daughter, +and she was blind, and not much help.</p> + +<p>One morning before it was very light, old +Yoni heard a terrific splashing in the water +above the place he tied his canoe. He +had heard the connie or pike making a +great rumpus when trying to catch a frog, +but the splashing increased, so Yoni started +for the shore as fast as his poor old legs +could go. There he found a strange and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +very large fish splashing and floundering, +and the more he floundered the more he +became entangled in Yoni’s net, and the +only one he had.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i087" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i087.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + There he found a strange and very large fish splashing + and floundering + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>When the fish saw Yoni he called: +“Come quickly and release me. I’m afraid +I shall die. Come! I feel so strange.”</p> + +<p>Yoni made no effort to untangle the +monster, who was just twenty-five feet long +to an inch.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” thought Yoni, “You are a fine +catch; you’ll be food for me all winter +and much to spare; this I can barter with +Moni for my winter’s wood.” And Yoni +was pleased and smiled, and this he did +not do very often.</p> + +<p>The more the creature struggled, the +more and the tighter the net held him.</p> + +<p>“Hurry!” called the fish, not knowing +what Yoni had been thinking about. Then +he became perfectly still, and looking up +at Yoni in a very appealing way said: +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a><a id="Page_74"></a><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span>“You are an old man. Get me out of this +tangle and I will reward you.”</p> + +<p>“How?” said Yoni, becoming very much +interested to have an affair with a fish +that could talk.</p> + +<p>“There are many places and people,” +said the fish, “along these great river ways +that you have never seen.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Yoni, becoming more interested. +“The Yellow Knife, the Dog +Rib, the Cree and many tribes far away +to the North.”</p> + +<p>“I know their language,” said the fish. +“Release me and I will take you where +you will be among friends, and to those +who will honor your old age. As you know, +the rivers are long with many rapids that +would upset your old canoe, and crush it +on the rocks. Many of the portages are +high hills, and many too rough and stony +for your feet.”</p> + +<p>“This is all very well in words,” said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +Yoni, “but you may be like many of the +fur-traders who do not always speak words +that are to be depended upon.”</p> + +<p>Although the net was very tight about +the neck of the fish, he managed to smile.</p> + +<p>“Ah” said he, “fish who talk never are +known to speak untruths. Release me, +and I will prove to you my gratitude by +taking you anywhere you wish to go.”</p> + +<p>So Yoni, convinced that he was talking +to a truthful fish, waded slowly arm deep +in the water, and cut the tangled strands +holding his new-found friend.</p> + +<p>“Just a moment,” said the fish after +the last strand binding his gills had been +severed, and he straightened out to see if +his tail and fins were in working order, +“I’ll swim out a little way to see if everything +is right for our journey.” So far +from shore and nearly to the middle of +the stream the fish swam.</p> + +<p>“He’ll never come back,” thought Yoni, +“and my net is in shreds.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span></p> + +<p>Far out, and out of sight the monster +had gone. At first Yoni thought he would +never believe the promise of a talking-fish +again, but knowing he had saved the creature’s +life, he thought he might keep faith +with one who had so truly befriended him. +Just as Yoni was really losing faith, the +fish rose to the surface far out in midstream.</p> + +<p>“I’m coming,” he called. “There are +a few scales missing, but otherwise I’m all +right for a long swim.”</p> + +<p>Yoni was glad his confidence was justified, +although he did begin to think the +story was fishy, like others where fish were +concerned.</p> + +<p>“Wade out to the rock,” called the fish. +“I’ll swim alongside; you get on my back +and then we’ll be off for anywhere.”</p> + +<p>So Yoni with some difficulty waded to +the rock, and climbed upon it just as the +fish rose alongside. Yoni got aboard, +straddling the huge back as if he were riding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +a horse just as he had once done before +he grew so old.</p> + +<p>“Where shall we go, and what is your +name?” asked the fish.</p> + +<p>“Yoni,” replied the old Indian, “What +is yours?”</p> + +<p>“Piscatori,” answered the huge creature.</p> + +<p>“What a strange name,” said Yoni, “I +am afraid I cannot remember it. My +memory is not so good as it was years ago.”</p> + +<p>“That’s not important,” replied the fish. +“Just call me Mr. Fish. I’ll understand.”</p> + +<p>Yoni thought that was best, so he asked +the fish to turn around and go down the +river to a place where he had set his snares +and traps the year before. So Mr. Fish +turned around and began to swim so fast +it took Yoni’s breath almost away.</p> + +<p>“Not so fast, Mr. Fish,” called Yoni. +“I’m afraid I’ll slip off.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no!” said Mr. Fish. “Hold onto +my front fin. Look out you don’t prick your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +fingers, the points are sharp. If you get +cold, lift up the fin, step down, and you’ll +find a cosy room just large enough to hold +you comfortably.”</p> + +<p>So Yoni, being just a little chilly, with +some difficulty raised the fin, and to his +great joy and surprise he found such a +cosy little place like a little room, with +the floor and sides covered with the most +beautifully colored scales—just as if they +had stolen the tints from an Arctic rainbow +or from the inside of a beautiful shell. +And it was so warm, and Mr. Fish said, +“Quite waterproof.”</p> + +<p>Yoni had not been so really contented +for many years. He sat upon a strange +little seat, so soft and warm, and looking +around he found to his great astonishment +that each scale formed a little window +through which he could look out. Mr. +Fish was passing through the deepest part +of the river, and Yoni could see so many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +strange water things, fish of many colors +and shapes, turtles, eels, frogs, rocks with +very beautiful clinging vines in which fish +of many kinds were hiding. Yoni was in +a maze of wonderment that was broken +by the movement of Mr. Fish, who was +pointing for the bank. Yoni looked out +and recognized the place as the one at +which he had camped many years before, +and just across the river where the old +elm was still standing, was the spot where +he had first met Noimi, who afterward +became his wife. This made him sad, but +he felt better when he realized he had found +a new friend and a very agreeable companion. +Though he had not felt bold +enough to ask, he thought Mr. Fish was +much older than he himself was.</p> + +<p>The fish swam to a great tree that had +fallen into the water, due to the underwash +of a swiftly flowing river and the grinding +ice that cuts the banks in the spring.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span></p> + +<p>“Get off here,” said Mr. Fish; and Yoni +raised the fin and stepped out on the tree, +and then climbed the steep bank. Mr. +Fish, seeing how infirm the old man was, +moved a little, then backing up, raised +his strong tail and gave Yoni a gentle push.</p> + +<p>“That is a great help,” said Yoni. Mr. +Fish made no reply. He was thinking +how unfortunate it was to be old, and of +the “Tree of Youth” that grew where the +waters of the Slave River flowed into the +great lake of the same name.</p> + +<p>Mr. Fish waited patiently for the old +man to return from his wanderings, and +when he did, his eyes were red from weeping.</p> + +<p>“Cheer up,” said Mr. Fish, “we are +going on a long journey. To go by canoe +would take five or six days. If the water +is not low, I can do it before sundown.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you,” said Yoni, having great +confidence in Mr. Fish as a means of transport.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span></p> + +<p>Mr. Fish smiled. “I’ll give the old fellow +the greatest surprise of his life,” said he +to himself as he swished his tail to the right +and to the left with the power of a great +propeller.</p> + +<p>“My! how fast we are going,” said Yoni +aloud; and he told Mr. Fish so, but he +was too busy dodging rocks and sunken +timber to have answered even had he heard +Yoni.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i097" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i097.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “My! how fast we are going!” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On Mr. Fish swam, cutting the corners +of the river, winding his way between +sunken ledges, leaping great rapids in which +many a trapper’s scow had been crushed, +as the little crosses on the graves on the +banks can testify—struggling over shallow +water, getting fast on sand-bars covered +with wreckage from the great forests, held +by boulders in narrow ways and pushing +through with his muscular tail and wiggles—then +down into deep water where things +looked black and spooky to Yoni. For +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a><a id="Page_84"></a><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> +hours, fast and slow, the great physical +being worked like a mighty engine.</p> + +<p>“What will become of me?” thought +Yoni, “if anything happens to Mr. Fish?”</p> + +<p>As the sun was falling and the shadows +were dying in the water, the craft of flesh +pulled to the bank, and Yoni, a bit cramped +from being so long in one position, got on +the back of Mr. Fish and looked around +to survey his surroundings.</p> + +<p>“We’ll remain here to-night,” said the +fish, as he wiped the perspiration from his +kind face.</p> + +<p>“You must be very tired,” observed +Yoni.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no!” answered Mr. Fish. “It’s +a bit strenuous when one has a cargo +aboard, to get over dry land when one is +accustomed to a water route. Going back +you’d better take your time—that is if I +don’t go back with you.”</p> + +<p>Yoni looked worried.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span></p> + +<p>“Why have you brought me so far from +home?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Don’t ask silly questions,” replied Mr. +Fish. “On the bank yonder you’ll find +some leaves and fagots. I’d help you if +I could, but it makes me very short of +wind to be out of water very long, so you +will have to excuse me. Collect an armful, +build a fire under the tree with the leaves +all aflame with the ‘Fire of Youth’—that +one” pointing with his fin. “There are +berries enough on the hill for your supper. +I’ll sleep in the black hole over there. It’s +near the shore.”</p> + +<p>Yoni went about gathering leaves and +small sticks which he placed near the tree, +as there were many spots showing little +piles of ashes where fires had been built +before. While he was standing under the +strange tree, a leaf would now and again +fall—it seemed to him, all aflame. One +touched his forehead and fell to the ground. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +He stooped to pick it up, but just as his +fingers touched it, it disappeared.</p> + +<p>“What can be the meaning of this?” +said Yoni to himself, and then he remembered +Mr. Fish having said something +about the “Fire of Youth.” A strange +desire to sleep came over him, and all night +he slept, dreaming strange dreams of fairies +and places and people.</p> + +<p>The sunshine chased away a gray dawn +and shone straight in Yoni’s face. He +turned to get away from the glare, and in +turning he felt so strange that he partly +awakened. Becoming wide-awake, he +gripped the grass and leaves with a vigor +long forgotten. He looked at his hands. +They again had the appearance of youth. +His limbs were hard and muscular. Looking +down, he discovered he was wearing +a beautifully embroidered suit of moose-skin +made for him by Noimi many years +before. Looking up, he saw that the tree +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> +under which he had fallen asleep was now +bare of all foliage, and not a leaf was to +be seen on the ground. Everything seemed +strange to him.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Fish! Mr. Fish!” called Yoni in +a voice so strong it almost frightened him. +“Where are you, Mr. Fish?”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i103" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i103.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “Mr. Fish! Mr. Fish!” called Yoni + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Mr. Fish was so tired on account of his +long journey, that Yoni had to call many +times. At last the vibrations of Yoni’s +voice touched the ear of the fish, and he +awoke, moved his tail, blew the water, +and swam slowly to the bank. Of course, +he knew what had happened when he saw +the young man on the shore. He smiled +so hard that three scales loosened by the +struggle of the day before fell off, and went +sailing and sinking down-stream.</p> + +<p>“Good morning! ... and good-by! Long +life and always happy days to you. Seek +Noimi in the lodge just over the hill. I’m +off for the sea.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a><a id="Page_90"></a><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span></p> + +<p>Yoni called frantically, but Mr. Fish +had gone so fast and far, he could not hear. +He would not have come back if he had, +having given to the old man “Youth,” +some say, the most beautiful and precious +of all things.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="FIRE_BOY_AND_WATER_BOY"> + FIRE BOY AND WATER BOY + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>As long as the oldest Indians could remember, +the Fire and Water Boys +had lived along the shores of the great +lake called Athabasca. They never seemed +to grow any older; sometimes they were +very good and very helpful—sometimes, +very annoying and often destructive. +When the Indians grew tired of their +pranks and tried to punish them, many +strange things would happen.</p> + +<p>Far off the shore of Chipewyan lies an +island, beautifully wooded and shaped very +like a lady’s hat. On this island, alone, +for nearly fifty years had lived Ani, who +seldom spoke to any one, nor did she ever +go to the mainland to enter into the festivities +of the other Indians living in the +vicinity of the settlement comprising two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> +old Hudson’s Bay forts, a store of the company +that traded with the Indians, a log +church and a few straggling huts that +fringed the woodlands on one side and the +lake on the other. In winter the Indians +trapped and hunted for the many valuable +fur animals that roamed the desolate parts +of this great northern wilderness, and in +the spring and summer fished for their +winter supply for their dogs that helped +them drag the game from the woods, often +many miles from the settlement.</p> + +<p>The women made white and colored +moccasins of the most beautiful designs, +adorned with porcupine quills dyed in +many colors, some of the strands being +almost as fine as a hair. These were braided +and twisted with silk cords also of many +colors, making a charming adornment for +the feet, even of a queen. Because the +Indian women were not industrious, there +were but few made, and these were all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> +bought by the trappers, so people of the +Southland never saw them.</p> + +<p>Far beyond the island on which Ani +had made her home so long, was another +smaller one where Ani’s lover, a very handsome +Beaver Indian, had lived more than +forty years before. He had gone on a long +trail for moose and caribou and had never +returned; and every morning at dawn, +and in the evening at sunset Ani would +take a wild flower that her lover had given +her, and which she had kept in a squirrel-skin +bag, and go to the edge of the lake +when the sun made a path of gold away +across to the far shore, and call in her feeble +voice to the Great Spirit to send back her +brown-eyed boy of so many dead years +of long ago. But he never came, and her +heart grew more sad as the years passed. +There were so many reasons why she +wanted him—her tipi needed repairing, +it was hard for her to cut wood, the path +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +to the lake was stony and sometimes she +would bruise her feet and groan; but there +was no one to hear or to help her. She +would not leave the island, fearing if she +did her lover would return and would not +be able to find her.</p> + +<p>One morning she heard the paddle of +a canoe, and thinking perhaps he had come, +she threw down her pan in which she was +frying a portion of rabbit that she had +snared two days before, and slowly crawled +to the opening of her tipi and looked out; +but it was not he—only two boys who +were pointing their canoe directly to the +path leading to her camp.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Granny Ani!” called the boy +plying the bow paddle, but Ani was so +disappointed she made only a grunt as a +reply.</p> + +<p>“Hello!” they called again.</p> + +<p>Ani made no answer, standing with a +worried look.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span></p> + +<p>“Get some fagots,” called the boy in +the bow. “We have brought a goose and +caribou tongues, and we will share them +with you.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i111" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i111.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “We have brought a goose and caribou tongues, and we + will share them with you” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Ani seemed pleased and went for an +armful of dry branches—she had not eaten +goose for so long, and caribou tongue she +had almost forgotten. She was so slow +the boys went to help her, and gathered +for her a fine lot of branches, dry and just +the right size to make a quick and hot +fire. The goose was prepared and strung +on a birch branch, as also were the tongues, +just close enough to the fagots to roast +without burning.</p> + +<p>“I have no tinder,” said Ani.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said the boy with the +bright, flashing eyes, and with the tip of +his finger he touched the branches, at which +they burst into flame, much to the astonishment +of Ani.</p> + +<p>“Spirits,” thought she, “I’ll not go too +near them.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a><a id="Page_98"></a><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span></p> + +<p>“Get a gourd,” demanded the other +boy in a tone Ani did not like—but she +obeyed, and brought a fine big one hanging +on long strings of caribou sinew. She +handed it to the boy, and as soon as he +had taken it, it filled to overflowing with +clear, cool water.</p> + +<p>“You are children of the Evil Spirit,” +said Ani, looking first at one and then at +the other, and then at the fire.</p> + +<p>This remark made the boys laugh.</p> + +<p>The goose and tongues were by this +time nicely browned, and the edge of the +fire had spread to a pile of dry leaves. This +was put out by a gesture of the hand of +the boy who had so mysteriously filled the +gourd. But this Ani had not noticed as +she was now anxious to know if the boys +would make a fair division of the food, +as she was growing very hungry.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i115" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i115.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Looking up to her he waved his hand and smiled + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The first boy reached out and tore from +the goose a leg dripping with rich juice +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +while the other lad took from the stick a +dainty tongue, and began eating. Ani +waited for them to invite her to join in the +feast, but they did not. This so offended +her that she seized the nearest boy (who +made no resistance) by the hair of the +head, and led him to the water, pushing +him into a deep hole where he sank to the +bottom. Looking up to her he waved his +hand, and smiled, making strange faces at +the astonished old woman who was too +startled to speak. Then going back to +her tipi, she collected a large armful of +leaves and piled bundle after bundle of +branches until they mounted as high as +she could reach. Then she went to the +other boy with her pipe, pretending she +wanted to smoke, and asked him to light +it, which he did. Then she put the fire +from her pipe on the ground beneath the +great pile and blew until a flame burst +out, the fire leaping high. Quickly seizing +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a><a id="Page_102"></a><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> +the boy, she dragged him to the pile and +pushed him into the burning mass. He +also did not resist, but sat without discomfort +in the midst of the flames until +the fire had burned itself out. Then he +shook the ashes from his clothing and +walked back to his friend who had returned +from the river, and they finished their +meal together.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i119" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i119.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + He sat without discomfort in the midst of the flames + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Where is the old lady?” asked the +boy whom Ani had tried to burn, and they +went in search, finding her sitting behind +an old hut that had been deserted before +she came to live on the island. She was +very much worried by their coming, and +told them so; but they only smiled, and +told her she was to have all the goose and +the caribou tongues that remained, and +that they, who were the incarnation of +fire and water, the elements she needed +most, had been sent to her by the spirit +of her lover to hunt, to make her fire, cook +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> +her food, and to water the island so berries +and herbs would grow—and to do all that +fire and water could do for her in her old +age.</p> + +<p>The old Indians who knew Ani said the +boys served her in every way as long as +she lived, and that she was never so happy +as when they were with her; and some +said her young lover came back, and they +journeyed together to the far-off land that +the white man called heaven.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a><a id="Page_106"></a><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="OLD_SPOT_AND_THE_CUPIDS"> + OLD SPOT AND THE CUPIDS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Arachnida, or “Spotted Spider,” the +name given him by his neighbor Yuti, +who lived at the edge of the trail not +far from the bear’s den, had grown so +large, and his legs so long that his snare +was no longer strong enough to bear his +weight. Once in a while he would go back +to it, make a few extra turns, spin stronger +strands, and try it out; but it was no use, +down it came every time he tried. After +repairing it, he would say to himself, “Never +again.” Then he would go back to the +dark cave in the ledge that for many years +had been the home of his friend, Bruin, +who had wandered away, and had never +returned. Nor did any one know of his +whereabouts.</p> + +<p>Old Spot, though having really no claims +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> +by right of possession to Bruin’s premises, +felt he was not trespassing. He had always +been on the most intimate terms with +him, and had served him in many ways, +recalling how often he had nursed him +when Black Bear had feasted, not wisely, +but too well in the garden of Yuti, who +had cultivated a well-ordered patch bordering +the woodland near his lodge.</p> + +<p>Yuti suspected Bruin—in fact had seen +him leaving the patch where the corn grew +several nights before he had gone away; +but being on friendly terms with Spot, +who was very devoted to Bruin, he never +made any complaint, feeling it was better +to live in accord with his neighbors rather +than to plant the seed of hostility. “Bruin +was hungry, so let him eat. The sun and +rain will cause more corn to grow.” This +is what Yuti would say.</p> + +<p>Old Spot had always lived alone, weaving +his snare in the most likely place for +his prey, just at the beginning of the trail +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> +as it entered the wood, and in good view +of his apartment in the ledge. His spinners +and spinnerets had the reputation of making +the strongest silk thread in that vicinity.</p> + +<p>Of course, Spot was proud of this, but +he was getting on in years—some of his +twelve eyes were losing focus, and he sometimes +felt, though not always, with Bruin +away and Yuti not as sociable as he would +have liked him to be, that life did not have +much attraction for him. His mandibles +did not serve him with the same dexterity +that they had possessed when he was +younger, when he tried to seize his prey +and squeeze it: this depressed him. There +were also symptoms of rheumatism in two +or three of his many legs, causing troublesome +and disagreeable pains; and having +many legs and long ones, the chances were +that his suffering would be much more +serious than if they had been fewer and +shorter.</p> + +<p>Knowing that these symptoms without +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +doubt meant the approach of age, he became +very blue at times, and for days would +not stir from his quarters to see if his snare +held any food for him.</p> + +<p>For two days and as many nights he +slept with his long slender legs wrapped +about him. The fall was coming on and +he would often wake himself by chilly +shudders, the nights being very, very cold. +On the morning of the third day he was +wakened by a strange noise. The sound +came from the direction of his snare, but +knowing that the young fox and the lynx +made noises like real babies he paid little +heed. Changing his position because three +of his hind legs had gotten tangled, he +settled again for another sleep of a day or +two. Again the sounds like those of a +crying child disturbed him, and again he +said to himself:</p> + +<p>“It’s only a young thing that has strayed +from its mother.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span></p> + +<p>Before he had finished thinking, the +cries became louder and more appealing; +so Spot, being of a kindly nature, though +age had hardened him as it does so many, +decided to investigate.</p> + +<p>He had been in one position so long that +his legs, or a half-dozen of them, refused +to work as he would like to have had them; +but being very hungry from his long fast, +he drew himself together, and with a big +effort and a bigger grunt, stood up, stretched +himself, and walked to the entrance to his +den.</p> + +<p>Just as he poked his face out Yuti, who +was gathering fagots to make a fire to roast +a fat rabbit he had snared the night before, +called out:</p> + +<p>“You’ve got a fine catch this morning.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i127" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i127.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “You’ve got a fine catch this morning” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Spot did not answer. Turning in the +direction of his snare that was stretched +from either side of the trail, attached to +as fine a pair of white birches as ever plumed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +a wood, he beheld two creatures with great, +tapering wings, beating and struggling for +freedom, making at the same time, wee, +shrill cries that caused Spot to hurry his +pace.</p> + +<p>His first thought was for the safety of +his snare.</p> + +<p>“Here’s a pretty mess,” thought he. +“How shall I ever repair it?”</p> + +<p>All the time Spot was hobbling toward +the strange, struggling things, their cries +increased. They were real heart-piercing +cries. The more they shrieked the more +they struggled, and alas, poor Spot’s snare +was being torn to ribbons.</p> + +<p>The cries were so terrifying that Spot +was just a bit frightened, but having been +always very courageous, he rather resented +the feeling of timidity, and, quickening his +steps, he approached the destroyers and +the destroyed.</p> + +<p>“Bears and beetles!” ejaculated Spot, +“What have I caught this time?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a><a id="Page_114"></a><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span></p> + +<p>Fast in the lashings of his great web +a brace of Cupids were beating their splendid +wings vigorously against his snare. +As he came near they cried more lustily.</p> + +<p>“Where does so much sound come +from?” thought Spot, looking at their +rosy, plump little bodies.</p> + +<p>Seeing Spot approaching them, they +cried all the louder; but observing his +venerable and kindly face, they suddenly +became quiet, waiting to see what was +to be their fate.</p> + +<p>“Well, my children,” said Spot in a +gentle tone, “you’ve made a pretty kettle +of fish of my only means of securing food. +Where did you come from, and what are +your names?”</p> + +<p>“Get us out of this tangle and we’ll tell +you all about it,” said the Cupids in chorus.</p> + +<p>Old Spot gathered the end of a long +strand of spider silk that was floating with +the wind, and began to wind.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span></p> + +<p>“Hurry!” said one of the little prisoners. +Spot hurried as fast as he could, but the +faster he worked his spinner the oftener +he broke the thread.</p> + +<p>“Be patient,” said Spot, “The more +haste the less speed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but I’m cramped,” said the Cupid +who was bound tighter than his mate, as +he struggled to free himself. Part of the +great web fastened to the birches began +to sag from the weight of the chubby little +victims.</p> + +<p>“Have a heart,” commanded Spot in +a sterner voice than before. “There will +be nothing left of my trap if you don’t +keep quiet.”</p> + +<p>“But you are so slow,” observed the one +with four dimples on his hand.</p> + +<p>At last the sticky threads were tightly +bound on Spot’s spinners, and the poor +tired little chubs, being free, stood up, +slowly moving their wings that had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +so ruffled and mussed by old Spot’s food-catcher.</p> + +<p>“You asked our names and where we +came from,” straightening out their wings +and adjusting a few shaggy feathers.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Spot, scratching his head +with his hindermost leg in meditation.</p> + +<p>“Cupid is our name. We have no +home.”</p> + +<p>“No home?” echoed Spot. “What is +your other name?”</p> + +<p>“We have no other name, it’s just Cupid.”</p> + +<p>“That’s news to me,” said Spot thoughtfully, +adding:</p> + +<p>“Aye, aye! You’re the little chaps that +make a lot of trouble in the world. I’ve +heard of you very often.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and a lot of happiness,” they replied +timidly, in a voice not bigger than a +wren’s.</p> + +<p>Again the little fellows flapped their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +splendid wings, that were gradually getting +back to their original form.</p> + +<p>“Not quite so much breeze; I’m very +sensitive to drafts,” pled Spot, eyeing +the pair with a feeling of pity.</p> + +<p>“No father or mother? Poor kiddies,” +thought he.</p> + +<p>“You have always been alone?”</p> + +<p>“Always,” they replied.</p> + +<p>“Have you nothing to wear to keep +you warm?”</p> + +<p>“Nope,” they replied, shivering just a +little, seeing old Spot was being moved to +sympathy.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see about that,” he said. “Come +over to my house, and I’ll build a fire for +you.” So over they all went to Spot’s +den.</p> + +<p>“What a delightful place,” said the +Cupids, looking around.</p> + +<p>“You like it, do you?” said Spot.</p> + +<p>“It’s very cosy,” said they as they entered +the den, and cuddled in one corner +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +where the leaves had blown in as if to make +a comfortable bed for them.</p> + +<p>“Would you like to make your home +with me?”</p> + +<p>They looked at each other with an expression +of pleasure, each anticipating the +reply of the other to be “Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Would you let us?”</p> + +<p>Spot did not reply, he was so deep in +thought. “What delightful little things to +have around,” he almost said aloud.</p> + +<p>“Would you let us?” they repeated.</p> + +<p>“I’d be glad to have you,” trying not +to express too much emotion, as he was +pleased beyond all measure at the thought +of having them for his companions.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do about our wings; +they are so terribly in the way,” as they +tried to adjust them so they would not +scrape the rough wall of the cave.</p> + +<p>“If you want them clipped my friend +Yuti can attend to that,” said Spot.</p> + +<p>“Would it hurt?” they asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span></p> + +<p>“I think not.”</p> + +<p>“All right; can we have it done now?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll go and see if Yuti is at home,” +replied Spot, looking in the direction of +Yuti’s moose-skin lodge.</p> + +<p>Over they went across the cleared land, +where they found Yuti mending his moccasins.</p> + +<p>“I’ve a job for you,” called Spot, as +Yuti looked up very much bewildered at +the sight that to him was startling.</p> + +<p>“I’ve a little job for you, Yuti,” repeated +Spot. “Get your tomahawk and +clip the wings of my little friends.”</p> + +<p>Yuti looked at Spot and then at the +Cupids. “What a strange request,” he +thought.</p> + +<p>Then Spot took Yuti aside and told him +about his strange experience, and Yuti +only smiled, saying nothing.</p> + +<p>Going to his lodge he got his tomahawk +and led the party to an old oak stump. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a><a id="Page_122"></a><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> +Then taking the Cupid standing nearest +to him, he gently led him to the stump and +placed his wing upon it. With one stroke +off it came.</p> + +<p>“My! that was easy,” said his interested +companion, looking to see if it hurt.</p> + +<p>“Now the other,” said Yuti, and Cupid +turned around.</p> + +<p>Down came the strong arm of Yuti, and +off came the other wing.</p> + +<p>“What a relief,” sighed the little fellow, +now free of his troublesome appendages. +The other Cupid moved toward the stump. +It was but the work of a few seconds and +all was over.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i135" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i135.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + It was but the work of a few seconds and all was over + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Reaching up and each taking one of +Yuti’s hands in his, the tiny fellows thanked +him; then the little party started back to +the den.</p> + +<p>On their arrival the conversation became +more general and less constrained, all becoming +better acquainted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span></p> + +<p>“Something must be done about your +clothing; we are liable to have snow any +day,” said Spot, in a tone burdened with +solicitude, for spiders have the reputation +of being kind to their young and those +they like, even though the lady-spider +sometimes devours her husband in a fit +of anger.</p> + +<p>“Let’s go down to the snare and see +how much there is left of it,” he continued. +“If it can’t be repaired I’ll have to weave +another, for clothing you must have.” +After surveying the mass of tangled threads, +they decided it would be best to make a +new web.</p> + +<p>For days Spot worked upon it. Then +he began the patterns for the suits. Up +and down, under and over, he wove, warp +and woof, doubling it and twisting the +threads so that the garments would be +warm; drawing close and tight the strands +that formed the strange little affairs to +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a><a id="Page_126"></a><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> +be worn by his Cupids—perhaps the only +Cupids that ever wore clothes.</p> + +<p>They would sit in admiration. “How +really clever old Spot is,” they remarked.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i139" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i139.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “How really clever Old Spot is” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>As the wonder garments neared completion, +he added pockets, and made openings +through which the little wings that +were left could pass.</p> + +<p>Realizing how good he was to them, they +decided to be very helpful and to serve +him in every way possible as long as he +lived, which was to be for a very long time. +When strangers passed and saw the little +things sitting close to Spot, some would +ask: “How is it that their wings are so +small?”</p> + +<p>Then Spot would smile and say: “The +reason Cupids have no wings is because—they +do not want them.” And then Spot +would look at the Cupids and the Cupids +would look at Spot, and they would giggle; +but Spot would look serious. Of course, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +the strangers did not understand the cause +of their merriment.</p> + +<p>Sometimes when Spot put the Cupids +to bed, and covered and tucked them in +with sweet grasses and scented moss flowers +to keep them warm, he would sit beside +them when the tree-toad whistled his night +song, and wonder if they had their large +wings again, whether they would fly away, +and leave him all alone.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_UNDERWATER_PEOPLE"> + THE UNDERWATER PEOPLE + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>One evening in the fall of the year, +far-away in the North, on the shores +of a great lake, there were sitting around +the camp-fire a party of Beaver Indians. +The winter had already set in, for the ice +comes early, and it is very cold when the +sun has gone to rest.</p> + +<p>Hocini, the oldest man of the party, had +fallen asleep. Around the moose-skin tents +were scattered bits of wood, dried fish +hung on racks, and five dogs, used in winter +for drawing moose and caribou, were sleeping +as near as they dared to be, to the warm +fire, for the Indians are very cruel to their +dogs, who really are very good to work +so hard for masters who do not allow them +to get near enough to the fire to warm themselves. +The hoot owls had begun to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +their strange noises and open their big, +round eyes, for night was their day, and +they must hunt food when they could see +best, which was in the dark.</p> + +<p>Away on the far-flung reaches of the +hills the wolf began to cry and moan. He +is a big animal of grayish color, sometimes +seven and a half feet from the tip of his +tail to his nose-end. Many say he came +originally from Siberia when there was a +land crossing from Alaska to Siberia, and +that his great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers +and many of his relations +way back in the years of long ago came to +visit our Northland, and liked it so much +they did not return to the land of their +birth. That land is now divided from +Alaska by the waters that flow from the +Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, so if +he did ever want to go back to visit his +relations in Siberia, he would have to swim, +for no craft that go to Siberia for furs would +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a><a id="Page_132"></a><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> +care to have him for a passenger as he has +a bad disposition, and cannot be depended +upon when he is hungry.</p> + +<p>While the Indians were sitting by the +fire they suddenly saw a man passing along +in the dusk. He was carrying on his back +a strange blanket which was sewn with +caribou sinew for thread, as the Indians +had no cotton thread. It was made of +dozens and dozens of muskrat skins covered +with fish-scales all sorted as to color +and size, and the lining was made of many, +many squirrel-skins also covered with fish-scales, +which were also well matched for +color, making a beautiful and very warm +water-proof covering for his body.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i145" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i145.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + They suddenly saw a man passing along in the dusk + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Where are you going and what are you +going to do?” asked an old man of the +tribe.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to become a young man +again,” he replied.</p> + +<p>“How will you do that?” asked another +old person.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span></p> + +<p>“We will go with you,” said one of the +party, “for we like youth, for then we can +hunt the beaver and moose in far-away +mountains.”</p> + +<p>“Do as you please,” the stranger replied +indifferently.</p> + +<p>“Let us go,” said a young brave to two +of his brothers-in-law, and they got up +and went to their tents to get their bows +and quivers and long hunting moccasins, +for it had rained in the morning, and the +ground was not yet dry.</p> + +<p>The stranger called to them, “Hurry!” +and seemed out of sorts; but the Indians +paid no attention to his mood and smiled +at his haste.</p> + +<p>After saying good-by to their people, +they joined the stranger and walked through +a dark wood until they came to a lake shore. +Suddenly the strange man who had been +walking ahead of them, said: “Xwui!” +and went through a hole in the ice to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> +bottom of the deep lake where his wife +and many children were awaiting him. +He did not greet his wife as though he was +fond of her, and to one of his children he +said roughly:</p> + +<p>“Tell the men on the shore to do as I +have done.”</p> + +<p>So the three men went to the hole through +which the stranger had gone, and dove to +the bottom. Then they walked to a settlement +on the sands of the lake where there +were many tents made of all kinds of skins—of +moose, caribou, white deer, muskrat, +lynx, beaver, and many skins the Indians +had never seen before—and around the +tents, walking about, were many people, +who did not look at them.</p> + +<p>The children of the strange Underwater +Man would take bits of tough grass and +make fish snares. Then they would wait +for a big fish to come swimming along, +swishing his tail and looking many ways +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +with his strange eyes. The children would +hold out the snare, saying, “To nai,” which +means “fish” in the beaver language. Then +the fish would swim into the snare and be +caught, and would say, as he wriggled to +free himself, “Do ha-s tei-ul tuk,” which +means, “Do not kill me.” Then the children +would take the fish to their mother, +and she would cook it on hot stones that +lay near a spring of boiling water that +came from the bed of the lake.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i151" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i151.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “Do ha-s tei-ul tuk,” which means “Do not kill me” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The stranger called to the three men to +come to his tent and eat. They did so, +and he shared the fish with them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly some one stepped on the foot +of the man who had asked his brothers-in-law +to go with the stranger. He looked +up, and saw a giant frog standing on his +left foot. He could not believe his own +eyes, for he had never seen a frog so large. +The frog said to him:</p> + +<p>“I was once a man like yourself, but +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a><a id="Page_138"></a><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> +years ago, while picking berries on the +shore of the lake, I fell into the water and +became a frog. I have the secret, and if +you wish to become a frog who can live +both on land and in the water, which has +its advantages, I will tell you where you +can get some wonderful berries, red and +sweet. Eat of them and lie down on the +bottom of the lake, and after you have +been sound asleep you will awake and be +as you see me.”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i155" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i155.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + He looked up and saw a giant frog standing on his left foot + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The man who owned the beautiful +blanket was angered that the frog had +given the secret to them, and said: “I +do not like it that the minds of your people +are so intent on us.”</p> + +<p>As the visitors were growing very short +of breath from being so long under water, +they said: “We will return to our people, +but must go in a canoe as the water is +making us ill.” So the Underwater Man +loaned them an old canoe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span></p> + +<p>“Take care how you use my canoe, for +it is not very good,” he called to them in +a warning way. They paddled nearly to +the shore. Then the canoe melted away. +The men swam for the land, but when +they reached it one was missing. The +other two believed that their brother was +dead, but as they sat on a big rock they +saw his head appear and reappear, and +once when his head was above water he +called:</p> + +<p>“I am held by the frog. Help me!” +So the two swam out, but when they came +near to the man he said:</p> + +<p>“Go back; I am free, the frog has gone!”</p> + +<p>The men swam ashore and stood up. +When they looked again they saw a great +jack-fish—they could not see their brother. +The jack-fish swam toward them and +walked on its tail upon the shore. Like +magic it turned into a man, and they all +returned to the camp, to tell the wonders +of their adventure.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a><a id="Page_142"></a><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span></p> + +<p>Suddenly the old man who had gone to +sleep began to groan and cry out. His +wife, who was also very old, said: “Hocini, +my husband, is dreaming.” The old man +then woke up and said in a frightened way: +“The frog, the frog. Where is he?” and +his wife said:</p> + +<p>“Poor old man, the frog is in the lake,” +and Hocini said: “I have been dreaming +again,” and his wife said “Yes,” and +laughed, and so did the old man.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="WATC_AGIC_KILLS_THE_TALKING-BIRDS"> + WATC’ AGIC KILLS THE TALKING-BIRDS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Once there was a man who wandered +all over the earth. He had as his +companions many kinds of birds who could +not, or would not, talk or sing without +his consent. He was a man who talked +little but thought much, and noises worried +him, especially the noises made by talking-birds +like the parrot and the magpie.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i159" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i159.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Once there was a man who wandered all over the earth + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>In his wanderings he would meet many +kinds of people who did not like him, because +when they spoke to him he would +only say “Yes” or “No” to any questions +they would ask. Of course, his attitude +toward all he met made them angry, and +when he visited the villages the second +time, many of the Indians threatened to +kill him. The places in which he thought +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a><a id="Page_146"></a><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> +he would be in the most danger he would +go around and not show himself or his +bird companions, for he was very kind to +them, and they held him in great respect, +although he had told them he would surely +rid himself of their company if they should +talk so loud that his enemies could hear +them. They also feared him, for many +times had they seen the way he had treated +other birds, and they knew what his mission +was.</p> + +<p>One day, after a long walk, they came +to the foot of a high hill. Around the hill +and coming from afar, they could see great +numbers of birds.</p> + +<p>“This,” said the man, “is the ‘City of +Birds,’ and no man dare go among them. +If he should, they would pick his eyes out. +Many times have I heard my father tell +of his band of beavers who went among +them, and of their fate.”</p> + +<p>“Let us go!” spoke up a great eagle. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>“I will defend you. My parents’ nest +was on yonder mountain, and I have many +relations living among them.”</p> + +<p>“As you will,” said the man, “but let +us wait until night falls and they are +asleep.”</p> + +<p>The eagle had been talking matters over +with his companions, and they all, with +the exception of a few of the smaller birds, +decided to go, happen what might. So at +dusk they started.</p> + +<p>The road was long and dusty, and many +times they had to wait for the vain birds +to clean their plumage and arrange their +feathers, but it was better so, because many +of the older birds of the City of Birds had +not returned to their nests. The man, +although impatient, thought they might +have been discovered if this cause for their +delay had not happened.</p> + +<p>As they approached the city, a night-hawk +who was just going to work, gave a +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a><a id="Page_150"></a><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> +wild scream. This caused a great awakening +in the town, and all the birds went +to the public square in alarm.</p> + +<p>The eagle said “Go on.” So the party +boldly went among the crowd. Some, I +can assure you, were very much frightened; +but they had great confidence that +some of the relations of the eagle would +be living, and would no doubt befriend +them.</p> + +<p>When the mayor of the town, a great +pelican, saw the strange bundle the man +carried on his back, he said: “My good +brother, what have you on your back?”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="i163" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i163.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + “My good brother, what have you on your back?” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“They are my songs,” the man replied.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said the mayor, “sing them, and +I will have my troupe of dancing flamingoes +keep time to your songs.”</p> + +<p>“Those who dance to my songs, and +those who do not, if strangers to me, must +keep their eyes shut when I sing,” said +the man.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span></p> + +<p>The mayor called to the crowd that +was chattering so loud his voice could +hardly be heard. So he called again:</p> + +<p>“Do you agree, my townsmen?”</p> + +<p>He opened his mouth so wide that a +great fish he had eaten for supper floundered +out of his pouch. Before repeating +his question he leaned over and picked it +up. Again he repeated, “Do you all agree +to keep your eyes closed when the gentleman +sings?”</p> + +<p>“We will do as you desire,” many of +them replied.</p> + +<p>So it was agreed. A great fountain in +the middle of the square contained many +fish both large and small. These fish were +for the use of the mayor only, as he was +getting old, and to climb the long hill from +the river made him both tired and cross. +So the man said:</p> + +<p>“Come near the fountain. My songs are +of running water and brooks, and it will +<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a><a id="Page_154"></a><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> +inspire me to sing them more to your +pleasure.”</p> + +<p>So the crowd moved near the big basin +full of water, deep and very wet.</p> + +<p>“Bring your flamingoes and I will begin,” +said the man.</p> + +<p>The eagle called him aside and said: +“During your song they will know because +their eyes are shut, how dark it is for the +thousands they have made blind.” The +man did not reply, but walked close to +the fountain.</p> + +<p>“Eyes shut!” he called loudly, and the +people all closed their eyes and he began +to sing in a harsh voice, for he could not +sing, and disliked any kind of music.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“I will sing of Mayor Pelican,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And of his pretty daughter,—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And of a dashing pelican</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Who in matrimony sought her.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And while I sing I’ll wring your necks,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And throw you in the water.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="i167" style="max-width: 50.0em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i167.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + And he began to sing in a harsh voice + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>All the people smiled but kept their +eyes closed, fearing he would stop his funny +song. So he continued to wring their necks +and throw them into the deep water of +the fountain.</p> + +<p>After he had treated them all alike, he +said to his companions:</p> + +<p>“We are quite safe now; let us remain +here until morning, as there are many +places of shelter and plenty of food.”</p> + +<p>So it was agreed, and they resumed their +journey about dawn the following day.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<div class='transnote mt2'> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes"> + Transcriber’s Notes + </h2> + +<ul> + <li>Duplicate half title before first chapter removed.</li> + + <li>Illustrations relocated close to relevant content.</li> + + <li>Footnote numbered and moved below the relevant paragraph.</li> + + <li>Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.</li> + + <li>Variations in hyphenation kept as in the original.</li> +</ul> +</div></div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76997 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |