按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
elk。 You shall have a new dress from his skin。 Throw the old one
in the fire！〃
This the old grandmother did。
The elk now sprang to his feet laughing。 〃Ho； friend rabbit；〃 he
called； 〃You thought to trap me； now I have mocked you。〃 And he
ran away into the thicket。
The rabbit who had come back to skin the elk now ran home again。
〃Grandmother； don't throw your dress in the fire；〃 he cried。 But
it was too late。 The old dress was burned。
THE RABBIT AND THE GROUSE GIRLS
The rabbit once went out on the prairie in winter time。 On the
side of a hill away from the wind he found a great company of girls
all with grey and speckled blankets over their backs。 They were
the grouse girls and they were coasting down hill on a board。 When
the rabbit saw them； he called out：
〃Oh； maidens； that is not a good way to coast down hill。 Let me
get you a fine skin with bangles on it that tinkle as you slide。〃
And away he ran to the tepee and brought a skin bag。 It had red
stripes on it and bangles that tinkled。 〃Come and get inside；〃 he
said to the grouse girls。 〃Oh； no； we are afraid；〃 they answered。
〃Don't be afraid； I can't hurt you。 Come； one of you；〃 said the
rabbit。 Then as each hung back he added coaxingly： 〃If each is
afraid alone； come all together。 I can't hurt you all。〃
And so he coaxed the whole flock into the bag。 This done； the
rabbit closed the mouth of the bag； slung it over his back and came
home。 〃Grandmother；〃 said he； as he came to the tepee； 〃here is a
bag full of game。 Watch it while I go for willow sticks to make
spits。〃
But as soon as the rabbit had gone out of the tent； the grouse
girls began to cry out：
〃Grandmother； let us out。〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked the old woman。
〃Your dear grandchildren；〃 they answered。
〃But how came you in the bag？〃 asked the old woman。
〃Oh； our cousin was jesting with us。 He coaxed us in the bag for
a joke。 Please let us out。〃
〃Certainly； dear grandchildren； I will let you out；〃 said the old
woman as she untied the bag： and lo； the grouse flock with
achuck…a…chuck…achuck flew up； knocking over the old grandmother
and flew out of the square smoke opening of the winter lodge。 The
old woman caught only one grouse as it flew up and held it；
grasping a leg with each hand。
When the rabbit came home with the spits she called out to him：
〃Grandson； come quick。 They got out but I have caught two。〃
When he saw what had happened he was quite angry； yet could not
keep from laughing。
〃Grandmother； you have but one grouse；〃 he cried； and it is a very
skinny one at that。〃
THE FAITHFUL LOVERS
There once lived a chief's daughter who had many relations。 All
the young men in the village wanted to have her for wife； and were
all eager to fill her skin bucket when she went to the brook for
water。
There was a young man in the village who was industrious and a good
hunter； but he was poor and of a mean family。 He loved the maiden
and when she went for water； he threw his robe over her head
while he whispered in her ear：
〃Be my wife。 I have little but I am young and strong。 I will
treat you well； for I love you。〃
For a long time the maiden did not answer； but one day she
whispered back。
〃Yes； you may ask my father's leave to marry me。 But first you must
do something noble。 I belong to a great family and have many
relations。 You must go on a war party and bring back the scalp of
an enemy。〃
The young man answered modestly； 〃I will try to do as you bid me。
I am only a hunter； not a warrior。 Whether I shall be brave or not
I do not know。 But I will try to take a scalp for your sake。〃
So he made a war party of seven； himself and six other young men。
They wandered through the enemy's country； hoping to get a chance
to strike a blow。 But none came； for they found no one of the
enemy。
〃Our medicine is unfavorable；〃 said their leader at last。 〃We
shall have to return home。〃
Before they started they sat down to smoke and rest beside a
beautiful lake at the foot of a green knoll that rose from its
shore。 The knoll was covered with green grass and somehow as they
looked at it they had a feeling that there was something about it
that was mysterious or uncanny。
But there was a young man in the party named the jester； for he was
venturesome and full of fun。 Gazing at the knoll he said： 〃Let's
run and jump on its top。〃
〃No；〃 said the young lover； 〃it looks mysterious。 Sit still and
finish your smoke。〃
〃Oh； come on； who's afraid；〃 said the jester； laughing。 〃Come on
youcome on！〃 and springing to his feet he ran up the side of the
knoll。
Four of the young men followed。 Having reached the top of the
knoll all five began to jump and stamp about in sport； calling；
〃Come on； come on；〃 to the others。 Suddenly they stoppedthe
knoll had begun to move toward the water。 It was a gigantic
turtle。 The five men cried out in alarm and tried to runtoo
late！ Their feet by some power were held fast to the monster's
back。
〃Help usdrag us away；〃 they cried； but the others could do
nothing。 In a few moments the waves had closed over them。
The other two men； the lover and his friend； went on； but with
heavy hearts； for they had forebodings of evil。 After some days；
they came to a river。 Worn with fatigue the lover threw himself
down on the bank。
〃I will sleep awhile；〃 he said； 〃for I am wearied and worn out。〃
〃And I will go down to the water and see if I can chance upon a
dead fish。 At this time of the year the high water may have left
one stranded on the seashore；〃 said his friend。
And as he had said； he found a fish which he cleaned； and then
called to the lover。
〃Come and eat the fish with me。 I have cleaned it and made a fire
and it is now cooking。〃
〃No； you eat it； let me rest；〃 said the lover。
〃Oh； come on。〃
〃No； let me rest。〃
〃But you are my friend。 I will not eat unless you share it with
me。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the lover； 〃I will eat the fish with you； but you
must first make me a promise。 If I eat the fish； you must promise；
pledge yourself； to fetch me all the water that I can drink。〃
〃I promise；〃 said the other； and the two ate the fish out of their
war…kettle。 For there had been but one kettle for the party。
When they had eaten； the kettle was rinsed out and the lover's
friend brought it back full of water。 This the lover drank at a
draught。
〃Bring me more；〃 he said。
Again his friend filled the kettle at the river and again the lover
drank it dry。
〃More！〃 he cried。
〃Oh； I am tired。 Cannot you go to the river and drink your fill
from the stream？〃 asked his friend。
〃Remember your promise。〃
〃Yes； but I am weary。 Go now and drink。〃
〃Ek…hey； I feared it would be so。 Now trouble is