Algonquin Indian Tales

Story-teller-Nanahboozhoo, the Indian Myth-How the Wolves Stole His Dinner,

ghostly way marched across the room to the corner where the two little children were playing on the floor. Quickly but gently picking them up they swung them to their shoulders, and then, without

d by the natives were "Sagastaookemou," which means the

Indians, though the boy was only six years old, and his little sister but four. They had learned to look

tions of delight, while all the time the grave, silent Indians hurried them on deeper and deeper into the forest. Yet carefully they guarded their precious loads, and as the antlered deer in passing through the thick woods and under the low bra

cky eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg. This great lake is well called The Sea, which is the meaning of its I

ame in through the hole in the top, where the poles of the wigwam crossed each other. Presently, however, they were able to see a circle of Indian children gathered around a small fire that smoldered on the ground in the center of the tent. It was now in the pleasant summer time, but the fire was needed for something else than warmth, as the little Sagastao and Minnehaha

father and mother love us as they say they do we will test them by taking away their children without asking permiss

he good things prepared for the feast. No plates, no cups and saucers, no knives, no spoons, n

on the ground, with bearskins and deerskins on it for rugs, the children sat. Then the deerskin door was again opened and in came Indians with birch-bark dishes, calle

nd cleverly cut up the ducks, rabbits, and partridges. Then these pieces were spitted on the ends of sharp points of hard wood and skillfully broiled or toasted in the hot

birds sing and the squirrels chatter, where is heard the music of the waves playing on the shore but a few yards away, w

well as their own they were soon all chattering away most merrily while they daintily picked the bones. Of course this way of eating

collected on the shore of Winnipeg, handy if it should be decided that they all should go for an afternoon outing on the water. However, Souwanas, who had gone out to look at the sky and observe the winds and waves, now came in and reported that

tory about N

be the st

earty call fo

e at the unanimous call of the children, but, Indianlike, it would have been a great breach of manners if he had let his delight be known. Then, again, Indianlike, it would never have done to have seemed to be

ouwanas, vied with each other in seeing which could first pluck the half-smoked calumet from his mouth. Such audacity appalled the Indian children

children of the palefaces was an evidence of their unbounded confidence and love. To little Sagast

tumbled into the fire. He often met with accidents, but he always came up right again and was ready for some other adventure in some new shape. He has left his marks on the rocks and trees, leaves and flowers. Almost anywhere we look we see signs that Nanah

a great black bear. He pulled up a young tree by the roots and hid himself, preparing to kill the bear when he should come near. When the bear came near Nanahboozhoo made a big jump out of his hiding place and killed the bear with one

s feast on the ground and climbed away up one of those trees to the spot where the other pressed against it. He was endeavoring to pull the two great trees apart when one of his hands got caught between them and was firmly held. While struggli

wolves had run away he could not, at present, punish them, but he resolved that he would so punish these great birch trees that they would never give him such a squeeze again. So he prepared a great whip and with it he severely thrashed the trees. Up to this time the birch had be

So he transformed himself into a little snake, and in this way got inside of the bear's skull and enjoyed his feast. In fact he enjoyed it too much, for when he was through with his eating he could not get out of the skull, he was

bear out of the water, as does the bear when swimming. Then he liste

a bear swimming.

Indians came up, in their canoe, and one of them with his stone

hoo, and instantly he spran

d set on eating the whole carcass. It was not long before he met the raccoon awkwardly carrying a birch rogan that he had stolen from a

e was talking, told him how he obtained the dish. When Nanahboozhoo

instead of killing these old blind men, now that they were unable to hunt, they arranged for them a wigwam in a safe, quiet place, near the lake. Then they gave them a kettle and bowl and other necessary things and cut a large pile of wood

le to do their own work and were happy together. They divided the day's work so that one day one would be the cook while the ot

the raccoon was out prowling along the shore, looking for something to eat, when he

before he interfered with the rope he cautiously followed it up and found that its other end was at the wigwam of these two old blind men. Hearing no noise, he cautiously peered

p, and one said to the other, 'My brother, I

t is your turn to go to the lake

his way along the rope until he reached its end he tried to dip up the water as usual, but all in vain. There was nothing but the dry earth and bushes. Not finding any water he returned to his broth

ible. No bushes could grow

ase, and so the other one said, 'Well, let

ost near the water. When the second brother came along he easily found the water, and filling the kettle he returned to th

ho had now noiselessly come into the wigwam and greedily sat watching the preparations. This dinner consisted of eight pieces of meat which, when cooked, were placed in the

bowl and began eating them. Soon one of the men reached into the bowl,

to eat so fast. I have only had one pie

reply, 'but I suspect that you are

nahboozhoo, some more sport with the old blind fellows, hit each of them a smart blow on the face. The poor old men, each believing that

uts of laughter, rushed out of the wigwam. The old men, hearing this, perceived that

he had had a good deal of trouble to keep from letting the raccoon

men are my brothers, and I'll teach

de out of it a great feast for them, and declared that in future the old raccoons should have to carry

tao. "Mr. Raccoon couldn't play any tr

innehaha i

me now, for father and mother may begin t

d then Mary won't see our dirty clothes!" Fo

cheer!" were shouted to all, and once more the two children were hoisted upon the shoulders of the big Indians, and in

off the faces of their big stalwart carriers and daub it on their own. The effect was so ludicrous that their