Algonquin Indian Tales

s-The Rescue-Mary Tells Them the Legend of the Swallows-H

requests were as a law she had lingered as long as she dared, and indeed had only gone to call them when her mistress had asked the reason for their nonappearance. Not until she had shown the paper, with its inscription, to the kitchen maid, who could read English, did its full meaning burst upon her. Of course, she was very much troubled, and y

their beds, and had found them both quite cold, so she knew the little mischiefs had been off at least an hour. She interrogated not only the maid in the kitchen but also Kenne

ntelligent dogs, having been shown a couple of garments recently worn by the missing boy and girl and being told to find them, at once took up the trail in the direction of the wigw

dogs. Soon their ears were greeted by a chorus of loud and angry yelping. Fear gave speed to both the men, and soon they dashed out from the forest into the opening of an Indian's clearing. Here was a sight that filled them with alarm, and almost terror. Standing on a pile of logs were little Sagastao and Minnehaha. Sagastao erect and fearless, wi

and now that the victory was won they nimbly sprang down from their high retreat and, apparently without

ence of the little ones to the great danger from which they had just escaped. After petting Jack and Cuffy for their great bravery and courage the return journey

re several fierce, w

r this serious breach of home discipline, but his alarm at their danger and his thankfulness for their escape had so stirred him that he could not punish them nor ev

is arms. He had not carried her many hundred yards before the weary little one fell fast asleep,

ng wrong began most dramatically to describe how "our Jack and Cuffy thrashed those naughty Eskimo dogs" that chased Minnehaha and him upon that great pile

in thus running away, for it was very evident from the utterances of both that they had not considered the matter in that light. Now, in vie

s. He said they got up before anybody was stirring, that morning, and dressed themselves so quietly that nobody heard them. They remembered the trail along which Souwanas and Jakoos had carried them. After they had walked for some time they came to where there was a larger trail, and they

ink we are rabbits, and

the logs, and we climbed up as high as we could, and I took up a stick, and then I

uk!'" (Get aw

hen all at once we heard Jack and Cuffy, and, I tell you! soon there was more fun, when our big dogs sprang at them. Every time an Eskimo was tackled by Jack or Cuffy he went down, and was soon

le it was evident he was utterly unco

to control herself in her master's and mistress's presence. She managed to hold her tongue, but her flashing eyes and an occasional mutter, which would come out as she went about her usual duties, showed the smoldering fire that was burning inside. The children had been duly lectured for their breach of discipline and then,

aughtiness in thus running away, and all were looking forward to the hour of six o'clock with pleasant anticipation. When it arrived word was sent to the children that their hours of imprisonment were over, and that they were to present themselves in the

thus been obliged to punish them, when he was interrupted by little Sagastao with the honest and candid

about us at all, as Mary has been with u

nnehaha, with equal candor; "and some currant cakes an

es which she thought might cause the slightest pain or sorrow. And here she stood in the open door, and as soon as their father's words and their own rather startling "confessions" were ended she called th

that evening in the study with t

rry that we did anything that caused you and mamma sorrow and anxiety about us, and so, ... Well, we know you will forgive us." And as the four little ar

nds that Mary told them while they wer

D OF THE

to say they were very naughty and would often disobey their parents. One of their bad deeds was to run away, and thus make the father and mother very unhappy until they retu

le bows and arrows, and other things, that ought to have amused them and kept them happy at home. All the efforts of their parents,

o appeal to the Indian Council for assistance. For a time the stern commands of the Chief were listened to and obeyed. T

was very angry when he heard about these naughty children running away so much, and so he set off in a hurry to find them. After a long search he discovered them on the bank of a muddy river making mud huts

that yarn because Minnehaha a

t making mud huts

did not answer Sagastao's question, although in her heart she was not sorry i

WERE PUNISHED WHO T

ious little fellow, and did all that he could to help his grandmother. They both had to work very hard to have sufficient to keep them from starving.

lage were very fond of teasing him, and some were even cruel to him, because of the poor clothing he had to wear. Often the poor boy would return to the wigwam of his grandmother crying and weeping because the men of the village had not only teased him on account of his poor clothing but had a

f better, and so the grandmother got very an

da was very busy just then, but he gave her some of his magi

cruel than ever to him. She then informed him that she was able now to put a stop to all their cruel actions. So she told him to dive into a

nd himself transformed into a beautiful seal. He at once be

ore. When they seemed almost discouraged the seal would suddenly dive down, and then reappear in the water just behind them. Then, before the men could turn around and spear him, he as suddenly dived under the water again. The pursuit was so exciting that these cruel men did not notice how far out from land they had now come. They did, however, after a time see their danger, for suddenly a fierce

grew up to manhood and became a great hunter, and