Algonquin Indian Tales

sents-Souwanas Tells How Nanahboozhoo Stole the Fir

ities and gladness among the Indians and their white

ao were wild with delight at these times, and were eager to be the almoners of the mission, and carry the gifts to the Indians whom they loved so well. The fact that the temperature of those bright, cold Northern winters kept steadily many degr

ondered at that there were times when, on reaching some distant wigwam, there were little hard, white spots on their cheeks or noses which told the watchful Indians that the Frost King had been at work and that speedily those frostbites must be removed. Little cared they for the momentary pain that ensued, when the frozen parts were bein

athered around his wigwam fire, "how it was that Nanahboozhoo stole

to go to the wigwam of Kinnesasis, Little Fish, with his presents

rt as he could without spoiling it, and then, after

w, and one of the rarest things among them was fire. Sometimes when the lightning's flash set a tree on fire they would have it for a little w

w the coyote had stolen some of the fire from the watchers in the underground world, who possess enormous quantities of it. It frightened him a little when he heard that there was so much fire in the world under us, but he was not apt to be afraid very long and so as he went on searching, and on the sly listening to the talks of windegoos and others, he found that the fire for which he had been so long searching was

of these other efforts had failed, and the parties who tried them were killed. Nokomis heard of these u

s long ago, he was not to be stopped by her fears, and so away he went. As the ice was not yet on the waters he took his

rs, who were famous for their height and their strength. To excite the pity of these daughters Nanahboozhoo jumped into some water, and then crawling out, wet and cold, he slowly approached the wigwam.

s of the old man's dau

o; "folks sometimes get into trouble by taking up everything th

omise, adroitly shunted off the

of the large wigwam. The rabbit soon after hopped a little nearer to the fire, that he might be able to seize hold of a burning stick or brand, but as he moved

was it that caused th

bit that they had found outside. At first the old man was a little suspicious and, rolling over, he took a good look at Nanahboozhoo. But he had made himse

n the wigwam on the opposite side from the door; then he suddenly changed himself into a fleet young Indian runner, and quick

ng such a trick upon them. Shouting to their father, to arouse him, they immediately ran after the retreating Nanahboozhoo, who with the burning brand in his hand was speeding rapidly over the trail. But, fleet as he was, he soon discovered that the two girls, by their magic, were rapidly gaining upon him. They were the flee

on of the firebrand, with shouts and threats they declared that severe indeed would be his

d his canoe on the shore of the lake. The girls were only a few hundred yards behind him, and he resolved to fight them with this sacred fire. So, as he rapidly continued his flight, he plunged the now blazing firebrand into the dry grass, h

ly paddling over the waters toward his distant home. The flying sparks of the torch burnt him badly in several places, bu

as Nokomis, who had been full of anxiety about him. She carefully dressed his burnt face and hands

after it, especially in the summer months, would forget to add fresh fuel, or would go to sleep and neglect it. Then they woul

e woods and at length a good spirit came to him in a dream and told him of various ways in which the fire could be obtained. He showed him how it could be made, by rapid friction, with dry sticks. Another way he revealed to him was by the striking together of a flint stone an

o for his good work thi

two nice girls who took him in and warmed him when he

e to take them in as he did, by setting fire to that old grass in the

ha appealed to S

ughters got the fire in the first place from out of the

and was silent for a minu

for in his youth he traveled far West, into the land of the high mountains,

ing to take Kinnesasis some presents, and

coming with their cariole. The children were well wrapped up, and soon wi