2IO The Book o! Woodcraft 



threatened to stop the nightly party, they said, "Let us 

 ask our parents for some venison, so we can have a grand 

 feast and dance for the last time on the mound." 



They asked, but all were refused. Each father said, 

 "When I was a little boy, I thought myself lucky to get 

 even a pot of succotash, and never thought of asking for 

 venison as well." 



So the boys assembled at the mound. All were gloomy 

 but the Httle singer, who said: 



"Never mind, brothers! We shall feast without venison, 

 and we shall be merry just the same, for I §hall sing you 

 a new song that will Hghten your hearts." 



First, he made each of them fasten on his head a Httle 

 torch of birch bark, then he sat down in the middle and 

 thumped away at his little drum and sang: 



Ki yi yi yah 

 Ki yi yi yah 



And faster 



Ki yi yi yah 

 Ki yi yi yah 



And faster still, till now they were spinning round. 

 Then: 



Ki yi yi yah 



Ki yi yi yah 

 Whoooooop 



They were fairly whirling now, and, as the singer gave 

 this last whoop of the last dance on the mound, they and he 

 went dancing over the treetops into the sky; light of heart 

 and heels and head, they went, and their parents rushed 

 out in time to see them go, but too late to stop them. And 

 now you may see them every clear autumn night as winter 

 draws near; you may see the little torches sparkUng as they 



