274 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



startled Mipis, and made him suspicious of some trick- 

 ery, despite the attraction of her charm; but Squ'tes, 

 "never heeding what the leaf thought," began again — 



Pouring out in the pleasant sunshine 

 Her morning song. As Mipis listened 

 To the melodious trill he melted; 

 For the sweet tune filled all the forest, 

 Every leaf on the tree was listening. . . . 

 And as the music grew tender and stronger, 

 And as in one long soft note it ended, 

 Little Leaf said to her: "Be my own." 

 So in the greenwood they lived together. 



One day both go to the Mountain and thank him for 

 their happiness ; and in the course of the visit the grand- 

 sire warns them not to go away from the Mountain, 

 for dangers fill the outside world, thus: 



The little Indian boy Monimquess, 



Who, armed with a terrible bow and arrows, 



Shoots all of the little birds of the forest; 



and — 



Aplasemwesit, the Little Whirlwind, 

 Who never rests. He is always trying 

 To blow the leaves away from the branches. 



So they built their nest on the great tree that grew 

 "in the safest place in all the mountain," and for a time 

 continued in bliss ; but Mipis could see from their lofty 

 home a far, beautiful country, and wanted to visit it. 

 So Red Bird took the discontented Little Leaf in her bill 

 and bore him away into the delightful lowland, where 

 again they built a home ; but here the Indian boy heard 

 the wonderful singing, and shot the singer, and Little 

 Whirlwind seized Mipis and took him to his grandsire, 

 the Storm, who resolved to keep Mipis as a prisoner. 



