6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. V^ 



the woodpecker's tail, which was instantaneously changed into fire^ Yet 

 the head passed through the flames and was still after them. 



They then reached a very large lake, a lake so large that the oppo- 

 site shore was invisible. A narrow dam was formed across the lake, on. 

 top of which they passed as on a trail. The dam was disappearing 

 immediately behind them, so that no roadway was left. Yet their 

 mother's head was following them in the air. The eldest child sent it a 

 blow"- with his dagger, whereupon two whales^ jumped out of the water 

 and swallowed it. 



When they had landed on the other side of the lake, the elder child 

 deposited his little brother down against a stump and made him a ball* 

 to play with. 



While the little one was amusing himself therewith, an old man was 

 sighted on the lake who manned an iron raft^ Soon after, the old man 

 landed his craft close by the two brothers. Now it happened that the 

 little child's ball fell by accident on the stranger's raft. As the babe was 

 crying for his toy, the old man bade his brother come and fetch it over 

 to him. But as soon as the child vv^as aboard, the old man drew out and 

 made for the middle of the lake. Which seeing, the babe left on shore 

 leaped out of his swaddling clothes and, transformed into a wolf, set out 

 to follow as well as he could the outgoing raft, even as a dog uses to run. 

 for us when we are navigating a piece of water. 



Meanwhile his brother was bewailing his fate, and kept constantly 

 weeping after him. Therefore, to console him, the old man said: "Weep 

 not ; 1 have at home two beautiful daughters : I will give them out to- 

 you as wives." 



When they had reached the opposite side of the lake, the old man 

 left the child on the iron raft, and went out to his lodge which was built 

 close by the shore. His two daughters were there. So he said to themr 

 " Go and bring over him who shall be your husband." They therefore 

 went down to the beach, and as ^oon as they had seen the child ^' who. 

 had so far remained on the raft, they remarked between themselves that 



' The tail of that bird is red. Hence the passage is allegorical. 



^ Y^i'si aPto, "struck at it," but without releasing his weapon, as Moses did at the crossing. 

 of the Red Sea. 



^jo-ico, "fish-big." No land-locked fish is called by that name. 



* N^.ypk. Known to the prehistoric Carriers. 



* Others say a copper canoe. Iron or copper, however, have here the same signification,, 

 which is that the craft was of a magic or wonderful description. 



^ Since he was of marriageable age, he must have been more than a child. Yet the legend 

 calls him a child down to the end. Consistency must not be sought out in aboriginal tales. 



