290 INDIAN LEGEND 



but the bird flew away before tins was finished, ivldch 

 accounts for hin(j-jishers now having only a portion of it 

 at the hack of their heads. The bird would not return, 

 but tells him that the water-lynxes often go on shore 

 to lie on the sand ; and that to be revenged, he must 

 make himself into a stump near, but take care that 

 he is not pulled down by frogs and snakes, which the 

 lynxes will be sure to send to try and dislodge him. 

 Upon this information he returns to his camp, and 

 " makes big medicine ; " and provides all things 

 which will be needed, of which a large canoe, to hold 

 all the animals that cannot swim, is the principal. 



Before daylight, having completed his preparations, 

 and embarked all the before-mentioned passengers, 

 he proceeds to the neighbourhood of the lynxes, and 

 secures his boat behind a point of land, then 

 transforms himself into a stump, and awaits their 

 appearance. Presently the black one comes out and 

 lies down upon the sand, then the grey, and lastly, 

 the white one which had killed the young wolf, pops 

 its head out of the water ; but espies the stump, and 

 cries out to his brethren that he " never saw that 

 before." They carelessly replied that it must always 

 have been there ; but the wary one still distrusted, 

 and sent frogs and snakes to try and pull it down. 

 Wis had a severe struggle to keep himself upright ; 



