LETTER XV. 165 



face of man but for the covering of deer's-hide, 

 and the great kindly eyes in which neither anger 

 nor cruelty dwell. 



With Gemmo-gemmo-hesus (the Spirit of the 

 Waters) Scuse dwelt, while two moons waxed and 

 waned, until he had learnt all the arts of healing, 

 and the kindly spirit set him free to go back and 

 help his brother man. 



Now Scuse comes hurrying through the night 

 to fight and wrestle with the evil spirit which 

 was destroying Tumisco. At the bidding of the 

 medicine-man the warriors pile high the pine- 

 logs, whose bright flames banish the gloom and 

 light up the darkness. Then from outside the 

 circle of the firelight comes a thing like nothing 

 known on earth. It has the beak of an eagle, 

 the claws of a bear ; round its body is the hide 

 of a buffalo ; round its neck is a necklet of dried 

 toads, while its girdle is the skin of a snake. It 

 is Scuse in his armour Scuse, who will peck out 

 the eyes of the evil one with the eagle's beak, 

 tear him with the claws of a bear, and make him 

 writhe with the poison of toad and rattlesnake. 

 Singing and dancing in the firelight, Scuse tempts 

 the evil spirit to the fray. At last he prevails. 

 The devil leaves Tumisco ; the chief sits upright, 

 and watches whilst the medicine-man and the 

 spirit wrestle together for his life. Little by 



