60 MOOSWA 



fails if the Fish fail, if there are no Berries, if 

 the Nuts and the Seeds are dried in the heart 

 before they ripen, we still have Wapoos to carry 

 us over. The Indians know this it is of their 

 history ; and many a time has Wapoos, the Rab 

 bit, our Little Brother, saved them from starva 

 tion.&quot; 



&quot; Who has slain Wapoos at the forbidden 

 hour ? &quot; thundered Black King. 



Again there was denial all around the circle ; 

 and again everybody felt convinced that Lynx 

 was the breaker of the law. Said Black Fox: 

 &quot; It is well because of the new ruling we have 

 passed, I think. If again Wapoos is killed or 

 hunted at the forbidden hours, we shall decide in 

 Council who must die.&quot; 



&quot; Also, O King,&quot; still pleaded Rabbit, &quot; for all 

 time have we claimed another protection. You 

 know our way of life. For seven years we go 

 on peopling the streets of our Muskeg Cities, 

 growing more plentiful all the time, until there 

 is a great population. Then comes the sick 

 ness on The Seventh Year, and we die off like 

 Flies.&quot; 



&quot; It has been so for sixty years/ assented 

 Mooswa. &quot; My father, who is sixty, has always 

 known. of this thing.&quot; 



&quot; For a hundred times sixty, Brother,&quot; quoth 



