8o MOOSWA 



&quot; His Majesty flatters you. Carcajou/* sneered 

 Whisky-Jack. 



Fran9ois came out, took his axe, and made 

 some shavings from a Jack-pine stick. 



&quot; Will they eat that ? &quot; asked Braver. 



The Breed stepped over to a Birch tree, peeled 

 from its side a handful of silver, ribbon-like bark, 

 and lighted it with a match ; it blazed and crackled 

 like oil-soaked shavings. Then he shoved it into 

 the stove, put chips and three sticks of wood in, 

 shut the door, and thick black smoke curled up 

 from the stove pipe. The animals stared with 

 extraordinary interest. 



Whisky-Jack craned his head, and watched 

 the effect of this magic on his Comrades. 



&quot; That s the Devil-thing that destroyed all the 

 Birds and their Eggs/ said the Red Widow. 

 &quot;It s the Man-fire.&quot; 



Blue Wolf was trembling. &quot; E-u-h ! E-u-h ! &quot; 

 he whined ; &quot; Man s Fire-medicine. It grows 

 like the wind, and destroys like the Rabbit 

 plague. Once seven Brothers of mine stalked 

 a Man and he started this Fire-medicine.&quot; 



&quot;What happened, Rof? &quot; asked Carcajou. 



&quot; The Man escaped.&quot; 



&quot; And your Seven Brothers ? &quot; 



&quot; This red-poison ate them as Otter devours a 

 Fish bones and all.&quot; 





