250 SAT OF CHALEUR. 



The Story of the Loon. 



"It was wartime with the Mohawk. The leaves had 

 fallen, the beaver had finished their lodges, and the geese 

 were assembling together for their flight to the south, 

 when a canoe was seen approaching. It was paddled by 

 one man, a stranger, his name was Nic-ca-boc-ca-lic, and 

 he came from the east, but no one knew more than that. 

 He was a mighty hunter and a great warrior, and a 

 scourge to the Mohawk. But at last Nic. (as we will call 

 him for shortness) was taken prisoner by a war-party of 

 twelve Mohawks, who were followed by a dog. So pleased 

 were they with their prize, that it was determined to take 

 him to the Mohawk country and dispose of him at their 

 leisure. But Nic. made the winter come, and the Resti- 

 gouche froze over, so that their canoes were useless. Then 

 they tried to walk, but Nic. made the snow fall deep, and 

 that too was impossible. Then they were in danger of 

 starvation and tried to catch beaver, but all their efforts 

 were in vain, as these animals had retired to winter- 

 quarters. But Nic. said if they would follow him he 

 would show them how to catch beaver. So, they con- 

 senting, he took them to a lake and cut twelve holes in the 

 ice with a tomahawk, and at each one he posted a Mohawk 

 with a spear, and arranged them in such a way that each 

 man was hid from his fellows. Then Nic. commenced 

 with the last man and said, " Jenem look down your hole, 

 perhaps beaver come ;" and when the Mohawk did as he 

 was told, Nic. came behind him and shoved him under 

 the ice. He took the same course with each of the 

 twelve, till at last only the dog was left, and he, poor 



