UP TO THE TOP OF THE SKY 



" I wish I could turn over," he said to him- 

 self; and in a moment he turned very easily. 



But as he did this, he was horrified to see that 

 his body had become covered with long, white 

 hairs, and that his fingers had become long, sharp 

 claws. However, he was so drowsy that he soon 

 fell asleep again. After a long time he awoke 

 and again felt tired from lying so long in one 

 position. He turned as before and fell asleep 

 again for the third time. When he awoke the 

 fourth time Raven stood beside him. 



" I have changed you into a white bear," said 

 Raven. " How do you like it? " 



Man tried to answer but could not make a 

 sound. Raven waved his magic wing over him 

 and then he said: 



" I do not wish to be a bear, for then I would 

 have to live on the sea while my son would live on 

 the shore, and I would be unhappy." 



Raven made one stroke of his wings and the 

 bearskin fell from Man and lay on one side, while 

 he sat up in his human form, thankful that he did 

 not have to spend the rest of his life as a polar 

 bear. 



Then Raven pulled a quill from his tail and 

 put it into the empty bearskin for a backbone, 

 and after he had waved his wings over it a white 



73 



