BEK-WUK, THE ARROW 97 



fragment took a shape like that of many others 

 lying on the ground. 



" In a little time he rose, stepped into the after- 

 noon sunlight, listened, whistled to Kaw-kaw, the 

 Raven, who was stealing through the bare trees 

 looking for acorns, then seated himself cross-legged 

 again, filled a hollow at the end of a long stick 

 with dry leaves, lighted them with fire that smoul- 

 dered inside the wigwam, and straightway fire 

 breath curled from the stick and his own nostrils, 

 yet he himself did not burn away. Presently, 

 when all the leaves had turned to smoke, there 

 being no more food for the fire, it died out; he laid 

 this stick they call it a pipe away, and coming 

 into the lodge chose me from out the heap of flints 

 and began shaping me with stinging blows. 



" I was confused, as you may well believe ; first, 

 I grew long, then was narrowed to a point, sloped 

 sidewise to sharp edges, and finished in a grooved 

 blunt butt. Then I was rubbed and polished by 

 various other kinds of stones until the old man 

 was content with my appearance, and saying 

 mystic words, he laid me on a pile with many 

 others like me : ' Go forth, Bek-wuk, arrow-head, 

 thou art beautiful of thy kind,' he whispered, 

 scarcely moving his lips; 'touch the heart of all 

 you desire, of the deer in the hunting, of the 



