NELso-x] KAVEN TAKES A WIFE 463 



pretty white stone with a hole in it lying near; he i)icked it up and, 

 stringing it on a long grass stem, hung it about his neck. As soon as 

 he had done this he pushed up his bill so that it slid to the top of his 

 head like a mask, and he became a dark-colored young man, who walked 

 up to the Geese. At the same time each of the Geese pushed up its bill 

 in the same manner, and they became nice-looking people. Raven was 

 much pleased with the looks of the girl and, going to her, gave her 

 the stone, choosing her for his wife, and she hung it about her own 

 neck. Then all pushed down their bills, becoming birds again, and 

 flew away toward the south. 



The Geese Happed their wings heavily and worked slowly along, but 

 Eaven with his outspread wings glided on faster than his party, while 

 the geese looked after him, exclaiming, in admiration, " How light and 

 graceful he is!" At length Raven grew wearj', so he said, "We had 

 better stop early and look for a place to sleep." The others agreed to 

 this, so they stopped and were soon asleep. 



Early next morning the Geese were astir and wished to be off, 

 but Raven still slept so heavily that they had to arouse him. The 

 father Goose said, " We must make haste, for it will snow here soon ; 

 let us not linger." 



As soon as Raven was fully awake he pretended to be eager to get 

 away, and, as on the day before, led the others with outspread wings 

 and was greatly admired by his young companions. And so Raven 

 kept on, above or in front of his companions, who made admiring 

 remarks to one another, such as "Ah, see how light and graceful he 

 is." Thus the party traveled on until they stopped one evening upon 

 the seashore, where they feasted upon the berries that were plentiful 

 all about them, and then went to sleep. 



Early the next morning the Geese made ready to go without stopping 

 for breakfast. Raven's stomach cried out for some of the fine berries 

 that were so plentiful, but the Geese would not wait, so he dared not 

 object to starting. As they left the seashore the father Goose told them 

 that they would stop to rest once on tlie way, and the next stretch 

 would bring them to the other sliore. Raven began to feel very doubt- 

 ful about being able to reach the other shore, but he was ashamed to 

 say so and thought he would risk making the attempt; so off they all 

 flew. The Geese flew steadily on and on. After a long time Raven 

 began to fall behind. His widespread wings ached, yet the Geese kept 

 on steadily and untiringly. Raven flapped heavily along, and then 

 would glide on outspread pinions for a time, trying to ease his tired 

 wings, but to no purpose, so he fell farther and farther behind. Finally 

 the Geese looked back, and the father Goose exclaimed, "1 thought he 

 was light and active, but he must be getting tired ; let us wait." Then 

 the Geese settled close together in the water, and Raven came laboring 

 up and sunk upon their backs, gasping for breath. In a short time he 

 partly recovered, and, putting one hand on his breast, said, "I have an 



