THE LEGEND OF SPUING BEAUTY 151 



He then took out a curious old pipe. He filled 

 it with tobacco, and handed it to his guest. 



That was his way of making him welcome. 



After giving another touch to the fire, for he 

 did not want it to go out, they sat down to 

 talk. 



Then the old man began to boast of what 

 great things he had done in his days. 



"I blow my breath, and the streams stand 

 still," said he. " The waters become hard as 

 stone." 



" I breathe," said the young man, " and 

 flowers spring up all over the plain." 



" I shake my locks," said the old man, " and 

 snow covers the land. The leaves fall from the 

 trees at my bidding. The birds fly away, and 

 all the other animals hide themselves in the 

 ground." 



" I shake my curls," said the young man, 

 " and warm showers of soft rain fall upon the 

 earth, like the eyes of children shining with de- 

 light. My voice brings back the birds. My 

 warm breath unlocks the streams." 



So the night passed. As the young man 

 talked, the old man grew silent. 



For a^long time he had not spoken. 



