NELSON] RAVEN TAKES A WIFE 463 
pretty white stone with a hole in it lying near; he picked 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. Itaven 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 flapped their wings heavily and worked slowly along, but 
Raven 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 weary, 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 the way, and the next stretch 
would bring them to the other shore. 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 wide-spread 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, “I 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 
