SfwS] FICTION 131 



the snake coiled itself up, bringing the young man to the top in 

 safety; thereupon the great Blacksnake disappeared. 



The Turkey Brother greatly rejoiced to see his brother and, flying 

 to the ground, said: "What can we do? Must we not go home to 

 our uncle now? " "Oh, no! " said the elder brother; "we must go 

 cm. I will put on the old man's clothes." So he arrayed himself in 

 the old man's worn-out garments — his shabby robe, stiff leggings, old 

 moccasins, and filthy headdress. He now looked like the old man, 

 having a weak voice and a terrifying cough. 



Meanwhile the old man felt grand in the stolen panther-skin robe, 

 for he had arrived at the chief's village early in the evening. In 

 front of the chief's lodge was a broad river. The chief appeared to 

 him on the opposite side, and the old man shouted across to him to 

 be ferried ovei'. The chief's eldest daughter rowed across in a canoe 

 and, seeing the fine-looking man wearing the panther-skin robe and 

 moving around with a haughty bearing, asked him, " Who are you 

 and whither are you going? " The old man coolly replied: "I come 

 from the east, and I am going to the lodge across the river. The 

 truth of the matter is, I am looking for a wife, and I hear that the 

 chief has three marriageable daughters." " Well, I am one of his 

 daughters," replied the young woman. Then the old thief answered, 

 " Oh ! I think that you would suit me very well." " Then you are my 

 husband, and we will live together," rejoined the young woman. She 

 brought him to her father's lodge and showed him her couch, which 

 was beautifully adorned with fine furs and skins, saying, "This is 

 your place for repose." He sat there quietly imtil his wife came to 

 him. 



The next evening the elder brother and the Turkey Brother ap- 

 peared on the opposite side of the river. The former attempted to 

 shout, but his voice was so weak and thin that for a long time he 

 could not make himself heard. At last, some one outside of the 

 lodge said, " There are a man and a turkey on the other side of the 

 river, who are trying to cross." The youngest daughter of the chief 

 went over and asked the man, who was old in appearance, whence 

 he came and who he was. " I came from the east," he replied, " and 

 I am on my way to the chief's lodge. I want to get married, and 

 so I am looking for a wife." "Looking for a wife? Why, you are 

 too old to marry," replied the chief's daughter. " I am not old ; I 

 am quite young. Perhaps I look old, but here is my brother who is 

 a little boy yet." "You come from the east, you say; do you come 

 from beyond the sorcerer's spring? " she asked. "I am from beyoad 

 that spring," he replied. "Did you pass the spring? " she persisted. 

 "Yes, I did; and I cleared it of its monstrous denizens," declared 

 the elder brother. "Did you come past the little old man who 



