S^EwS] LEGENDS 367 



" Well, I will try." Walking up slowly and majestically to the block- 

 ing stone, she examined the scratches made by the other animals until 

 she made up her mind hoM* to act, and then she very quickly got the 

 stone away. Then peeping in, she saw a Porcupine and a human 

 being, whereupon she hurried away from the opening as though she 

 was greatly frightened. As the other animals looked in, they, too, 

 took to their heels until tliey were far enough away to make sure of 

 escape; then they waited to see what was to take place. 



The Porcupine, coming out, told them not to be frightened. 

 Said she, "We are very poor, my grandsoa and T." She told them 

 further how he came there and that her stock of food was exhausted, 

 adding, " Many of you are well able to care for him, so I want you to 

 take charge of my grandson." All, even the birds, announced their 

 willingness to do so. '"Now," she continued, "I want to know what 

 j'ou will give him to eat, and when I make up my mind that my 

 grandson can live on the food that any one of you can supply, I will 

 give him to that one. To my faithful friends, the birds, I give 

 thanks; you may go, for I do not think my grandson could live on 

 anything you could give him." 



All had brought specimens of what they could furnish and liad laid 

 them before the Porcupine. The wolf, coming forward, laid down 

 what he had. The Porcupine examined it and then asked, " What 

 would you do in case of danger?" "Of course we should run," 

 the wolf rejilied. thereupon running off to show her, and then coming 

 back. " No, my grandson can not go with you ; he could not run 

 fast enough." The deer came forward with the most suitable food, 

 but when the Porcupine asked, "What would you do in case of 

 danger?" the deer ran off at such speed that his horns could be heard 

 rattling through the woods. Last of all the old bear came forward, 

 saying: "You have all failed. Though I have a large family of my 

 own, I will take the boy and will feed him as I feed my cubs, on 

 blackberries, chestnuts, and fruit." When asked what she would do 

 in danger, going back to her little cubs, she gave them the sign of 

 danger, at which they all crouched down beside a log while she lay 

 at their side watching. She said : " That is what I do. and thus we lie 

 still until I Chink the danger is past. I Imow where the berries grow 

 in abundance, and I will take them there. I know also where my 

 winter quarters will be; there my cubs will get nourishment by 

 sucking my fat paws." The Porcupine then said: " You are the one 

 to care for my grandchild. I wish you to take good care of him. I 

 am now going for food." The boy never saw the Porcupine again. 

 The child thought the bear took him by the hand, and that she was 

 like a human being, and that they were all like real people. 



She led the boy and the cubs to the place where the berries and 

 chestnuts were abundant. They played as they went along. The 



