>">'>NEYl THY. RKDBIRDS COLOR 289 



hut's lu'st in ;i hollow ti'cc. ;uul after swullowini;' tlic \'oim<;' liirds, 

 coiled uj) to slec]) ill the nest, wjiere tile mother liird found him when 

 she came home. She went for iielp to the Little People, who sent her 

 to the Kini;lisher. He eaiiie. and after tiying haek and forth past the 

 hoh' a few times, made om dart at the .-jiiake and pulled him out dead. 

 \\'heii tliey looked tiiev found a hole in the snake's head where the 

 Kinylisher iiad pierced it with a slender tiKjilh'i' ml tish, which he car- 

 I'ied ill his hill like a laiiee. From this the Little People eoncluded 

 that he would make a lirst-class gigger if he only had the right spear, 

 .so they gave him his long liill as a reward. 



40. HOW THE PARTRIDGE GOT HIS \A^HISTLE 



In the old days the Terrapin had a tine whistle, but the Partridge 

 had none. The Terrapin was constantly going about whistling and 

 showing Ids whistle to the other animals until the Partridge became 

 jealous, so one day when they met the Partridge asked leave to try it. 

 The Terrapin was afraid to risk it at first, suspecting some trick, but 

 th(> Partridge said. "'PU give it back right away, and if you are afraid 

 you can stay w-ith me while I practice." So the Terrapin let him have 

 the whistle and the Partridge walked around blowing on it in fine 

 fashion. ■" How does it sound with :ue?" asked the Partridge. "'0, 

 you do \-eiy well.'' said the Terrapin, walking alongside. •'Now. how 

 do you like it." said the Partridge, running ahead and whistling a little 

 fastei-. "That's tine," answered the Terrapin, hurrying to keep up. 

 ■"but tlon't run so fast.'' "And now, how do you like thisT' called 

 the Partridge, and with that he spread his wings, gave one long 

 whistle, and tlew to the top of a tree, leaving the poor Terrapin to look 

 sifter him from the ground. The Terrapin never recovered his whistle, 

 and from that, and the loss of his scalp, which the Turkey stole from 

 him, he grew ashamed to be seen, and ever since he shuts himself up 

 in his box when anyone comes near him. 



41. HOW THE REDBIRD GOT HIS COLOR 



A Raccoon passing a Wolf one day made several insulting remarks, 

 until at last the Wolf became angry and turned and chased him. The 

 Raccoon ran his best and managed to reach a tree by the river side 

 before the Wolf came up. He climbed the tree and stretched out on 

 a limb overhanging the water. When the Wolf arrived he saw the 

 reflection in the water, and thinking it was the Raccoon he jumped at 

 it and was nearly drowned liefore he could scramble out again, all wet 

 and dripping. He lay down on the bank to dry and fell asleep, and 

 while he was sleeping the Raccoon came down the tree and plastered 

 his eyes with dung. When the Wolf awoke he foiuid he coidd not 

 ojjen his (>yes. and began to whine. Along came a little brown bird 

 thiDugh the bushes and heard the Wolf crying ami aske(i what was 



I'.t K.TII— 111 lit 



