THE LION AND THE WILD-CAT. 291 
the wild-cat, lived in a big wigwam together. The lion was strong and 
fleet of foot. He was more than a match for most of the animals he wanted 
to eat. But he could not cope with the grizzly, or the serpent that crawled 
on the earth. His young brother was wise. He had a wonderful power. 
From a magical ball of great beauty he derived an influence potent to 
destroy all the animals his older brother was afraid of.. They hunted 
together, the cat going before. One day—it was a long time ago—the two 
went out to hunt. ‘There is a bear”, said the lion. The cat, pointing to 
the bear, said, “Die”, and the bear fell dead. They next met a serpent, 
and he was killed in like manner. They skinned the snake and took along 
his skin for its magical power. A little farther on two large and very 
beautiful deer were found feeding together. ‘‘ Kill one of these for your- 
self”, said the boy brother to his man brother, “but catch me the other 
alive.” The lion gave chase, and at night he returned to his wigwam. 
“Did you bring me back one of the beautiful deer”? said the cat. “No”, 
said the lion, ‘it was too much work; I killed them both.” Then the cat 
was sorry, and did not love his brother. They were estranged. The cat 
would not go out to slay the bear and the snake any more, and the lion 
would not go out for fear of the bear and the snake. He thought he would 
use the magical ball of his brother, the cat, and learn to kill the bear and 
the snake himself. One day—it was a long time ago—the lion was playing 
with the ball, and, tossing it up, he saw it go up and up, and out of sight. 
It never came down. Then the deer scattered all over the earth and the 
hunting has been poor ever since. The cat was disconsolate for the loss 
of the magical ball. He left the wigwam to wander alone. He sorrowed 
for his loss and looked to find the ball again. It was along time ago. Big 
water run all around from “ Lankee” Jim to Humbug, and away up to the 
high mountains. The wild-cat went north. He climbed a tree by the water. 
He wished for the lost ball. By and by he saw a beautiful ball hanging, 
like a buckeye, on a limb. He picked it off. It was very pretty. He 
put it in the snake-skin to keep it so it would not get away. He went 
along the shore of the big water till he could see across it. ‘Two girls were 
on the other side cooking. The ball jumped out of the snake-skin and 
rolled over in the water. It went across the river. One of the girls came 
