Through bush, and brake, and 



forest, 



Ran the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis; 

 Like an antelope he bounded, 

 Till he came unto a streamlet 

 In the middle of the forest, 

 To a streamlet still and tranquil, 

 That had overflowed its margin, 

 To a dam made by the beavers, 

 To a pond of quiet water, 

 Where knee-deep the trees were 



standing, 



Where the water-lilies floated, 

 Where the rushes waved and whis- 

 pered. 



On the dam stood Pau-Puk- 

 Keewis, 



On the dam of trunks and branches, 

 Through whose chinks the water 



spouted, 

 O'er whose summit flowed the 



streamlet. 



From the bottom rose the beaver, 

 Looked with two great eyes of 



wonder, 



Eyes that seemed to ask a question, 

 At the stranger, Pau-Puk-Keewis. 

 On the dam stood Pau-Puk- 

 Keewis, 



O'er his ankles flowed the stream- 

 let, 



Flowed the bright and silvery water, 

 And he spake unto the beaver, 

 With a smile he spake in this wise : 

 *O my friend Ahmeek, the 



beaver, 



Cool and pleasant is the water; 

 Let me dive into the water, 

 Let me rest there in your lodges; 

 Change me, too, into a beaver!' 

 Cautiously replied the beaver, 

 With reserve he thus made answer: 



' Let me first consult the others. 

 Let me ask the other beavers.' 

 Down he sank into the water, 

 Heavily sank he, as a stone sinks, 

 Down among the leaves and 



branches, 



Brown and matted at the bottom. 

 On the dam stood Pau-Puk- 

 Keewis, 



O'er his ankles flowed the stream- 

 let, 

 Spouted through the chinks below 



him, 

 Dashed upon the stones beneath 



him, 



Spread serene and calm before him ; 

 And the sunshine and the shadows 

 Fell in flecks and gleams upon him, 

 Fell in little shining patches, 

 Through the waving, rustling 



branches. 

 From the bottom rose the 



beavers, 



Silently above the surface 

 Rose one head and then another, 

 Till the pond seemed full of 



beavers, 

 Full of black and shining faces. 



To the beavers Pau-Puk-Keewis 

 Spake entreating, said in this wise : 

 'Very pleasant is your dwelling, 

 O my friends! and safe from 



danger; 



Can you not with all your cunning, 

 All your wisdom and contrivance, 

 Change me, too, into a beaver?' 

 'Yes!' replied Ahmeek, the 



beaver, 



He the King of all the beavers, 

 ' Let yourself slide down among us, 

 Down into the tranquil water.' 

 Down into the pond among them 



3be Dunting ot pau*puh*Heewte 



