MYTHS OF THE WOOD CREES 



213 



fleeing birds passed him, the angry manito gave a savage kick at 

 the loon, driving its legs far back, where they are fixed to the 

 present day. Wisagatchak made preparations to have a feast. 

 The geese were buried in the sand with their legs above the sur- 

 face, and a roaring fire was built over them. 



"Now," said he, " I will have a nap while they are roasting." 

 One side of his body was to remain on guard while the other 

 slept. The sleeping side was soon awakened to be told that a 

 boat load of foxes was passing. They soon disappeared and 

 the waking half was so berated for disturbing the slumbers of 

 the other, that it resolved to go to sleep also, and not incur 

 further displeasure. The foxes soon returned and, discovering 

 the geese, removed them, leaving only the legs sticking in the 

 sand. Wisagatchak discovered his loss upon awakening and, 

 in his anger, heated a large stone and pressed it against the 

 offending side. As it began to burn with a hissing, chee, chee, 

 he exclaimed, " Oh yes, I will make you sing chee-e-e-e-e, 

 chee-e-e-e-e, for allowing all my geese to be stolen." 



As he went along, while the wound healed, a piece of dried 

 flesh fell at his feet. Not noticing whence it had come he 

 picked it up to eat it. Kitche Ganeseesuk flitting about among 

 the bushes called out, " Wisagatchak is eating his own flesh." 

 Throwing the piece in his hand against a birch tree he exclaimed, 

 "Let that be called pusagun (touchwood) forever." 



Wisagatchak's Adventure with the Beaver. 



One day, as Wisagatchak was going along, he came upon a 

 beaver which was cutting green cottonwoods for food. Seeing 

 him approaching the beaver sank down, feigning death. 



"Why do you not work?" said the manito. Receiving no 

 answer, he concluded that the animal was dead. He then 

 fastened a line about its neck and hung it over his shoulder, 

 having to take off his fire bag to make a place for it. The fire 

 bag was disposed of by being tied to the beaver's tail. When 

 he reached a suitable camping place the manito built a fire and 

 went to cut four sticks upon which to roast the four quarters 

 of the beaver. During his absence the beaver escaped. Hear- 

 ing it splashing in a creek near by he rushed back and dis- 

 covered its flight. 



" My fire bag! Give me my fire bag," he cried, but the beaver 

 only laughed in reply. 



