A METOWAC LEGEND. 195 



Cheraanitou became weary of this continued contest for 

 power, and longed for a creature who should be entirely 

 dependent upon his will. He therefore went round to the 

 different Manittos, and having spoken fairly to them all, they 

 each gave him a small portion of that which belonged to 

 themselves, and he went his way. He had fire, and air, and 

 water, besides many smaller gifts which he picked up in various 

 forms. He put these all by themselves, and for many days he 

 sat apart, and in silence. 



No one dared approach him. He sat as in a screen of fire 



After a while the flame cleared away, and the Master <>l 

 Life led forth a new creature. It was a man. 



The Manittos saw too late what they had done, for each 

 beheld something taken from himself to make up the creation, 

 while the form was that of the Great Being, who has all things 

 within himself. 



Chemanitou was filled with delight at his work, and he 

 went on and made a great many more just like him. So these 

 men, who were very large and very strong, moved about amid 

 trees, and flowers, and fruits, and slept, and awoke, and for a 

 while seemed quite content. Having the air as a part of them- 

 selves, they wrestled, and leaped, and danced as they would live 

 in that element. Then the water attracted them and they 

 played for a long time in its waves, and after sat in the warm 

 light. But still the master of life saw they were not satisfied. 



