148 .NARRATIVE <tc. 



They were frightened into silence. But observing the continu- 

 ance of an improper intercourse, kept up by stealth as it were, 

 they resolved at last to disclose the whole matter to their father. 

 The result was such as might be anticipated. The father being 

 satisfied with the infidelity of his wife, took up a war club at a 

 moment when he was not perceived, and with a single blow de- 

 spatched the object of his jealousy. He then buried her under 

 the ashes of his fire, took down his lodge, and removed to a dis- 

 tant position. 



But the spirit of the woman haunted the children who were 

 now grown up to the estate of young men. She appeared to 

 them in the shadows of evening. She terrified them in dreams. 

 She harrassed their imaginations wherever they went, so that 

 their life was a life of perpetual terrors. They resolved to 

 leave the country, and commenced a journey of many days 

 towards the south. They at length came to the Poiwateeg 

 falls. (St. Mary's.) But they had no sooner come in sight of 

 these falls, than they beheld the skull of the woman (their moth- 

 er) rolling along the beach after them. They were in the ut- 

 most fear, and knew not what to do, to elude her, when one of 

 them observed a large crane sitting on a rock in the rapids. 

 They called out to the bird. " See, Grandfather, we are perse- 

 cuted by a spirit. Come and take us across the falls so that we 

 may escape her." 



This crane w T as a bird of extraordinary size and great age. 

 And when first descried by the two sons, sat in a state of stu- 

 por, in the midst of the most violent eddies of the foaming wa- 

 ter. When he heard himself addressed, he stretched forth his 

 neck, with great deliberation, and then raising himself on his 

 wings flew across to their assistance. " Be careful" said the 

 crane, " that you do not touch the back part of my head. It is 

 sore, and should you press against it, I shall not be able to avoid 

 throwing you both into the rapids." They were, however, at- 

 tentive on this point, and were both safely landed on the south 



