I2 4 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



bear lowered his tail in the water, to secure the shoal which seemed 

 to have gathered around him. Whenever the tail shook, he would 

 throw his game to the fox who would urge him on. This continued 

 until a gusty north wind which chanced to be passing stopped in 

 its wonder and deriding the bear, blew its cold breath over the 

 water. And the river became quiet and its waves suddenly 

 stretched out as smooth as a blanket. Xo more could they chase 

 each other in their race with the wind nor lap to the shore when 

 it thirsted in the sun, for the north wind had frozen them down 

 by its breath. But the foolish and unheeding bear, intent on his 

 game, waited till night. No more came the tremulous snipping 

 at his tail, no longer his tail grew heavy with the wrigglers. The 

 bear, who could not see the crafty fox devouring his pile of game, 

 exclaimed, " How suddenly the wrigglers have stopped biting my 

 tail! What does it mean?" 



The subtle fox caught sniffing and choking over a bone, replied: 

 " Something has drifted against them. Wait till it passes." And 

 the good natured bear who in his mind was counting the game 

 which he had thrown to the shore, saw the night coming, and 

 thought of his home to which he knew he must hasten. He had 

 his honey and his nuts beside his river game to carry, and the way 

 was long. As he was fixing himself to travel, in his hospitality 

 he invited the fox to return with him when they would partake 

 of the feast together; and if the fox was willing, he could help 

 carry the game. But no answer came to his invitation. Again 

 he called to the fox. No answer, and he raised himself to jump 

 from the log. But his tail was " so heavy." " Some big game," 

 gleefully thought he, as he pulled stronger. " My! how that game 

 pulls!" thought the bear. " Now I will bring it." And with a 

 vigorous jump, he made a lunge for the shore when lo! his tail 

 was left in the water! The satirical north wind had frozen it fast! 

 And the friendly, advising fox! Where was he? Vanished! 

 And the game? A pile of half chewed bones on the bank! With 

 a sigh and a sneering smile, the tailless bear lifted his load of honey 

 and nuts and lumbered along to his cave miles away! 



Thus the bear lost his tail and his tailless descendants have 

 never been fishermen. 



THE ALGONQUIN AND WAN-NUT-HA 



Disdaining death, scorning his foes, defying the stake and 

 challenging its torture, Hon-do-sa, an Algonquin chieftain, 

 awaited his doom at sunrise. He was the captive of a Seneca 

 sachem. 



