26o 



THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



tree was thrown down, and a great forest sprang 

 up. The trees were so large and so close together 

 that Naba-Cha had to cut his way through, while 

 the caribou was left behind with his antlers hope- 

 lessly caught in the branches. 



Again Naba-Cha appeared in sight, but not 

 until Hottah and Ithenhiela were safe on the 

 other side of the Tes- Yukon. 



"Help me across the river, Hottah!" cried 

 Naba-Cha. "Help me across, and I will do no 

 harm to Ithenhiela!" 



Hottah went back for Naba-Cha, but In mid- 

 stream, when returning, he threw him off his 

 back, and the bad Big Man was swept into the 

 rapids and was drowned. 



The two-year-old moose ("cleverest of all the 

 northern animals") gave Ithenhiela instructions 

 how to find the good Nesnabi, and then returned 

 to his own country. 



There was a tradition among the Indians of 

 eastern Canada of a moose of monstrous size 

 which could walk without difficulty through 

 eight feet of snow. "His hide is proof against all 

 manner of weapons, and he has a sort of arm 

 proceeding from his shoulders, which he uses as 

 we do ours. He is always attended by a vast 



