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 NO. 3

��PENOBSCOT TRANSFORMER TALES

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�� ��came a man, his true friend, Kingfisher, said to him, "You ought to search for your grand- father and your grandmother and the others of your people." When he came back to his wigwam, he said to his mother and Mas- ki-'k' w si', "Kingfisher told me it is said I have many relatives. Now, then, I am going to search for them." Then said Maski-'k' w si- "Very far away, but you will surely come to their abode." She said, "Now go to the north until you see a cross-range of hazy mountains, and across them you will find your people." Froth, on the next morning, went away, and walked for many days. At last he suddenly saw a range of misty mountains in the distance. Ki-i-1 He rejoiced, and said, "Soon I shall come to where my people are." He hurried along for seven days' time, and then he came to the other side of the moun- tains. He saw a village, and said, "Now, then, soon I shall see my people." Looking, he saw half the village quiet, and the other half noisy, and many there together playing ball, and others dancing. He entered from the quiet direction, and in the first wigwam he entered was Woodchuck. When Woodchuck saw Froth, she began to cry, and at the same time spoke and said, "Poor grandson! we suffer very much because we are all slaves." Then she began to relate to Froth the history of her life. She said, "And you are now with the slave sort." Then she stopped grieving, she bustled about and prepared food, and gave it to him. Then Froth ate; and while eating, a man rushed in quickly, and said, "A little beast is tracked, having gone by in the bush. We shall have great sport, it is said." Said Woodchuck, "At least you ought to wait until the man (Froth) is done eating." Then Froth said, "So! I shall soon be ready. I too am very fond of sport." When he had finished eating, he took up his bow. He told Wood- chuck, "Don't worry about me, grandmother." When he went outside, men were standing there waiting for him. They said to Froth, "Here in the thicket a little way off are the

��fresh tracks of the animal going by. Let us chase him!" Accordingly then they all went forth. Froth began looking at the tracking; and when he saw the tracks, ki'nalagitdie'-na they looked like the place where a wigwam had been after being wrenched from the ground, e-e-, they were so big and deep! Right away Froth began to run and chase the little animal. e-e! How he ran then! These people all hung back, they let him go on ahead. He went ahead of them, and on this account they were all laughing in their minds at him. Then, as he went on, he overtook the little beast, and saw it standing there half way up to the trees in height. It was the great magic White-Bear. Then Froth shot at it. But even so, he did not notice it. Gi-v, then again he shot. Then at last all his arrows were used up except -one. Suddenly a Chickadee appeared flying, and alighted on Froth's shoulder and began to whisper, "Ktci-gi-gi-gi- heel!" Looking, Froth saw something throbbing on White-Bear's heel. +/ He shot at that cursed throbbing round thing. Then White-Bear toppled over. Froth went up to him. White-Bear was stiff and dead. Looking at him, Froth saw that he had shot White-Bear in his heart, and the arrow had gone clear through. Kvi-l The people came up in a mass. Some of them were laughing when they got there because of it. They looked, and saw White-Bear lying there dead. Said Froth, "I will give you your share of the beast. Ki-i-1 It was very good sport." The people right away cast down their faces quickly. Nobody spoke. Then they walked back to the village. When Froth saw Wood- chuck, he said, "Grandma, I have shot him dead, that White-Bear." Ki-i-1 Then Wood- chuck cried, she was so glad. $+! They danced around, and she said, "Grandson, you have done a very great thing. You have conquered the greatest magic man in the world." Froth said, "It was by the help of Kingfisher and Chickadee." Ki-i-1 That evening there was a big rejoicing- feast. There was a big dance on this account, and every one was

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