Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/441

Rh Micmacs of Nova Scotia, as we sat beside the camp-fire in the glorious summer evenings of that land, and they pointed out overhead the stars of which they spoke. Let us preface the legend with the following table:—

Comparing the above list with the accompanying chart, we observe that the Bear is represented by the four stars in the bowl of what we call the Dipper. Behind are seven hunters who are pursuing her. Close beside the second hunter is a little star. It is the pot which he is carrying, so that, when the bear is killed, he may cook the meat therein. Just above these hunters a group of smaller stars form a pocket-like figure—the den whence the bear has issued.

Late in spring, the bear waking from her long winter sleep, leaves her rocky hillside den and descends to the ground in search of food. Instantly the sharp-eyed chickadee perceives her, and, being too small to undertake the pursuit alone, calls the other hunters to his aid. Together the seven start after the bear, the chickadee with his pot being placed between two of the larger birds so that he may not lose his way. All the hunters are hungry for meat after the short rations of winter and so they pursue eagerly, but throughout the summer the bear flees across the northern horizon and the pursuit continues. In the autumn, one by one, the hunters in the rear begin to lose their trail. First of all the two owls, heavier and clumsier of wing than the other birds, disappear from the chase. But you must not laugh when you hear how Kopkech, the smaller owl, failed to secure a share of the bear meat, and you must not imitate his rasping cry, for if you disregard either warning, be sure that wherever you are, as soon as you are asleep he will descend from the sky with a birch bark torch and set fire to whatever clothing covers you. Next the blue jay and the pigeon also lose the trail and drop out of the chase. This leaves only the robin, the chickadee, and the moose bird, but they continue the pursuit, and at last, about mid-autumn, they overtake their prey.