Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/139

 TURTLE AND THE THUNDER BIRD

Ojibwa

NCE Turtle was living all alone in a lake. Several times he was hit by something. When he came out to see what it was, he could see nothing at all. One day he was struck again. He thought he would ask someone to help him. When he came out of the water, he went into the woods. He cried, "Who will help me? Who will help me?" Deer ran out from among the shrubs and said, "I will help you."

"Come on," said Turtle, " let me see how you can fight." Deer started to fight a tree and broke his horns.

Turtle said, "Oh, you will not last long enough."

He left Deer and again called out, "Who will help me?"

Bear came out and said, " I will help you."

Turtle said, " Let me see how you can fight."

Bear started to fight a tree, but he was so clumsy jumping around, that Turtle said, "Oh, you won't last long if you have to fight the giant I am after."

Turtle again began to call, "Who will help me?"