Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/204

 ISKE-DJAK AND THE PARTRIDGES

Algonquin

ISKE-DJAK wandered over the swamps and mountains feeling all out of sorts with himself. It was just after the Indians had stolen all his ducks and geese as they cooked in the coals. All at once he came upon a little flock of partridges, just newly hatched. Their mother was away.

"Kwe!" said Wiske-djak. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing," said the partridges. " Just staying here."

"Where is your mother?" asked Wiske-djak.

"She's away hunting," they said.

"What's your name?" he asked one of them. And then each little partridge had to tell him his name until he came to the very last. "What's your name?" he demanded.

"Suddenly Frightened," answered little partridge. "Oh, you!" said Wiske-djak, "what can you frighten?" And he picked up a big lump of soft mud and threw it all over the clean little partridges. "What can you frighten now?" he said. Then he walked off.