Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/237

 Haida EAVER'S store of food was plentiful. While he was away hunting one day, Porcupine stole that food. Then he remained sitting there. When Beaver returned he asked, "Did you eat my food?"

Porcupine said, "No, indeed. How can the food of supernatural beings be taken? You have supernatural power and I have supernatural power."

Then they started to fight. Beaver tried to seize Porcupine with his teeth, but when he threw himself at his face, the sharp spines struck him. After they had fought for a while, Beaver went to the place where his parents lived. He was all covered with spines.

Then his father called the people together, and the Beaver people came in a crowd. They all went along to fight Porcupine. Porcupine used angry words to them. Then they pushed down his house upon him. They seized him. They took him to an island lying out at sea, upon which two trees stood.

When Porcupine was almost starved, he called upon the animals of his clan. He called upon his father.