Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/58

 which are magic words. Therefore Indians say, "Oh, shelte," even today, when they hunt muskrats.

Young Caribou, as he danced, jerked his head from side to side until the shavings caught fire. At once the old chief put them out with his hands. Everybody began to dance then, and Young Caribou let the shavings catch fire. And again the old chief put them out, though they were quite a blaze.

Now, while the old chief was busy watching Caribou, Muskrat had been busy. He had burrowed a tunnel through the earth. Then he quickly stole a piece of fire and slipped into his hole with it. The old chief was busy putting out the fire in the shavings on Caribou's horns. Everybody went on dancing.

Suddenly a person said, "Oh, look!" He pointed to a great mountain far away, near the edge of the sky. A great column of smoke rose from it. Then soon flames burst from the mountain top.

At once everybody knew that Muskrat had stolen the old chief's fire, and had given it to men and animals.