IV. How the Kingfisher Got His Ring and His Ruffle
IV. How the Kingfisher Got His Ring and His Ruffle of «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole text, 20 sentences and 285 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself.
(Chippewa, 1895)1
Menabozho had a wolf who hunted for him.2
“My brother,” said Menabozho, “never cross the water, for the water manitous will catch you.”3
One day the wolf was tired and saw a narrow stream in his way, so he threw the goose he had caught over his back and tried to leap across the stream.4 The water manitou caught him, and Menabozho had no supper and never again saw his wolf.5
The next day Menabozho saw the kingfisher sitting on a tree near the stream.6
“My brother,” said Menabozho the Sly One, “can you tell me where Menabozho’s brother wolf is?”7
“What will you give me if I tell you?” said the kingfisher.8
“I will put a fine collar around your neck if you will tell me,” said Menabozho.9
“First put the collar around my neck, then I will tell you,” said the bird.10
Menabozho fastened around the bird’s neck a beautiful white collar, which he wears to this day; then the kingfisher told him how he had seen the wolf caught while leaping across the water the day before, and said:11
“The great water manitou comes out when the sun is hottest to rest on the shore.12 He will sleep on the wolfskin.13 The mud turtle will sit on a stone and keep watch for Menabozho.14 The bear will stand by this tree and watch.15 I will sit on this tree and watch, too.16 We are all friends, but maybe you are Menabozho?”17
The bird jumped, but Menabozho caught its head in his hands.18 The kingfisher twisted his head out of Menabozho’s fingers, gave a laugh, and flew away; and that is the way he got his ruffle.19
Ooranah.20
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