🧚 Opening, part 12 · page 2

Now for thirty days Kulóskap Who had well-nigh lost his power Of magic, as all magicians Are often all exhausted, Remembered that his friend The Fox was mteolin, With all the strength of sorcery.56 And still the mighty Master Could sing the wonderful song Which is heard to any distance, Away over forests and mountains, Over the rolling rivers.57 So he sang and the Fox soon heard it, And he travelled by night and day Until he came to the ocean, And swam to the lonely isle.58

“Now swim with me to the mainland,” Said the Fox unto the Master.59 “Brother, I cannot do it For all my power is gone.”60 “Hold to my tail” said the Fox, “Be of good faith, my brother, We soon shall gain the shore.”61

“But remember,” said the Fox, “While we are in the water Thou must keep thine eyes fast shut.62 All depends upon that, On that alone and thy faith.”63

So all went well for a time, But anon the chief grew weary, And opening one eye a little It seemed to him that truly They were not ten feet from the shore, And being of little faith He thought--for he spoke not aloud: “We shall never get to land:” But the Fox who read his thought, Replied, “Do not believe it, I _will_ that we reach the shore.”64

But the journey lasted long, For what seemed unto the Master To be ten feet, was really Ten miles--and the wind was high, And the waves were wild and beat them, For the witch had raised a storm; And it was late in the evening Before they reached the land.65

“And now my elder brother,” Said the Fox, “you may go your way.”66 He went and came to the camp Where he had left his people.67

There all was silent and sad, The ashes were cold on the hearths, In the deserted homes, In the lonely, silent wigwams; So he followed the tracks of the Indians, And in a day came near them.68 The first whom he overtook Was his mother bearing his brother; Nʾmokswes, that is the Sable, Or as others say the Marten.69 She bore him on her back, The child’s back lay against her, So that, while she looked forward, He could only look behind.70 As Kulóskap peered from a thicket, Smiling to see the boy, The Sable cried: “Oh, my brother Is coming to us at last!”71 And she turned her head, yet saw nothing, For the Master hid his head Quickly behind a tree.72 But the infant cried again: “Indeed and truly, mother, I saw my brother there!”73 And this time glancing quickly She caught a sight of the Master, And they all laughed for joy.74

Then the mother threw Nʾmokswes Like a stick down into the leaves, But the Master bade him rise And run to the camp with speed.75 “And when you are there,” he said, “Build up a mighty fire, A fire of hemlock bark, And take the Pitcher’s babe, Whom she so dearly loves, And has given to you to tend, And throw it into the fire; Then run to me for your life, For verily thou wilt be In direst need to do it.”76

And as he had commanded It was done.77 When the fire was hot Nʾmokswes threw the imp, The child of an evil mother, Into the roaring flames, And it was burned to death.78 Then the sorceress who was maddened, As you may well believe, With rage, pursued the Sable, Even as a starving wolf Chases a rabbit in winter: Nʾmokswes in great fear Cried, “Oh my elder brother!”79 And the sorceress yelled: “Call out!80 Call loudly as you can!81 For to save your life you must run As far as the distant island Where I left him long ago.”82 But at the word the Master Stepped forward, and as he faced her Said: “He need not run so far.”83

Then, seeing him, fear came o’er her, But laughing aloud to hide it, She said: “I only chased him In sport, for I truly love him.”84 But the Master answered grimly, “I know thee and thy love, And also all thy tricks, Thou who art truly a devil.”85 Then feeling that his power Of magic was returning, He used his mighty will, And the will awoke to might, And before his breath the sorceress Was driven backward lightly, Like a leaf before the wind Till her back was against a tree; Then he said to her, “Remain Ever attached to the bark,” And so indeed she remained, Though not as the Master meant.86

Then the Master and his brother Together went to the camp; Great was the joy when he came.87

The Pitcher had a hatchet, And so with much ado She cut herself (or himself), In time away from the tree.88 The Black Cats heard her chopping, Pounding and chopping all night; And wondered what it might be.89 She came to them in the morning, But a fragment from the tree Ever adhered to her back: So they laughed at her in scorn, And sang together these words:90

“He who made the chief Stay on a distant island, Is now stuck by the chief Fast with his back to a tree.”91

It is said she turned to a toad Which bears to this day on its back A hump, or the piece of wood Which was carried away from the tree.92 Though another legend has it That, as during all her life She had tormented men With her insatiate longing, She was changed to a mosquito Which preys on them in the night, The blood-thirsty stinging Tʾsiso Ever a-stinging and singing: “Give me thy life and blood.”93 It is said it was at Fresh-Water, After she left Bar Harbor, That she changed into the insect Which ever will bear her name.94

Pûjinskwes had many children Whose fathers were giants and monsters, Sorcerers and demons, But, as they all were hideous, She stole from the Indian women Their fairest babes, and pretended That they were all her own.95 Among these was a comely youth, And as he grew older he wondered That most of his brothers and sisters Were dark and like the devils While he, and a few, were fair.96 So one day he asked Pûjinskwes Why it was?97 She answered laughing: “The dark were born in the darkness, But thou, my son, by day.”98

FOOTNOTES:99

[40] There was an Indian village.100

[41] This couplet indicates the metre into which most of the original can be resolved.101

VII102

HOW KULÓSKAP SAILED THROUGH THE CAVERN OF DARKNESS103

[_Micmac_]104

_Nʾkani bʾmaoinnoak itmok niktuk iloiknuk wesisek Kulóskap honichan uch negum Naga honosokoan nihit Piliomeskasik ktakʾmigw.105 _[42]106

It is told in old traditions, And even in them with a difference, According to the nations In which these songs are sung, That “in these olden times,” Kulóskap’s seven neighbors, That is, seven beasts of the forest, Stole his family from him And that he long pursued them Even to Néwfoundlánd.107

When he came there it was night, And, finding Marten alone, He took him into the forest, Bidding him seek for game, Putting his belt on the boy; Which gave him such magic power That he killed both moose and bear, And brought all gayly home.108