🧚 Opening, part 7 · page 2

“It is the mighty Waʾsis,” she replied: “And there he sits before you on the floor!48 And mark my words--if you do trouble him, He’ll cause you greater trouble in the end!”49

Now Waʾsis was the Baby.50 And he sat Upon the floor, in baby peace profound Sucking a piece of maple sugar sweet; Greatly content and troubling nobody.51

Now as the mighty Lord of Men and Beasts Had never married, nor had had a child, The art of nursing or of managing Such little ones was all unknown to him; And therefore he was sure, as all such folk Invariably are, be they or maids Or blooming bachelors, that he at least Knew all about it and would have his way, And make the young obey him.52 So the Lord Turned to the babe with a bewitching smile, And bade the little creature come to him; Back smiled the baby, but it did not budge.53

And then the Master spoke in sweeter tone, Making his voice like that of summer birds, And all to no avail; for Waʾsis sat, And, sucking at his sugar silently, Looked at Kulóskap with untroubled eyes.54

So then the Lord as in great anger frowned And ordered Waʾsis in an awful voice To crawl to him at once.55 And baby burst Into wild tears, and high he raised his voice Unto a squall tremendous--yet for all Did never move an inch from where he sat.56

Then, since he could do only one thing more, The Master had recourse to sorcery And used the awful spells, and sang the songs Which raise the dead and scare the devils wild And send the witches howling to their graves, And make the forest pines bend low to earth.57 And Waʾsis looked at him admiringly And seemed to find it interesting, quite; Yet, peacefully as ever kept his place.58

So, in despair, Kulóskap gave it up, And Waʾsis, ever sitting on the floor In the warm sunshine, went “Goo! goo!” and crowed; That was his infant crow of victory.59

Now to this very day, whene’er you see A baby well contented, crying “Goo!”60 Or crowing in this style, know that it is Because he then remembers in great joy How he in strife, all in the olden time, Did overcome the Master, conqueror Of all the world.61 For that, of creatures all, Or beings which on earth have ever been Since the beginning, Baby is alone The never yielding and invincible.62 L.63

FOOTNOTES:64

[23] This is an old story of Kulóskap.65 They told it long ago.66

=Canto Third=67

THE MASTER AND THE ANIMALS68

I69

KULÓSKAP AND THE LOONS70

[_Micmac and Passamaquoddy_]71

_Kulóskap umimat netinniaspʾnil Winpeul kʾchi mteolinul.72 _[24]73

While the Master was pursuing Winpe the giant magician, One day at Uktukâmkw He saw afar in the distance Over the silent water, Far away in the sunset, Kwîmûŭk (the Loons) a-flying.74 Thence did their chief in a circle Lead them around the lake; Yet ever drawing nearer To the Home of Beasts and Men; And as he came, the Master Said: “What is thy will, O Kwîmû?”75

To whom the Loon replied “I fain would be thy servant, Thy servant and thy friend.”76 Then the Master taught them a cry, A strange long cry like the howl Of a dog when he calls to the moon, Or when, far away in the forest, He seeks to find his master; And told them when they required him To utter this long strange cry.77

Now it came to pass long after The Master in Uktâkŭmkûk (The which is Newfoundland) Came to an Indian village And all who dwelt therein Were Kwîmûŭk, who had been Loons in the time before; And now they were very glad As men to see once more The Master who had blessed them When they were only birds; Therefore he made them his huntsmen, Also his messengers; Hence comes that in all the stories Which are told of the mighty Master The Loons are ever his friends; And the Indians when they hear The cry of the Loons, exclaim: “_Kwîmû elkomtûejul Kulóskapŭl_,” “The Loon is calling Kulóskap,” the Master.78

FOOTNOTES:79

[24] Kulóskap used to fight with Winpe the great wizard.80

II81

KULÓSKAP AND THE BEAVER82

[_Micmac_]83

_Kulóskap naga Kwâbît.84 _[25]85

Over all the land Of the Wabanaki, The Land of the Break of Day, There is never a place Where the hand of Kulóskap Made not a mark.86 It is seen on hills and rivers, On the great roads through mountains, As well as on mighty rocks Which once were living monsters.87

Such is the wonderful highway Running along the river Called Herbert--the road which is named By white men the Boar’s Back, By Indians Onwokun, Which is their word for Causeway.88

The tale is told of Kulóskap That, once while travelling To visit Partridge Island And then Cape Blomidon, His friends were tired of rowing, Tired of travel by water, And wished to cross by land; And, while they all were resting, The Master, raising his magic Unto a mighty deed To be spoken of forever, Went away for a little time And cast up a giant ridge, A wide and beautiful level Over great bogs and streams, And across this they travelled Rejoicing, to await him.89

And yet again the Master Did a very wondrous deed; For it came to pass in those days That the beavers had built a dam From Âûkogegéchk or Blomidon, Even unto the opposite shore, And thereby made a pond Which filled up all the valley.90 Now in those times the beavers Were beasts of monstrous size, And the Master, though kind of heart, Seems to have had indeed But little love for them Since the day when young Kwâbîtsis, The son of the Great Beaver, Tempted Malsum to slay his brother In the very early time.91 Now to this very day They find the bones of these beavers; There are many on Unamagik, Their teeth are six inches wide, There are no such beavers to-day!92 And these are indeed the bones Of the beavers who built the dam Across at Cape Blomidon And crossed the Annapolis Valley.93

Now the Master would fain go hunting, And thereby do a deed Which should equal the great whale-fishing Of Kitpûsiigʾnâû.94

So he cut the great dam near the shore, And he bade the boy Marten watch; For he said, “I greatly suspect That there is a little beaver Who is hiding hereabouts.”95 And when the dam was cut From where it joined the shore, There was a mighty rush, And the roar of many waters, So that the beaver dam, Which was made of giant trees Deftly fastened together, Swung full around to the westward; And yet it did not break Away from the other shore.96 Therefore the end of it lodged With a great split therein When the flood had found a passage; And the whole may be seen there still, To this very day, even, As it is seen by all Of those who pass up the bay; And still this point, Cape Split, Is called by the Micmacs Plîgun Which means the opening Or cleft of a beaver dam.97