_Wyandot_
Big Turtle had sent Small Turtle into Sky Land to make a light for
the Earth Plain. So Little Turtle became the Keeper of the Sky. She
lived in the sky. Whenever she was needed at a council, she was
called by Deer, the herald whose voice “goes a long ways.” At once
she came down on a cloud.
After a while Deer wanted to go into Sky Land. He went to ask
Rainbow to help him. Rainbow said, “Oh, no!” and Deer had to go
away. But Deer kept thinking about the Sky Land. Then he went again
to Rainbow. Deer said, “Please take me up into the Sky Land,” so
Rainbow spread wide the broad trail and Deer leaped up until he
reached the top of it. Thus Deer went into Sky Land.
Now Big Turtle called a council of all the animals. All came except
Deer and Little Turtle. Big Turtle asked, “Where is Deer?” but no
one answered. Yet some of the animals knew. Big Turtle said to the
runners, “Go find Deer.” The runners came back after a long time.
They said, “People say Deer has gone into Sky Land.” Hawk also said
that. Then Big Turtle was angry. He said, “Sky Land is Little
Turtle’s country. And where is Little Turtle?”
Deer was the only one whose voice “goes a long ways.” He should have
called Little Turtle out of Sky Land. But he was up in Sky Land and
no one could make her hear. But at last they shouted until Little
Turtle heard and came down. But no council could be held without
Deer.
The animals said, “Oh, what shall we do?” Little Turtle said, “Deer
is now up in the sky. He has been there for some time, running
around everywhere.”
Little Turtle said, “Rainbow has a beautiful trail. Deer went up
that way.” Then she said, “I will show you the Rainbow trail.” So
all the animals followed her. Then Big Turtle spoke. He said, “Since
Deer has gone to Sky Land, we will all follow him there!” So Rainbow
took them all up on the trail of many colors. The animals are up
there also; so they say.
[Illustration: Canoe and Paddles
All Indian designs are symbolical. Those on the canoe and paddles
represent the eye of the raven and the whale
_From “Memoirs, American Museum of Natural History”_]