THE GOOD MAGICIAN VISITS RUN-ALL-DAY’S NEW VILLAGE
The “carry” around the falls was accomplished by noon. Fifteen miles
farther down stream was another dangerous place, not a fall, but a long
rapid that no canoe could get through at high water. That passed, it
would be quiet voyaging down to the great bay.
Run-all-day did not utter a regret at the loss of his fine, birch-bark
canoe, though it caused quite a disturbance and delay in the
arrangements of the party. Well below the falls, in a grove of pines
that stood close to the river, the men set to work to cut logs for a
raft. They used fire and their axes to fell the trees. It was a slow
job and a hard one. When the trees came down (which they did not seem
in any hurry to do) the branches were hacked off, and then the trunks
were divided into as many logs of the required length and girth as they
contained.
Everybody worked willingly, for even the laziest of the young men
realized that the favour of a great chief like Run-all-day was
well worth sweating for. He was a friend of the good magician; he
possessed the power of flight like a bird; he was able to snatch his
children--then why not his warriors?--from the very jaws of death. So
they hacked and burned with a will.
At last ten logs were ready and rolled down to a quiet eddy against the
shore. Six were floated side by side, close together, and bound firmly
with thongs of hide. The other four, slightly smaller in size, were
bound on top of the six, making a sort of upper deck which stood clear
of the water. But by the time the raft was completed, the sun was so
low in the west that it was hardly worth while to embark again that day.
Next morning the raft was loaded with the provisions and household
goods that had begun the journey in the lost canoe. Some other freight
was added, and Run-all-day’s family found seats, here and there, in
the other canoes. Then the chief and one of the young men manned the
raft, one standing at each end, and pushed it out of the eddy with long
poles. The raft proved almost as swift, or, rather, not much slower
than the canoes of hide, and it was certainly a great deal steadier and
as easily managed. And so they continued their journey, but little the
worse for the accident.
When the rapid was reached the raft, with its freight securely
fastened, was lowered from eddy to eddy, by means of a tow-line of
twisted hide.
Salt water was reached about mid-afternoon of the next day, and the
cod-fishers led the party straight to the site of their last year’s
camp. Temporary shelters were pitched before dark. Then Run-all-day
examined the ground on every side, deciding the positions of the lodges
and other weighty matters. So, in a week’s time, Run-all-day’s summer
village was built; and the cod-fishing prospered amazingly.
Jumping Wolf won back his strength and was soon able to work at the
fishing, to handle the cranky canoes, and to compete with the other men
at all manner of sports. At shooting an arrow far and straight, only
the chief himself was the new clansman’s superior. When he was fully
recovered from his illness, he could out-leap them all, jumping either
high or wide. Also, he was the swiftest runner in the village; and even
in the long races of five miles or more, only the chief could pass
him. So Jumping Wolf stood high among the warriors of the little clan.
During the summer, six more families joined Run-all-day’s band. They
were all of his own people, of the same great tribe into which he had
been born. They had been without a leader for several seasons, moving
as the whim suggested, hunting or fishing when need drove them to
it, and constantly being bullied or robbed by more united families.
So, when they heard of the new chief and the new clan, and distorted
versions of his flights through the air, they came to him, group by
group, and begged to be taken under his protection.
Now Run-all-day, so short a time before content to be only a good
provider for his family, found his hands full of other people’s
duties and his steady head fairly buzzing with affairs. But he worked
cheerfully, turning aside from nothing; but when a matter seemed too
deep for him he sought the counsel of Red Willow, and usually got wise
advice. He fished as diligently as the most energetic of his followers.
He trained them in the uses of all manner of weapons, both for the
chase and war. He made them practise archery, and spear-throwing, and
the art of attack and defence with clubs and knives. He set the old
people to making shields of hide and wood; and on rainy days every
warrior had to make arrows and bows, spears and paddles. And if any man
sulked or idled, the chief took him aside and talked to him, and one
such conversation proved enough, in every case.
One August evening, the good magician, Wise-as-a-she-wolf, stepped into
the village and greeted the people pleasantly. They had neither seen
nor heard of him since early spring. He was in his customary form,
that of a gentle, rather undersized youth. The chief welcomed him with
respectful warmth and led him straightway to the evening meal. When all
had eaten, a great fire was built at the seaward edge of the village,
and around this gathered the warriors and old men. The magician and
Run-all-day sat side by side, on a bear-skin, separated a little on
either hand from the others.
Wise-as-a-she-wolf spoke first. He had read the story of the chief’s
ambition at a glance, and praised the village, the clean lodges, and
the store of fish. He warned the company against greed, false pride,
and deceit, and told them that their hope for future happiness and
ever-increasing strength lay in their loyalty to their leader.
“I have seen many a clan torn and scattered from within,” he said.
“Harbour no traitors or cowards among you, and give ear to no talk that
you would not repeat openly to your chief and the whole village.”
Then Run-all-day told him, quietly, of how he had used the red feathers
again, to save the lives of two of his children from the fierce hunger
of the river.
“You did well, friend,” replied the youth. “By every noble and merciful
deed in which they are employed their virtue is increased.”
He bent close to the chief. “They would scarce lift me above the
ground, when I last took them from Bright Robe,” he whispered.
The story of Jumping Wolf’s flight from the south was told by
Run-all-day. The magician listened intently, and then questioned the
young warrior closely.
“I know those people,” he said. “They listen to evil counsellors, to
weaklings and cowards who play with magic and work it to their evil
desires.”
“There is one such coward the less, now,” said Jumping Wolf.
“Do not boast of the spilling of blood,” replied the magician, gravely.
At that the young warrior hung his head, for the eyes of the great one
were upon him.
“But some blood is better on the ground than in the heart,” added
Wise-as-a-she-wolf, gently. “And of such was the blood of the traitor
who died at your hand.”
Then Jumping Wolf lifted his head again and looked fearlessly at his
companions. His heart was warm with courage, though it had quaked but a
moment ago.
As the night advanced, the warriors felt more at their ease. Stories
of the day’s work were told, and nods and laughter went ’round the
circle. More wood was heaped on the fire and old Green Bow, warmed to
the marrow, told boastful stories of his deeds in the chase, of what
a mighty fellow he was before the years stiffened his limbs. Other
old men raised their voices, some to cast discredit on Green Bow’s
tales and some to sing the glories of their own past. There was talk
of battles, and of cod-fishing, and of the killing of seals on the
ice-floes from the north.
The magician listened, smiling often, sometimes laughing outright, like
a boy; and, thus encouraged, the old men spurred their imaginations to
the uttermost.
At last the fire was allowed to subside, the company dispersed, and the
chief led his guest to a wigwam that stood in the centre of the village.
“This lodge is yours,” said the chief. “It has been in readiness for
you since spring. And in our winter village we shall build another for
your use, chief.”
“You treat me well, friend,” said the other, touched by the attention.
“Your red feathers have already saved the lives of three of my
children,” replied Run-all-day. “They brought medicine to the littlest
warrior and snatched two others from the river. Also, you have taught
me that, with but little more work and courage, a man may care for a
whole village as easily as for his own family.”
He drew back the flap of caribou skin that covered the doorway of the
lodge, and held a torch high with the other hand, so as to cast the
light within.
“Enter with me, brother. I would speak on a private matter,” said
Wise-as-a-she-wolf.
Brother! The chief’s heart swelled at the word. The greatest man in
the country, perhaps in the whole, wide world, the good magician,
the master of men and magic, called him brother. Ah, he could scarce
believe that such honour had come to him.
Within the lodge, the visitor laid his hand on the chief’s arm and
smiled kindly with his wonderful eyes.
“You have done well, Run-all-day,” he said. “I would trust you far,
for no foolish pride has come to you with new power, and your honesty
remains undimmed. The same cannot be said of many warriors of this
island, for evil counsellors are ever at work.”
“The woman, Red Willow, is cleverer than I, and gives me light on many
questions,” replied the chief, modestly.
The other smiled and nodded his head. He had suspected as much, knowing
that the woman possessed a keener mind than her husband, and he liked
him the better for telling it. But, in a moment, his face was grave
again.
“I have come to you on an important errand,” he said. “I want you and
Red Willow to promise to give me the littlest warrior.”
The chief’s breath caught in his throat and it seemed that his heart
stood still, for he loved each of his children as if it were the
only one. A low cry escaped him, and he stared at the magician with a
flicker of fear in his wide eyes.
“Is it too great a sacrifice to make for the good of the world, and for
your friend?” asked the other, sadly.
“But he is so little,” cried Run-all-day. “I do not understand. What
have I done to displease you, chief?”
“You have pleased me in everything,” replied the magician. “Had you
not pleased me so well, I would not ask you for the child. A time of
warfare and disturbance, open and hidden, is coming. I have read the
future, and I know. True, I could not see clearly, but I saw far. For a
few seasons there shall be quiet, a seeming quiet, then the smouldering
of the evil fires, in a score of places at first, and suddenly in an
hundred places. Then my enemies--our enemies--will gather, and the
flames of hate and lust will burst forth. The powers of the warrior and
the powers of magic will struggle on both sides, many magicians on the
one side and I alone on the other, and many warriors against a few.”
“And what of the child?” asked Run-all-day, presently, in a voice low
with awe.
“He is of honest and courageous parents,” replied the other. “I would
teach him what I know, so that when the struggle is upon us, we shall
be doubly strong. I would take him to my lodge, where he would learn
the great secrets, day by day, growing up with a knowledge of them.”
“And shall he have no playtime?” asked the bewildered father.
“His very lessons will be play for him,” replied the magician, “and he
will be safe and happy.”
“But would it not be better to wait until he is a few years older?”
asked Run-all-day. “This is but his second summer. Surely he is too
little to learn the wonders of magic.”
“It cannot be later,” replied the other. “I must take him into my care
now, before he has learned to speak a word, or never at all.”
“He will fret for his mother,” said the chief.
“Nay, for he will remember nothing,” said the magician. “He will not
know that he ever lived elsewhere than in my magic house, until he is
grown to boyhood. He will be nourished and protected as if he were my
own son. And you may come to him as often as you desire, and he will
know you for his father; but when you are gone again he will not fret
for you, for there is no such thing as heart-ache in my house. Also,
his mother may visit him, but only twice in a season. When he is large
and wise enough to do the great work for which I would fit him, then
shall he be free as I am, to go and come at his pleasure.”
“It is wonderful,” said Run-all-day. “He would be safe and happy, and
great; but what will Red Willow say about it?”
“We shall take her to the lodge to-night, and show her the littlest
warrior’s play-room,” replied Wise-as-a-she-wolf. “And then, when she
is there, I shall tell her; then it will be easy for her to understand.”
“How will you take her to the magic lodge?” asked the chief.
“You will carry her,” replied Wise-as-a-she-wolf.