Once, a long time ago, before the white man came to Canada, an Indian
struck out through the bush to hunt. It came on a storm and he took a
line for camp, which was by a little lake away up north. It came on
worse, and the Indian crawled under a projecting pine tree. He saw the
lightning strike several trees, and looking very closely at one tree
that was struck he saw a little man (about two feet high) standing by
one side of the tree, and looking again at the tree he saw another
little man standing at the other side of the struck tree. Both these
men were fine little fellows, all black and shining, and are called
Nim-Mah-Kie (Thunder). They climbed up in the air like they were
climbing ladders, and disappeared. After they went up more lightning
came down. These little men set the lightning at the trees and make the
thunder. Thunder and lightning keep the monsters down on the land and
in the lakes.