he smiles; he gives him a bag tightly tied; he says to him: "Do not open
it until you arrive at home." He thanks him and departs.
The third Indian is handsome; only he is a foolish youth; all his heart
is set on how he can make the Indians laugh; he is asked: "What do you
want?" He says it would please him most, if he could make a strange
noise. This (noise) is seldom heard by the Wabanaki. This, it is said,
is heard even now in a few abandoned wigwams in the wild woods among the
Indians (or: among men). There is still here and there a hard(!)
magician or wonder-working man, he (who) knows how to produce it; the
sound is so wonderful in quality that those who hear it must laugh. Then
Kuloskap orders the Marten to the woods to fetch a certain root which,
when eaten, will cause the miracle as the youth desires it, but he warns
him that he shall not touch it until he comes home. This being touched
will not be beneficial to him. He thanks him and departs. Seven years
they journey (out); now only seven days are needed when they return on
the trail. (But) one only of the three returns home again.
This is the hunter; his little pipe being in his pocket he does not
worry at all in his heart; he goes trough the woods; as long as he
lives, it shall always be that he will find venison in his wigwam. But
he who wished that women should love him never wins a wife; he does not
go far before he opens his bag. Out come beautiful ones like white
doves; fair girls surround him with black burning eyes and flowing is
their hair; they swarm about him more and more; then, when they kiss him
he forbids them; they swarm about him more and more. He orders them not
to press him; he tries to escape; it is not possible. So he chokes; he
struggles for breath. Then he dies; those passing by find him. What
became of the girls no living man knows.
Then the third Indian goes merrily along alone. Suddenly, it occurs to
him (sticks in his thought) that Kuloskap had given him something. He
does not think that he (Kuloskap) said to him: "When you arrive, you may
eat it." So he takes out the root; well then, he eats it and scarcely
before he has done it, he knows he can make the magic sound from the
magic root which he has. It resounds, it wakens the echoes (where it
echoes) in the mountains,
* * * * *