given the secret to them, and said: “I do not like it that the minds of
your people are so intent on us.”
As the visitors were growing very short of breath from being so long
under water, they said: “We will return to our people, but must go in a
canoe as the water is making us ill.” So the Underwater Man loaned them
an old canoe.
“Take care how you use my canoe, for it is not very good,” he called to
them in a warning way. They paddled nearly to the shore. Then the canoe
melted away. The men swam for the land, but when they reached it one
was missing. The other two believed that their brother was dead, but as
they sat on a big rock they saw his head appear and reappear, and once
when his head was above water he called:
“I am held by the frog. Help me!” So the two swam out, but when they
came near to the man he said:
“Go back; I am free, the frog has gone!”
The men swam ashore and stood up. When they looked again they saw a
great jack-fish--they could not see their brother. The jack-fish swam
toward them and walked on its tail upon the shore. Like magic it turned
into a man, and they all returned to the camp, to tell the wonders of
their adventure.
Suddenly the old man who had gone to sleep began to groan and cry
out. His wife, who was also very old, said: “Hocini, my husband, is
dreaming.” The old man then woke up and said in a frightened way: “The
frog, the frog. Where is he?” and his wife said:
“Poor old man, the frog is in the lake,” and Hocini said: “I have been
dreaming again,” and his wife said “Yes,” and laughed, and so did the
old man.
WATC’ AGIC KILLS THE TALKING-BIRDS
Once there was a man who wandered all over the earth. He had as his
companions many kinds of birds who could not, or would not, talk
or sing without his consent. He was a man who talked little but
thought much, and noises worried him, especially the noises made by
talking-birds like the parrot and the magpie.
[Illustration: Once there was a man who wandered all over the earth]
In his wanderings he would meet many kinds of people who did not
like him, because when they spoke to him he would only say “Yes” or
“No” to any questions they would ask. Of course, his attitude toward
all he met made them angry, and when he visited the villages the second
time, many of the Indians threatened to kill him. The places in which
he thought he would be in the most danger he would go around and not
show himself or his bird companions, for he was very kind to them, and
they held him in great respect, although he had told them he would
surely rid himself of their company if they should talk so loud that
his enemies could hear them. They also feared him, for many times had
they seen the way he had treated other birds, and they knew what his
mission was.
One day, after a long walk, they came to the foot of a high hill.
Around the hill and coming from afar, they could see great numbers of
birds.
“This,” said the man, “is the ‘City of Birds,’ and no man dare go among
them. If he should, they would pick his eyes out. Many times have I
heard my father tell of his band of beavers who went among them, and of
their fate.”
“Let us go!” spoke up a great eagle. “I will defend you. My parents’
nest was on yonder mountain, and I have many relations living among
them.”
“As you will,” said the man, “but let us wait until night falls and
they are asleep.”
The eagle had been talking matters over with his companions, and they
all, with the exception of a few of the smaller birds, decided to go,
happen what might. So at dusk they started.
The road was long and dusty, and many times they had to wait for the
vain birds to clean their plumage and arrange their feathers, but it
was better so, because many of the older birds of the City of Birds
had not returned to their nests. The man, although impatient, thought
they might have been discovered if this cause for their delay had not
happened.
As they approached the city, a night-hawk who was just going to
work, gave a wild scream. This caused a great awakening in the town,
and all the birds went to the public square in alarm.
The eagle said “Go on.” So the party boldly went among the crowd.
Some, I can assure you, were very much frightened; but they had great
confidence that some of the relations of the eagle would be living, and
would no doubt befriend them.
When the mayor of the town, a great pelican, saw the strange bundle the
man carried on his back, he said: “My good brother, what have you on
your back?”
[Illustration: “My good brother, what have you on your back?”]
“They are my songs,” the man replied.
“Ah!” said the mayor, “sing them, and I will have my troupe of dancing
flamingoes keep time to your songs.”
“Those who dance to my songs, and those who do not, if strangers to
me, must keep their eyes shut when I sing,” said the man.
The mayor called to the crowd that was chattering so loud his voice
could hardly be heard. So he called again:
“Do you agree, my townsmen?”
He opened his mouth so wide that a great fish he had eaten for supper
floundered out of his pouch. Before repeating his question he leaned
over and picked it up. Again he repeated, “Do you all agree to keep
your eyes closed when the gentleman sings?”
“We will do as you desire,” many of them replied.
So it was agreed. A great fountain in the middle of the square
contained many fish both large and small. These fish were for the use
of the mayor only, as he was getting old, and to climb the long hill
from the river made him both tired and cross. So the man said:
“Come near the fountain. My songs are of running water and brooks,
and it will inspire me to sing them more to your pleasure.”
So the crowd moved near the big basin full of water, deep and very wet.
“Bring your flamingoes and I will begin,” said the man.
The eagle called him aside and said: “During your song they will know
because their eyes are shut, how dark it is for the thousands they have
made blind.” The man did not reply, but walked close to the fountain.
“Eyes shut!” he called loudly, and the people all closed their eyes and
he began to sing in a harsh voice, for he could not sing, and disliked
any kind of music.
“I will sing of Mayor Pelican,
And of his pretty daughter,--
And of a dashing pelican
Who in matrimony sought her.
And while I sing I’ll wring your necks,
And throw you in the water.”
[Illustration: And he began to sing in a harsh voice]
All the people smiled but kept their eyes closed, fearing he would stop
his funny song. So he continued to wring their necks and throw them
into the deep water of the fountain.
After he had treated them all alike, he said to his companions:
“We are quite safe now; let us remain here until morning, as there are
many places of shelter and plenty of food.”
So it was agreed, and they resumed their journey about dawn the
following day.
Transcriber’s Notes
• Italics represented with surrounding _underscores_.
• Small caps converted to ALL CAPS.
• Duplicate half title before first chapter removed.
• Illustrations relocated close to relevant content.
• Footnote numbered and moved below the relevant paragraph.
• Obvious typographic errors silently corrected.
• Variations in hyphenation kept as in the original.