The Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder tales
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder tales
Children's literature
“Well, that will do,” said Manabozho. “But,” he said, looking at his
tail, “could you oblige me by making my tail a little longer and more
bushy, just a little more bushy?”
“Certainly,” said the Old Wolf; and he straightway gave Manabozho such
a length and spread of tail that it was continually getting between his
legs, and it was so heavy that it was as much as he could do to carry
it. But, having asked for it, he was ashamed to say a word, and they
all started off in company, dashing up the ravine.
After getting into the woods for some distance they ran across the
tracks of moose. The young ones scampered off in pursuit, the Old Wolf
and Manabozho following at their leisure.
“Well,” said the Old Wolf, by way of starting the conversation, “who do
you think is the fastest of the boys? Can you tell by the jumps they
take?”
“Why,” he replied, “that one that takes such long jumps, he is surely
the fastest.”
“Ha! ha! you are mistaken,” said the Old Wolf. “He makes a good start,
but he will be the first to tire out; this one who appears to be behind
will be the one to kill the game.”
By this time they had come to the spot where the boys had started in
chase. One had dropped what seemed to be a small medicine-sack, which
he carried for the use of the hunting party.
“Take that, Manabozho,” said the Old Wolf.
“Why, what will I do with a dirty dog skin?”
The Old Wolf took it up; it was a beautiful robe.
“Oh, I will carry it now,” cried Manabozho.
“Oh, no,” said the Wolf, who had used his magical powers, “it is a robe
of pearls. Come along!” And away he sped at a great rate of speed.
“Not so fast,” called Manabozho after him; and then he added to himself
as he panted after, “Oh, this tail!”
Coming to a place where the moose had lain down, they saw that the
young wolves had made a fresh start after their prey. “Why,” said the
Old Wolf, “this moose is thin. I know by the tracks. I can always tell
whether they are fat or not.” A little farther on, one of the young
wolves, in dashing at the moose, had broken a tooth on a tree.
“Manabozho,” said the Old Wolf, “one of your grandchildren has shot at
the game. Take his arrow; there it is.”
“No,” replied Manabozho, “what will I do with a dirty dog’s tooth?”
The Old Wolf took it up, and behold it was a beautiful silver arrow.
When they at last overtook them, they found that the youngsters had
killed a very fat moose. Manabozho was very hungry, but the Old Wolf
just then again exerted his magical powers, and Manabozho saw nothing
but the bones picked quite clean. He thought to himself, “Just as I
expected; dirty, greedy fellows. If it had not been for this log at my
back I should have been in time to have got a mouthful”; and he cursed
the bushy tail which he carried to the bottom of his heart.
The Old Wolf finally called out to one of the young ones, “Give some
meat to your grandfather.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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