Chapter II: How a Witch Sought to Cajole the Master

[_Micmac_]

_Kes saak._[36]

This is a story of the olden time.
It chanced that great Kulóskap met a witch,
An evil being who had made herself
Look like a fair young girl, and that so well
By all the deepest art of sorcery,
That she was sure the Lord could never see
Through her disguise--wherein she was a fool,
Because he read her at a single glance.

She bade him take her out in his canoe;
So forth they sailed over a summer sea
With a sweet breeze. The witch upon the way
Sought to beguile the Lord with loving words
To which he made no answer, knowing well
What kind of passenger he had on board.

And so she played all her cajoleries,
While he remained as grim as any bear,
Replying with a growl to loving words;
Till in a rage she changed her melody
Into the curse which raises up the storm
As if to show defiance of his power.
And it was terrible when the wind howled
Over the waves which madly rose and fell
Like great white wolves a-jumping while they run;
And the red lightnings flashed, while the great sea
Grew dark as if to show their fire the more.

And then the Master was enraged indeed,
That a vile witch should dare to play such tricks
With him, the mighty Lord of Beasts and Men;
And, driving the canoe unto the beach,
He leaped ashore, and giving it a push
He sent it headlong out to sea again,
And cried: “Sail with the devil if you will,
But ne’er on earth again in human form!”

Then she in terror cried: “What must I be?
Oh, Master, say what shape shall I assume?”
And he replied: “Whatever form you please--
That grace alone I give thee.” In despair
She plunged into the deep and there became
The _wĕbĕtumekw_, a ferocious shark
Which has upon its back a mighty fin
Like a great sail when swimming in the sea.

So the canoe and witch were changed as one
To the great evil fish, and to this day
The Indians when they see it, ever cry:
“Behold the girl, who in the olden time
Was punished by the Master.” That is all! L.

FOOTNOTES:

[36] Of old time.