Folk-Lore and Legends: North American Indian | Page 8

their hands up to their mouths, exclaimed--
"Ty-au! ty-au!"
There were about sixty in the party, who had come out on a special
hunt, for one of their number had, the day before, observed
Pauppukkeewis's large tracks in the sand. They skinned him, and as his
flesh got cold his jee-bi took its flight, and once more he found himself
in human shape.
His passion for adventure was not yet cooled. On coming to a large
lake, the shore of which was sandy, he saw a large flock of brant, and,
speaking to them, he asked them to turn him into a brant.
"Very well," said they.
"But I want to be very large," said he.
"Very well," replied the brant, and he soon found himself one of them,
of prodigious size, all the others looking on at him in amazement.
"You must fly as leader," they said.
"No," replied Pauppukkeewis, "I will fly behind."

"Very well," said they. "One thing we have to say to you. You must be
careful in flying not to look down, for if you do something may happen
to you."
"Be it so," said he, and soon the flock rose up in the air, for they were
bound for the north. They flew very fast with Pauppukkeewis behind.
One day, while going with a strong wind, and as swift as their wings
would flap, while they passed over a large village, the Indians below
raised a great shout, for they were amazed at the enormous size of
Pauppukkeewis. They made such a noise that Pauppukkeewis forgot
what had been told him about not looking down. He was flying as swift
as an arrow, and as soon as he brought his neck in, and stretched it
down to look at the shouters, his tail was caught by the wind, and he
was blown over and over. He tried to right himself, but without success.
Down he went from an immense height, turning over and over. He lost
his senses, and when he recovered them he found himself jammed in a
cleft in a hollow tree. To get backward or forward was impossible, and
there he remained until his brant life was ended by starvation. Then his
jee-bi again left the carcass, and once more he found himself in human
shape.
Travelling was still his passion, and one day he came to a lodge, in
which were two old men whose heads were white from age. They
treated him well, and he told them he was going back to his village to
see his friends and people. The old men said they would aid him, and
pointed out the way they said he should go, but they were deceivers.
After walking all day he came to a lodge very like the first, and looking
in he found two old men with white heads. It was in fact the very same
lodge, and he had been walking in a circle. The old men did not
undeceive him, but pretended to be strangers, and said in a kind voice--
"We will show you the way."
After walking the third day, and coming back to the same place, he
discovered their trickery, for he had cut a notch in the door-post.
"Who are you," said he to them, "to treat me so?" and he gave one a
kick and the other a slap that killed them. Their blood flew against the

rocks near their lodge, and that is the reason there are red streaks in
them to this day. Then Pauppukkeewis burned their lodge.
He continued his journey, not knowing exactly which way to go. At last
he came to a big lake. He ascended the highest hill to try and see the
opposite shore, but he could not, so he made a canoe and took a sail on
the water. On looking down he saw that the bottom of the lake was
covered with dark fish, of which he caught some. This made him wish
to return to his village, and bring his people to live near this lake. He
sailed on, and towards evening came to an island, where he stopped and
ate the fish.
Next day he returned to the mainland, and, while wandering along the
shore, he encountered a more powerful manito than himself, named
Manabozho. Pauppukkeewis thought it best, after playing him a trick,
to keep out of his way. He again thought of returning to his village, and,
transforming himself into a partridge, took his flight towards it. In a
short time he reached it, and his return was welcomed with feasting and
songs. He told them of the lake and of the fish, and, telling them that it
would be easier for them to live there, persuaded them all to remove.
He immediately began