Part 21 (1/2)

”'Hoh, it ran away from me when I cut open the sheep.'

”Then the boy ran to his sister and demanded that she tell him just what happened on the mountain-side.

”She told the boy what her husband had done with the entrails and how the dog ran up the mountain-side yelping.

”'I wish I had not loaned my dog! I did not want to, but you coaxed me to it. This shows what folks do with borrowed property that they have not worked to make perfect. They use the good of it and throw away what is left. Now I demand that your husband show me the way the dog went,'

cried the boy, in great distress.

”The sister told her husband he must show the boy the place where the dog ran away from him. Once on the mountain-side, the boy saw the red tracks made by his dog and these he followed until he came to a large lake.

”Now the forest dog was really the Wolf Chief's Son and because the boy had painted the dog's face and feet with red paint a wolf has red on its feet and around its snout to this day.

”Standing at the lake-side, the boy wondered how he could cross it to reach a town he saw on the opposite side of the water. As he wished he might get across, a curl of smoke rose from the ground at his feet.

”He jumped back in time to see the square of earth where he had been standing open outward like a door on hinges. Then a woman's voice quavered forth: 'Come in, come in, my son.'

”The boy entered and saw an old woman sitting by the roots of a forest tree, crooning over a pot of broth she was stirring.

”'I am your grandmother, boy, and I will help you. What do you here all alone?'

”Then the boy told about his little dog and how he would like to find it again.

”'His people live on the other side of the lake. He is the Wolf Chief's Son, grandchild-he is not a common dog,' said the woman.

”'How can I get over there?' asked the boy.

”'I have a little canoe-you may use that. Here it is,' replied the grandame as she picked up a shrivelled leaf and handed it to the astonished boy.

”'How can I sit in this-it will not carry me?' said he.

”'When you reach the lake-side just shake it open and it will swell large in the water. Step in, stretch yourself out in the bottom of the canoe and wish yourself across. Do not paddle it. When you are on the other sh.o.r.e wish the canoe back to me and it will come.'

”The boy did as directed and reached the opposite side of the lake, but instead of wis.h.i.+ng the canoe back again he wished it a leaf and this he placed in his pocket for future use.

”At the Wolf Chief's village he found some boys playing tug-of-war with the ends of the rainbow. He stood watching for a moment but he came for his little dog so he inquired the way to the Wolf Chief's wigwam. It was at the end of the village. Here he found the people sitting about an evening fire and the little dog was playing in front of Wolf Chief.

”The boy watched and called joyfully to the dog, but the Wolf Chief growled forth: 'A human is near us. Clear a way before him.'

”At that the little dog ran up and sniffed the stranger. He knew him at once and caught his garments between his teeth and dragged the visitor over to his father, Wolf Chief. Here he barked out the story of the boy's kindness to him when he was down in the valley.

”Then the Wolf Chief welcomed the boy, saying: 'I sent my son to help you hunt when I heard how you were helping the people to keep from starving. Because you were grateful to your dog I will show you more kindness. My boy shall not go back with you, but this is what I will give you: This fish-hawk's quill to hunt with. Whenever you meet a bear or sheep, hold the quill straight out and it will fly from your hand to lodge in the animal's heart. Then remove the quill and clean it well to keep for another trial.'

”The boy took the quill and thanked the Chief.

”Then the Wolf Chief added: 'I will also give you a great treasure as I see you are a grateful lad.'

”He removed a blanket from a tripod and handed it to the boy. 'Use this for sickness or death. If a friend is ill cover him with this blanket and he will immediately recover again.'

”Again the boy thanked the Chief earnestly.

”Then the Wolf Chief placed something in the boy's mouth, saying: 'Swallow this as you have a long journey before reaching your home again. This will keep you from being hungry or weary.'