Part 17 (1/2)
”Agreed,” said Harold, and they shook hands formally.
The Red King had one last word. ”Harold,” he said shamefacedly, ”I am sorry about the pies. I am ashamed. I would give them back, if I could.
I will pay for them roundly.”
”Your Majesty,” said Harold graciously, ”do not mention it!”
Here follows the tale which the Red King told to Harold on the next day; a tale which he had heard in his wanderings in a New World far across the ocean to the west; a tale of the Red People--_Little Bear_.
XVIII: LITTLE BEAR: AN OJIBWAY LEGEND
Once upon a time there was an old Indian couple who had three daughters, but no son. The two older girls were very beautiful; but the youngest was plain and unlovely. Yet she was the wisest of the three. Her name was Little Bear.
Now, there came a time when the father and mother grew too old to work as they had done all their lives. It became necessary that the two older daughters, who were strapping big girls, should go away to find work in order to take care of the family.
”Take me with you,” begged Little Bear.
But the older sisters shook their heads.
”No,” they answered; ”you would be of no use to us. You are too little.
You must stay at home.”
The two sisters started upon their journey alone. But they had not gone far when they heard the patter of feet behind them. They looked around, and there was Little Bear running after them as fast as she could go.
The sisters were very angry. They took Little Bear and tied her to the posts of the wigwam, so that she should not follow them again. Then once more they started upon their journey.
They had traveled but a short distance when again they heard a noise behind them. And there was Little Bear running toward them with the poles of the wigwam upon her back.
The sisters were astonished and very angry indeed. They undid Little Bear from the posts and tied her instead to a huge pine tree which grew close by. And they said: ”Now will you stay where we leave you, bad Little Bear?”
Once more they went upon their way. But a third time they had not gone far when they heard a great noise behind them. _b.u.mpety-b.u.mp!
b.u.mpety-b.u.mp!_ Along came Little Bear with the pine tree upon her shoulders!
The sisters were now very, very angry. They untied Little Bear crossly, with many jerks, and fastened her to a great rock on the side of the hill. And they said: ”Now we shall see whether you are anch.o.r.ed or not, you obstinate Little Bear!” So they went upon their way.
Presently they came to a wide river, and they had no boat in which to cross. They sat down upon the sh.o.r.e and moped, seeing no way to continue their journey.
But suddenly they heard a terrible noise behind them, and there once more was Little Bear, running toward them with the great rock on her back.
This time the sisters were glad enough to see her. They unfastened the rock and threw it into the middle of the river. Then they laid the pine tree upon the rock, and so they had a bridge upon which to cross.
Merrily they pa.s.sed over, all three. For this time Little Bear went with the other two. And they did not send her away, because she was so strong and useful. Presently, on the other side of the river, they came to a wigwam, where lived an old witch-woman with her two daughters.
”Where are you going?” asked the old woman.
”Our parents are very old,” said the three girls, ”and we are going to seek our fortune.”
”Come in,” said the old woman kindly. ”Come in and have supper with us, and sleep to-night in the wigwam with my daughters.”
The travelers were glad to go in, for it was growing late. They had a nice supper in the tent, and when it was night the daughters of the old woman and Little Bear's two sisters went to sleep in a huge bed. The sisters of Little Bear were on the outside, with the two others between them.