XIII. THE BLUE HERON AND THE WOLF
(Algonquin)
big blue heron was standing in a marsh near a river. Two weasels wanted to cross the river. The weasels talked with each other.
“That is a beautiful bird,” said the mother weasel, “see how high he carries his head.”
“He is as tall as a tree,” said the little weasel. “If I were as tall as he, I would carry you across this little river.”
The big blue heron was pleased, for he liked to be called tall. He was proud and could carry his head very high, but he stooped and spoke to the two weasels.
“I cannot carry you over this little river, but I will help you. You must follow me to the end of the old tree that lies almost across the river; then I will lie down and stick my bill in the bank, and you walk on my legs and body for a bridge.”
The weasels followed the blue heron, and when he lay down they ran across over his body to the river bank. [[116]]They were very light and quick. They did not wet their feet.
An old wolf was watching them all. He wanted to cross the river, and when the blue heron came back the wolf asked him to do the same thing that he had done for the weasels.
“I have always wondered what use you were in the world. Now I see that you and your family would make good bridges. Your long neck is very thin, but it might hold if one were as quick as a weasel. Come, my friend, help a poor wolf that is hungry and in trouble.”
The blue heron was too proud to be used as a bridge for every one. The wolf saw that he had not asked in the right way, so he began again.
“You must be a very stout bird. Your feathers are very fine, but they cover a stout body. My grandfather has said that two herons can carry a load of fish, but you could carry such a load alone.”
The heron looked at the wolf and told him to get up on his back.
“I will carry you,” said the heron.
The wolf showed all his teeth in a grin as he got on the heron’s back. The heron waded to the middle of the stream and said:
“I am only half as strong as two herons, so I can carry you only halfway. You must wait here until you [[117]]find another heron as foolish as I am, to carry you the rest of the way.”
The heron flapped his wings and flew back to his place in the marsh. The wolf could not wait to find another foolish heron, but went straight to the bottom of the river. [[118]]
Moki weaving. Clay Dishes and Tools in Background
From a Photograph
[[119]]