"Willingly," replied the Crane, who was very susceptible to flattery, and he ferried them across the river.
They were just in time. Scarcely had they reached the opposite bank when Lox appeared on the scene, very angry and out of breath.
"Ferry me across, Old Crooked-legs," said he, and added other still more uncomplimentary remarks.
The Crane was furious, but he said nothing, and bore Lox out on the river.
"I see you," cried Lox to the trembling fairies. "I shall have you soon!"
"You shall not, wicked one," said the Crane, and he threw Lox into the deepest part of the stream.
The fairies turned their faces homeward and saw him no more.
The Malicious Mother-in-Law
An Ojibway or Chippeway legend tells of a hunter who was greatly devoted to his wife. As a proof of his affection he presented her with the most delicate morsels from the game he killed. This aroused the jealousy and envy of his mother, who lived with them, and who imagined that these little attentions should be paid to her, and not to the younger woman. The latter, quite unaware of her mother-in-law's attitude, cooked and ate the gifts her husband brought her. Being a woman of a gentle and agreeable disposition, who spent most of her time attending to her household duties and watching over her child and a little orphan boy whom she had adopted, she tried to make friends with the old dame, and was grieved and disappointed when the latter would not respond to her advances.