The Great Spirit called the beautiful Sky Mother to Him. Her face was like the sun, she was so light of heart.
The Great Spirit told the Sky Mother to look down. She, too, heard the cloud-sea calling, and she said, "I will go."
As she began to descend, the animals saw her coming. "See the light," they cried. "Where will it rest?"
One of the water animals said, "I will go to the bottom of the sea and get something for it to rest on."
He went down, but he never came back.
Other animals followed him. But they, too, did not come back.
Then the muskrat said, "I will go. I will be the earth bringer."
He returned, with some mud in his mouth and claws.
"It will grow fast," he cried, in a weak voice. "Who will carry it?"
The turtle offered his back. As the muskrat placed the mud on the turtle's shell he died. But the beaver came and slapped the mud down with his tail.