So when they were both comfortably seated, the old Indian began the tale which you will find in the next chapter.
XV. HOW A-BAL-KA GOT HIS BLACK STRIPES
"In the old days before winter had come into the land, the beasts and the birds, the fishes, and even the insects, all had one language. They could speak the speech of the Red Men and they all lived together in peace and friendship.
"In those days, there was no killing and no war. But after winter had come upon the land, the Red Men learned to kill the wild folk and to use their flesh for food and their skins for wigwams and for clothing.
"At first this was bad enough, but after men had learned to use bows and arrows, spears, knives, and hooks, it was still worse. They became more and more cruel. They delighted to slaughter even creatures for which they had no use. Out of heedlessness, they trod upon the worms and the frogs, and killed them without caring for the pain and suffering which they caused. At last the animals made up their minds to try to find out some means to check the slaughter of the wild kindreds.
"The bears were the first to meet in council. After much talk, they decided to begin war at once against the human race.
"'What weapons shall we use against them?' asked one of the bears.