Then said Beaver how he would play: “I carry you. Four times I emerge from the water.”
“Surely I die.” Thus said the heart of Porcupine. Yet he agreed.
Beaver said, “Fast hold to my neck. Lie close against the nape of my neck.”
Then was ready the heart of Porcupine to die. Then dived Beaver. Yet first struck he the water with his tail. Thus he first splashed water into the face of Porcupine. Then dived Beaver. Long was he under water. Then a little dead was Porcupine. His stomach was full of water. Three times the Beaver rose from the water. Then only once more remained. Then again dived Beaver. Almost dead was Porcupine. Then with him he returned. From lake to land he took him.
Then Porcupine went back to his tribe. When again he reached his tribe, to his house he invited the people. Then into the house of Porcupine went the invited ones. Then he told them what Beaver had done in his great house on the lake. He told the people what Beaver, who had invited him, had done. He said, “Almost dead was I through my friend.”
Then said his people, “Good! You also invite him. Also play with him.”
This did Porcupine. He also invited Beaver, his friend. To the house of Beaver did he send. Then came Beaver into the valley. Up he went. Then came he to the house of Porcupine. Then this did Porcupine: when Beaver entered into the house, Porcupine struck on the fireplace with his own tail. Then it burnt. Then Beaver made a song:
“In the middle burnt the tail of little Porcupine, pa!
In the middle burnt the tail of little Porcupine.”
