Let there be—light!
And immediately the light came up into the sky. Ever since then men have had light. But the old chief did not mean to say that.
COMING OF FIRE
Carrier
Now after the animal people had won light by shouting “Khain,” and “light,” and had confused the old chief, they were very happy for a time. But they had no fire. The same old chief owned all the fire in the world. He kept it in his lodge, carefully guarded. Therefore the people resolved to steal it, because he would not give it to them.
Now the people laid their plans. They said Young Caribou and Muskrat must help. Then they put on their dancing aprons and their dancing masks, and went to the lodge of the old chief. Young Caribou had a fine headdress of pine shavings fastened to his horns. Young Muskrat had a dancing apron made of a marmot skin.
Now they all entered the old chief’s lodge. They began singing, and Young Caribou and Muskrat began their dancing. Each took a place at one side of the fire, where the old chief kept close watch. Muskrat sang,
Oh, shelte! Oh, shelte!
which are magic words. Therefore Indians say, “Oh, shelte,” even today, when they hunt muskrats.
Young Caribou, as he danced, jerked his head from side to side until the shavings caught fire. At once the old chief put them out with his hands. Everybody began to dance then, and Young Caribou let the shavings catch fire. And again the old chief put them out, though they were quite a blaze.