Bear started to fight a tree, but he was so clumsy jumping around, that Turtle said, “Oh, you won’t last long if you have to fight the giant I am after.”
Turtle again began to call, “Who will help me?” He called this as he came to a little swamp, and he heard small voices saying, “We will.”
“Come out and show me how you can fight,” said Turtle. And behold! a crowd of little Turtles came out and began to fight him. Soon Turtle cried, “You’re the very people I am looking for.” So he led them to the lake where he lived and left them just outside. Then he went home. Soon a big stone fell down upon the little turtles and killed them all. When Turtle ran out to see what had happened, he saw a big bird overhead.
Turtle ran to his neighbor who had ducked into the water. He asked, “What bird was that?”
Muskrat answered, “That is the Thunder Bird and I am very much afraid of him.”
Ever since that day Turtle has stayed in the water when there was a thunderstorm.
WHY LIGHTNING STRIKES THE TREES
Thompson River
Thunder Bird was angry with people and tried to drown the whole world, but he could not make the water rise high enough, so some of the people escaped. Then Thunder Bird shot arrows at them. He really did hurt many, but all the people ran away and hid in a cave.
Then Turtle came out. He shouted out to Thunder Bird, “You cannot kill people. Your arrows fly wild. Shoot at the trees and rocks; perhaps you can hit them.” Turtle mocked Thunder.