Now the very next day a snowbird came and perched above the smoke hole. He gave Coyote a ripe berry, saying, “Why are you living here? It is summertime.”
Coyote laughed and said, “Oh, but it is the middle of winter. See the snow all around.”
Then again a snowbird came and gave him a ripe berry, saying, “See! The berries are ripe, but you are still in your winter house.”
Coyote answered, “How can the berries be ripe and snow be still almost to the tree tops?”
Four times the snowbirds brought him berries, and then Coyote thought something must be wrong. He put on his snowshoes and blanket, and climbed over the snowdrifts. Behold! As he came down on the other side of the drifts, just a few feet from his house, it was bare ground! Then he went on and came in just a little while to a place where the trees were budding and a little farther they were in full leaf. He passed down the North Thompson Valley and saw service berries in blossom, and then came to bushes full of ripe fruit. Then Coyote came to a large berry patch, and heard two Indian women singing.
The summer time had come. That was the way in which the salmon took their revenge upon Coyote.
WOLVERENE AND THE GEESE
Eastern Eskimo
Wolverene was running along the seashore, when he saw many geese, brant, ducks, and loons, playing in the water not far off.
Wolverene called to them, “Come here, brothers, I have found a pretty bees’ nest! I will give it to you if you will come on shore and have a dance!”