This chief had light, fire, and water. All the other Indians in the whole world suffered from cold and darkness and had no water.
All the Indians came to this old chief’s teepee and begged for a little light. He would not give them any. The Indians went away and told the wild animals, and asked their help.
The animals and the Indians held a great dance around the old chief’s teepee. They chanted songs and all begged for light. Each one sang his own song.
One young fox kept singing, “Khaih! Khaih!” which means “light.” He believed it would bring light, and the men and the animals were helped, he was so strong. Their voices made a great noise.
At last a faint color was seen in the east. The old chief came out and drove the little light away. [[265]]
Then the young fox called, “Khaih! Khaih!” louder than before. The men and the animals began again. They called and called for the light to come.
At last a little color was seen in the east again. The old chief had not slept. He was tired and he said: “You may have all the light you want.”
Now the light comes every morning. Some of the animals still call for it to come before it is day.
A young caribou said that he would get the fire from the old chief’s teepee. The Indians tied a great dry branch to his big antlers. The young caribou put his head into the fire teepee and tried to reach the coals, but he could not do it. The wise chief drove him away.
But when the old chief was driving back the young caribou, a muskrat crept into the teepee. He reached the precious coals of fire and caught one in his mouth. He ran back into the woods with it. Before he could reach his own burrow he had to drop the burning coal. It fell on the dry leaves and set the woods on fire. You can see now where the muskrat burned himself.