XIII. THE BLUE HERON AND THE WOLF
(Algonquin)
big blue heron was standing in a marsh near a river. Two weasels wanted to cross the river. The weasels talked with each other.
“That is a beautiful bird,” said the mother weasel, “see how high he carries his head.”
“He is as tall as a tree,” said the little weasel. “If I were as tall as he, I would carry you across this little river.”
The big blue heron was pleased, for he liked to be called tall. He was proud and could carry his head very high, but he stooped and spoke to the two weasels.
“I cannot carry you over this little river, but I will help you. You must follow me to the end of the old tree that lies almost across the river; then I will lie down and stick my bill in the bank, and you walk on my legs and body for a bridge.”
The weasels followed the blue heron, and when he lay down they ran across over his body to the river bank. [[116]]They were very light and quick. They did not wet their feet.
An old wolf was watching them all. He wanted to cross the river, and when the blue heron came back the wolf asked him to do the same thing that he had done for the weasels.