Myths and Legends of British North America/15

by Katharine Berry Judson

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.

Now, while the old chief was busy watching Caribou, Muskrat had been busy. He had burrowed a tunnel through the earth. Then he quickly stole a piece of fire and slipped into his hole with it. The old chief was busy putting out the fire in the shavings on Caribou's horns. Everybody went on dancing.

Suddenly a person said, "Oh, look!" He pointed to a great mountain far away, near the edge of the sky. A great column of smoke rose from it. Then soon flames burst from the mountain top.

At once everybody knew that Muskrat had stolen the old chief's fire, and had given it to men and animals.