gleam of their white bellies plainly. "I wonder how it will come out," he kept repeating to himself. The two fish raged on for quite a while. At last they were so tired that they could hardly throw each other. "Perhaps they are nearly played out already," said Mink.
After a while the Mink saw that both fish were exhausted, and only their fins moved. They lay floating with their undersides turned uppermost. "Oh, they've killed each other, they're both done for! Well, I may as well roll up my leggings and wade in." So the Mink waded in and dragged the two heavy fish, one after the other, high up on the bank. Then he started a fire, and arranged a grill of branches over the flame. When the fish were cooked the Mink started in to eat them. He ate and ate, and presently his stomach felt fuller than it had ever felt before.
Those who listen to tale-bearers are likely to be drawn into foolish quarrels.
(From Menomeni Folk-lore, by Skinner and Satterlee.)
THE LINNET AND THE EAGLE
THE Birds met together one day to try which could fly highest. Some flew up very swiftly, but soon got tired and were passed by others of stronger wing. But the Eagle went up beyond them all, and was ready to claim victory, when a grey Linnet, a very small bird, flew from the Eagle's back where it had perched unperceived, and being fresh and unexhausted succeeded in going highest. When the Birds came down and met in council to award the prize, it was given to the Eagle because that Bird had not only gone up nearer to the sun than any of the other Birds, but had carried the Linnet on its back.
(Ojibway Fable.)
