Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/242

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF

BEAVER AND DEER

Haida

DEER lived near Taku. The skunk cabbage he ate was like a garden. Beaver came also to this place and he gnawed down the forest trees growing around there. So there came to be many trees on top of the garden. Then Beaver went away.

Deer went to see his property. Then he saw that trees were piled upon it and he knew that Beaver had done this.

Now Beaver lived under an island in a lake in the woods. One morning he felt the water was going down. Beaver went out. Deer was standing there, and Deer had dug a trench from the lake. But Deer could not get at Beaver.

Therefore Deer called to Beaver, "Come, go with me." So Beaver went with him. Then they came to the shore of the sea. Beaver had never been in the sea, but Deer said, "Let us swim out to that island."

"I have never been in the sea," said Beaver.

"You shall sit on my back," said Deer. "There are many things to eat over there." So Beaver got on

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