Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/64

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF

ORIGIN OF LIGHT AND FIRE

Lillooet

RAVEN and Sea Gull were friends. Their houses were close together in the Lillooet country. It was dark all over the world at this time, because Sea Gull owned the daylight, which he kept in a box. He never let any of it out except for his own use.

Raven said, "It isn't fair that Sea Gull should have all the daylight. People should have some of it." Therefore Raven planned to get the daylight.

One night he placed thorn branches on the trail between Sea Gull's house and the place where his canoe was fastened. Then he ran to Sea Gull, shouting, "Your canoe has gone adrift! Your canoe has gone adrift!" Sea Gull heard Raven and rushed out of the house in haste. He did not even put on his moccasins; he ran in his bare feet and stepped on the thorns. Then Sea Gull screamed, "Ah-ah!" just as sea gulls do now. He shouted to Raven, "Get my canoe! Save my canoe!" Then he went back to his house. He was much excited.

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