Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/12

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4
THE FIGHT OF THE WITCHES.

"Thought," went like a flash to "Sūwesseii," the south wind, and begged him to come to the rescue.

Luckily the warm south wind began to blow around the mountain, and the cold was forced to vanish from the scene.

The next to try his fate was "Kāsq," the "Heron," whose guardian spirit was "Chenco," or the giant with the heart of ice, who quickly went to work with his big stone hatchet, chopped down trees, tore up rocks, and began to hew a great hole in the side of the mountain, but the Giant Witch now for the first time let loose his terrible dog "M'dassmūss," who barked so loudly and attacked Chenco so fiercely that he was driven away in alarm.

The next warrior was "Mūin," the "Bear," whose poohegans were "Petargun," or "Thunder," and "Pessarquessok," or "Lightning." Soon a tremendous thunderstorm arose which shook the whole mountain, and a thunderbolt split the mouth of the cave in twain: the lightning flashed into the cavern and nearly blinded the Giant Witch, who was now terribly frightened for the first time. He yelled aloud with pain, for he was badly burned by the lightning. The thunder and lightning redoubled their fury, and filled the place with fire, much alarming the foe, who hastily bade "Humming-bird" go and summon "Haplebembo," the big "bull-frog," to his aid. The "bull-frog" soon appeared, and spat out his huge mouth full of water, which nearly filled the cave, quenching the fire and driving away Thunder and Lightning.

The next to fight was "Lox," the "Indian Devil." Now "Lox" was always a coward, and when he heard of the misfortunes of his friends he cut off one of his big toes, and when "Striped Squirrel" called him to begin the battle he excused himself, saying that he was lame and could not go.

Next in order came "K'tchīplāgan," the "Eagle," whose poohegan was "Applausumbressit," the "Whirlwind." When he entered the enemy's abode in all his fury and frenzy and noise, the Giant Witch awoke from sleep, and instantly "K'plāmūsūke" lost his breath and was unable to speak, but he made signs to the "Humming-bird" to go for "Culloo," the lord of all great birds, but the whirlwind was so