The termination _sis_ is a diminutive, here meaning the
younger.] though this was not true. And Malsumsis said, "I can only die
by a blow from a fern-root."
It came to pass in after-days that Kwah-beet-a-sis, the son of the
Great Beaver, or, as others say, Miko the Squirrel, or else the evil
which was in himself, tempted Malsumsis to kill Glooskap; for in those
days all men were wicked. So taking his bow he shot Ko-ko-khas the Owl,
and with one of his feathers he struck Glooskap while sleeping. Then he
awoke in anger, yet craftily said that it was not by an owl's feather,
but by a blow from a pine-root, that his life would end.
[Illustration: Glooskap killing his brother the wolf]
Then the false man led his brother another day far into the forest to
hunt, and, while he again slept, smote him on the head with a pine-root.
But Glooskap arose unharmed, drove Malsumsis away into the woods,
sat down by the brook-side, and thinking aver all that had happened,
said, "Nothing but a flowering rush can kill me." But the Beaver, who
was hidden among the reeds, heard this, and hastening to Malsumsis told
him the secret of his brother's life. For this Malsumsis promised to
bestow on Beaver whatever he should ask; but when the latter wished for
wings like a pigeon, the warrior laughed, and scornfully said, "Get
thee hence; thou with a tail like a file, what need hast thou of
wings?"
Then the Beaver was angry, and went forth to the camp of Glooskap, to
whom he told what he had done.
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