[Footnote: A
confused but important point in all these myths.]
Pook-jin-skwess, the Witch, was a Black Cat. She was a woman or a man
as she willed to be; but in these days she was a man. And she, being
evil, hated the chief, and thought long how she could kill or remove
him, and take his place. Now, one day when all the camp had packed what
they had, being about to travel, Pitcher asked the chief to go with
him, or with her, as you may will, down to the water-side to gather
gulls' eggs. And then they went far out in a canoe, and very far, and
still farther, till they came to an island, and there they landed, and
while Pogumk (who was Glooskap) sought for eggs, the false-hearted
Pitcher stole away in the _akweden_ (P., canoe), and as she
paddled she sang a song--
"Nikhed-ha Pogumk min nekuk,
Netswil sagamawin!" (P)
"I have left the Black Cat on an island,
I shall be the chief of the Fishers now!"
So she came to the village, and the next day they all departed through
the woods; there was not one of them left save the one who was worth
them all. And at night they camped, expecting every day that the chief
would come to them, and till then Pitcher was in his place.
Now on the thirtieth day the chief remembered his friend the Fox, who
had _m'teoulin_ (P.), or magic power. And he sang a song, and the
Fox heard it, although he was miles away, beyond forests and mountains.
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