_
(Passamaquoddy and Micmac.)
_N'karnayoo_, of old times, there was an Indian village far away
among the mountains, little known to other men. And the dwellers
therein were very comfortable: the men hunted every day, the women did
the work at home, and all went well in all things save in this. The
town was by a brook, and except in it there was not a drop of water in
all the country round, unless in a few rain-puddles. No one there had
ever found even a spring.
Now these Indians were very fond of good water. The brook was of a
superior quality, and they became dainty over it.
But after a time they began to observe that the brook was beginning to
run low, and that not in the summer time, but in autumn, even after the
rains. And day by day it diminished, until its bed was as dry as a dead
bone in the ashes of a warm fire.
Now it was said that far away up in the land where none had ever been
there was on this very stream another Indian village; but what manner
of men dwelt therein no one knew. And thinking that these people of the
upper country might be in some way concerned in the drought, they sent
one of their number to go and see into the matter.
And after he had traveled three days he came to the place; and there he
found that a dam had been raised across the rivulet, so that no water
could pass, for it was all kept in a pond.
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