Never in this
life did we see such legs!" So being well pleased, the Crane put them
across, and then the two little Weasels scampered like mice into the
bush.
And scarcely were they concealed, or the Crane well again in his place,
ere Master Lox appeared. And being in no good temper he called to Uncle
Crane to set him across, and that speedily. Now the Crane had been made
mightily pleased and proud by the winsome words of the Weasels, and was
but little inclined to be rudely addressed. So he said to Lox, "I will
bear thee over the river if thou wilt bear witness to my beauty. Are
not my legs straight?" "Yea" replied the Lox, "and beautifully painted,
too." Now the color thereof was little pleasing to poor Uncle Crane.
"Are not my feathers very smooth and fine?" "Yea, smooth and fine; what
a pity, though, that they are mildewed and dusty!" "And my straight
neck?" "Yes, wonderfully straight,--straight as _this_" said Lox
to himself, taking up a crooked stick. And then he sang:--
"Mecha guiskipat kasqu',
Mecha quig nat kasqu'."
The Crane has a very ugly neck,
The Crane has dirty, ugly legs.
"Come, _mooso me_ (grandfather), hurry up!"
Oh, the Crane has a very ugly neck,
The Crane has dirty, ugly legs.
"I wish you to be quick, _mooso me_. Hurry up, I say!" [Footnote:
This dialogue, including the songs, is from a very curious
Passamaquoddy version of the tale, sent to me by Louis Mitchell.
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