Up and after the sorcerers flew the stone, and the younger
slipped aside like a snake, but the elder had scarcely time to utter
his magic charm, "_Noo-goon ooskudeskuch_!" "Let my backbone
remain uninjured!" ere the awful rock rolled down upon him, crushing
his bones and mashing his flesh. Yet the spine was unhurt; it remained
sound as ever.
And the stone went on and ever on, till the sound of its roar died away
in the breeze and afar in the wilderness.
Then the younger brother turned to the Backbone and said, "_Cagooee
wejismook' tumun_?" (M.) "Why are you lying there?" And hearing this
charm the Bone called aloud, "_Ntenin ba ho_!" "My body, ho!" and
"_Nuloogoon ba ho_!" "My leg, ho!" and so with the rest of the
members as before, until he that was decomposed was now recomposed;
yes, and composed perfectly. And then he that was dead, but was now
alive, arose, and said as one awaking, "What have I been doing?" So his
brother told him all.
Then he was greatly angered, and when the Wolverine is angry it is not
a little. And he said in his wrath, "Shall I that am the devil of the
woods himself be slain by birds and stones, and not be revenged?" So
they went onwards through the woods till they found the Great Rock:
they followed in the path of the broken trees; even by the trees did
they track it. Which having found, they built a fire around it; with
great stones for hammers they broke it, and ever more and still
smaller, till it was all mere dust, for their souls were sore for
revenge.
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