It torments her all night by its cries.]
Then, coming to a river, they saw on the other side a handsome young
man holding a bow, and to him they called, making their usual offer to
become his wives, and all for no greater thing than to carry them over
the ferry. And this man's name was See-witch, [Footnote: A kind of
small sea-duck.] and to please them he did indeed pass them over in his
canoe; but as for taking them home, he said that he had housekeepers in
store, and as many as he needed just then, and that of a kind who kept
him very busy. So they went their way onwards.
And coming anon to the great sea, they beheld yet another canoe with
two men therein, and these were Kwe-moo, the Loon, and Mahgwis, the
Scapegrace. And embarking with them, Loon soon began to admire the
girls greatly. And saying many sweet things, he told them that he dwelt
in the Wigem territory, or in the land of the Owealkesk, [Footnote: A
very beautiful species of sea-duck.] of which he himself was one. But
the Mahgwis whispered to them aside that they should put little trust
in what he told them, for Loon was a great liar. Now when they came to
the land of the Owealkesk, they were amazed at the beauty of the
people, and saw that all in that land was lovely, nor did they
themselves seem less marvelously fair to the men therein. Indeed, the
poor little Weasels began to see the end of their sorrows, for, being
water-fairies, these sea-birds were nigh akin to them.
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