Then he, too, ran down to the river and out on a tree, and, seeing a
fine salmon, caught at it with his claws. But he had not learned the
art, and so fell into the river, and was swept away by the rushing
current.
This is one of AEsop's fables Indianized and oddly eked out with a
fragment from a myth attributed to both Manobozho and the Wabanaki
Rabbit. As the Wolverine has a great resemblance to Loki, it may be
here observed that, while he dies in trying to catch a salmon, "Loki,
in the likeness of a salmon, cast himself into the waterfall of
Franangr." which was effectively his last act in life before being
captured by the gods, as told in the Edda. Otter, in the Edda, caught a
salmon, and was then caught by Loki. There is, of course, great
confusion here, but the Indian tale is a mere fragment, carelessly
pieced and indifferently told. Lox is, like Loki, _fire_ and
perishes by water.
_How Master Lox as a Raccoon killed the Bear and the Black Cats and
performed other Notable Feats of Skill, all to his Great Discredit._
(Passamaquoddy.)
Now of old time there is a tale of Hespuns, the Raccoon, according to
the Passamaquoddy Indians, but by another record it is Master Lox, to
whom all Indian deviltry truly belongs. And this is the story. One fine
morning Master Lox started off as a Raccoon; [Footnote: The same
stories are attributed to the Wolverine, Badger, and Raccoon.
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