Then the little boy began to pity the poor small wild-fowl. He
thought it was a shame to kill so many, having already more than they
needed. So stooping down, he whispered to a very little bird to open
its eyes. It did so, but very cautiously indeed, for fear of being
blinded.
Great was his horror to see what Lox was doing! He screamed,
"_Kedumeds'lk_!" "We are all being killed!" Then they opened their
eyes, and flew about in the utmost confusion, screaming loudly in
terror. The little boy dropped down as if he had been knocked over in
the confusion, so that the door flew wide open, and the birds, rushing
over him, began to, escape, while Lox in a rage continued to seize them
and kill them with his teeth. Then the little boy, to avoid suspicion,
grasped the last fugitive by the legs and held him fast. But he was
suspected all the same by the wily sorcerer, who caught him up roughly,
and would have beaten him cruelly but that he earnestly protested that
the birds knocked him down and forced the door open, and that he could
by no means help it: which being somewhat slowly believed, he was
forgiven, and they began to pluck and dress the game. The giblets were
preserved, the fowls sliced and dried and laid by for the winter's
store.
Then having plenty of provisions, Lox gave a feast. Among the guests
were Marten and Mahtigwess, the Rabbit, who talked together for a long
time in the most confidential manner, the Rabbit confiding and the
Marten attending to him.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215