From that time he was kind and good. They feared him no more.
They lived on meat such as Indians prepare. [Footnote: That is, cured,
dried, smoked, and then packed and pressed in large blocks.] The Chenoo
was tired of it. One day he said, "_N'toos_" (my daughter), "have
you no _pela weoos_?" (fresh meat). She said, "No." When her husband
returned the Chenoo saw that there was black mud on his snow-shoes. He
asked him if there was a spring of water near. The friend said there was
one half a day's journey distant. "We must go there to-morrow," said the
Chenoo.
And they went together, very early. The Indian was fleet in such running.
But the old man, who seemed so wasted and worn, went on his snow-shoes
like the wind. They came to the spring. [Footnote: "The Micmacs have two
words for a spring of water: one for summer, _utkuboh_, which means
that the water is cool; the other for winter, _keesoobok_, indicating
that it is warm."--S.T. Rand.] It was large and beautiful; the snow was
all melted away around it; the border was flat and green. [Footnote: Not
uncommon round warm springs even in midwinter, and among ice and snow.]
[Illustration: THE CHENOO AND THE LIZARD.]
Then the Chenoo stripped himself, and danced around the spring his
magic dance; and soon the water began to foam, and anon to rise and
fall, as if some monster below were heaving in accord with the steps
and the song.
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