Then they brought him a pair of
wings, and he put them on. So he flew about like the rest of the
Thunders; he became quite like them, and followed all their ways. And
he said that they always flew towards the _sou' n' snook_, or,
south, and that the roar and crash of the thunder was the sound of
their wings. Their great amusement is to play at ball across the sky.
[Footnote: The Eskimo say that the lightning of the Northern Lights is
caused by spirits playing at ball with the head of a walrus.] When they
return they carefully put away their wings for their next flight. There
is a big bird in the south, and this they are always trying to kill,
but never succeed in doing so.
They made long journeys, and always took him with them. So it went on
for a long time, but it came to pass that the Indian began to tire of
his strange friends. Then he told the chief that he wished to see his
family on earth, and the sagamore listened to him and was very kind.
Then he called all his people together, and said that their brother
from the other world was very lonesome, and wished to return. They were
all very sorry indeed to lose him, but because they loved him they let
him have his own way, and decided to carry him back again. So bidding
him close his eyes till he should be on earth, they carried him down.
The Indians saw a great thunder-storm drawing near; they heard such
thunder as they never knew before, and then something in the shape of a
human being coming down with lightning; then they ran to the spot where
he sat, and it was their long-lost brother, who had been gone seven
years.
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