), the Tree
Partridge.
Now it befell that one day Pulowech was walking along the shore, when
it was winter, and he beheld three girls, fair and fine, with flowing
hair, sitting on the ice braiding their locks. Then he knew that they
were of the fairy kind, who dwell in the water; and, verily, these were
plentier of old than they are now,--to our sorrow be it said, for they
were good company for the one who could get them. And Pulowech, knowing
this, said, "I will essay this thing, and perchance I may catch one or
two of them; which will be a great comfort, for a pretty girl is a nice
thing to have about the wigwam." So he sought to secure them by
stealing softly along; but one cried, "_Ne miha skedap_!" "I see a
man!" P., and they all went head over heels, first best time, into the
water; and verily that was a cold duck for December in the Bay of
Fundy.
But though Pulowech had never hunted for sea-girls, yet he had fished
for seals, who are greatly akin unto them, being almost as slippery;
and wotting well that no man hath the mitten till he is refused thirty
times and many more, he went about it in another wise. For this time he
gat many fir boughs, strewing them about as if blown by the wind, and
hiding himself behind them, again came up and made a sudden dart. Then
the maids, crying as before, "_Ne miha skedap_!" "I see a, man!"
went with a dive into the deep.
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