First of all _Kicheeplagon_,
the Eagle, entered his great shell and paddled off, using the ends of his
wings; and then came _Ko-ko-kas_, the Owl, doing the same; and,
_Kosqu'_, the Crane, _Wee-sow-wee-hessis_, the Bluebird,
_Tjidge-is-skwess_, the Snipe, and _Meg-sweit-tchip-sis_,
the Blackbird, all came sailing proudly after. Even the tiny
_A-la-Mussit_, the Humming-Bird, had a dear little boat, and for
him the good Partridge had made a pretty little paddle, only that
some thought it rather large, for it was almost an inch long. And
_Ishmegwess_, the Fish-Hawk, who lived on the wing, cried in
amazement, "_Akweden skouje_!" "A canoe is coming!" when he
beheld this beautiful squadron standing out to sea.
But when _Mitchihess_, the great builder, was asked why he had not
built a canoe for himself, he merely looked mysterious and drummed. And
being further questioned by the birds, he shook his head, and at last
hinted that when he built a canoe unto himself it would be indeed a
marvel; yea, a wonder such as even birds' eyes had never beheld,--an
entire novelty, and something to dream of. And this went on for many
days.
But in due time it was noised abroad that the wonderful canoe had at
last been really built, and would soon be shown. And at an appointed
time all the birds assembled on the banks to behold this new thing. Now
the Partridge had reasoned that if a boat having two ends could be
rowed in two ways, one which was all ends, all round, could be rowed in
every way.
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