And when he said that he did
not know how to conceal her from his friends she told him that she was
a fairy, and could make herself as small as a newly born squirrel, and
that all he need do was to wrap her up in a handkerchief and carry her
in his pocket. When alone, he could take her out, enjoy her company,
and then reduce and fold her up and put her away again.
He did so, but from that hour, while he carried the fairy near his
heart, he began to be wicked and strange. This was not caused by her,
but by the girl at home. He was entirely changed; he grew devilish; he
refused to eat, and never spoke. His sister-in-law began to fear him.
When she offered him food he cried out, "Unless I can devour one of
your children I will have nothing!"
When his brother returned and heard all this, he, too, offered him
meat, but met with a refusal and the reply, "Give me one of your little
children." To which he answered, "The child is so small that it will
not satisfy you. Let me go and get a larger one." Then he ran to the
village and informed his friends of what had come over the brother. And
as they knew that he was about to become a _kewahqu'_
(_chenoo_) they resolved to kill him.
But there was a young man there, a friend of the sufferer, who said
that he could save him. So all who were assembled bade him try.
And when night came he went apart, and began to sing his
_m'teoulin_, or magic song.
Pages:
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358