But there
are skeptics or Agnostics among the men of the woods as well as among
those of civilized cities. There are shrewd fellows who cannot only
detect impostors, but turn their tricks to their own advantage. An
amusing illustration of this is given in the following story:
_Fish-Hawk and Scapegrace_. [Footnote: Wiskumagwasoo and Mahgwis.
The Mahgwis, or "Scapegrace," is a kind of sea-gull.]
(Micmac.)
Two men met and talked: one was Fish-Hawk, the other was Scapegrace.
Now the Fish-Hawk can fly higher than any other ocean bird, and he is
proud and particular as to his food; he is only beaten by the eagle.
When he dives and takes a fish the eagle pursues him; he lets it drop;
the great sagamore of the birds catches it; but to less than the chief
he yields nothing. But the Scapegrace will eat anything he is heavy in
flying; he is slow and of low degree.
So when the Scapegrace proposed to the Fish-Hawk that they should
become partners the proud bird was angry in his heart, but said
nothing, as he was crafty, and as it occurred to him that he could
punish the other; and this he was the more willing to do because the
Scapegrace actually proposed to fly a race with him! So he said, "Let
us go together to a certain Indian village." And they went off
together.
The Fish-Hawk arrived there far before the other. And on arriving he
said, "Beware of him who will come after me.
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