[Footnote: Mr. Rand suggests that this
may indicate the dark color of his tribe. Eskimo legends speak of
people among them who were black.]
Now it came to pass, a few days after, that a company of these well-grown
people went hunting, and when they returned the guests must needs pity
them that they had no game in their land which answered to their size;
for they came in with strings of such small affairs as two or three
dozen caribou hanging in their belts, as a Micmac would carry a string
of squirrels, and swinging one or two moose in their hands like rabbits.
Yet, what with these and many deer, bears, and beavers, they made up in
the weight of their game what it lacked in size, and of what they had
they were generous.
Now the giants became very fond of the small folk, and would not for
the world that they should in any way come to harm. And it came to pass
that one morning the chief told them that they were to have a grand
battle, since they expected in three days to be attacked by a Chenoo.
Therefore the Micmac saw that in all things it was even with the giants
as with his own people at home, they having their troubles with the
wicked, and the chiefs their share in being obliged to keep up their
magic and know all that was going on in the world. Yea, for he would be
a poor _powwow_ and a necromancer worth nothing who could not
foretell such a trifle as the day and hour when an enemy would be on
them!
But this time the Sakumow (M.
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