AN INDIAN LEGEND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 6

AN INDIAN LEGEND

One misty- summer’s morning two Indian braves came slowly over the mountains carrying a wounded comrade on a litter. By and by they laid it on the ground, and sat down to rest a little way off, talking in sullen whispers. This accident had spoiled their hunting expedition; it was weary work bearing the youth all this long way back to camp. Presently they took up the burden again, and, marching with it to the edge of a narrow cleft in the rocks, they suddenly flung the litter down it. At first the wounded youth was stunned by the fall, but when he came to his senses lie ardently wished that his neck had been broken. How much more dreadful it would be to starve to death in this pit. All at once he heard footsteps close at hand. Looking up, the youth perceived that an old man was coming slowly toward him in the fast-gatlier-ing twilight. "My son,” said the ancient stranger, “I have been examining your injuries. They are great. I can cure them, but I make this condition —-when you are well you must go hunting for me, as I am too feeble to go.” The youth was only too thankful to accept these terms, and could not thank his deliverer enough. The old man was skilful in the use of medicine; before long the youth recovered. All day he spent in hunting, and would have been quite content if he had not thought of his mother, who would be mourning him as dead. One day he killed a bear, and was bending over his prey when he heard a rushing sound in the air. Looking up he beheld three beautiful beings whose feet did not touch the ground. Their limbs shone like gold through the thin, rainbow-coloured garments which fluttered about them, and their faces were as bright as stars. The brave fell on his knees. “O, Indian,” they said, “we are the Thunderers. It is our task to watch over the Earth, to foster the good, and to drive out evil spirits. We havecome to seek your alliance.” “How can I serve such mighty Ones?” asked the youth. “I will do whatever you command.” One of the Thunderers replied: “Then we will take you back to your mother’s lodge. Know that the old hermit whose huntsman you are is really an evil spirit in disguise. For fear of us he hides in that cavern where we cannot reach him. Your task is to draw him out into the open.” The jmuth leapt to his feet and hurried back to the cave. **l have killed a fine bear,” he said, “but it is much too heavy for one man to drag. You must help me to bring it in. The old man frowned and sighed. He was silent. Then he asked: “Are there any clouds about?” The youth said there were none, and the hermit followed him unwillingly. When they reached the dead bear the old man lifted it on his back, and set off for home with great strides. But a little black cloud suddenly appeared in the midst of the blue sky. In a moment or two it bad grown to a gigantic size. There was a flicker ot lightening, a roar like the falling of mountains, and a thunder-bolt was suddenly hurled in the direction of the old man. , _ _ , . He dropped the burden and fled. A second thunder-bolt was flung, and tlie venerable hermit became a porcupine as big as a calf, which ran along shooting out a shower of quills like arrows. As he was gaining the cave a third thunder-bolt fell, and this time the aim was perfect. The monster rolled into the cavern dead. Then the clouds parted, and the Thunderers appeared before the trembling Indian. Two of them took him between them, with his arms about their necks, and bore him swiftly over the hill and forest to his mother s feet.