Glooscap the great chief, and other stories - ElectricCanadian.com

156 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES
One day, after Ableegumooch had recovered
from his cold plunge in the water, he was run
ning about in the forest, when he came upon a
wigwam filled with young women who wore
beautiful head-dresses. This happened to be
a party of Antawaas, who were yellow wood
peckers. Ableegumooch entered the hut, and
the young women politely invited him to sit
down and stay to dinner. Then one of the
young women took a small dish, and went up
the side of an old beech tree, and quickly dug
out a plentiful supply of food. This was soon
boiled and ready for dinner.
"Ah," thought Ableegumooch, "how easily
some people get a living! What is to hinder
me from getting mine in the same fashion.
Come over and dine with me the day after to
morrow," he said to the young women.
At the time set, the young ladies arrived,
and Ableegumooch turned to his grandmother
and said importantly:
Prepare the meal."
"Noogumee!
"But, my child, there is nothing to prepare!"
she said.
"You make ready the fire, and 7 will attend
to the rest," replied Ableegumooch, more
proudly than ever.
So he took the hard iron of an eel spear, and
fastened it upon his head to make it like the
head of the woodpecker girls. Then he climbed