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

174 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES
made him all the more furious ;
he who had the
very worst temper of all beasts and men was
never so angry before ! He saw the tracks of
the Weasels, and he pursued them as they fled
through the thick forest in the dark night.
The Weasel girls ran all night with the Bad
ger after them; and in the morning they came
to a broad river which they could not cross.
But on the edge of the water stood a great
Crane.
"Oh, Uncle," they begged, hastening to him;
"we are running away from an enemy. Please
do take us over at once!"
But the Crane was a vain old fellow, and
coveted praise for his good looks.
"I never work without pay,"
he said. "You
must at least acknowledge that I have a fine
form and a beautiful robe. Surely I have
straight,
smooth feathers."
"Indeed, indeed!"
they answered,
"that is
true enough! Our uncle has beautiful straight
feathers."
"Confess also that I have a beautiful, long
straight neck,"
"Oh,"
the old Crane said.
answered the Weasels,
"our Uncle has
a marvellously long and straight neck."
"Acknowledge that my legs are beautifully
the Crane now demanded.
straight,"
"True, indeed," they answered. "Our
Uncle has wonderfully long and straight legs."