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

ANIMAL STORIES 175
The old Crane s vanity and conceit were sat
isfied by this time, and he stretched out his
neck until it reached the bank on the other
side of the river. Then the two Weasel girls
scampered over the bridge and away into
safety !
The Weasel girls had no sooner reached the
other bank, then the Badger dashed down to
the shore in pursuit.
"Ho! Take me across the river, and hurry
about it!"
he commanded the Crane.
Now the Crane had been so pleased and had
been made so proud by the soft words of the
Weasels that he was in no mind to be spoken
to rudely.
"I will take you across,"
he said to the Bad
"if
ger," you will bear witness to my beauty.
Are not my legs straight?"
"Yes,"
said the Badger, "they
are straight
and beautifully painted."
Now the Crane did not like the colour of his
legs, so he was not very much pleased with the
Badger s remark.
"And are not my feathers very smooth and
fine?" he next demanded.
"Yes,
smooth and fine What a pity though
they are so mildewed and dusty!
"And what about my straight neck?"
"Yes, your neck is wonderfully straight, as
straight as this!" said the Badger; and pick-