Fairy and Wonder Tales 1917

Manabozho is Changed into a Wolf

Adapted from H. R. Schoolcraft

ONE evening, as Manabozho was walking along the shore of a great lake,

weary and hungry, he met a great magician in the form of an Old Wolf,

with six young ones, coming toward him.

The Wolf no Sooner caught sight of him than he told his whelps, who

were close beside him, to keep out of the way of Manabozho, "For I

know," he said, "that it is that mischievous fellow whom we see

yonder."

The young wolves were in the act of running off when Manabozho cried

out, "My grandchildren, where are you going?  Stop and I will go with

you.  I wish to have a little chat with your excellent father."

Saying which, he advanced and greeted the Old Wolf, expressing himself

as delighted at seeing him looking so well.  "Whither do you journey?"

he asked.

"We are looking for a good hunting-ground to pass the winter," the Old

Wolf answered.  "What brings you here?"

'I was looking for you," said Manabozho.  "For I have a passion for the

chase, brother.  I always admired your family; are you willing to

change me into a wolf?"

The Wolf gave him a favorable answer, and he was forthwith changed into

a wolf.

"Well, that will do," said Manabozho.  "But," he said, looking at his

tail, "could you oblige me by making my tail a little longer and more

bushy, just a little more bushy?"

"Certainly," said the Old Wolf; and he straightway gave Manabozho such

a length and spread of tail that it was continually getting between his

legs, and it was so heavy that it was as much as he could do to carry

it.  But, having asked for it, he was ashamed to say a word, and they

all started off in company, dashing up the ravine.

After getting into the woods for some distance they ran across the

tracks of moose.  The young ones scampered off in pursuit, the Old Wolf

and Manabozho following at their leisure.

"Well," said the Old Wolf, by way of starting the conversation, "who do

you think is the fastest of the boys?  Can you tell by the jumps they

take?"

"Why," he replied, "that one that takes such 'long jumps, he is surely

the fastest."

"Ha! ha! you are mistaken," said the Old Wolf.  "He makes a good start,

but he will be the first to tire out; this one who appears to be behind

will be the one to kill the game."

By this time they had come to the spot where the boys had started in

chase.  One had dropped what seemed to be a small medicine-sack, which

he carried for the use of the hunting party.

"Take that, Manabozho," said the Old Wolf.

"Why, what will I do with a dirty dog skin?"

The Old Wolf took it up; it was a beautiful robe.

"Oh, I will carry it now," cried Manabozho.

"Oh, no," said the Wolf, who had used his magical powers, "it is a robe

of pearls.  Come along!" And away he sped at a great rate of speed.

"Not so fast," called Manabozho after him; and then he added to himself

as he panted after, "Oh, this tail!"

Coming to a place where the moose had lain down, they saw that the

young wolves had made a fresh start after their prey.  "'Why," said the

Old Wolf, "this moose is thin.  I know by the tracks.  I can always

tell whether they are fat or not."  A little farther on, one of the

young wolves, in dashing at the moose, had broken a tooth on a tree.

"Manabozho," said the Old Wolf, "one of your grandchildren has shot at

the game.  Take his arrow; there it is."

"No," replied Manabozho, "what will I do with a dirty dog's tooth?"

The Old Wolf took it up, and behold it was a beautiful silver arrow.

When they at last overtook them, they found that the youngsters had

killed a very fat moose.  Manabozho was very hungry, but the Old Wolf

just then again exerted his magical powers, and Manabozho saw nothing

but the bones picked quite clean.  He thought to himself, "Just as I

expected; dirty, greedy fellows.  If it had not been for this log at my

back I should have been in time to have got a mouthful"; and he cursed

the bushy tail which he carried to the bottom of his heart.

The Old Wolf finally called out to one of the young ones, "Give some

meat to your grandfather."

One of them obeyed, and coming near to Manabozho he presented him the

end of his own bushy tail, which was now nicely seasoned with burs

gathered in the course of the hunt.  Manabozho jumped up and called

out: "You dog, do you think I am going to eat you?" And he walked off

in anger.

"Come back brother," cried the Wolf.  "You are losing your eyes.  You

do the child injustice.  Look there I" and behold a heap of fresh meat

was lying on the spot, all prepared.

Manabozho turned back, and at the sight of so much good food put on a

smiling face.  "Wonderful!" he said, "how fine the meat is !"

"Yes," replied the Old Wolf, "it is always so with us; we know our work

and always get the best.  It is not a long tail that makes the hunter."

Manabozho bit his lip.