208 OVER ON THE ISLAND

through the earth, transform himself into an animal, and accomplish all other feats of witchcraft.

But of all the characters in Indian mythology, none can stand beside Glooscap. He was their friend, companion, guide, instructor, and helper. He was divine in human form. He taught the Indians the names of the stars, to hunt and to fish, to cure their catch, and to cultivate the ground.

Glooscap came to this country from the east—far across the Great Sea. He never was sick, he never grew old, he never died. He lived like other men but in a larger Wigwam. He seems to have been noble-minded and generous. A lady, whom he called ”Grandmother, ” kept house for him, and Marten was his servant.

He could do anything and everything. The moose and the caribou came around his dwelling as tame as cattle; and the other beasts were equally obsequious. The elements were entirely under his control. He could bring on an intensity of cold when he chose which would extinguish all the fires of his enemies, and lay them stiffened corpses on the ground.

At last Glooscap became offended at the treachery of the whites. So he decided to go away to the west and to live there. A whale presented himself and said:

“Little grandson, what is your wish?”

”Grandfather, I wish you to take me across the water to a distant land in the west."

“Get on my back, then, ” said the whale.

And off they went. Finally, Glooscap arrived at his destination.

“My little grandson, ” said the whale, “haven’t you some piece of a broken pipe to give me?”

“I have, ” said Glooscap. So he filled one with