was
green and the flowers bloomed. Twelve times a year the vines and bushes
and trees bore fresh blossoms, and twelve times a year they were loaded
with ripe berries, fruits, and nuts.

"In those times there was no hunting and no killing. All the wild
kindreds lived in peace with each other and with the Red Men, who then
dwelt in this land. You see there was plenty to eat and the weather was
so warm and pleasant that the Red Men did not need the skins of their
wild brothers to keep them from the cold.

"But after a while a change came. Pe-boan the dreadful Winter King came
down from the North and made war upon Ni-pon the Queen of Summer. After
many battles peace was made and the year was divided; half the year was
ruled by the Queen of Summer, and half by the Winter King.

"Now it came to pass that after the war was over the vines and bushes
and trees put forth their buds and blossomed and bore fruit but once a
year. The Red Men and the wild kindreds suffered dreadfully from hunger,
and their hearts became hard and cruel. Then the hunting and the killing
began. The Red Men hunted many of the wild kindreds for their flesh and
their fur, and the wild kindreds began to kill and devour each other.
And so it has been since that day.

"In those times the Wa-poose folk were much larger than they are now,
even as large as Mo-ween the Bear. But they refused to take part in the
killing and flesh eating, and so they suffered more from hunger than
some of the wild kindreds. Year by year, on account of the scarcity of
food, the Wa-poose folk became smaller until they were as you see them
now.

"In the beginning, as I have said, the Red Men and the wild kindreds
spoke one language. Even to this day, the Red hunters have kept many of
the watchwords of the wild folk, and by means of them are able to
deceive and kill them.

"Now by reason of the great slaughter that was made by the Red Men, the
wild kindreds gathered themselves together in a great council to discuss
their condition. After much talk they decided to ask help of the Master
of Life.

"'There is but one way,' said he, when he had heard their story, 'you
must change your speech. Then the Red Men will no longer be able to
deceive you so easily and slay so many of you.'

"The wild folk did as the Master of Life told them to do. They changed
their language, and refused to speak any longer with the Red Men. But
some of the Red Men's words they have kept to this day, and