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And just before he came all of these good fellows had resolved in council that they would send the boldest man among them to certain death, even to the village which built the dam that kept the water which filled the brook that quenched their thirst, whenever it was not empty. And when there he was either to obtain that they should cut the dam, or do something desperate, and to this intent he should go armed, and sing his death-song as he went. And they were all agog.

Then Glooskap, who was much pleased with all this, for he loved a brave man, came among them looking terribly ferocious; in all the land there was not one who seemed half so horrible. For he appeared ten feet high, with a hundred red and black feathers in his scalp-lock, his face painted like fresh blood with green rings round his eyes, a large clam-shell hanging from each ear, a spread eagle, very awful to behold, flapping its wings from the back of his neck, so that as he strode into the village all hearts quaked. Being but simple Indians, they accounted that this must be, if not Lox the Great Wolverine, at least Mitche-hant, the devil himself in person, turned Wabanaki; and they admired him greatly, and the squaws said they had never seen aught so lovely.

Then Glooskap, having heard the whole story, bade them be of good cheer, declaring that he would soon set all to rights. And he without delay departed up the bed of the brook; and coming to the town, sat down and bade a boy bring him water to drink. To which the boy replied that no water could be had in that town unless it were given out by the chief. “Go then to your chief,” said the Master, “and bid him hurry, or, verily, I will know the reason why.” And this being told, Glooskap received no reply for more than an hour, during which time he sat on a log and smoked his pipe. Then the boy returned with a small cup, and this not half full, of very dirty water.

So he arose, and said to the boy, “I will go and see your chief, and I think he will soon give me better water than this.” And having come to the monster, he said, “Give me to drink, and that of the best, at once, thou Thing of Mud!” But the chief reviled him, and said, “Get thee hence, to find water where thou canst.” Then Glooskap thrust a spear into his belly, and lo! there gushed forth a mighty river; even all the water which should have run on while in the rivulet, for he had made it into himself. And Glooskap, rising high as a giant pine, caught the chief in his hand and crumpled in his back with a mighty grip. And lo! it was the Bull-Frog. So he hurled him with contempt into the stream, to follow the current.

And ever since that time the Bull-Frog’s back has crumpled wrinkles in the lower part, showing the prints of Glooskap’s awful squeeze.

Then he returned to the village; but there he found no people,–no, not one. For a marvelous thing had come to pass during his absence, which shall be heard in every Indian’s speech through all the ages. For the men, being, as I said, simple, honest folk, did as boys do when they are hungry, and say unto one another, “What would you like to have, and what you?” “Truly, I would be pleased with a slice of hot venison dipped in maple-sugar and bear’s oil.” “Nay, give me for my share succotash and honey.” Even so these villagers had said, “Suppose you had all the nice cold, fresh, sparkling, delicious water there is in the world, what would you do?”

And one said that he would live in the soft mud, and always be wet and cool.