Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/125

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BRITISH NORTH AMERICA

MINK'S WAR WITH THE SOUTHEAST WIND

Kwaklutl

MINK called all his friends together Deer, Raccoon, Young Raccoon, and Canoe-Calking, the Raven. The four friends went in at once to the council.

Mink said, "Oh, friends, my reason for calling you is that I wish to make war on Southeast Wind." Thus he said. Deer thanked Mink for what he said. They said they would ask Halibut, Sea Bear, Devilfish, and Merman to go along. Mink and all these people lived at Crooked Beach. Southeast Wind was blowing hard all the time, and therefore these people had no way of getting anything to eat.

Therefore they all went to the house of Devilfish[1] and Halibut, for these two lived together. They asked them to join in war on Southeast Wind. They agreed at once. Sea Bear and Merman also agreed.

In the morning, when daylight came, they started in their canoe. In one day they expected to reach South-

  1. Devilfish was the usual bait in halibut fishing.

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