Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/208

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MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF

he found that Beaver was gone. But as he looked about, he saw Big Beaver just going over the dam. So he began to chase him.

Wiske-djak followed Big Beaver past Coulonge River and the Pembroke Lakes. But when Big Beaver reached the Calumet Chutes, he was afraid to go through and took to the portage. When Wiske-djak got to the lower end of the portage, however, he had lost sight of Big Beaver and started back up the Ottawa River. When he got to the upper end, he saw fresh tracks.

"Somebody has been here," he said very quickly. "I wonder if I might be able to trail him? I might get something to eat."

Wiske-djak followed the tracks to the lower end of the portage, and found they turned toward the upper end, so he raced back there. He did not see any beaver, however, so he turned back again to follow other fresh tracks to the lower end of the portage. Then he saw he had been following his own trail.

Even today one can see Wiske-djak's footprints in the stone on the Calumet portage.

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