master of us all!" But they all loved the Little Boy Man because
he was so friendly and so playful. Only the monsters of the deep
sea listened, and presently took his life, hiding his body in the
bottom of the sea. Nevertheless, by the magic power of the
First-Born, the body was recovered and was given life again in the
sacred vapor-bath, as described in a former chapter.

Once more our first ancestor roamed happily among the animal
people, who were in those days a powerful nation. He learned their
ways and their language--for they had a common tongue in those
days; learned to sing like the birds, to swim like the fishes, and
to climb sure-footed over rocks like the mountain sheep.
Notwithstanding that he was their good comrade and did them no
harm, Unk-to-mee once more sowed dissension among the animals, and
messages were sent into all quarters of the earth, sea, and air,
that all the tribes might unite to declare war upon the solitary
man who was destined to become their master.

After a time the young man discovered the plot, and came home
very sorrowful. He loved his animal friends, and was grieved that
they should combine against him. Besides, he was naked and
unarmed. But his Elder Brother armed him with a bow and
flint-headed arrows, a stone war-club and a spear. He likewise
tossed a pebble four times into the air, and each time it became a
cliff or wall of rock about the teepee.

"Now," said he, "it is time to fight and to assert your
supremacy, for it is they who have brought the trouble upon you,
and not you upon them!"