_Of other Men who went to Glooskap for Gifts_.

(Micmac.)


_N'karnayoo: wood-enit-atokhagen Glooskap_. Of the old times: this
is a story of Glooskap. Now there went forth many men unto Glooskap,
hearing that they could win the desires of their hearts; and all got
what they asked for, in any case; but as for having what they wanted,
that depended on the wisdom with which they wished or acted.

The good Glooskap liked it not that when he had told any one evenly and
plainly what to do, that man should then act otherwise, or double with
him. And it came to pass that a certain fool, of the kind who can do
nothing unless it be in his own way, made a long journey to the Master.
And his trials were indeed many. For he came to an exceeding high
mountain in a dark and lonely land, where he heard no sound. And the
ascent thereof was like a smooth pole, and the descent on the other
side far worse, for it hung over the bottom. Yet it was worse beyond,
for there the road lay between the heads of two huge serpents, almost
touching each other, who darted their terrible tongues at those who
went between. And yet again the path passed under the Wall of Death.
Now this wall hung like an awful cloud over a plain, rising and falling
at times, yet no man knew when. And when it fell it struck the ground,
and that so as to crush all that was beneath it.