WONDER TALES OF THE FOREST 23

But one day, she neglected to gather mush— rooms, and some Indians entered the Wigwam. There was the meat in plain sight!

“Why did you not give us some of this food, when we are starving?” they demanded.

“Oak, cah, cah!” cried Mrs. Crow. “The children whom you tried to murder are well and grown up. They have their lodge full of dried meat, while you starve.”

“Let us all go back to them,” the Indian said.

So that very day they all turned back to the deserted village. When they reached the place, they found everything just as Mrs. Crow had said.

Mrs. Bear and little Marten were welcomed home to their own lodge, where they were given all the choice moose and caribou meat that they could eat. Their wicked mother came too.

“Are you not glad to see me, my children? Will you not welcome the mother who fed you and cared for you when you were babies?” she asked.

But Usitabulajoo said to her:

“You deserted us for the others, and left us alone to die; now, go back to them and share with them what they receive.”

Then others came to the Wigwam.

“Give us food, Usitabulajoo,” they begged, “for we are starving.”

Usitabulajoo gave them dried meat-the meat