an catch all the fish you want with
your own tail."

The bear hurried on to the river. He swam to the log and dropped his
tail into the water, as the fox had advised.

All day he sat and fished with his tail,--for bears then had very long
tails.

The sun set, but no fish had pulled his tail. All night the bear sat on
the log and fished. Cold North Wind blew his breath over the water. The
river grew still and white.

Towards morning, the bear felt that his tail was getting very heavy. Now
at last he was sure he had a fish. He tried to pull it up. But alas! his
tail was frozen fast in the ice.

Then the fox came along. He laughed long and loudly at the bear, and
asked if the fishing was good.

Some dogs heard the fox, and came tearing through the thick underbrush.
They saw the fox and started after him.

The fox slyly led them on to the frozen river toward the bear. The bear
saw them coming, and called to the fox to go around some other way. The
fox made believe he did not hear, and came straight on to the bear to
ask him what he had said.

The dogs leaped upon the bear. The bear struggled. He gave one great
pull, and freed himself from the ice. He struck at the dogs so fiercely
with his great paws, that they soon left him, and went on after the fox.

Dogs have been running after foxes ever since.

When the bear got his breath, he stood up and looked around at his tail.
He found he had only a small piece left. Most of his tail had been left
in the ice.

This is why bears have short tails, and why dogs still love to chase the
fox.

WHY HERMIT THRUSH IS SO SHY

[Illustration]

Some moons after the council when the birds chose their feathered suits,
a second council was called. The purpose of this council was to see
which bird could fly to heaven, and bring a song to earth.

When all the birds had arrived and were perched upon the council tree,
the wise old owl spoke.

"Friends and brothers, listen," said the owl. "Many of you have strong
wings, but your voices are not beautiful. High, high up in the sky, a
long trail beyond the clouds, is the Happy Hunting Ground.

"There live all our brothers of the wood, whom the Great Spirit has
called. They sing songs more beautiful than any heard on earth.

"The bird that can fly beyond the clouds will hear that singing. He
shall bring a song to earth. Who will fly the Great Sky Trail, and bring
a song to earth? Who-whoo! Who-whoo! Who-whoo!"

At this,