--- title: Wiske·djak Cycle., part 1 — Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin… · full text with trees description: Wiske·djak Cycle., part 1, «Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa» by Frank G. Speck: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: (1) Wiske·djak Pursues the Beaver. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/5/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/) / Wiske·djak Cycle., part 1 # Wiske·djak Cycle., part 1 Wiske·djak Cycle., part 1 of «Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa» by Frank G. Speck: the whole text, 201 sentences and 2645 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/5/page/2/) (1) Wiske·djak Pursues the Beaver.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Wiske·djak was travelling about looking for adventures.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") He never succeeded in anything he tried to do.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He never did well and was always hungry.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") In his travels he came to Ki·we·′goma “Turn-back lake” (Dumoine lake).[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he even had no canoe, but he was a great swimmer.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came to Ki·we·′goma, he found it even too big to swim, so he started to walk around it.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") He wanted to hunt beaver.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") On one side of the lake, he came to a round, high mountain that looked like a beaver-lodge.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") In front of it he found deep water, just as there is in front of a beaver lodge.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") And a little way off shore was a little island with many grasses; just as the beaver provides a winter supply of greens for himself near his lodge, so this island he supposed to be the beaver’s winter supply and the mountain his lodge.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Wiske·djak wanted to get this great beaver, but did not know how to get at him.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he thought of draining the lake, so he went way around to the lower end and broke away the dam so that the water would run off.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the water began to go, and Wiske·djak lingered about, waiting for it to get low enough to get at the beaver.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Pretty soon he took a nap.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") When he woke up, it was rather late and he hurried back to the mountain only to find that the beaver had gone.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he thought the beaver might have escaped over the dam with the water, so he started back, and sure enough he saw the beaver going over the dam.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now,” said he, “I lost my beaver.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") He followed hard after him and had lots of trouble to keep up.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") He followed him past Coulonge river and Pembroke lakes.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") But when the beaver reached Calumet chutes, he was afraid to go through and took to the portage.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Wiske·djak saw him and chased him harder over the portage.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") When he got to the lower end, he lost sight of the beaver and started back up river (Ottawa river).[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") When he got to the upper end of the portage, he saw fresh tracks.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said he, “there has been somebody here.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") I wonder if I could trace him.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") We might have something to eat.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he followed the track to the lower end of the portage where he had already been, but nobody was there.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went back to the upper end of the portage and there saw more fresh tracks leading to the lower end.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") These he followed to where he had been twice before, but saw no beaver.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") He then discovered that they were his own tracks he had been following and gave it up.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The tracks back and forth can be seen plainly to-day imprinted in the stone of Calumet portage, which the Indians call Wiske·djak tracks.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") After this he started off on another trip.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") (2) Wiske·djak Kills the Bear and Gets his Head Fastened in the Skull.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Wiske·djak was always in trouble.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") One time he was going along the shore of a big lake carrying a big pail.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") He felt very hungry and was looking for something to eat.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Pretty soon he saw a lot of clumps of high-bush cranberries and commenced to eat from one little clump to another.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he remembered his pail.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Said he, “If I could pick my pail full, I would have a good supply to last me a long while.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") So he began filling his pail, and as he went on he got into some big clumps.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly he saw a big Bear sitting down among some bushes, every little while rubbing his eyes and picking out his paws as though something was hurting his eyes.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Wiske·djak watched him a while and thought how nice it would be to kill him.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") What a big supply of food he would have then to fill his pail with\![44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went up to the bear and said, “Hello, Bear\![45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") What’s the matter with you?”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear answered, “Oh! my eyes are so sore, and I can’t see where to go.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") I just wish somebody would help me.”[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, come along with me.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") I will help you.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") I know where to get some fine medicine that will fix you up all right.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said the bear.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Wiske·djak led him off to a big bunch of cranberries.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") There he gathered a lot of berries and crushed them in his hands.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he told the Bear to open his eyes so that he could put the medicine on.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") “It may hurt you when I put this medicine in, but it will cure you, so don’t mind it.”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Wiske·djak began to rub the cranberry juice into the Bear’s eyes.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear began to roar and tear around with the pain, making a great time.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “But never mind,” said Wiske·djak.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") “It may hurt, but it will cure you.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") In the meantime he hunted around and got two big stones, and while the Bear was blinded with the pain, began pounding him on the head with the stones.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") He had a hard fight all over the berry-patch, but finally succeeded and killed the Bear.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Wiske·djak went back to where he had left his pail and got his knife.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") He skinned the bear and cut him up.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") He put some of the pieces into his pail to make a bouillon.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he got sticks and made a fire for the cooking.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Next he got some birch bark peeled off and cleaned a big space near the fire, spreading the birch bark to put the meat on.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") He stuck the pieces of meat on sharp sticks.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") When they were well roasted, he spread them on the bark to cool off before eating them.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") He left the bear’s head for the last, then he began to eat lots of the bear’s fat and the meat.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") He had a great big pile of it.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") He sat down to enjoy his meal.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, just as he was ready to begin, the wind began to blow a little, and at the same time from above came a little cry, “Whun!”[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked around, because it bothered him, but could not see anything, so he started to eat again.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the same little cry sounded again, “Whun!” and he stopped to look around, but couldn’t see anything.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") The third time he started to eat, the same cry sounded, and then he got up and hunted for the cause, for it bothered him and was spoiling his good time.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") When he looked up, he saw a tree that had been blown down, resting in the crotch of another tree over him that rubbed when the wind blew and made this noise.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Said Wiske·djak, “You had better stop that noise until I get through eating.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") I don’t like it at all.”[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh!” said the tree, “I have to do it.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") I can’t stop it.”[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Whenever Wiske·djak started to eat again, the wind blew a little.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Wiske·djak climbed the tree and put his hands in between the tree and the crotch to stop the rubbing, and when the wind blew a little the space spread and closed again.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") It pinned his hands in the crotch and held him fast.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let me go\![85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me go!” he begged of the tree.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") “I must get down to my meat.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") But the only answer he got was, “No,” and there he stayed.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") Pretty soon when he looked down, he saw a Squirrel come and take some of his meat.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") He shouted for him to go away without any success.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") Next came the Marten, then the Fisher, then some Wildcats, then Ravens, and in fact all kinds of animals came and began to eat up his supply of meat.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") He tried to drive them away, but couldn’t.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") The more he shouted at them, the more they danced and sang and ran off mocking him.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") They carried away all his pieces of meat to their dens, but didn’t touch the pail of grease.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") By the time all the meat was gone, a little breeze arose and the tree let him go.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") When he got down, all was cleared away.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") There were not even bones enough for bouillon.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") There was only the grease in the pail.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said he, “I’ll have grease anyway.”[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/5/page/2/) - ← previous: [Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/4/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/5/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66509/)