--- title: Opening, part 12 — Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 12, «Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: When the Lord was on the warpath Seeking the sorcerer Winpe Who had carried away his household, He came to Ogomkeok Where he found a great birch wi --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/12/page/2/) [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/) / [Kulóskap the master, and other Algonki…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/) / Opening, part 12 # Opening, part 12 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/12/) **2** Now for thirty days Kulóskap Who had well-nigh lost his power Of magic, as all magicians Are often all exhausted, Remembered that his friend The Fox was mteolin, With all the strength of sorcery.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") And still the mighty Master Could sing the wonderful song Which is heard to any distance, Away over forests and mountains, Over the rolling rivers.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") So he sang and the Fox soon heard it, And he travelled by night and day Until he came to the ocean, And swam to the lonely isle.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now swim with me to the mainland,” Said the Fox unto the Master.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") “Brother, I cannot do it For all my power is gone.”[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hold to my tail” said the Fox, “Be of good faith, my brother, We soon shall gain the shore.”[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") “But remember,” said the Fox, “While we are in the water Thou must keep thine eyes fast shut.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") All depends upon that, On that alone and thy faith.”[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") So all went well for a time, But anon the chief grew weary, And opening one eye a little It seemed to him that truly They were not ten feet from the shore, And being of little faith He thought--for he spoke not aloud: “We shall never get to land:” But the Fox who read his thought, Replied, “Do not believe it, I \_will\_ that we reach the shore.”[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") But the journey lasted long, For what seemed unto the Master To be ten feet, was really Ten miles--and the wind was high, And the waves were wild and beat them, For the witch had raised a storm; And it was late in the evening Before they reached the land.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") “And now my elder brother,” Said the Fox, “you may go your way.”[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") He went and came to the camp Where he had left his people.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") There all was silent and sad, The ashes were cold on the hearths, In the deserted homes, In the lonely, silent wigwams; So he followed the tracks of the Indians, And in a day came near them.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") The first whom he overtook Was his mother bearing his brother; Nʾmokswes, that is the Sable, Or as others say the Marten.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") She bore him on her back, The child’s back lay against her, So that, while she looked forward, He could only look behind.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") As Kulóskap peered from a thicket, Smiling to see the boy, The Sable cried: “Oh, my brother Is coming to us at last!”[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") And she turned her head, yet saw nothing, For the Master hid his head Quickly behind a tree.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") But the infant cried again: “Indeed and truly, mother, I saw my brother there!”[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") And this time glancing quickly She caught a sight of the Master, And they all laughed for joy.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the mother threw Nʾmokswes Like a stick down into the leaves, But the Master bade him rise And run to the camp with speed.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") “And when you are there,” he said, “Build up a mighty fire, A fire of hemlock bark, And take the Pitcher’s babe, Whom she so dearly loves, And has given to you to tend, And throw it into the fire; Then run to me for your life, For verily thou wilt be In direst need to do it.”[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") And as he had commanded It was done.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") When the fire was hot Nʾmokswes threw the imp, The child of an evil mother, Into the roaring flames, And it was burned to death.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the sorceress who was maddened, As you may well believe, With rage, pursued the Sable, Even as a starving wolf Chases a rabbit in winter: Nʾmokswes in great fear Cried, “Oh my elder brother!”[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") And the sorceress yelled: “Call out\![80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Call loudly as you can\![81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") For to save your life you must run As far as the distant island Where I left him long ago.”[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") But at the word the Master Stepped forward, and as he faced her Said: “He need not run so far.”[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, seeing him, fear came o’er her, But laughing aloud to hide it, She said: “I only chased him In sport, for I truly love him.”[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Master answered grimly, “I know thee and thy love, And also all thy tricks, Thou who art truly a devil.”[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Then feeling that his power Of magic was returning, He used his mighty will, And the will awoke to might, And before his breath the sorceress Was driven backward lightly, Like a leaf before the wind Till her back was against a tree; Then he said to her, “Remain Ever attached to the bark,” And so indeed she remained, Though not as the Master meant.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Master and his brother Together went to the camp; Great was the joy when he came.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The Pitcher had a hatchet, And so with much ado She cut herself (or himself), In time away from the tree.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") The Black Cats heard her chopping, Pounding and chopping all night; And wondered what it might be.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") She came to them in the morning, But a fragment from the tree Ever adhered to her back: So they laughed at her in scorn, And sang together these words:[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") “He who made the chief Stay on a distant island, Is now stuck by the chief Fast with his back to a tree.”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") It is said she turned to a toad Which bears to this day on its back A hump, or the piece of wood Which was carried away from the tree.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Though another legend has it That, as during all her life She had tormented men With her insatiate longing, She was changed to a mosquito Which preys on them in the night, The blood-thirsty stinging Tʾsiso Ever a-stinging and singing: “Give me thy life and blood.”[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") It is said it was at Fresh-Water, After she left Bar Harbor, That she changed into the insect Which ever will bear her name.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Pûjinskwes had many children Whose fathers were giants and monsters, Sorcerers and demons, But, as they all were hideous, She stole from the Indian women Their fairest babes, and pretended That they were all her own.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Among these was a comely youth, And as he grew older he wondered That most of his brothers and sisters Were dark and like the devils While he, and a few, were fair.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") So one day he asked Pûjinskwes Why it was?[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") She answered laughing: “The dark were born in the darkness, But thou, my son, by day.”[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") FOOTNOTES:[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") \[40\] There was an Indian village.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") \[41\] This couplet indicates the metre into which most of the original can be resolved.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") VII[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") HOW KULÓSKAP SAILED THROUGH THE CAVERN OF DARKNESS[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") \[\_Micmac\_\][104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Nʾkani bʾmaoinnoak itmok niktuk iloiknuk wesisek Kulóskap honichan uch negum Naga honosokoan nihit Piliomeskasik ktakʾmigw.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") \_\[42\][106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") It is told in old traditions, And even in them with a difference, According to the nations In which these songs are sung, That “in these olden times,” Kulóskap’s seven neighbors, That is, seven beasts of the forest, Stole his family from him And that he long pursued them Even to Néwfoundlánd.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came there it was night, And, finding Marten alone, He took him into the forest, Bidding him seek for game, Putting his belt on the boy; Which gave him such magic power That he killed both moose and bear, And brought all gayly home.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/12/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/12/) - next →: [Opening, part 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/13/) - ↑ back to [Kulóskap the master, and other Algonkin poems](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg78673/)