Grace Willard Edick

“ The chief came out of the hut, and looked kindly at the two boys.
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He beckoned Lodrix to him, and said:
“How much bronze is there in your father’s village?”
Lodrix answered:
“There is more bronze in the village of the Dormorants than in any other village on the lake.”
“Is there more than one messenger can carry?” said the chief.
“You must send a strong messenger,” said Lodrix, “for our bronze is very heavy.”
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The chief thought a moment, then turned to his son and said, “You may take Lodrix about the village, but do not go far, for Tevico will return at sunset.” ”

“ While Lodrix summoned the people, the chief rushed out to pull back the drawbridge which connected their homes with the land.
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The lake people were very much frightened. They knew that the people on land were their enemies; so they were ready to obey every command of their chief.
First he called for the messenger who had brought the news.
A youth with a deer hanging from his shoulder stepped forward.
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Laying the deer at the chief’s feet, the boy said, “My chief! As I was hunting, I met the boy Tevico, whom you once saved from the wolves in the forest. ”

“ The Bear people had come together and were waiting for Tevico.
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They were very glad to hear the message for it meant great wealth for them.
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They would now have more bronze than any other land tribe.
“Lodrix must be sent home. We must have a messenger,” said the chief. “He must be very strong, for the bronze is heavy.”
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Then he chose one of the strongest of the men, who started off with Lodrix.
At sunrise, they reached the shore of the lake.
There the Lake-Dweller messenger was waiting with the bronze. ”

“ They crowded about the chief’s hut and listened, as Lodrix told the story of his capture.
When Lodrix had finished his story, he went into the hut to rest.
He soon fell asleep, tired from his long journey.
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Then the chief sent two men to pull up the drawbridge which had been down since early morning.
He still feared that the Bear tribe would attack them.
After this had been done, the chief said to his people: “My son has returned to us. Now we must think of winter.
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“Our fruit-trees have been destroyed by our enemies and we have very little dried fruit left. ”

“ On the fourth day, when everything seemed quiet, the chief of the Dormorants ordered the drawbridge to be put in place, and stationed a man at the end to watch for the enemy. Then he sent a messenger to the chief of a Lake-Dweller village near by. ”

“ Transcriber’s Notes Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication. In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) ”