Stránka:tales 1921.djvu/232

3IO Woodland Tales "Tricks!" says Nana-bo-jou, "I only want to teach you the new songs from the South." Then all the animals troop in and sit in a circle. Nana- bo-jou takes his drum and begins to sing: "New songs from the South, my brothers, Dance to the new songs." Turning to one, he says: "Who are you and what can you dance?" The answers are, " I am the Beaver [or whatever it is] and I can dance the Beaver Dance." " Good! Come and show me how." So the Beaver dances to the music, slapping the back of his flat right hand, up and under his left hand for a tail, holding up a stick in both paws to gnaw it, and lumbering along in time to the music, at the same time imitating the Beaver's waddle. Nana-bo-jou shouts: "Fine! That is the best Beaver Dance I ever saw. You are wonderful; all you need to be perfect is wings. Wouldn't you like to have wings so you could fly over the tree- tops, like the Eagle?" "Yes," says the Beaver. " I can make strong medicine and give you wings, if all the animals will help me," says Nana-bo-jou. "Will you?" "Yes," they all cry. "Then all close your eyes tight and cover them with your paws. Don't look until I tell you. Beaver, close your eyes and dance very fast and I will make magic to give you wings." All close and cover their eyes. Nana-bo-jou sings very loudly and, rushing on the Beaver, hits him on the head with the straw club. The Beaver falls dead. The two goblins run in from one side and drag off the body.