“The Indian Cinderella”
On the shores of a wide bay on the Atlantic coast there
dwelt in old times a great Indian warrior.
It was said that he had been one of Glooskap‘s best helpers and
friends, and that he had done for him many wonderful deeds.
But that, no man knows. He had, however, a very wonderful and strange
power; he could make himself invisible; he could thus mingle unseen with
his enemies and listen to their plots. He was known among the people as
Strong Wind, the Invisible, He dwelt with his sister in a tent near the
sea, and his sister helped him greatly in his work. Many maidens would
have been glad to marry him, and he was much sought after because of his
mighty deeds; and it was known that Strong Wind would many the first maiden
who could see him as he came home at night. Many made the trial, but it
was a long time before one succeeded.
Strong Wind used a clever trick to test the truthfulness
of all who sought to win him. Each evening as the day went down, his sister
walked on the beach with any girls who wished to make the trial. His sister
could always see him, but no one else could see him. And as he came home
from work in the twilight, his sister as she saw him drawing near would
ask the girl who sought him, "Do you see him?" And each
girl would falsely answer, "Yes." And his sister would
ask, "With what does he draw his sled?" And each girl
would answer, "With the hide of a moose," or "With
a pole," or "With a great cord." And then his
sister would know that they all had lied, for their answers were mere
guesses. And many tried and lied and failed, for Strong Wind would not
marry any who were untruthful.
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