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The pen of a great master would be required to describe the fairyland freshness and light of Glooskap's home as it is felt in the original by men far more familiar with the forest in all its loveliness at all seasons than any white writer can be.
The Turtle was Glooskap's uncle; he married a daughter of the Golden Eagle and Caribou. Of all these things there are many and long traditions. Our people tell them in the winter by the fire: the old people know them; the young forget them and the wisdom which is in them. When the Turtle married, the Master bade him make a feast, and wished that the banquet should be a mighty one.
Of Glooskap's Birth, and of his Brother Malsum the Wolf. Now the great lord Glooskap, who was worshiped in after-days by all the Wabanaki, or children of light, was a twin with a brother. As he was good, this brother, whose name was Malsumsis, or Wolf the younger, was bad. Before they were born, the babes consulted to consider how they had best enter the world.
Printed, but written in Indian-English. Manuscript: Six Stories of the St. Francis or Abenaki Indians. Taken down by Miss Abby Alger. Osgood's Maritime Provinces. In this work there are seven short extracts relative to Glooskap given without reference to any book or author. Of Glooskap's Birth, and of his Brother Malsum, the Wolf
One version of this story was given to me by Tomah Josephs, another by Mrs. W. Wallace Brown. In the latter Glooskap's canoe is a great ship, with all kinds of birds for sailors. This indicates that the Glooskap voyage meant a trip to heaven. How Glooskap is making Arrows, and preparing for a Great Battle. The Twilight of the Indian Gods. "Is Glooskap living yet?"
It is said that he was indeed Glooskap's uncle, but others think that this was by adoption. However, this old fellow bore all his wants with such good nature that the Master, taking him in great affection, resolved to make of him a mighty man. Which came to pass, and that in a strange manner, as we shall see.
And when he lent this to Martin, the younger brother could also do great deeds, such as were only done in old times. Martin lived much with the Mikumwess or Elves, or Fairies, and is said to have been one of them. How Win-pe the Sorcerer, having stolen Glooskap's Family, was by him pursued, and how, Glooskap for a Merry Jest cheated the Whale.
In after-days the Squirrel was Glooskap's dog, and when he so willed, grew large again and slew his enemies, however fierce they might be. But this time, when asked what he would do should he meet with a man, Mi-ko replied, "I should run up a tree." Then the Moose, being questioned, answered, standing still and looking down, "I should run through the woods."
It may be observed that this story gives a far more ingenious reason for Glooskap's telling his brother what would be his bane than appears in the other version. For he tells him what would indeed deprive him of life, but not forever.
It may be observed that the fight with horns is explained in another legend in this book, called the Chenoo, and that these horns are the magic horns of the Chepitch calm, or Great Serpent, who is somewhat like the dragon. In the Algonquin story, two Loons are Glooskap's "tale-bearers," which occasion him great anxiety by their prolonged absences.
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