Atondido Stories
adrift in the surf. Come quickly and help me to save them." Sea-
gull sprang out of bed and ran half-asleep on his bare feet. But as
he ran to the beach the thorns stuck in his bare flesh, and he
howled with pain. He crawled back to his house, saying, "My ca-
noe may go adrift if it pleases; I cannot walk because of the
splinters in my feet." Raven chuckled to himself, and he moved
away, pretending to go to the beach to draw up the canoes. Then
he went into Sea-gull's house. Sea-gull was still howling with
pain; he was sitting crying on the side of his bed and he was try-
ing to pull the thorns from his feet as best he could. "I will help
you," said Raven, "for I have often done this before. I am a very
good doctor."
So he took an awl made from whale-bone and he caught hold
of Sea-gull's foot, with the pretence of removing the thorns. But
instead of taking them out he only pushed them in farther until
poor Sea-gull howled louder than ever. And Raven said, "It is so
dark I cannot see to pull these thorns from your feet. Give me
some daylight and I will soon cure you. A doctor must always
have a little light." So Sea-gull unlocked the box and lifted the
cover just a little bit so that a faint gleam of light came out. "That
is better," said Raven. But instead of picking out the thorns he
pushed them in as he had done before, until Sea-gull howled
and kicked in pain. "Why are you so stingy with your light?"
snapped Raven. "Do you think I am an owl and that I can see
well enough in the darkness to heal your feet? Open the box
wide and I will soon make you well." So saying he purposely fell
heavily against Sea-gull and knocked the box on the floor. The
cover flew open and daylight escaped and spread quickly over
all the world. Poor Sea-gull tried his best to lure it back again in-
to the box, but his efforts proved fruitless, for it had gone for ev-
er. Raven said he was very sorry for the accident, but after he
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