Native American Legends
How the Fly saved the River
An Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legend
Many, many years ago when the world was new, there was a beautiful
river. Fish in great numbers lived in this river, and its water
was so pure and sweet that all the animals came there to drink.
A giant moose heard about the river and he too came there to drink.
But he was so big, and he drank so much, that soon the water began
to sink lower and lower.
The beavers were worried. The water around their lodges was disappearing.
Soon their homes would be destroyed.
The muskrats were worried, too. What would they do if the water
vanished? How could they live?
The fish were very worried. The other animals could live on land
if the water dried up, but they couldn't.
All the animals tried to think of a way to drive the moose from
the river, but he was so big that they were too afraid to try. Even
the bear was afraid of him.
At last the fly said he would try to drive the moose away. All
the animals laughed and jeered. How could a tiny fly frighten a
giant moose? The fly said nothing, but that day, as soon as the
moose appeared, he went into action.
He landed on the moose's foreleg and bit sharply. The moose stamped
his foot harder, and each time he stamped, the ground sank and the
water rushed in to fill it up. Then the fly jumped about all over
the moose, biting and biting and biting until the moose was in a
frenzy. He dashed madly about the banks of the river, shaking his
head, stamping his feet, snorting and blowing, but he couldn't get
rid of that pesky fly. At last the moose fled from the river, and
didn't come back.
The fly was very proud of his achievement, and boasted to the other
animals.
"Even the small can fight the strong if they use their brains
to think."
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