The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2003, Qupperneq 35

Vol. 58 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
77
Vanda, “because of the noise that Jesse and
Robert were making. No one was thinking
of anything other than the noise of the
fighting.”
“And they were likely followers of Big
Wolf” said O’Brian.
“There can be no doubt about it” said
Mr. Iceland.
“Now I would like to ask you some-
thing, Mrs. Le Turneau,” said O’Brian.
“And that is this: Do you remember any-
thing about an oak tree a short distance
north west of the Hotel, when you lived
here?”
“Do I remember it?” asked Madeleine
Vanda “Yes I remember that oak tree very
well. Its branches covered with lovely
leaves provided welcome shade for sitting
under it on hot summer days. The branch-
es seemed to be filled with a mysterious
force when the breeze rustled the leaves,
just like the feathers and fringe and tufts of
the ceremonial dress of the Indians, when
they race on the prairie. I often sat there
alone on summer evenings, and sometimes
felt as the wind whispered softly in the
leaves that the old oak had changed into an
Indian warrior. I seemed to see him bow
down to me. I could hear the fringe rustle
on his shoulder, and it was as if he was
whispering”sei-sei sei-sei sei-sei” in my
ear. Then I always remember what my
mother had told me about this lovely oak
tree when I was a child.”
“It would be interesting to hear about
that” I said.
“It is really not a long story” said
Madeleine Vanda “and it was this: once
upon a time there was a young and healthy
Indian chief whose name was “Swan”. He
lived about fifty miles east of here. He had
a pure heart, and was good and brave. For
this reason the God Manitou regarded him
highly and counted him as one of his dear-
est friends. But Swan had a sworn enemy,
whose name was “Eagle” and he was a
powerful and unscrupulous chief. Once
Swan was out hunting here in the western
prairie and was all alone. Then Eagle came
upon him with many followers. They
intended to capture him and torture him to
death. But Swan was a fast runner, and ran
south east on the plain as fast as he could,
because he knew he had no chance against
so many men. Eagle and his followers were
all riding on good horses and pursued him
with great zeal. They did not stop until
they reached the inlet here.
By then Swan was so breathless and
weak that he didn’t trust himself to swim
across the Red River, which was then high
and flowing swiftly. Swan stopped a short
distance from the river and called on God
Manitou for help, because he dreaded the
thought of being captured by his enemies.
“I can change you into a bird, fish or
tree” said God Manitou,” but I cannot
change you back into a man, which of these
three do you want to be?”
Swan replied, “My enemies shoot birds
and catch fish, but they will never fell a
grown oak tree—change me into an oak
tree!”
“It shall be so” answered the God
Manitou,” but first you shall shoot an
arrow from your bow as fast as you can.”
Swan shot an arrow from the bow and
it fell to the ground 63 feet from where he
stood.
“Now you have marked a circle, which
shall be sacred while you stand here as an
oak tree on the inlet,” said the God
Manitou, “And a wonderful magic power
will spread out from you for 63 feet in all
directions, and bring good fortune to all
good men and animals that come in its cir-
cle. This circle shall be a sanctuary for all
innocent men and animals, that are fleeing
from their enemies, as long as the oak tree
stands here.”
At that moment Eagle and his follow-
ers arrived and were going to capture Swan,
but he suddenly vanished, as if he had sunk
into the ground. And on the spot where
they had seen him standing was a stately
oak tree towering over all, which spread its
beautiful leafy branches in all directions.
“He has run to the riverbank and into the
river” said Eagle very annoyed. “ And he
will never come up.”
He turned around to go back home, in
a foul mood, and his men followed.
The oak tree stood on the riverbank
alone and isolated, like a supernatural
being, faithful and good and everyone that
saw it marveled at its beauty and grandeur.