Now the wolverine is known to be such a cunning, clever animal that the killing of one is quite an event among the Indians, and the lucky hunter who succeeds in destroying one is the hero of the hour.  A man may on one hunting trip kill several bears or wolves, or many other animals, and there is not much said about it, but to kill a wolverine, that pest and scourge of the hunters, is indeed a feat that any man is proud of.

“Why is it called a wolverine?” asked Sagastao.

“Because it was once like a wolf, and had small feet and long legs, but now its legs are short and its feet are very large.”

“What shortened its legs and made its feet become so large?” asked Sagastao.

It was too cold a day to remain any longer outside looking at the wolverine, or to learn more about it, so the children were obliged to return to their warm schoolroom, where their lessons were resumed.

It was evident, however, that both Sagastao and Minnehaha were ready with a couple of questions for Mary, and it was not long after school hours that they sought her and asked: 

“Mary, what was it that shortened the legs of the wolverine? and what made his feet so big?”

“The wolverine,” replied Mary, “was once the finest of all the different kinds of wolves.  He had the softest and nicest of fur.  His legs were long, and his feet were firm and handsome, but he was an awfully conceited fellow.  He fancied he was the handsomest creature in existence and looked down with contempt on all the other kinds of wolves.  He used to go to the side of the clear transparent lake, where he could see his shadow reflected in the water, and he would strut up and down and say:  ’O dear, what a lovely creature I am!’

“It is true he was very clever in many ways.  He was so swift that he could run down even the antelope and the elk, and at all the great animal gatherings, where the different creatures met in council, he was the swiftest there, and easily won the chief prizes at the great races which the animals used to hold.  Indeed, he won so many races that at length he could get no animal to compete with him.  He even tried to get up races with the birds, but they laughed at him for his conceit.

“One day he happened to be hunting among the mountains.  Near the top of one he saw a large ball-like rock, standing there apart from the other big rocks.  Coming up close to this great round rock he said to it: 

“‘Was that you I saw walking just now?’

“‘No; I cannot walk, I have lain here for a long time,’ said the rock.

“The wolverine retorted that he was sure he had seen the rock walking.

“This made the rock angry and he told the wolverine that he was telling a falsehood.  Then the saucy wolverine replied: 

“‘You need not speak to me in that way, for I have seen you walking.’

“Then the wolverine ran off a little distance and challenged the rock to catch him.  But the rock did not reply to this and the bold wolverine came close up to the rock, struck it with his paw, and said: