Wongo And The Wise Old Crow — The Thunder Drum 2: In The Up-above Country, Rain Comes To Timbertangle

IN THE UP-ABOVE COUNTRY

Cho-gay climbed as quickly as possible to the broad back of the eagle and made himself comfortable between the great wings.

He had to lie forward on his stomach, with his arms around the eagle’s neck, as the smooth feathers, though warm, were very slick and he had no wish to slide off.

It was a queer sensation to feel the earth drop away from beneath him, as they rose swiftly into the air from the rock shelf of his cave, and the rocks and trees seemed to sink down to the ground.

Cho-gay could hardly realize that it was _he_ who was rising above the earth, he seemed to stay still and everything else to move.

Presently all Timbertangle lay beneath them, a great mass of tangled, brown tree tops, with here and there a bald knob of mountain rising above them.

Even these soon flattened out into a mottled plain stretching far, far away in every direction--a plain that grew hazier and less distinct every moment, as they were flying very swiftly and almost directly up--and soon Timbertangle was altogether lost to sight as light, wind-blown clouds drifted between them and the earth beneath.

The eagle flew very easily, with no apparent effort, and his great wings rose and fell with a motion as regular as the beating of a heart.

Long before this, Kaw, feeling that he could not keep up with the strong flight of the eagle, had lighted on the broad back beside Cho-gay, and his bright eyes turned in every direction, taking in the surroundings.

The cool wind whistled by their ears, but Cho-gay’s skin was tough from constant exposure to all kinds of weather, and the wind made little difference to him.

Kaw was enjoying himself thoroughly.

“I only wish there was a pool somewhere near,” he said in an undertone to Cho-gay, “so that I could see how I look.

How about this color--will it come off easily?

” Cho-gay stared hard as the realization came to him that from previous experiments he had found that this particular color did _not_ come off easily.

He whispered this to the crow.

“Well,” said Kaw, when this had been made clear to him, “that’s nice--a pretty pickle, I call it.

I must say I can’t blame _you_ though.

There is some gain in everything, and no matter how old I get to be, I will never turn gray!

” He chuckled suddenly: “Who ever heard of a crow that was red?

Oh, bless my poor feathers and bones!

My friends will all think that old Kaw is dead, And shed many big tears and groans!

” “Well,” said Kaw cheerfully, “I’d better give you a few instructions while I have the chance,” and he lowered his voice so that Cho-gay could barely hear.

“You might as well know now that we are going to the Up-above Country to steal the Thunder Drum.

” Seeing a startled look in Cho-gay’s eyes, he quickly added, “I have it all planned out, so there will be no danger to anyone.

” “I was not thinking of myself,” said Cho-gay gravely, “but you know if the Up-above people get mad they’ll send terrible storms and blow down trees and perhaps do much damage.

” “I thought of that,” whispered Kaw.

“The Thunder Drum was made, long, long ago, by a man-animal of your people, an Indian Chief of great bravery, and was, by some strange magic, stolen from him by the Up-above people.

I’ve no doubt that one of Chu-ta-win’s ancestors helped, for it would take an eagle to carry it up, so it’s just as well that he helps us now.

There have been many who have tried to get the Drum back to the earth-people, but they didn’t have as good a scheme as I’ve got.

All I will want you to do is to get the attention of old Chaco, the keeper of the Drum, on something else so he will not notice me while I scout around a bit.

Ask him if he can tell you where to find the blue charm Wongo lost.

It was the great charm of the Bear Clan and he has been afraid ever since that the other bears would discover that he has lost it.

You know the Up-above people see everything that happens on the earth.

” “What _good_ will it do to steal the Thunder Drum?

” asked Cho-gay.

“What _good_?

” snapped Kaw.

“Don’t you know that it is the Thunder Drum that brings the rain?

Every time Chaco, the rain-man, beats it, the people of the Water Clan pour water through the holes in the clouds and it falls to earth.

If we once had the Thunder Drum in Timbertangle, there would be no more dry seasons, for we would beat it ourselves when we wanted, rain.

” “Look!

Little brother,” called Chu-ta-win, “there are the sun-clouds, and they guard the way to the Up-above Country.

” A great bank of clouds rose before them, so white of themselves and so brilliant with sunshine that Cho-gay had to close his eyes, and when he opened them again, though it had been but a second or two, they had slipped through the clouds and were rising above a new and wonderful world.

There were hills and canyons and desert, but they were all in the wonderful colors of the sunset and never remained long the same.

The trees were purple, with leaves of gold that glittered like polished flint in the sunlight, and there were lakes and rivers like huge splashes of turquoise.

Strange animals ran and crawled among the bushes and the air was full of birds that flew close and talked to them, and others that soared above and below as if curious to see who these visitors to their country might be.

A great hawk flew toward them, followed by several old owls and an ugly-looking vulture.

“The keeper of the gateway,” called Chu-ta-win, in a low voice.

“He will ask why we are here.

” “Welcome to you, Chu-ta-win,” called out the hawk as he approached, “but who comes with you?

” “Two brothers of the earth born,” answered Chu-ta-win.

“I have brought them to see your wonderful country.

” “What do they wish here?

” asked the hawk again, and before the eagle could answer, Cho-gay spoke for himself: “We come searching for the blue charm that was lost by Wongo, the bear.

None of the Bear Clan knows where it is, but you, of the sky, see all things and can, no doubt, tell us where it may be found.

” “Um-m-m,” answered the hawk, “I have not seen nor heard of this charm, but you might go over to those of the Water Clan and ask Chaco.

He may be foolish-headed enough to give his time to such things.

But remember there are no idlers here and we do not welcome idle questions.

” “Humph,” came Kaw’s low voice in Cho-gay’s ear, “that fellow is entirely too full of his own importance.

I’ll teach him something when I next meet him below.

” They were nearing the Cloud ground now, and presently landed with a springing jerk.

Cho-gay slipped from the smooth back of the eagle and stood swaying a bit, as his legs grew accustomed to standing again.

Chu-ta-win was not at all tired from his long flight and seemed as fresh as when they had started.

“Come on,” said he, “we’ll take a look around.

Everybody up here has his own particular work to do.

Some are of the Water Clan and some of the Ice Clan.

They make hail and snow.

Over there is the place where the winds come from.

They make lightning up here, too--all kinds, and eclipses.

Ever see one of those?

Look around, you can see for yourself, you have eyes in your head.

” Kaw gave a grunt and, in a very good imitation of Cho-gay’s voice, spoke for him: “Eyes in my head and ears in my head, I’ve heard before all you have said.

” The eagle grew red in the face and answered haughtily, “I was speaking for your entertainment and not to be insulted.

” Cho-gay answered hastily--he saw that it would be useless to explain that he had not spoken--“I did not mean anything, Chu-ta-win.

What I have heard before was not nearly so interesting as what you have told me.

” “Well,” answered the eagle, somewhat satisfied with this, “suppose we walk around a bit and see things.

You say you are in search of a charm?

” He was looking at Kaw as he spoke, his eye traveling from the tip of the glaring white bill to the last red tail feather, and his searching glance annoyed Kaw exceedingly, especially when, after a moment’s puzzled thought, Chu-ta-win threw back his head and laughed until the tears dropped from his eyes.

“Now I have it!

” he cried.

“It is Kaw you remind me of.

Except for the color you could be his brother.

“Haw--haw--” continued the eagle, “haw--haw--haw--!

Did I ever tell you, Cho-gay, why it is that Kaw never speaks to me any more?

Avoids me, in fact?

” “No,” said Cho-gay, with an uneasy glance at the crow.

“Suppose we go on now.

” “Oh, it is too good to keep,” insisted the eagle.

“It is the only time I ever heard of the laugh being turned on Kaw.

” “Kaw is a friend of mine,” said Cho-gay, “and a friend of Redskin’s too.

” “Oh, that’s all right.

You will enjoy the joke.

It is because your friend here reminds me so much of Kaw that I thought of it.

He looks like him, except for his color, and talks like him.

You aren’t related to Kaw by any chance?

” and Chu-ta-win bent down and looked closely at Kaw as he asked the question, breaking into another long chuckle as he did so.

Kaw was furious.

Every feather stood on end with anger and his eyes flashed.

He quivered from head to tail, and yet, to the amazement of Cho-gay, he did not answer the eagle but turned instead to him and spoke in an icy tone: “If your friend insists on telling funny stories when our time is so short, I, at least, do not need to stay and hear him.

I will meet you at yonder lake.

” He indicated a splash of blue water a short distance in front of them, and he rose into the air with all the dignity he possessed and flew off in the direction of the lake.

“Whee!

” said Chu-ta-win.

“Such language!

Our friend is not very polite,” and he chuckled again.

“He certainly reminds me of Kaw!

” “What was the joke?

” asked Cho-gay.

“I wouldn’t mind hearing it now.

” “Our Red friend did not want to hear it,” mused Chu-ta-win.

“Well, here it is, and you will understand why Kaw avoids even the sound of my voice.

I was taking a nap one day; it was hot and I had dropped down under a big bunch of sagebrush.

I suppose just my head must have been visible and even then I don’t see how he ever came to make such a mistake, but Kaw, coming up, took me for a lady friend of his and proceeded to talk most beautifully, and mostly in verse, something like this: “Your dainty bill I dearly love, Its graceful shape is sweet;

But more than all, my Lady Love, I praise your clawlike feet!

“There never was a fairer bird In all this land, I know;

To say there was would be absurd And ignorance would show.

“Your little wings are dainty things, Each eye a midnight pearl;

Your glance a throbbing heart-ache brings;

Oh, be my birdie-girl!

” “That’s something like it and there was lots more.

I listened for a while without moving a feather, but it finally got too much for me and I just had to laugh, and jumped out of my bush at the same time.

It was the first time I have ever seen Kaw really what you might call ‘flabbergasted.

’ He fell over backwards when he first saw me.

He didn’t say a word and he hasn’t spoken to me since.

I can’t say I blame him, but it _was_ funny.

” Cho-gay grinned and looked off in the direction Kaw had taken.

Chu-ta-win followed his glance.

“I won’t say any more about it before our Red friend,” he said, and Cho-gay looked at him quickly, but the eagle would not meet his eye.

“Come on,” said Chu-ta-win, “there are lots more things for you to see.

” CHAPTER 5 RAIN COMES TO TIMBERTANGLE

Chu-ta-win and Cho-gay walked slowly toward a lake that lay like a great turquoise before them.

Strange animals hurried, scurrying and crawling in every direction, and birds darted hither and thither.

The eagle indicated with one wing what seemed to be a huge mountain rising high in the east.

“The mantle of the night,” he said.

“It is the blanket that is let down every night over the earth to hide the face of the sun, for if it were not hidden just so often all growing things would dry up.

It is very old now, the night-blanket, and holes are beginning to show.

We, below, call them stars, and if it wasn’t for those holes,” he added, “we would have no moon, for when the moon is thin and pale it slips through one of the holes and comes close to the earth to give us light to try to make up for the loss of the sun, for the Moon God has never approved of the night-blanket and is much more gentle toward earth folks than the sun.

” They were now near the lake and Cho-gay could see, near its edge, a little old man, sitting by a huge drum.

The old man held a great padded stick in one hand and looked constantly to the east.

[Illustration] “That is Chaco,” whispered the eagle, “Keeper of the Thunder Drum.

He looks toward the east for the signal of the sun, and when he sees that, he pounds the Drum and that is the signal for the Water Clan--see, those little fairy-creatures sitting all around the lake.

They each have a gourd dipper in their hand and, at the signal of the Drum, they dip water from the lake and pour it through the water-holes to the earth.

That is the rain, and the sound of the Drum is thunder, and the flash of the sun-signal is the torch that we call lightning.

We will speak to Chaco.

But listen,” he added more cautiously, “we must speak in rhyme.

It is the only language he knows, and if we speak differently he will grow very angry and send hurricane winds over the earth.

That is the way they come.

He has lungs of leather and his voice, when he is angry, is louder than the Thunder Drum.

” “All right,” answered Cho-gay in the same low voice the eagle was using, “you speak to him then.

” Chu-ta-win looked at Cho-gay a little doubtfully.

“No, you speak first.

It isn’t so hard, but I’ll probably have to do the real talking, as I’ve had more practice.

” There was a snicker from over their heads and Cho-gay saw a flash of red, as Kaw dropped to a near-by bush, evidently with the intention of over-hearing their conversation.

The eagle was immediately uncomfortable and spoke to Cho-gay a trifle stiffly: “Go on, why don’t you speak?

Chaco is waiting.

” The old man had raised his head and was watching them as they drew near.

He was silent, waiting for the first word to come from them.

It did not come very easily.

Cho-gay was not quite at ease and cleared his throat two or three times before he began, haltingly: “We are from the earth below, And we’ve come to see if you know Where’s the charm of Wongo, the bear;

We can’t find it anywhere.

Can you tell us where it is?

Or, if not, then where it was-- Not exactly that I mean, But where once it might have been?

” There was a choking sound from Chu-ta-win and an echo of it from the bush, where Cho-gay knew Kaw was listening, and then the eagle gave him a little push to one side and began hurriedly: “We have come, he and me, To find out and to see If your wisdom can show Us the right way to go-- Just to see, or find out, Quite without any doubt, Just exactly the place, Or the spot or the space, Where the blue charm is hid.

Where he lost it--he did.

” This was too much for Kaw.

Such an attempt at rhyming struck him as too funny for words and his voice, subdued but trembling with mirth, came to them from the bush: “I have heard a constant rumor Of the Rain-man’s sense of humor-- Let us hope that it is true--really true-- For of rhymes of man or bird, That’s the worst I ever heard, I am shocked, my friends, quite shocked, at both of you.

” Then in a voice mimicking Chu-ta-win’s, he continued: “Oh, where is the blue charm hid, For he lost it, yes he did.

Oh, my goodness, gracious, gumption--what a joke!

For the stone was really his-- Won’t you tell us where it is?

It’s a wonder wise old Chaco didn’t choke.

“But go on my friends, and ask-- I’m made happy by your task-- And if Chaco, here, can stand it, so can I. Stand up firm and take your time, All the air is filled with rhyme, And, no doubt, you’ll strike a fine one, by and by.

” Chu-ta-win grew red in the face and shot furious glances toward the bush, but Cho-gay, with a self-conscious grin, made the best of the situation and kept his eyes on the old man, who seemed not to have heard Kaw’s low voice, but was thinking deeply on what the eagle had said.

Presently he nodded his head slowly and spoke in answer: “Chaco knows of what you speak, And has seen the blue charm stone When the clouds from Eagle peak O’er the mountain woods have blown.

But there was no storm that night, And the Moon God brightly shone.

It was lost within his light, He can tell you, he alone.

” The two nodded gratefully to the old man for his words.

“Come,” said Chu-ta-win, in a low voice, for the Rain-man was again looking toward the east for the sun’s signal, and had apparently forgotten that they were there.

“Shall we go to the Moon God now?

I

doubt if we find him to-day.

You see--what’s that!

” Cho-gay jumped suddenly, as Kaw lit on his shoulder and began to whisper in his ear: “Now!

We are going to do it!

Listen--I’ll call Chaco over here, I know how.

Then you and Chu-ta-win jump for the Thunder Drum and push it through the nearest water-hole.

You see that big one, right there?

That little water-creature cannot interfere.

Then jump on Chu-ta-win’s back and drop through the hole--both of you.

You’ll have to be quick and don’t look back.

The Sun God will blind you with lightning if you do.

Tell Chu-ta-win it is for the life of Timbertangle we work--_now_!

Quick!

” And Cho-gay breathlessly repeated to Chu-ta-win the directions Kaw had given him.

The eagle looked shocked and astonished, but before he could protest Kaw called out in a good imitation of Chu-ta-win’s own voice: “Chaco, quick!

The Sun God’s call!

Come!

He’s calling one and all!

See, his golden arrows fall!

Chaco, quick!

The Sun God’s call!

” As the old man rose hurriedly and confusedly took a few steps toward the east, Cho-gay leaped toward the Thunder Drum and with a sudden push sent it whirling toward the water-hole a few feet away and then, with another push, down through the opening into which it disappeared.

[Illustration: _All three dropped through the hole_] Kaw was at the hole instantly.

“Quick!

Chu-ta-win!

Quick!

Cho-gay!

” he called, and almost before the words were out of his mouth all three dropped down through the hole--first the eagle, who spread his wings instantly, then Cho-gay, who fell on the broad back and held on tight, and then Kaw, flying easily down after them with a chuckle of triumph in his voice.

Several pairs of eyes stared in furious amazement from the hole above, which now looked like an opening in a dark cloud, and great arrows of lightning flashed from it.

Just then a loud rumble came from far below.

“The Drum!

The Drum!

” shouted Kaw in glee.

“It has lit on the bed of leaves made by Wongo on Skull-top mountain, and the little bear is beating it with all his might and main.

Hurrah!

Hurrah!

We’ve won!

We’ve won!

” Just then great sheets of opal-colored mists began to drift toward the earth from the holes in the clouds and Cho-gay felt wet drops on his face.

A little gray hawk, flying from below, began to sing in a high excited voice.

As his words came to them more and more clearly the very air seemed to echo the music and all Timbertangle seemed to be singing: “Oh, brown the earth and gray the sky, And desert and stream and pool are dry-- But in the east the rain clouds fly.

Ah-heee, little brother, ’twill rain, ’twill rain, Ah-heee, little brother, ’twill rain!

“I felt a drop on my feathered breast, The rain clouds come from the east and west;

I felt a drop in my sheltered nest!

Ah-heee, little brother, ’twill rain, ’twill rain, Ah-heee, little brother, ’twill rain!

“Now over the world a joyous hush!

Then comes the storm with a sudden rush-- The great drops patter on sand and bush!

Ah-heee, little brother, the rain, the rain!

Ah-heee, little brother, the rain!

” Then, how it came down!

It seemed as if Chaco and the rain-people above were trying to drown them.

The rain came in great sheets and floods of water and the three drew in their heads as far as possible and shot down toward the earth almost as fast as the raindrops themselves.

Suddenly there was a cry from Chu-ta-win and he began to moan in a frightened voice: “One of the arrows from the Sun God must have struck me!

I am bleeding to death!

Oh, what shall I do?

Oh, what shall I do?

” He began to sink even more rapidly toward the ground.

Sure enough, a great, red stain was growing on his back and crimson drops were falling fast.

When they reached the earth he lay still with closed eyes while Cho-gay and Kaw bent over him.

Suddenly the crow began to laugh and Chu-ta-win opened his eyes to look at him.

Then he opened them wider at what he saw, and raised himself up, forgetting for a moment his fright.

“Where did you come from?

” asked the eagle, “and where is Redskin?

” “Oh, Redskin,” answered Kaw in a voice that was choking with laughter, “Redskin is dripping off your back!

The rain transferred him from me to you.

Cho-gay declared the color was fast--but--Oh, haw--haw--haw--I don’t think even he knew how fast!

” and then as he saw that the eagle was beginning to understand what had happened, he started to hop up and down in his usual, grave way, and to chant: “Sometimes very dull is the eye of a crow, But the eye of an eagle--Oh, never--Oh, no!

Oh, never.

Oh, never-- For truly whoever, Has heard of the eye of an eagle that’s so!

” Chu-ta-win watched Kaw for a moment, while the rain poured in a steady stream from his feathers and dripped from the bush from under which Cho-gay followed their every word.

Then a slow grin spread over the eagle’s usually fierce features--perhaps at the comical appearance of Kaw, whose feathers were most wonderfully streaked with red and black, with here and there a smear of white from his bill.

“Well, we’re even, Kaw,” he said at last.

“I don’t think that either of us can laugh at the other in the future, and I promise not to laugh at you any more if you’ll forget to-day and not laugh at me!

” “A _bargain_!

” cried Kaw.

“Ho, all Timbertangle!

Listen to this: “The Crow and the Eagle have made a pact!

Oh, sing a song of the Thunder Drum!

This day and hour it becomes a fact!

Oh, sing a song of the Thunder Drum!

Never until the world shall end, Shall either laugh at the woes of his friend, But only help him those woes to mend!

Oh, sing the song of the Thunder Drum!

” [Illustration] * * * * * * Transcriber’s note: Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONGO AND THE WISE OLD CROW *** Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U. S.

copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!

) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties.

Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark.

Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark.

If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy.

You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research.

Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U. S.

copyright law.

Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg License available with this file or online at www.

gutenberg.

org/license.

Section 1.

General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg electronic works 1. A.

By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement.

If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg electronic works in your possession.

If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1. E.

8. 1. B.

“Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark.

It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.

There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.

See paragraph 1. C below.

There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg electronic works.

See paragraph 1. E below.

1. C.

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg electronic works.

Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States.

If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed.

Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg name associated with the work.

You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg License when you share it without charge with others.

1. D.

The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work.

Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change.