Atondido Stories
from fear and trouble and care. But they were puzzled to know
how to get there, for Turtle had never told any of them the way.
One day Deer, wandering about alone in the forest, as was his
custom, came across Rainbow, who often built a path of many
colours to the sky. And he said to Rainbow, "Carry me up to the
sky, for I want to see Turtle." But Rainbow was afraid to do it, for
he wished first to ask the Thunder God for permission, and he
put Deer off, and to gain time he said, "Come to me in winter,
when I stay for a time on the mountain near the lake. Then I will
gladly carry you to the place where Turtle dwells."
Throughout the long winter months Deer looked longingly
for Rainbow, but Rainbow did not come. Life was growing hard-
er on the earth, and the animals were in terror of the new race
that was soon to come to their land, and Deer was very timid
and impatient. At last, one day in the early summer, Rainbow
came again, and Deer hastened to meet him. "Why were you
false to me?" he asked; "I waited for you all winter long on the
mountain by the lake, but you did not come as you promised. I
want to go to the sky now, for I must see Turtle." Rainbow an-
swered, "I cannot take you now. But some day, when there is a
Fog over the lake, I shall come back to drive it away. Come to me
then, and I shall take you to the sky and to the place where Tur-
tle dwells. This time I will not deceive you."
Rainbow consulted the Thunder God, and received permis-
sion to do as Deer wished. Soon afterwards the Fog one day
rolled in a thick bank across the lake, and Deer hurried out to
wait for Rainbow. Sure enough, Rainbow came down, as he had
promised, to drive the Fog away. He threw his arch of many col-
ours from the lake to the blue hills far away, and the Fog at once
disappeared from the place. And he said to Deer, who stood
watching him, "Now I will keep my promise. Follow my
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