STORIES 401 house, the wily rascal, Raven, stole the halibut line, opened the hole in the floor and threw down the line. While waiting for a bite, he sang to himself of how he had carried Worm out of the way upon his back and thus outwitted him. Presently, he felt a tug, and eagerly hauled up the line, hoping for a halibut, but it was only a water-logged stick. Raven swore at the wood, threw it angrily into a corner and went back to his fishing. He did not know that Worm had entered the stick in order to get back into his own house. Once out of Raven’s sight, Worm emerged and stealthily plugged all the openings in the house. Finally he went out and locked the door from the outside. Raven was not having any luck and presently began to swear at Halibut: “Take my hook, you old crooked face! Your eyes are crooked and your rectum is in your shoulder.” Raven did not know that Halibut heard and understood all his foul expressions, and that was why none would take his bait. Meanwhile, Worm, having completed his task called to the tide. “Please help!’ he begged. The tide rose and penetrated the floor, to the consternation of Raven. First he tried to open the door, then to escape through crack or chink— but tono avail. Worm had done his work well. The water continued to rise and the thief, floating, half-drowned, was forced up to the roof, where he managed to stick his beak out through a small hole. Worm came near and Raven appealed to him. “Please help me,” he gasped out. ‘I am dying. I will never do it again. All I ask is to be allowed to return to my happy life above.” “No! You tried to rob me, a poor man,” the little fellow replied. “I refuse to help you.” Soon the water rose over Raven, who gurgled and ceased to speak. Then Worm told the tide to lower, and, as soon as his house was freed from water, he entered and began to put it in order, first throwing Raven’s body outside. But the marauder was not really drowned. As soon as the bright sun shone on him, he regained consciousness and limped home in a bedraggled condition. RAVEN AND WORM (Second Version) Worm had a very fine house filled with halibut, cod, and smoked fish of every kind. Once upon a time Raven decided to rob Worm of this food, so sat down to ponder and at length hit on a plan. First he went to the opposite shore of the fiord from Worm’s house and built a fire, then crossed to greet his intended victim.