| Long ago, there was a sad time in the land of the Quillayute. For days, great storms blew. Rain, hail, sleet and snow came down on the land. The hailstones were large and many of the people were killed. Quillayute were driven from their coast villages to the great prairie, the highest part of their land. There the people grew thin and weak from hunger. The hailstones destroyed their food. They called upon the Great Spirit for help, but no help came. The Great Chief of the Quillayute who was old and wise called a meeting. the Chief said "Take comfort, my people, We will call again upon the Great Spirit for help. If no help comes, then we will know it is His will that we die. If it is not His will that we live, then we will die bravely, as brave Quillayute have always died. Let us talk with the Great Spirit." The people waited. No one spoke. Suddenly, there came a great noise, and flashes of lightning cut the darkness. All of the people turned to gaze toward the sky a bird-shaped creature flew toward them. Thunderbird then flew high in the sky, and went back to the thunder and lightning it had come from. Thunderbird and Whale saved the Quillayute from dying. The people knew that the Great Spirit had heard their prayer. |