The Secret of Fire. 63

elms, maples, willows and hickories to meet that
night on the hilltop.

“Come to the hill across from the great blue
mountains,” he said. “There you will learn the
secret of fire.”

By evening they were allthere,in great com-
panies, ready for war on the pines.

When the squirrel came to the forest and saw all
the nuts she was much pleased.

She offered to carry the acorn to the very top of
the tallest tree. The trees were all glad of this,
for every one wanted to hear what he said.

When the acorn began to speak, even the wind
stopped whispering and listened.

“Friends,” he said, “there must be no battle. The
pine trees have only the same gift of fire that you
have. To every tree that stretches out its arms the
glorious sun gives this gift. But it was inthis way
that the pine trees learned the secret of getting the
fire from the wood: They saw an old Indian chief
with two curious pieces of wood. One was round
and smooth, the other was sharp-pointed. With
all his strength he was rubbing them together.
Soon he had worn a groove in the round stick. He
rubbed faster and faster, and there in the groove
was.a tiny spark of fire. Then the Indian blew his
breath upon the spark and a little yellow flame
leaped up. All the pine trees saw it. ‘See, it is
fire!’ they said.”