The Witch tempts Glooskap

A Micmac Legend

N’karnayoo, of old time. Once it came to pass that Glooskap met with an
evil witch, and she had made herself like unto a fair young girl, and
believed that he could not know who she was. And she asked him to take
her with him in his canoe. So they sailed out over a summer sea: and as
they went the witch sought to beguile him with sweet words; but he
answered naught, for he wist well what kind of passenger he had on
board. And as they went on she played her cajoleries, but he remained
grim as a bear. Then she, being angry, showed it, and there arose a
great storm. The wind howled over the waves as they rose and fell, like
white wolves jumping while they run, the first lightnings flashed, and
the sky grew dark as night. The Master was angered that so mean a
creature dared to play him such tricks, and, paddling the canoe to the
beach, he leaped ashore. Then giving the bark, with the witch in it, a
push out to sea, he cried to her, “Sail thou with the devil! But never
be in human form again, O she-beast!”

Then she, being frightened, said, “Master, what wilt thou that I
become?” And he replied, “Whatever thou wilt; that grace alone I give
thee.” And in despair she plunged into the waters, and became a
keegunibe, a ferocious fish, which has upon its back a great fin, which
it shows like a sail when swimming through the water. So the canoe and
the witch became one in the evil fish, and the Indians to this day when
they see it, cry, “See the witch, who was punished by the great Master!”

Now of sinful men, evil beasts, foul sorcerers, witches, and giants,
there were in those days many who sought to do great harm to Glooskap;
but of them all there did not escape any; verily, no, not one.