I. STORY OF BEAVER (Kaska tales).
A long time ago, when all the animals were people, Beaver was a great transformer. He travelled along a wide trail that was much used. Along the trail were many monsters that preyed on people. He came to a place where people always disappeared. 
Wolverene killed them. His house was at the foot of a glacier, between two rocky bluffs. The glacier was very slippery, and people crossing it slid down to the bottom, where they were transfixed on a spear placed there by Wolverene. As soon as something touched the spear, Wolverene knew it, and came out at once. If they were dead, he carried the bodies home; if they were only wounded, he killed them. His house was full of peoples’ bones.
Beaver went down this slide, and, cutting his lips with the spear so that they bled, pretended to be dead. Wolverene knew something had been caught, and came out smiling and very happy.When he saw Beaver, he sai
d, “What a large beaver! ” Then he laughed, and said, ” I have caught this clever man.” He carried the body home and put it down in his house.
He had four flensing-knives. He used one after another, but they would not cut Beaver’s skin. 
Then he searched for the fourth knife. Beaver knew that this knife would cut him, so he opened his eyes to see where he might find a stick.
One of Wolverene’s children noticed him, and called out, “Father, the Beaver has opened his eyes!” Wolverene answered, “You are mistaken. How can a dead man open his eyes?” Beaver jumped up and seized a stick, with which he broke Wolverene’s arms and legs. He killed him, and put his body before the fire to roast. He also killed all Wolverene’s children, and treated their bodies likewise.”
______________________________________________
Wow. Beaver-wolverine conflict prequel! I guess we know a little more about how the feud starts! Hmm…I wish the reporter who was photographed nailing the beaver to the tree to attract wolverines could read this! There are about 40 more such adventures all printed here, where beaver is a smart, savvy, problem-solver that knows when to run and when to be strong. But most importantly a TRANSFORMER, (not the plastic kind) which is the part of the tale that rings absolutely true.
Oh, and for all those folks who wished beavers harm in Martinez lo, those many years ago, it may interest you all to know that it turns out that despite his amiable good nature, the animal is fairly unencumbered by an impulse to forgive, as his later run-in with the Ravens finally reveals:
“They begged to be let off. Beaver, however, had no mercy on them, and burned them alive in the camp-fire, saying, “What about the people you have killed? Why should I spare you?”
(Now if you’re wondering where the word KASKA comes from and where the people who spun these tales lived, look north, because come to think of it there’s even a state name that almost steals the label completely.)
Reprinted from THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLK-LORE, Vol. XXX., No. CXVIII., OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 1917 BY JAMES A. TEIT.
