One winter the weather was
very cold, and many of them died.
But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the
mountains and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the
river.
The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which
floated down the stream.
The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted except one big cake
which the flood had left on the bank of the river.
The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but
it would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in
this one spot.
A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to
himself, "That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him."
He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, "Come
on, Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you
that I am as strong as you are."
He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink.
Pieces of ice floated down the river. At last he became so small
that the Indian picked him up and tossed him into the river.
"There!" cried the Indian, "off with you! Never dare to come back
here again."
The Ice King whirled about and screamed, "I go now, but I shall
come again. Look for me next winter. I will show you then which of
us is the stronger.
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