Wishpoosh
Wishpoosh AmericaAccording to the Nez Percé Indians of Washington, the beaver monster Wishpoosh refused to allow anyone to fish. Whenever a person came to the lake where he dwelt, he seized the fisherman with his giant claws and dragged him to the bottom. So it was that the Nez Percés asked the trickster god Coyote for help. Coyote fashioned a huge spear with a long, strong handle, and fastened it to his wrist with a flaxen cord. Then he went to the lake to catch some fish.
Wishpoosh seized the trickster god but received a lunge from the long spear. At the bottom of the lake Wishpoosh and Coyote fought so fiercely that the surrounding mountains drew themselves back. When the beaver monster strove to escape downstream Coyote speared him firmly enough to be borne along with him. Their titanic struggle widened rivers, tore through hillsides, and created immense gorges. Having gained the Pacific shore, Wishpoosh plunged into the waves, seizing whales...
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