The Origin of Fire --An Indian Legend

Long ago, Grey Eagle, the guardian of the sun, the moon, fresh water and fire, hated man and kept these things hidden. People lived in darkness, without fire or fresh water.      Grey Eagle had a beautiful daughter and Raven fell in love with her. At that time, Raven was a handsome young man, snow white as a cloud and his beautiful looks impressed Grey Eagle's daughter. So she invited him to her father's lodge.     Grey Eagle was overwhelmed by the treasures that he discovered there. So, when he had a chance, he seized the sun, the moon, the fresh water and a sprig of fire. Once outside, he hung the sun in the sky, giving the people light. Then, when the sun set, he hung the moon and the stars. In the new light, he dropped the fresh water and it rained upon the ground, creating all the freshwater streams and lakes. He then flew on with the sprig of fire in his beak and the smoke covered his beautiful white feathers, turning them black as the night sky.     As the fire worked its way down the sprig, it burned his beak and he dropped the sprig into the rocks. Although Raven's feathers never became white again, because he dropped the burning sprig into the rocks, to this day, when two rocks are struck together, fire will jump out, giving man his final gift.