ERMINE and the HUNTER
by Cyrus MacMillan · from Canadian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Hunter and his kin lived in snowy land. He was a good hunter. He made mistakes. Three baby bears ate his sugar. The Hunter was very angry. He made the baby bears go away. His wife said, "That was not good. They were too small."
The next day, the Big Bear came. He was the baby bears' father. He was very, very angry. "You made my babies go away!" he said. "Now I will take all your food!" Hunter shot arrows. But the arrows did not hurt him. Each night, the Big Bear took more food.
The Hunter was very sad. He asked the River for help. "I am too busy," said the River. He asked the Wind for help. "I am too busy," said the Wind. He asked the Cloud for help. "I am too busy," said the Cloud. No one helped him.
Then a Wise Old Woman came. She was very hungry. "Can I have some food?" she asked. The Hunter had little food. But he shared it with her. She was kind. She smiled at him.
She gave him a magic stick. "Say the magic words," she said. "Then sleep. First creature you see will help." Then she walked away.
The Hunter said the magic words. He waved the magic stick. Then he fell asleep. He woke up. He saw a small creature. "Who are you?" asked the Hunter. "I am Ermine," said the little creature.
"I can stop the Big Bear," said Ermine. "But first, I want a new coat. I want a white coat. A clean, shiny coat." Hunter waved the magic stick. He also made a promise. "I will never make baby bears go away again," he said. "I will be kind to them."
The magic stick made Ermine's brown coat turn white. It was bright and clean, like new snow. Then the magic stick went away. It went back to the Wise Old Woman.
Ermine went to find the Big Bear. The Big Bear was sleeping by the river. His mouth was open wide. Ermine was very brave. He went inside the Big Bear's mouth. He touched the Big Bear's heart. The Big Bear went to sleep for good. Ermine jumped out and ran away.
Ermine ran back to the Hunter. "The Big Bear is asleep for good," he said. "He will not take your food again." The Hunter was so happy.
That night, the kin had a big party. They were safe now. And from that day, Ermine always wore his pretty white coat. The Hunter kept his promise. He was always kind to baby bears. And all the hunters in the snowy land learned a new rule: be kind to baby creatures. Let them grow big and strong.
It is good to be kind to all creatures, big and small. When we are kind, all are happy.
Original Story
ERMINE AND THE HUNTER
Far away in the Canadian North Country an old man lived with his wife and children. They lived far from other people, but they were never lonely, for they had much work to do. The old man was a great hunter, and in summer he and his wife and children lived on the fish and game he captured in the winter. In the spring-time he gathered sap from the maple trees, from which he made maple syrup and maple sugar with which to sweeten their food. One day in summer he found three small bears eating his stock of sugar. When he came upon them, his sugar was all gone, and he was very cross. With a stout club he killed the little bears and skinned them and dried their meat. But his wife said, "No good can come of it. You should not have killed the three little bears, for they were too young for slaughter."
The next day the old Bear came along, looking for his lost children. When he saw their skins hanging up to dry he knew that they had been killed by the hunter. He was very sad and angry, and he called to the hunter, "You have killed my little motherless cubs, and in return for that wickedness, some night when you are off your guard I will kill your children, and then I will kill you and your wife, and I will devour all your food." The old man shot at him with his arrows, but the arrows did not harm him, for he was Brown Bear of the Stony Heart, and he could not be killed by man. For many nights and days the old man tried to trap him, but he met with no success. And each day he saw his store of food growing smaller, for Bear of the Stony Heart stole it always in the night. And he thought, "We shall all surely starve before the winter comes, and game is plentiful again."
One day in despair he resolved to look about him for some one who would tell him how to kill the Bear. He went to the bank of the river and sat there in thought and smoked long at his pipe. And he called to the God of the River and said, "Oh, River-God, help me to drown Bear when he comes to fish." The river came from the Lime Stone country far back among the rocks, and it was flowing rapidly to the sea. And the River-God said, "My water cannot tarry. There are millions of oysters down on the ocean shore waiting for shells, and I am hurrying down there with the lime to make them," and he rushed quickly past.
Then the old man called to the Spirit of the Wind, and he said, "Oh, Spirit of the Wind, stay here with me to-night and help me to kill Bear of the Stony Heart. You can knock down great trees upon his back and crush him to the earth." But the Wind Spirit said, "I cannot linger. Many ships with rich cargoes lie silent on the ocean waiting to sail, and I must hurry along with the force to drive them." And like the River-God he hastened on his way.
Then the old man called to Storm Cloud, which was just then passing over his head, and he said, "Oh, Spirit of the Storm Cloud, stay here with me to-night and help me to kill Bear of the Stony Heart, for he seeks to destroy my children. You can send lightning and thunder to strike him dead." But the Storm Cloud said, "I cannot loiter on the way. Far from here there are millions of blades of corn and grass dying from thirst in the summer heat, for I see the heat waves rising on the earth, and I am hurrying there with rain to save them." And like the River-God and the Wind Spirit he hurried along on his business. The poor old man was in great sorrow, for it seemed that no one would help him to rid the land of Bear of the Stony Heart.
As he sat wondering what he should do, an old woman came along. She said, "I am very hungry and tired, for I have come far. Will you give me food and let me rest here a while?" And he said, "We have very little food, for Bear of the Stony Heart steals it from us nightly, but you may share with us what little we have." So he went away and brought back to her a good fat meal. While she was eating her dinner he told her of his troubles with Bear, and he said that no one would help him to get rid of the pest, and that Bear could not be killed by man. And the old woman said, "There is a little animal who can kill Bear of the Stony Heart. He alone can save you. You have done well to me. Here is a wand which I will give you. Go to sleep here, soon, on the bank of the river. Wave this wand before you sleep and say what I shall teach you, and when you awake call to you the first animal you see when you open your eyes. He will be the animal of which I speak, and he will rid you of the Bear." She taught him a little rhyme and gave him a wand which she took from the basket on her arm; then she hobbled away, and the old man knew that she was the weird woman of the Fairy Blue Mountain, of whom he had often heard. He marvelled greatly, but he resolved to do as she had told him.
After the old woman had gone, the man waved the little wand three times, and cried:
"Animal, animal, come from your lair,
Help me to slaughter the old Brown Bear!
Make with my magic a little white dart,
To pierce in the centre old Bear's Stony Heart!"
He repeated the rhyme three times. Then he felt himself getting drowsy and sleep soon came upon him. He slept but a short time when the heat woke him up, for the hot sun beat down upon him. He rubbed his eyes and looked about him. Watching him from behind a tree was a little animal with a shaggy brown coat. The old man thought to himself, "Surely the weird fairy woman of the Blue Mountain has played a trick on me. That scraggy little animal with the dirty coat cannot kill the Bear." But he resolved to test her word. He repeated his rhyme again, and the little animal came quickly towards him. "Who are you?" said the man. "I am Ermine," said the little animal. "Are you the animal of which the fairy woman of the Blue Hills has told me?" asked the man. "I am indeed the same," said Ermine. "I have been sent to you to kill the Bear, and here I have the little darts made powerful because of your magic wand." He pointed to his mouth and showed the old man his sharp white teeth. "So now to your task," said the old man in high spirits. "Oh, not so fast," said Ermine, "you must first pay me for my work." "What can I do for you?" asked the man. "I am ashamed of my dirty brown coat, which I have worn for a long time," said the animal; "you have great magic from the wand you received from the fairy woman of the Blue Hills. I want a sleek and shining white coat that I can wear always, for I want to be clean." The man waved his wand again and wished for what the animal had asked him, and at once the shaggy brown coat of Ermine was replaced by a sleek and shining white coat as spotless as the new snow in winter. Then the animal said, "I have one more condition to impose on you. You must promise never to kill a bear's young cubs when they are still following their mother in the summer time. You must give them a chance to grow strong, so that they may be able to fight for their own lives." And the man promised, placing his hand upon the wand to bind his oath. Then, when he looked again, the wand had vanished from his hand. It had gone back through the air to the fairy woman of the Blue Hills.
THE COAT OF ERMINE WAS REPLACED BY A SLEEK AND SHINING WHITE COAT, AS SPOTLESS AS THE NEW SNOW IN WINTER
Then Ermine set out on his search for Bear. The afternoon was very hot, and the forest was still, and not a leaf or a blade of grass was stirring, and there was not a ripple on the stream. The whole world was drowsy in the dry summer heat. But Ermine did not feel the heat, he was in such high spirits because of his new white coat. Soon he came upon Bear, stretched out at full length on the bank of the river, taking his afternoon nap, as was his custom after his fat midday meal. He was lying on his back, and his mouth was open wide, and he was snoring loudly like a waterfall. "This is your last sleep," said Ermine, creeping softly to his side, "for you are a dangerous thief; you shall snore no more." And with a bound he jumped down Bear's throat, and in an instant had pierced with his teeth his strong stony heart, which the arrows of the Indians could never reach. Then as quickly as he had entered the Bear's mouth Ermine jumped out again and ran from the place. Bear snored no more; he was quite dead, and the land was rid of his thefts and terrors. Then Ermine went back to the old man and told him that the deed was done; and that night was a great feast night in the old man's home. And since that time Ermine in the North Country has worn a sleek white coat as spotless as the new snow in winter. And to this day the hunters in the far north will not kill, if they can avoid it, the young Bear cubs while they are still following their mothers through the forest. They give them a chance to grow up and grow strong, so that they may be able to fight for their own lives, as the fairy woman of the Blue Hills had asked.
Story DNA
Moral
Do not kill young, defenseless creatures, for such actions can bring dire consequences and disrupt the natural order.
Plot Summary
A hunter in the Canadian North Country kills three bear cubs, incurring the wrath of their powerful, unkillable father, Bear of the Stony Heart, who steals his food and threatens his family. After failing to get help from natural spirits, the desperate hunter encounters a fairy woman who gives him a magic wand and a rhyme to summon a helper. He summons Ermine, who agrees to kill the Bear in exchange for a new white coat and the hunter's promise never to kill young bear cubs again. Ermine then cleverly kills the sleeping Bear by piercing his heart from within, bringing peace back to the land and establishing a lasting tradition among hunters.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Cyrus MacMillan collected many Canadian folk tales, often adapting or recording stories from Indigenous oral traditions, reflecting a blend of traditional beliefs and narrative styles.
Plot Beats (11)
- An old hunter kills three young bear cubs for eating his maple sugar, despite his wife's warning.
- The cubs' father, Bear of the Stony Heart, vows revenge, stealing the family's food and proving impervious to the hunter's arrows.
- Desperate, the hunter appeals to the River-God, Wind Spirit, and Storm Cloud for help, but they all decline due to their essential duties.
- An old woman appears, to whom the hunter offers his meager food, and she reveals herself as the weird woman of the Fairy Blue Mountain.
- The fairy woman gives the hunter a magic wand and a rhyme, instructing him to summon the first animal he sees upon waking.
- The hunter performs the ritual and wakes to see a scraggy brown animal, which introduces itself as Ermine.
- Ermine agrees to kill the Bear but demands a sleek white coat and a promise from the hunter never to kill young bear cubs again.
- The hunter uses the wand to transform Ermine's coat and makes the solemn promise, causing the wand to vanish.
- Ermine finds the Bear sleeping with his mouth open, jumps down his throat, and pierces his stony heart with his teeth.
- Ermine emerges, the Bear is dead, and Ermine returns to the hunter to report his success.
- The family celebrates, and from that day on, Ermine wears a white coat, and hunters respect the promise to spare young bear cubs.
Characters
The Old Man (Hunter) ★ protagonist
A lean, weathered man, likely of Indigenous Canadian heritage, with a strong build from a lifetime of hunting and outdoor work. His skin is tanned and lined from exposure to the elements of the Canadian North Country. He carries himself with the quiet strength of someone accustomed to self-reliance.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suited for the Canadian North. Likely wears buckskin or thick wool trousers, a tunic or shirt made of animal hide or coarse woven fabric, and moccasins. His attire would be functional, possibly adorned with simple, natural elements.
Wants: To protect his family from starvation and the threat of Bear of the Stony Heart; to ensure their survival.
Flaw: Impulsiveness (killing the cubs), despair, a sense of powerlessness against supernatural threats.
Starts as a capable but flawed hunter who makes a rash decision. He then experiences despair and seeks help, learning humility and the importance of respecting nature's balance. He transforms from a hunter who kills indiscriminately to one who understands and upholds a sacred oath.
Resourceful, desperate, remorseful (after his wife's warning), determined, initially short-sighted (killing the cubs), grateful.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly Indigenous Canadian man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a lean, strong build, deeply tanned and lined skin, and long, braided white hair. His eyes are dark and keen. He wears a buckskin tunic, thick wool trousers, and moccasins. He holds a smoking pipe in one hand, with a thoughtful, determined expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Man's Wife ◆ supporting
A sturdy woman, also likely of Indigenous Canadian heritage, with a practical build from managing a household in the wilderness. Her hands would be calloused from work, and her posture resilient.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suited for the Canadian North. Likely wears a long dress or tunic made of woven fabric or animal hide, with a warm shawl or cloak. Her attire would be functional and modest.
Wants: To protect her family and maintain balance with nature.
Flaw: Her wisdom is initially unheeded.
Remains consistent as a voice of wisdom and caution, her initial warning proving prophetic.
Wise, compassionate, cautious, discerning, supportive.
Image Prompt & Upload
An Indigenous Canadian woman, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a sturdy build, warm skin tone, and dark hair braided down her back. Her face is kind but firm, with observant dark eyes. She wears a long, practical tunic dress made of woven fabric, a warm shawl draped over her shoulders, and soft moccasins. Her expression is one of quiet wisdom. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Bear of the Stony Heart (Old Bear) ⚔ antagonist
An enormous, powerful brown bear, larger and more formidable than typical bears. His fur is thick and shaggy, a deep brown color. He moves with immense strength and a menacing presence. He is described as having a 'stony heart,' implying an unnatural resilience.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: Revenge for the killing of his cubs; to make the hunter suffer as he has suffered.
Flaw: His physical vulnerability to a specific, magical attack (Ermine's teeth to his stony heart) and his habit of napping with his mouth open.
Remains consistent as the antagonist, driven by revenge, until his death.
Vengeful, cunning, powerful, relentless, gluttonous (stealing food).
Image Prompt & Upload
An enormous, shaggy brown bear, lying on its back on a riverbank, mouth wide open, snoring loudly. Its fur is thick and unkempt, and its paws are massive. Its eyes are closed in sleep. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Woman (Weird Woman of the Fairy Blue Mountain) ◆ supporting
A frail-looking old woman, but with an underlying aura of power. Her movements are described as 'hobbling,' suggesting age or a deliberate disguise. Her appearance is unassuming, contrasting with her magical abilities.
Attire: Simple, unassuming, perhaps tattered or worn clothing that makes her appear as a common, hungry traveler. Likely a dark, plain dress or cloak, possibly made of coarse wool or linen, to blend in.
Wants: To help those who show kindness and respect, to restore balance, to teach a lesson about respecting nature.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but she operates through intermediaries and tests.
Appears to offer aid and guidance, then disappears, her role being to set the protagonist on the right path.
Wise, benevolent, mysterious, observant, testing.
Image Prompt & Upload
A frail elderly woman, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a deeply wrinkled face, sharp, knowing dark eyes, and sparse white hair pulled back. She wears a dark, plain, coarse wool cloak over a simple dress, and worn leather shoes. She carries a small, woven basket on her arm. Her expression is wise and slightly mysterious. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Ermine ◆ supporting
Initially a 'scraggy little animal with a dirty brown coat,' transforming into a 'sleek and shining white coat as spotless as the new snow in winter.' He is small and agile, with sharp teeth.
Attire: His fur coat, which transforms from dirty brown to sleek white.
Wants: To gain a beautiful white coat and to establish a new rule for hunters regarding bear cubs.
Flaw: His initial vanity regarding his coat.
Transforms from a humble, dirty creature into a proud, pristine animal and a hero. He also becomes the enforcer of a new natural law.
Cunning, opportunistic (demanding payment), proud (of his coat), brave, effective, loyal (once paid).
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, sleek ermine, standing on all fours, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Its fur is pristine, shining white, with a black tip on its tail. It has a pointed face with bright, intelligent dark eyes and sharp, visible teeth. Its posture is alert and agile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Hunter's Remote Homestead
A clearing in the vast Canadian North Country, where an old man, his wife, and children live. It features a stock of maple sugar, likely near maple trees, and an area where bear skins are hung to dry.
Mood: Initially industrious and self-sufficient, later becomes tense and fearful due to the bear's threats and thefts.
The hunter kills the three bear cubs, leading to the Old Bear's vengeful curse. It's also where the family's food supply dwindles.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic, hand-built log cabin nestled deep within a dense Canadian boreal forest. Sunlight filters through the tall pine and spruce trees, illuminating a small clearing where animal skins are stretched on wooden frames to dry. A stack of firewood is neatly piled near the cabin, and a few maple trees with sap buckets hang nearby. The ground is covered in pine needles and moss, with glimpses of wild berries. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
River Bank
The bank of a rapidly flowing river, originating from a limestone country and rushing towards the sea. It's a place for contemplation and where the hunter seeks help from nature spirits.
Mood: Desperate and contemplative, later becomes hopeful and magical.
The hunter despairs and calls upon the River-God, Wind Spirit, and Storm Cloud for help. He meets the 'weird woman of the Fairy Blue Mountain' here, receives the magic wand, and first encounters Ermine.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, swiftly flowing river with clear, greenish water, bordered by a rocky bank on one side and a dense, dark green boreal forest on the other. Large, smooth limestone rocks are visible along the riverbed and bank. The afternoon sun casts long shadows from the tall coniferous trees. The air is still and hazy with summer heat. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Forest Clearing by the River (Bear's Nap Spot)
A still, hot forest clearing on the bank of the river, where the Old Bear habitually takes his afternoon nap after eating. The air is drowsy and quiet.
Mood: Initially peaceful and drowsy, then tense and climactic.
Ermine, in his new white coat, finds the Old Bear sleeping here and ultimately kills him by piercing his stony heart.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-drenched, quiet clearing within a dense Canadian boreal forest, bordering a calm section of a wide river. The forest floor is a mix of pine needles, moss, and scattered fallen branches. Sunlight filters through the thick canopy of spruce and fir trees, creating dappled patterns on the ground. The air is thick with the stillness of a hot summer afternoon. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
