Flying Plover: His stories, told him by Squat-by-the-fire

In Short

Set in the rugged wilderness of Labrador, an orphaned indigenous boy named Flying Plover spends his days learning the deep history, crafts, and legends of his people from his grandmother, Squat-by-the-fire. Through her vivid storytelling, the boy hears of a primordial age when giant animals ruled the world, before the culture hero Gluskap reshaped them, and when mankind first discovered fire. Preserving traditional lore and oral history, the book captures a rich indigenous mythology built on wonder, survival, and the enduring bond between an imaginative child and his wise elder.

The Story

The narrative opens in a remote mountain village where young Flying Plover lives with his grandmother, Squat-by-the-fire, an exceptionally wise elder skilled in medicine, carving, and storytelling. As the boy grows, practicing crafts like moccasin-sewing and carving figures from bone and wood, his grandmother shares ancient tales that explain the deep history and origins of their world. She tells him of a primordial era when the earth was dominated by monstrously large creatures, including a massive white bear as big as a trading schooner, a giant bull moose, and an enormous king walrus. These beasts originally ruled the landscape until the cultural hero Gluskap intervened, shrinking the oversized animals down to their modern sizes to protect humanity and restore natural balance.

The stories delve into humanity's earliest struggles, notably how fire was first brought to the Mountaineer people. A desperate hunter named Porcupine Killer, trapped in a cave with his starving family by giant predators, receives the secret of fire from a mysterious figure on the sand. Using a bow and a flat piece of wood, he discovers the warmth and terror of flame, which drives away giant wolves and allows him to roast meat for the first time. Empowered by this new gift, Porcupine Killer leads his fellow villagers out of hiding, proving that the terrifying beasts can be mastered.

Later tales recount how old King Walrus fled the region in fear of the burning trees, and how Gluskap eventually punished the fierce animals when they broke his laws by reverting to violence, shrinking them permanently so they would no longer rule the wilderness. Gluskap then led his people to a rich new country of thick forests and broad rivers. The narrative also weaves in a tale of three brothers given magical gifts by Gluskap—moccasins of the wind, a wallet of plenty, and a red arrow. While the brothers who chose speed and endless food find themselves humbled by pride and stripped of their advantages, the youngest brother, who relies on the simple red arrow and his own hard work, undergoes a great adventure, rescues a fleeing maiden from an evil wizard, and ultimately helps restore the balance of the gifts before Gluskap reclaims them. Throughout these interconnected legends, Flying Plover listens eagerly by the hearth, absorbing the rich oral heritage of his tribe until the fire burns low and sleep takes him.

How It Unfolds

The wisdom of the hearth Flying Plover lives with his grandmother, Squat-by-the-fire, who teaches him about the history of their tribe and the changing power dynamics between nations. They discuss how white missionaries and traders have become masters through knowledge and caution rather than physical strength, setting a thoughtful, reflective tone for the traditional tales that follow.

The age of giant beasts Squat-by-the-fire recounts ancient times when the north was ruled by a colossal white bear, a bull moose, and an enormous king walrus. These mighty creatures dominated the landscape and interacted with arrogant ambition until the god Gluskap intervened and reduced them in size to protect the world.

The discovery of fire Porcupine Killer struggles to feed his family in a cave while giant predators lurk outside until a mysterious man on the sand introduces him to fire. By learning to harness the warm, leaping flames, he discovers that the terrible beasts are deeply terrified of the burning wood and smoke.

The mastery of the wilderness Armed with burning sticks, Porcupine Killer and the village warriors venture out to reclaim their land and drive away the threatening animals. The creatures gradually lose their supreme dominance as fire becomes a permanent, life-giving tool for human survival, warmth, and cooked meals.

The trial of the three brothers Gluskap bestows three magical gifts upon three brothers, but pride and laziness corrupt two of them while the youngest succeeds through honest labor and the red arrow. The narrative concludes with a great journey, the rescue of a maiden from an evil wizard, and the mysterious return of the magical items to Gluskap himself.

The People

Flying Plover is an eager, imaginative young orphan who wants to hear endless stories about battles and beasts, but his impatience with difficult tasks and his youth stand in the way as he learns the patience required of a future warrior. Squat-by-the-fire is his wise, bright-eyed grandmother and the tribe's chief medicine-woman; she wants to pass down the sacred oral history of her people without exhausting her mind, navigating the challenge of her grandson's relentless curiosity. Porcupine Killer is a starving, desperate hunter who wants to protect and feed his family, but giant predators block his survival until he discovers the magic of fire and learns to lead his people fearlessly. Gluskap is the powerful divine figure who wants to maintain order and protect humanity from chaos; he overcomes the unchecked pride of monstrous beasts and flawed men by shrinking the former and testing the latter, ultimately reclaiming his magical gifts once their lessons are learned. The three brothers receive distinct magical items from Gluskap: the eldest wants speed via the moccasins of the wind but ends up humbled by pride and injury; the second wants ease through the wallet of plenty but grows slow-witted until honest work revitalizes him; and the youngest wants nothing more than to follow a dream, using the red arrow to embark on a great adventure that proves true strength lies in hard work and steadfast faith.

In Its Own Voice

Discussing the intellectual foundation of European dominance and authority over indigenous tribes during a quiet moment in the lodge, old Squat-by-the-fire explains the true source of power to her young grandson.

The minds of the white men are full of knowledge, and caution, and courage.

Describing the tense and dangerous encounter with a colossal, unexpected visitor from the northern ice-fields, the giant white bear greets his formidable northern rival with a veneer of forced politeness.

I am highly honored and unspeakably delighted at seeing you in my poor country.

Reflecting on the miraculous, life-giving, and comforting nature of the newly discovered flame within the dark stone shelter, the cave-dweller's wife expresses her initial wonder to her husband.

It is like the sun in the spring time.

What It's Really About

The book explores the transmission of cultural memory and the vital importance of oral tradition in preserving a tribe's history, worldview, and identity across generations. It examines how humanity transitions from a state of helpless terror against nature to one of mastery through intellect, courage, and innovation—exemplified by the discovery of fire. Furthermore, it addresses moral themes of hubris, humility, and the balance of power, showing how divine order restrains both monstrous beasts and proud men. Through the lens of folklore, the stories reflect on how survival requires more than physical strength, hinging instead on caution, knowledge, and respect for the natural and spiritual laws governing the wilderness.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers who appreciate classic folklore, indigenous mythology, and atmospheric wilderness tales will find a charming, deeply engaging artifact in this early twentieth-century collection. Reading it feels like sitting beside a crackling hearth in a Labrador lodge, listening to a master storyteller spin timeless fables about giant bears, magic arrows, and the dawn of human civilization. The book offers a rare window into a bygone literary style that values rhythmic oral storytelling and respectful wonder toward the natural world. However, contemporary readers should approach it with historical awareness, noting the period's romanticized and paternalistic framing of indigenous cultures by a non-indigenous author, as well as occasional archaic framing regarding historical conflicts. Despite these dated period attitudes, the vibrant descriptions of the northern wilderness, the cozy framing device of the grandmother and grandson, and the universal appeal of origin myths make it a memorable, evocative experience. What stays with you long after closing the book is the warm image of little Flying Plover listening eagerly to the flickering fire, eager for just one more story before sleep takes him.