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boughs and ferns which the grandmother had constructed。 The old
woman met her on the trail。
〃'Ah； my child； you have returned none too soon。 I feared you had
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ventured too far away； for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt。 You
must not expose yourself carelessly on the shore。'
〃As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies
munch the rich grass in an open spot near by。 Through the smoke hole of
the pine…bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky； and
dreamed of what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise
the wily moose。 Her grandmother was already sleep… ing so noisily that
it was enough to scare away the game。 At last the maiden； too； lost
herself in sleep。
〃Old Nawakewee awoke early。 First of all she made a fire and
burned cedar and birch so that the moose might not detect the human
smell。 Then she quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries； and
awoke the maiden； who was surprised to see that the sun was already up。
She ran down to the spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water
in her face； then she looked for a moment in its mirror…like surface。
There was the reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them
Manitoshaw seemed to see a young man standing。 In another moment all
three had disappeared。
〃'What is the matter with my eyes？ I am not fully awake yet； and I
imagine things。 Ugh； it is all in my eyes；' the maiden repeated to her… self。
She hastened back to Nawakewee。 The vision was so unexpected and so
startling that she could not believe in its truth； and she said noth… ing to the
old woman。
〃Breakfast eaten； Manitoshaw threw off her robe and appeared in her
scantily cut gown of buckskin with long fringes； and moccasins and
leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine。 Her father's bow and
quiver were thrown over one shoulder； and the knife dangled from her belt
in its handsome sheath。 She ran breathlessly along the shore toward the
outlet。
〃Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam with his mate；
occasionally uttering a cry of joy。 Here and there the playful Hogan； the
trout； sprang gracefully out of the water； in a shower of falling dew。 As
the maiden hastened along she scared up Wadawasee； the kingfisher； who
screamed loudly。
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〃'Stop； Wadawasee； stopyou will frighten my game！'
〃At last she had reached the outlet。 She saw at once that the moose
had been there during the night。 They had torn up the ground and broken
birch and willow twigs in a most disorderly way。〃
〃Ah！〃 I exclaimed； 〃I wish I had been with Manitoshaw then！〃
〃Hush； my boy； never interrupt a story… teller。〃
I took a stick and began to level off the ashes in front of me； and to
draw a map of the lake； the outlet； the moose and Manitoshaw。 Away off
to one side was the solitary wigwam； Nawakewee and the ponies。
〃Manitoshaw's heart was beating so loud that she could not hear
anything；〃 resumed my uncle。 〃She took some leaves of the wintergreen
and chewed them to calm herself。 She did not forget to throw in passing
a pinch of pulverized tobacco and paint into the spring for Manitou； the
spirit。
〃Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her eye was caught by a
moving form； and then an… other。 She stood motionless； grasping her
heavy bow。 The moose； not suspecting any danger； walked leisurely
toward the spring。 One was a large female moose； the other a yearling。
As they passed Manitoshaw； moving so nat… urally and looking so
harmless； she almost forgot to let fly an arrow。 The mother moose
seemed to look in her direction； but did not see her。 They had fairly
passed her hiding…place when she stepped forth and sent a swift arrow into
the side of the larger moose。 Both dashed into the thick woods； but it
was too late。 The Cree maiden had already loosened her second arrow。
Both fell dead before reaching the shore。〃
〃Uncle； she must have had a splendid aim； for in the woods the many
little twigs make an arrow bound off to one side；〃 I interrupted in great ex…
citement。
〃Yes； but you must remember she was very near the moose。〃
〃It seems to me； then； uncle； that they must have scented her； for you
have told me that they possess the keenest nose of any animal；〃 I per…
sisted。
〃Doubtless the wind was blowing the other way。 But； nephew； you
must let me finish my story。
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〃Ovedoyed by her success； the maiden has… tened back to Nawakawee；
but she was gone！ The ponies were gone； too； and the wigwam of
branches had been demolished。 While Manito… shaw stood there；
frightened and undecided what to do； a soft voice came from behind a
neighbor… ing thicket：
〃'Manitoshaw！ Manitoshaw！ I am here！'
She at once recognized； the voice and found it to be Nawakeewee；
who told a strange story。 That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska
carrying two men。 They were Sioux。 The old grandmother had seen
them coming； and to de… ceive them she at once pulled down her
temporary wigwam； and drove the ponies off toward home。 Then she hid
herself in the bushes near by； for she knew that Manitoshaw must return
there。
〃'Come； my granddaughter； we must hasten home by another way；'
cried the old woman。
〃But the maiden said； 'No； let us go first to my two moose that I killed
this morning and take some meat with us。'
〃'No； no； my child； the Sioux are cruel。 They have killed many of
our people。 If we stay here they will find us。 I fear； I fear them；
Manitoshaw！'
〃At last the brave maid convinced her