hen led them to the chief of the village
who had proved his friend, and gave them up to him. Soon after the
chief came with his counsellors.

"Who is more worthy," said he, "to rule than you? _You_ alone can
defend them."

Paup-Puk-Keewiss thanked him, and told him he was in search of more
adventures. The chief insisted. Paup-Puk-Keewiss told him to confer the
chieftainship on his friend, who, he said, would remain while he went
on his travels. He told them that he would, some time or other, come
back and see them.

"Ho! ho! ho!" they all cried, "come back again and see us," insisting
on it. He promised them he would, and then set out alone.

After travelling some time he came to a large lake; on looking about,
he discovered a very large otter on an island. He thought to himself,
"His skin will make me a fine pouch," and immediately drew up, at long
shots, and drove an arrow into his side. He waded into the lake, and
with some difficulty dragged him ashore. He took out the entrails, and
even then the carcass was so heavy that it was as much as he could do
to drag it up a hill overlooking the lake. As soon as he got him up
into the sunshine, where it was warm, he skinned him, and threw the
carcass some distance, thinking the war-eagle would come, and he should
have a chance to get his skin and feathers as head ornaments. He soon
heard a rushing noise in the air, but could see nothing; by and by, a
large eagle dropped, as if from the air, on the otter's carcass. He
drew his bow, and the arrow passed through under both his wings. The
bird made a convulsive flight upwards with such force, that the heavy
carcass (which was nearly as big as a moose) was borne up several feet.
Fortunately, both claws were fastened deeply into the meat, the weight
of which soon brought the bird down. He skinned him, crowned his head
with the trophy, and next day was on his way, on the lookout for
something new.

After walking a while he came to a lake, which flooded the trees on its
banks; he found it was only a lake made by beavers. He took his station
on the elevated dam, where the stream escaped, to see whether any of
the beavers would show themselves. He soon saw the head of one peeping
out of the water to see who disturbed them.

"My friend," said Paup-Puk-Keewiss, "could you not turn me into a
beaver like yourself?" for he thought, if he could become a beaver, he
would see and know how these animals lived.

"I do not know," repli