forward, gave the accustomed
yell. Advancing to a large rock which stood above the ground, he struck
it, and it fell to pieces. "See, brothers," said he, "thus will I treat
those whom we are going to fight." "Still, still," once more said the
leader; "he to whom I am leading you is not to be compared to that
rock."

Mudjikewis fell back quite thoughtful, saying to himself, "I wonder who
this can be that he is going to attack." And he was afraid. Still they
continued to see the remains of former warriors, who had been to the
place where _they_ were now going, some of whom had retreated as far
back as the place where they first saw the bones, beyond which no one
had ever escaped. At last they came to a piece of rising ground, from
which they plainly distinguished, sleeping on a distant mountain, a
mammoth bear.

The distance between them was great, but the size of the animal caused
him plainly to be seen. "There," said the leader, "it is he to whom I
am leading you; here our troubles only will commence, for he is a
Mishemokwa[64] and a Manito. It is he who has that we prize so dearly
(i.e., _wampum_), to obtain which, the warriors whose bones we saw
sacrificed their lives. You must not be fearful. Be manly. We shall
find him asleep." They advanced boldly till they came near, when they
stopped to view him more closely. He was asleep. Then the leader went
forward and touched the belt around the animal's neck. "This," he said,
"is what we must get. It contains the wampum." They then requested the
eldest to try and slip the belt over the bear's head, who appeared to
be fast asleep, as he was not in the least disturbed by the attempt to
obtain it. All their efforts were in vain, till it came to the one next
the youngest. He tried, and the belt moved nearly over the monster's
head, but he could get it no further. Then the youngest one and leader
made his attempt, and succeeded. Placing it on the back of the oldest,
he said, "Now we must run," and off they started. When one became
fatigued with its weight, another would relieve him. Thus they ran till
they had passed the bones of all former warriors, and were some
distance beyond, when, looking back, they saw the monster slowly
rising. He stood some time before he missed his wampum. Soon they heard
his tremendous howl, like distant thunder, slowly filling all the sky;
and then they heard him speak and say, "Who can it be that has dared to
steal my wampum? Earth is not so larg