nd rain to drench him before he left it. If he
sought an opportunity to surprise the Coppermines, the Evil Spirit
flew with the speed of a loon before a high wind to apprise them of
his intentions. Equally great was the hatred of Makusue for the Evil
Spirit. If he found any one disposed to worship him, he was
indefatigable in his endeavours to detach him from him. He never
failed to make sport and derision of him when he was raging, nor to
shout and halloo after him when he saw him flying over, nor to set the
dogs upon him, when he was prowling about the village at midnight. So
there was a bitter warfare kindled between the Matchi Manitou and the
good priest, and each did the other all the harm he could. Both
grinned at each other whenever they met, like a couple of cross dogs
who have found a bone, or a woman at her husband who brings a younger
wife to supplant her in place and affection.

[Footnote A: Mos-char-ne-wat-char--"It causes heat and cold"--Indian
balsam, said to be one of the most valuable articles belonging to the
Indian class of remedies. They give an infusion of it in colds,
coughs, asthmas, and consumptions.]

[Footnote B: Ehawshoga--"Bite the mouth"--Indian turnip, another of
their remedies.]

But, at length, the success of Makusue in drawing away worshippers
from his enemy became so great, that the latter feared the utter
dis-peopling of his Hunting-Grounds, or Land of Wicked Souls. To him
the greatest enjoyment was that of tormenting the spirits of men, and
this enjoyment, if Makusue continued his course of success, he was
likely to be deprived of. So he went to the Great Spirit and spoke to
him thus:--

"When _we_ made man, did we not agree that I should take the souls of
the wicked, and thou those of the good?"

"We agreed that thou shouldst take the souls of the wicked, and I the
souls of the good," answered the Great Spirit. "And wilt thou say that
the agreement has not been kept?"

"Thou hast not broken it, nor have I, and yet it is broken."

"In what way, and by whom then, is it broken?"

"By Makusue, the priest and chief of the Knisteneaux."

"What has Makusue done?"

"Baffled and thwarted me in every pursuit: if one proposes to offer me
sacrifice, along comes Makusue and extinguishes the fire. There is
death written on the face of another, but Makusue speaks powerful
words over the _mastinjay_[A], the patient drinks it, gets well, and I
am the loser. Thus I am deprived of the plea