and you know that we all
think it very lucky to wear the skin of the Otter. But you don't know
how it came to be great; so I shall tell you.

"One time, long before my grandfather was born, a young-man of our
tribe was unlucky in everything. No woman wanted to marry him, because
he couldn't kill enough meat to keep her in food and clothes. Whenever
he went hunting, his bow always broke or he would lose his lance. If
these things didn't happen, his horse would fall and hurt him.
Everybody talked about him and his bad luck, and although he was
fine-looking, he had no close friends, because of his ill fortune. He
tried to dream and get his medicine but no dream would come. He grew
sour and people were sorry for him all the time. Finally his name was
changed to 'The Unlucky-one,' which sounds bad to the ear. He used to
wander about alone a good deal, and one morning he saw an old woman
gathering wood by the side of a River. The Unlucky-one was about to
pass the old woman when she stopped him and asked:

"'Why are you so sad in your handsome face? Why is that sorry look in
your fine eyes?'

"'Because,' replied the young-man, 'I am the Unlucky-one. Everything
goes wrong with me, always. I don't want to live any longer, for my
heart is growing wicked.'

"'Come with me,' said the old woman, and he followed her until she told
him to sit down. Then she said: 'Listen to me. First you must learn a
song to sing, and this is it.' Then she sang a queer song over and over
again until the young-man had learned it well.

"'Now do what I tell you, and your heart shall be glad some day.' She
drew from her robe a pair of moccasins and a small sack of dried meat.
'Here,' she said, 'put these moccasins on your feet and take this sack
of meat for food, for you must travel far. Go on down this river until
you come to a great beaver village. Their lodges will be large and
fine-looking and you will know the village by the great size of the
lodges. When you get to the place, you must stand still for a long
time, and then sing the song I taught you. When you have finished the
singing, a great white Beaver, chief of all the Beavers in the world,
will come to you. He is wise and can tell you what to do to change
your luck. After that I cannot help you; but do what the white Beaver
tells you, without asking why. Now go, and be brave!'

"The young-man started at once. Long his steps were, for he was young
and strong. Far