When he came near the lodge of the old man, he uttered the cry of the
hawk. The old man put his head out, and with a great blow Odjibaa
clapped his scalp on. The old man fell senseless and lay very still
for a long time.

Odjibaa entered the lodge and sat down to wait. At length the old man
opened his eyes and arose. But he was no longer an old man. Instead
there stood a handsome, young warrior. He reached out his hand to
Odjibaa and said:

"I can never thank you for all you have done for me. See, you have
given me back my youth and strength. Now I shall never grow old. You
must stay and live with me and I shall make you a great chief."
Odjibaa replied:

"No, I must go back to my brothers. I shall leave early to-morrow
morning." Then the magician began to get ready a bundle for Odjibaa.
He put blankets, beads, feathers, and paints in it, but he said no word
about the Red Swan, and Odjibaa did not like to ask him. The next
morning the hunter said good-bye to the magician and prepared to go.

"Wait, my friend," he said, as he opened the door in the wall. A
beautiful maiden stepped forth. "This is my sister, Red Swan. She is
to be yours, as you saved my scalp."

Odjibaa was overjoyed at this. He thanked the magician again; then
taking the maiden by the hand, they set out for his home.

THE WHISPERING GRASS

Once, many long years ago, there was a green hill covered with long
grass, which whispered and talked as the wind blew through it. It was
the great friend of all the animals, especially the wild deer, the gray
wolf, and the fox.

One summer day the whispering grass was very excited. The south wind
had brought strange news to it, and now, as the sun rose up to noonday,
they could see this strange thing for themselves. It meant great
danger to their friends the animals, and they must send a message to
warn them. So the grass called to the butterflies, and told them to go
at once to the deer, the wolf, and the fox, and tell them to come to
the green hill. Away flew the butterflies, and soon the animals had
gathered to hear what this message might mean.

"Listen, my brothers," said the whispering grass. "There is great
danger for you this day, for across the prairie there comes a band of
hunters to take your lives."

"Hunters? What are they?" asked the animals. "We have never heard of
such things."

"They are Indians," returned the grass, "with bows and arrows--deadly
arrows th