s, the water-rats, and the weasels,
all very proud to accept the invitation of the great chief of the
beavers.

When the animals had all assembled, the beavers held a council among
themselves. After talking for some time they invited the other animals
to follow them. And going a short distance down the river bank, they
stopped. Each beaver took the lump of clay he had brought with him and
placed it near the water's edge. Then they began to build a
dome-shaped lodge of small pieces of trees and the clay. After several
hours of steady work it was finished, and then they went to the chief's
lodge, where the feast was to be held.

When the meal was over the snail man and the beaver maiden were led to
their lodge, which was the wedding-gift of the beavers. Here they
lived happy ever after. Many years later their descendants were called
the Osages tribe of Indians.

THE STORY OF THE INDIAN CORN

Some years ago the Ottawa Indians inhabited the Manatoline Islands.
Their enemies were the Iroquois Indians, who lived on the lake shore
near the islands. One night they came and attacked the Ottawas. The
two tribes fought for a long time, but at last the Iroquois won, and
the Ottawas were driven away from their islands. They wandered off
towards the Mississippi River, where they settled near a small lake,
many miles away from their home.

The Manatoline Islands were now uninhabited, except by an Indian
magician, whose name was Masswaweinini. He remained behind to act as
sentry for his tribe. He guarded the beautiful islands and kept a
close watch on their enemy, the Iroquois. Two young boys stayed with
him to paddle his canoe. In the daytime they used to paddle close to
the shore, so that the Iroquois could not see them, and at night they
slept in the deep woods.

One morning Masswaweinini rose early and left the two boys asleep. He
walked a long distance through the woods, hunting for game. At last he
found himself on the edge of a wide prairie. He began to walk across
it, when a man suddenly appeared in front of him. He was very tiny and
had some red feathers in his hair. "Good-morning, Masswaweinini," he
said. "You are a very strong man, are you not?"

"Yes," replied the magician. "I am as strong as any man, but no
stronger."

The tiny man then pulled out his tobacco-pouch and pipe.

"Come and smoke with me," he said, "and then we must have a wrestling
match. If you can throw me, you must sa