“The Elks quickly responded and were soon at the place where the Moose people, who were awaiting them, had erected the high poles with the crossbar.  When everything had been arranged their strongest man took up a heavy stone and, with a tremendous effort, succeeded in barely throwing it, so that it struck the crossbar and carried it down to the ground.  When the crossbar had been replaced a son of the chief of the Elks went forward, as though he would be the competitor on the side of the Elks.  He pretended as though he could not even lift the heavy stone which the Moose champion had thrown.  When the Moose people saw this they shouted out in triumph, and began to get ready to give the Elks as good a beating as they had received from them on a former occasion.

“Seeing them thus coming, Nanahboozhoo rushed forward, seized the heavy stone, and sent it high up and far over the tops of the poles—­thus winning the victory again for the Elks.  With a shout of triumph the Elks again attacked the Moose and drove them in disgrace back to their own village.  The Moose people were now more humiliated than ever, but they determined to try another plan; for they were resolved not to give up to the Elks, whom they had so often defeated.  After much consultation they said: 

“’Let us have a contest at diving in the lake, that we may see if our champion cannot remain longer under the water than any one of the Elks.’

“So they went over to the village of the Elks and told them they had come to have another contest with them.  To the proposal of the Moose the Elks all agreed, and both parties proceeded to the lake.  Here a large hole was cut in the ice and the champion of the Moose prepared to go down into the water.  One of the brothers of the beautiful Indian girl who had been selected as Nanahboozhoo’s bride said to Nanahboozhoo: 

“‘As our bodies are tougher than yours you must let me compete this time.’

“Nanahboozhoo would not let him do this.  He said: 

“’I am not afraid of the cold water, and besides I have plenty of friends down there.’

“And, sure enough, the mud turtle came up and said, in words that only Nanahboozhoo could understand: 

“’My brother, I have come up at the request of your brother, the wolf, to aid you.  Trust yourself in my care and no harm will come to you.’

“Nanahboozhoo was well pleased to hear this, for he knew that his spirit brother had sent his friend the mud turtle to help him in this trial.

“The competitors now stripped themselves, and when the signal was given they both dived into the water and disappeared.  The Moose people had such confidence in their champion that they had all brought with them very heavy sticks with which they intended giving the Elks a great beating in return for the two previous defeats.

“The Elks, however, were not dismayed.  They only said: 

“‘Just wait until the contest is decided.’