One day she took them out in a graceful birch canoe among the picturesque islands.  They landed on one of these islands, and spent some time in exploring its beauties and resting where grew a profusion of the fragrant Indian grass.  They were for a time much interested in the various wild birds that then were so numerous and fearless.  Beautiful gulls of different varieties were there nesting, and by following Mary’s directions the children were delighted to find that they could approach very near to the nests of some of them without disturbing the mother bird while her mate, in fearless confidence, stood on guard beside her.

[Illustration:  The startling placard.]

[Illustration:  While her mate stood beside her.]

“Now, Mary, hurrah for a story!” cried the children, as they sat at lunch.

While Mary was wondering what she would tell them, Minnehaha, with all the restless, inquisitive spirit of childhood, noticing the ceaseless rustling movements of the leaves in the stately northern poplar while the leaves of all the other trees were so still, said: 

“Why is it, Mary, that even while the leaves on the other trees are so quiet those almost round ones are ever stirring?”

Mary knew the Indian legend, and at once proceeded to narrate it.

“It is believed by our people,” said Mary, “that there are other persons just as clever as Nanahboozhoo, and as able to do wonderful things, but they are very seldom heard of.  Some of them were the children of Wakonda, the powerful spirit who dwelt in the region of Spirit Lake, where they say it is always sunshine.  Many strange things have been told about them, but everybody says they are kind-hearted, and never did anything to injure any of our people unless it was well deserved.  The story is that long ago one of these sons of Wakonda, whose name was Wakontas, could not find a wife to suit him in his own beautiful country, and so he came to the regions where the Indians dwelt.

“For a long time he wandered throughout great regions of country before he found anyone who interested him.  However, in his journeyings Wakontas went into the wigwam of some Indians where there were two lovely maidens, so very beautiful that he fell in love with both of them.  He was in the disguise of a very fine-looking young hunter.  So clever was he in the use of his bow and arrow that at the end of every hunting excursion he returned laden with the richest spoils of the chase.  He fell more and more in love with the two girls, and knowing, of course, that he could only get one of them he found a great difficulty in making his choice.  He had already gone to the girl’s father, and after finding out from him the price demanded for his daughter, without mentioning which one, very quickly by his magic powers he obtained the heavy price and laid it at the father’s feet.  Both of the girls seemed equally pleased with him, and each one secretly hoped