“One fall there came to the village a splendid Indian hunter.  He was of the same tribe, but lived with his people, most of the time, at a distant part of the country.  He was so pleased with this village, where dwelt Waubenoo, that he decided to remain for the winter and hunt.  He was such a very pleasant fellow and such a great hunter that he soon made many friends.  Gray Wolf was the only man who seemed to hate him, and he was even so rash as to insult him openly in an Indian gathering.

“Soquaatum, for this was the young warrior’s name, stood the insults of Gray Wolf for some time, then, when he saw that some of the young hunters began to think he was afraid of Gray Wolf, he suddenly sprang at him and knocked him down, and then seizing him by his belt, he shook him as easily and thoroughly as a wildcat would a rabbit.  Then he threw him from him and sat down among the people as though nothing had happened.

“That evening, when he and the relatives with whom he lived were seated around the fire in the wigwam, he heard for the first time the story of Waubenoo:  of her great industry, her love for her little brothers and sisters, and how she had been threatened by Gray Wolf and then befriended by Nanahboozhoo.

“This story very much interested Soquaatum, and especially as in his hunting he had met her younger brother, now a fine strapping hunter, and had become very fond of him, although he was much younger.  So he resolved that as soon as he could he would visit her wigwam and seek her acquaintance.”

“Ho!  Ho!  So this is to be a love story,” said Sagastao.

“Be quiet, do,” said his sister.  “All love stories do not end well.  Remember, there was Gray Wolf!”

Souwanas profited by the interruption, for it gave him an opportunity to light his pipe with flint and steel, and he then resumed the story.

“Soon after Soquaatum arrayed himself in his most attractive costume and called at the tent of Waubenoo.  His excuse was that he wanted to see her brother and arrange some hunting excursion.

“Waubenoo, who had often heard her brother speak of his great skill as a hunter, and had also heard how easily and thoroughly he had handled Gray Wolf, received him most kindly and at once made him welcome.

“Well, it is not surprising that he should soon fall in love with Waubenoo, and so pleased was she with his manner, as well as his attractive appearance, that she became very fond of him, and it was not many days after their first meeting before it was noised abroad that Soquaatum and Waubenoo were lovers.

“Soquaatum remained until about the middle of the winter.  Then he returned to his distant home to make all preparations for receiving his wife, for whom he was to come in the spring.

“Gray Wolf was, of course, furious when he heard that Waubenoo was to be married, and to the man who had humiliated him in the presence of so many people.  Though angry and revengeful, he was at heart a cowardly fellow, and now that Waubenoo’s brother was full-grown he was afraid of him, as well as of Soquaatum while he was in the neighborhood.  But his fears did not prevent him from thinking of schemes for revenge which, however, came to nothing, because the friends of Waubenoo were so vigilant and well prepared.