“Hearing these dreadful facts from her own lips Nanahboozhoo resolved to kill her, but first he had her tell him where the wounded chief’s abode was, and all about what was expected of her when she arrived there.  He then speedily tomahawked her, and clothing himself in her garments he made himself look exactly like her, after which he took up her bundle of bark and roots and went to the dwelling of the chiefs.

“There he found quite a crowd assembled, but all were in confusion and excitement on account of the wounded chief.  When they saw, as they thought, the old woman coming, whom they were eagerly expecting, they made way for her.  Nanahboozhoo went straight to the place where the wounded chief lay.

“He was surprised to see that the arrow which he had shot was still sticking in his side.  He made a great ado about preparing the poultices and medicine, and set everybody around him doing something to help carry out his plans.  Then when all were hurrying, and none looking at him, Nanahboozhoo pushed the arrow with such force into the body of the chief that it killed him instantly.  Then with a shout of triumph he made his escape.

[Illustration:  “He ran away west, to the great mountains.”]

“There was, of course, great excitement among the people.  They at once called a council and consulted what they should do to destroy Nanahboozhoo.  They were, as I have told you, magicians, and had power to raise the waters, and so they resolved to drown him.  They accordingly called on the waters to rise and rush over the plains and forests in the direction in which he lived.  Nanahboozhoo had traveled with great speed back to his wigwam, but hardly had he reached it ere he heard the roar of the floods of water that were coming to overwhelm him.  He saw his great danger and he ran away west, to the great mountains; but the floods of water continued rising and drove him up higher and higher.  When he saw that he was nearing the highest peak he began to think what he must do next.  Around him in the raging waters were quantities of logs and trees, and among them, or on the now small peak of land, were numbers of various animals.

“With all his powers he set to work and it was not very long ere he had a large raft made out of the floating logs.  As the last spot of land was now being overwhelmed by the flood, and he pitied the animals that were swimming about, he took them on the raft with him.  As Nanahboozhoo knew all the animals and their languages he held a council on the raft.  He told them that if he could get even a very little of the old world that was drowned he could make a new world for them all.  He first asked the otter if he would try, and see if he could dive down and bring up a little portion of the earth.  The otter at once made the attempt, but after a while he came up to the surface apparently quite dead.  Nanahboozhoo reached out and lifted him in and placed him in a sunny spot on the raft.  Then the beaver