After a time, as they paddled along, a fine noble elk came forth from the forest, and approached the water to drink.

“What is that?” asked the spokeswoman; for the younger sister sat silent and modest all the time.

“It is my dog that I hunt with.”

“Call him to us, that I may see him.”

Shee-shee-banze called, but the elk turned and fled into the woods.

“He does not seem to obey you, however.”

“No; it is because you inspire him with disgust, and therefore he flies from you.”

Soon a bear made his appearance by the water’s edge.

“What is that?”

“One of my servants.”

Again he was requested to call him, and, as the call was disregarded, the same reason as before was assigned.

Their excursion was at length ended.  There had been a little magic in it, for although the young girls had supposed themselves to be in a canoe, there was, in reality, no canoe at all.  They only imagined it to have been so.

Now, Shee-shee-banze lived with his grandmother, and to her lodge he conducted his young friends.

They stood outside while he went in.

“Grandmother,” said he, “I have brought you two young girls, who will be your daughters-in-law.  Invite them into your lodge.”

Upon this, the old woman called, “Ho! come in,” and they entered.  They were made welcome and treated to the best of everything.

In the mean time, the real Way-gee-mar-kin, the great chief, made preparations for a grand feast.  When he was sending his messenger out with the invitations, he said to him, “Be very particular to bid Shee-shee-banze to the feast, for, as he is the smallest and meanest person in the tribe, you must use double ceremony with him, or he will be apt to think himself slighted.”

Shee-shee-banze was sitting in his lodge with his new friends, when the messenger arrived.

“Ho!  Shee-shee-banze,” cried he, “you are invited to a great feast that Way-gee-mar-kin is to give to-night, to all his subjects.”

But Shee-shee-banze took no notice of the invitation.  He only whistled, and pretended not to hear.  The messenger repeated his words, then, finding that no attention was paid to them, he went his way.

The young girls looked at each other, during the scene, greatly astonished.  At length the elder spoke.

“What does this mean?” said she.  “Why does he call you Shee-shee-banze, and invite you to visit Way-gee-mar-kin?”

“Oh,” said Shee-shee-banze, “it is one of my followers that always likes to be a little impudent.  I am obliged to put up with it sometimes, but you observed that I treated him with silent contempt.”

The messenger returned to the chief, and reported the manner in which the invitation had been received.

“Oh,” said the good-natured chief, “it is because he feels that he is poor and insignificant.  Go back again—­call him by my name, and make a flourishing speech to him.”