Hiawatha put his line again in the water, saying, “King of fishes, take hold of my line.”  But the king of fishes told a monstrous sunfish to take hold of it; for Hiawatha was tiring him with his incessant calls.  He again drew up his line with difficulty, saying as before, “Wha-ee-he! wha-ee-he!” while his canoe was turning in swift circles.  When he saw the sunfish, he cried, “Shame, shame you odious fish! why did you dirty my hook by taking it in your mouth?  Let go, I say, let go.”  The sunfish did so, and told the king of fishes what Hiawatha said.  Just at that moment the bait came near the king, and hearing Hiawatha continually crying out, “Me-she-nah-ma-gwai, take hold of my hook,” at last he did so, and allowed himself to be drawn up to the surface, which he had no sooner reached than, at one mouthful, he took Hiawatha and his canoe down.  When he came to himself, he found that he was in the fish’s belly, and also his canoe.  He now turned his thoughts to the way of making his escape.  Looking in his canoe, he saw his war-club, with which he immediately struck the heart of the fish.  He then felt a sudden motion, as if he were moving with great velocity.  The fish observed to the others, “I am sick at stomach for having swallowed this dirty fellow, Hiawatha.”  Just at this moment he received another severe blow on the heart.  Hiawatha thought, “If I am thrown up in the middle of the lake, I shall be drowned; so I must prevent it.”  He drew his canoe and placed it across the fish’s throat, and just as he had finished the fish commenced vomiting, but to no effect.  In this he was aided by a squirrel, who had accompanied him unperceived until that moment.  This animal had taken an active part in helping him to place his canoe across the fish’s throat.  For this act he named him, saying, “For the future, boys shall always call you Ajidaumo [Upside Down]!”

He then renewed his attack upon the fish’s heart, and succeeded, by repeated blows, in killing him, which he first knew by the loss of motion, and by the sound of the beating of the body against the shore.  He waited a day longer to see what would happen.  He heard birds scratching on the body, and all at once the rays of light broke in.  He could see the heads of gulls, who were looking in by the opening they had made.  “Oh!” cried Hiawatha, “my younger brothers, make the opening larger, so that I can get out.”  They told each other that their brother Hiawatha was inside of the fish.  They immediately set about enlarging the orifice, and in a short time liberated him.  After he got out he said to the gulls, “For the future you shall be called Kayoshk [Noble Scratchers]!”

The spot where the fish happened to be driven ashore was near his lodge.  He went up and told his grandmother to go and prepare as much oil as she wanted.  All besides, he informed her, he should keep for himself.

Some time after this, he commenced making preparations for a war excursion against the Pearl Feather, the Manito who lived on the opposite side of the great lake, who had killed his grandfather.  The abode of his spirit was defended, first, by fiery serpents, who hissed fire so that no one could pass them; and, in the second place, by a large mass of gummy matter lying on the water, so soft and adhesive, that whoever attempted to pass, or whatever came in contact with it, was sure to stick there.