When this ceremony was over, he told the assembled animals and birds to dance, taking up his drum and crying, “New songs from the south, come, brothers, dance.”  He directed them to pass in a circle around him, and to shut their eyes.  They did so.  When he saw a fat fowl pass by him, he adroitly wrung off its head, at the same time beating his drum and singing with greater vehemence, to drown the noise of the fluttering, and crying out, in a tone of admiration, “That’s the way, my brothers, that’s the way.”  At last a small duck [the diver], thinking there was something wrong, opened one eye and saw what he was doing.  Giving a spring and crying, “Ha-ha-a!  Hiawatha is killing us,” he made for the water.  Hiawatha followed him, and, just as the duck was getting into the water, gave him a kick, which is the cause of his back being flattened and his legs being straightened out backward, so that when he gets on land he cannot walk, and his tail feathers are few.  Meantime the other birds flew off, and the animals ran into the woods.

After this Hiawatha, set out to travel.  He wished to outdo all others, and to see new countries.  But after walking over America and encountering many adventures he became satisfied as well as fatigued.  He had heard of great feats in hunting, and felt a desire to try his power in that way.  One evening, as he was walking along the shores of a great lake, weary and hungry, he encountered a great magician in the form of an old wolf, with six young ones, coming towards him.  The wolf, as soon as he saw him, told his whelps to keep out of the way of Hiawatha, “for I know,” continued he, “that it is he that we see yonder.”  The young wolves were in the act of running off, when Hiawatha cried out, “My grandchildren, where are you going?  Stop, and I will go with you.”  He appeared rejoiced to see the old wolf, and asked him whither he was journeying.  Being told that they were looking for a place where they could find most game, and where they might pass the winter, he said he would like to go with them, and addressed the old wolf in the following words:  “Brother, I have a passion for the chase; are you willing to change me into a wolf?” He was answered favorably, and his transformation immediately effected.

Hiawatha was fond of novelty.  He found himself a wolf corresponding in size with the others, but he was not quite satisfied with the change, crying out, “Oh, make me a little larger.”  They did so.  “A little larger still,” he exclaimed.  They said, “Let us humor him,” and granted his request.  “Well,” said he, “that will do.”  He looked at his tail.  “Oh!” cried he, “do make my tail a little longer and more bushy.”  They did so.  They then all started off in company, dashing up a ravine.  After getting into the woods some distance, they fell in with the tracks of moose.  The young ones went after them, Hiawatha and the old wolf following at their leisure.  “Well,” said the wolf, “whom do you think is the fastest of the boys?  Can you tell by the jumps they take?” “Why,” he replied, “that one that takes such long jumps, he is the fastest, to be sure.”  “Ha! ha! you are mistaken,” said the old wolf.  “He makes a good start, but he will be the first to tire out; this one who appears to be behind, will be the one to kill the game.”