felt fearful and was silent.  Day after day they traveled on, till they came to an extensive plain, on the borders of which human bones were bleaching in the sun.  The leader spoke:  ’They are the bones of those who have gone before us.  None has ever yet returned to tell the sad tale of their fate.’  Again Mudjikewis became restless, and, running forward, gave the accustomed yell.  Advancing to a large rock which stood above the ground, he struck it, and it fell to pieces.  ‘See, brothers,’ said he, ‘thus will I treat those whom we are going to fight.’  ’Still, still,’ once more said the leader; ’he to whom I am leading you is not to be compared to the rock.’

Mudjikewis fell back thoughtful, saying to himself:  ’I wonder who this can be that he is going to attack;’ and he was afraid.  Still they continued to see the remains of former warriors, who had been to the place where they were now going, some of whom had retreated as far back as the place where they first saw the bones, beyond which no one had ever escaped.  At last they came to a piece of rising ground, from which they plainly distinguished, sleeping on a distant mountain, a mammoth bear.

The distance between them was very great, but the size of the animal caused him to be plainly seen.  ‘There,’ said the leader, ’it is he to whom I am leading you; here our troubles will commence, for he is a mishemokwa and a manito.  It is he who has that we prize so dearly (i.e. wampum), to obtain which, the warriors whose bones we saw, sacrificed their lives.  You must not be fearful:  be manly.  We shall find him asleep.’  Then the leader went forward and touched the belt around the animal’s neck.  ‘This,’ said he, ’is what we must get.  It contains the wampum.’  Then they requested the eldest to try and slip the belt over the bear’s head, who appeared to be fast asleep, as he was not in the least disturbed by the attempt to obtain the belt.  All their efforts were in vain, till it came to the one next the youngest.  He tried, and the belt moved nearly over the monster’s head, but he could get it no farther.  Then the youngest one, and the leader, made his attempt, and succeeded.  Placing it on the back of the oldest, he said, ’Now we must run,’ and off they started.  When one became fatigued with its weight, another would relieve him.  Thus they ran till they had passed the bones of all former warriors, and were some distance beyond, when looking back, they saw the monster slowly rising.  He stood some time before he missed his wampum.  Soon they heard his tremendous howl, like distant thunder, slowly filling all the sky; and then they heard him speak and say, ’Who can it be that has dared to steal my wampum? earth is not so large but that I can find them;’ and he descended from the hill in pursuit.  As if convulsed, the earth shook with every jump he made.  Very soon he approached the party.  They, however, kept the belt, exchanging it from one to another, and encouraging each other; but he gained on them