OF THE DELUGE. 293 



"I rattle"). "What is that you smg?" asks 

 Wis-kay-tchach. " I smg that I rattle," answers the 

 toad. " And what do you sing for ? " returns Wis. 

 " You must know," replies the toad, " that I am a 

 Great Medicine, and am now going to extract the 

 barb with which that bad man, Wis-kay-tchach, 

 wounded my grandson, the water-lynx." Wis knocks 

 the Great Medicine on the head, and skinning hun, 

 assumes the disguise ; then trots off to the dwelling 

 of the water-lynxes, where he is cordially welcomed by 

 the two unwounded brothers, and conducted to his 

 victim. He sends the others out of the sick chamber, 

 as he must " make very strong medicine," which 

 their presence will disturb ; they accordingly depart, 

 and AVis proceeds to push the spear-head farther into, 

 instead of drawing it out of the wound. Having 

 thus kOled his patient, he retkes, and tells the 

 brothers that they must on no account disturb their 

 sick relation, as the medicine must have power until 

 the morrow, and so he departs, throwing off the 

 disguise when out of sight. 



Not long after this period Wis-kay-tchach meets an 

 old woman, who is peeling willows (to make nets with 

 the bark), and crying desperately. He asks why she 

 laments, and the ancient dame replies that she mourns 

 for her son the water-lynx, which that cruel wretch 



