204 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



turn into a wolf. Such indeed, was the fate of Wisagatchak's 

 brother; slowly, one side at a time, he became transformed into 

 a. wolf. 



How he Found a Wife. 



Waimesosoo carried Wisagatchak far away, but the canoe 

 touched the shore at last and was hauled up and overturned 

 with the boy under it. The old man went up to his lodge, and 

 told the elder of his two daughters that he had brought home 

 a husband for her. The girl went to see Wisagatchak, but said, 

 " Oh, that is only a boy, and he is too ugly, anyway." 



The younger sister was better pleased with him and brought 

 him new clothing, which transformed him into a strong and 

 handsome young man. 



" We will both have him," said the elder daughter. 



"Oh, no! you had the first chance and you did not take him." 



It seemed that old Waimesosoo had a habit of kidnapping 

 young men, only to exercise his ingenuity in killing them. 

 Wisagatchak was put upon his guard by his new-found wife. 

 One day the two men went to gather eggs among the islands. 

 Waimesosoo kept urging his son-in-law to go farther out. 



"The eggs are better beyond. You will find some nice yel- 

 low ones on the little island, away there," said he. As soon as 

 they reached the island the old man upset Wisagatchak's canoe 

 and deserted him. Wisagatchak killed a gull and exchanged its 

 body for his own. He reached home before Waimesosoo, who 

 found his little grandson eating a gull's egg outside the lodge. 



"Where did you get that?" 



"My father brought it." 



"Oh, no. I offered him as a sacrifice," said the old man, but 

 a moment later he was greeted by the smiling manito in his 

 proper person. 



Not long afterward they made a journey to a distant island 

 to procure some arrow wood for the son of Wisagatchak. 

 Again Waimesosoo deserted his son-in-law, who escaped as he 

 had done before. Upon his return Waimesosoo found his 

 grandson shooting with his new arrows. 



"Where did you get those arrows?" 



" My father brought them." 



And the old man knew that he was again foiled. 



