122 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ann.U 



relate things of his younger days and of the times of those who had 

 gone before him. 



"The young warrior lying on tlie ground turned toward the old man 

 and said, 'Old man. lend me your knife that I may cut some tobacco; 

 I want to take a smoke.' The old man paid no attention to this inter- 

 ruption, but continued his narrative. Presently the young warrior 

 again spoke to the old man, in a more peremptory manner than before, 

 'Old man, lend me your knife that 1 may cut some tobacco; I want to take 

 a smoke.' Again the old man appeared to take no notice of the inter- 

 ruption, but continued his narrative. Presently, the young warrior 

 grasped the arm of the old man and, shaking it rather forcibly, said 

 in a louder aud more commanding tone than before, 'Old man, lend me 

 your knife that I may cut some tobacco; I want to take a smoke.' 



"Then the old man turned toward the young warrior and rebuked 

 him, saying, ' My son, what are you, that you should ask me to lend 

 you my knife? Is it not the duty of every warrior always to have his 

 knife ? What would you do if we were now surrounded by the enemy V 

 The young warrior held his clinched fist toward the old man ami 

 said, • I have this, and with it could slay any man.' At that instant 

 considerable commotion was heard outside, and one of the hunters 

 came hastily into the wigwam saying that the village was surrounded 

 by the enemy. Instantly every one rushed out to secure his weapons 

 and to go into the fight, all excepting the old man, who retained his 

 seat, and the young warrior who had been asking for a knife. 



"The young warrior arose and looked about to see what weapons 

 were at hand, but at that moment he perceived one of the enemy push- 

 ing aside the door, which consisted of a curtain made of skins, and 

 entering the wigwam. Quick as a Hash the young warrior threw his 

 left hand against the intruder's forehead, thus forcing back his head, 

 and with his fist struck him on the throat, breaking the cartilage 

 (pomum Adami), when he fell down senseless. The victor then threw 

 the body toward the old man, saying, ' Here, old man, you dispose of 

 this one.' The old man then took his knife from its sheath and thrust 

 it into the enemy's heart. By this time another of the enemy had 

 entered the wigwam, whom the young warrior treated in a similar man- 

 ner, and throwing the body toward the old man, told him to dispose also 

 of him, whereupon the old man likewise stabbed this warrior as he had 

 the first. Presently another of the enemy put. his head in at the door, 

 whom the young warrior also grasped with his left hand, planting a 

 terrific blow upon the throat with the left hand, laying low the victim. 

 Then, grasping the body and throwing it over to the old man, he said, 

 'Here, old man, dispose of this one also,' when the old man thrust 

 his knife into the enemy's heart. A fourth one of the attacking party 

 now entered the door of the wigwam, and he also was grasped by the 

 young warrior who struck him upon the throat, knocking him senseless. 

 This body was likewise thrown over to the old man, who thrust his 

 knife into the victim's heart. 



