hoffman] THE DIVING CONTEST 189 



the ball had never before been thrown. Then the Elks attacked the 

 Moose and thrashed them severely, chasing- them all the way back to 

 their village. 



The young- Moose people were mortified and amazed at their ill luck, 

 but began immediately to devise a plan whereby they could yet humil- 

 iate their rivals. The womeu again met, and, after deliberating what 

 to propose to the Elk people, one of them said, "Let us have a contest 

 at diving in the lake, and see if our young men can not remain under 

 the water longer than the best of the Elk people. It is cold and the 

 lake is covered with ice, which is better for us, and we can soon cut a 

 hole where the trial may take place." To this the Moose people all 

 agreed, whereupon the party went over to the Elk village and called 

 out to the chief, " We have come over to have another contest with you, 

 which we are sure we cau win." The chief spoke to his people to 

 ascertain if they would agree to the proposal, whereon they all advanced 

 much pleased at the prospect of again defeating their rivals. 



The entire party, comprising the inhabitants of both villages, pro- 

 ceeded to the lake, where a large hole was made in the ice, and the 

 champion of the Moose people prepared to get down into the water. 

 As the hunter came forward from the Elk people his young brother-in- 

 law said to him, "You must let me compete this time, as our bodies 

 are covered with hair, while yours, having only a bare skin, will freeze." 



"No, my brother," said the hunter, "I am fully able to withstand the 

 cold, notwithstanding my bare skin; I am going to dive, and we will 

 see if I can not defeat that Moose." 



The hunter tore away from his brother-in-law, and divesting himself 

 of most of his clothing, got into the water to await the signal for diving. 



As the hunter sat at the edge of the ice, Miqkii'no (Mud-turtle) came 

 up from the bottom of the lake and said to the hunter, "My brother, I 

 have come to take care of you ; I will cover your body with mine and 

 you shall not feel the cold water at all. Trust yourself to my care." 

 The hunter was greatly pleased to know that the Wolf had not forgot- 

 ten him, by sending to him at this critical time a friend, in the form of 

 the Mud-turtle, so he said "My brother, I shall do as you tell me, and 

 am glad that you have come to my assistance." 



The signal being given, the divers plunged into the icy water and 

 disappeared. Then the Moose people began to hope they should suc- 

 ceed, and said to one another, "Now get your sticks, so as to be ready 

 to whip the Elks, for the hunter will certainly come up first." 



"No, wait," said some of the more prudent; "the contest is not yet 

 over." 



The Elks also began to encourage one another, and prepared to pounce 

 upon the Moose, as they, too, had great hope of winning. 



In the meantime the Moose, who was under the water, spoke to his 

 antagonist, saying, "Elk, are you cold?" to which the Mud-turtle 

 replied for the hunter, "No, Moose; are you cold?" This was dis- 

 tinctly heard by those on shore, and considerable agitation was caused 



