hoffman] THE MYSTIC FOOTRACE 191 



made, they began to whisper about the whipping they would at last be 

 enabled to inflict upon the Elk people. 



The Elk people, on the other side, were equally confident of success, 

 and had their sticks and clubs ready to attack their rivals the moment 

 the race was decided in their favor. Presently the signal was given, 

 and away went the Moose and the hunter together; but the latter, 

 going faster and faster, soon outstripped the Moose, who stopped at 

 the end of the course, while the hunter weut completely through the 

 snowbank, so great was his speed. 



Then the Elk people exulted and chased the Moose back to their vil- 

 lage, beating them all the way, iu retaliation for the many whippings 

 they had themselves once received at their hands. 



The Moose people were very much angered at this repeated defeat, 

 and began to murmur among themselves. They thought that they 

 could certainly devise some contest by which they would win, and one 

 of the old Moose women said, "We have a swift runner here in our 

 camp; why not try a footrace!" 



To this all appeared to agree, and immediately they went to the wig- 

 wam of the hunter to challenge him or one of the Elks to a race. The 

 hunter heard them coining, but remained lying on his mat. On appear- 

 ing at the door, one of the Moose said, " We do not yet feel satisfied 

 with our defeat, and wish to learn if you and your brother-in-law will 

 run against two of our young men." The hunter replied that he was 

 perfectly willing to run, and asked his eldest brother-in-law, who was 

 the swiftest of the Elk people, to join him. The two soou prepared 

 themselves and joined their friends, when both parties went out to the 

 lake to prepare a track. This time the course was to extend all around 

 the lake, near the shore, so that the goal should be at the starting 

 point. It took both parties all day to clear the snow from the ice, and 

 next morning the people gathered in crowds to see the sight — the Moose 

 on the right bank and the Elk on the left. 



The Moose felt certain of victory, for they claimed that the hunter 

 had but two legs, whereas their favorites had four each. While the 

 hunter was preparing himself, the Wolf suddenly approached him and 

 said, "My brother, I will assist you iu this race. As nobody but you 

 can see me, I shall await you half-way on the course, when you will get 

 astride of me and inoveyour legs as if you were running, while I shall 

 carry you along at greater speed; then you will meet the Fox, nearer 

 the goal, who will carry you to the end of the course." The hunter was 

 much elated at meeting his old frieud, and at receiving such a timely 

 offer of assistance. 



The chief of the Moose people came toward the contestants as they 

 were preparing to start, and said to them, " You will find a mist settling 

 over the course about half-way around, but do not let that annoy you." 

 This was said to discourage the champions of the Elks, and to inform 

 the Moose runuers that they might take advantage of any opportunities 

 that mi ght present themselves while they were passing through the mist. 



