HOFFMAN] 



THE VICTORY OP THE MOOSE 



193 



to propose ;i contest. He fell asleep and remained so until the next 

 morning, when lie removed bis clothing and his wolf-claw bracelet pre- 

 paratory to taking a vapor bath. He entered the little wigwam forthis 

 purpose while some of bis family were heating stones to hand to him. 

 After he had finished taking bis vapor bath be returned to his wigwam, 

 and while he was standing at the door be saw some moose approach- 

 ing, which, as they passed the door, be shot with arrows. He did not 

 know that they were the Moose people from the next village, and kept 

 killing them as rapidly as he could until his last arrow was gone. 



These Moose were not dead, however, for, being ma'nidos, they could 

 resume their Living form whenever they desired. 



When the hunter had exhausted his arrows be went into the wigwam 

 to get bis club, when be again began to kill Moose as rapidly as they 

 passed his door. The young .Moose, the children, came by, when he 

 began to strike them down, but became so exhausted that be felt as if 

 be bad to give up, but before doing so he spied a very old Moose coming 

 aloug whom he hit upon the head, breaking bis club. Then he cried, 

 '•I have lost my wolf-claw bracelet; where is it?" His wife and her 

 brothers searched for it, but could nowhere find it. They were not 

 aware that he bad removed it in the vapor bath, a fact that he himself 

 had forgotten. 



At this moment his friend, the Wolf, came to bis rescue, and began 

 to tear the throats of the Moose; but soon becoming exhausted be cried 

 to the hunter, "We are defeated; we might as well give up." Then the 

 remaining Moose said, "Now, brothers, our time has come; let us kill 

 him," and with that they attacked the hunter and cut him all to pieces. 



The Moose then restored their people to life, and returned to their 

 own village, highly elated that they bad at last become rid of their 

 rival and defeated their neighbors. Then the chief of the Moose said, 

 "We have won, my friends; now let us gather together and celebrate 

 the event;" whereupon they all got as near as possible to hear the song 

 of the chief Moose, which was as follows: 



Na'nakop ak'wasita, he, 



14 ETH 13 



he. D. C. ail lib. 



