222 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [etb.ann.14 



who is now the better runner?" Before the Rabbit could reply, the 

 Panther caught him by the neck, crushing it with his teeth, and kill- 

 ing him. 



Thus ended the career of the boastful Rabbit. 



THE BEAVER HUNTER AND HIS SISTER 



There were two orphans, brother and sister, who lived alone; but 

 they got along pretty well, as the young man was a good hunter. He 

 caught many beaver, on whose meat they subsisted, while the girl 

 dressed the skins, from which she prepared clothing and robes. 



One time the young man went away from the wigwam to hunt, while 

 his sister sat within combing her hair and making herself appear neat 

 and pleasing for her brother's return. While thus engaged she heard 

 footsteps, and looking toward the entrance of the wigwam she observed 

 a man approaching. When he came near, he asked of her, "Where is 

 your husband; are you not married?" 



As the girl appeared to pay no attention to this, the stranger spoke 

 agaiu, saying, " Do you hear what I say? — are you married? — where is 

 your husband? I came across a man's trail near this wigwam, and 

 thought it might have been made by your husband." But the girl 

 maintained silence, and after a short time the stranger went away 



In the evening her brother returned, bringing home some beaver as 

 usual, and on the following morning he again went away to hunt. His 

 sister did not say anything to him about the stranger's visit, thinking 

 it might have been some one who had come there accidentally. 



The young man had not gone very far from home when the stranger 

 again appeared at the door of the wigwam. His sister was dressing 

 the beaver skins when he approached, and she continued at her work 

 as if unaware of his presence. Soon the stranger said, "You are mar- 

 ried, are you not! Where is your husband! I saw footprints about 

 this wigwam and thought they might have been made by him." 



As the girl paid no attention to these words, the man got angry and 

 blew out her fire, scattering the coals and ashes over everything. Then 

 he left her as abruptly as he had appeared, laughing until he was out 

 of sight of the wigwam. After the man had departed, the girl took her 

 robe, and putting it over her head, sat in the corner of the wigwam to 

 ponder over the indignity to which she had been subjected. 



Thus was the girl found by her brother when he returned from the 

 hunt. As he entered the wigwam and saw his sister sitting silently 

 and everything about her dusty and disarranged, he said to her, "My 

 sister, what has happened to you?" 



To this she replied, "A stranger came to the wigwam yesterday and 

 asked me if I was married and where my husband was. Today he 

 came again and asked me the same questions, but I did not answer 

 him ; so he became angry and blew out my fire, scattering the coals and 

 ashes over everything, as you see." 



