226' THE MENOMINI INDIANS ieth.ank.H 



took his meals there. All these things the boy could see because of 

 his wonderful sight. Then he heard the Bad Being speak to his serv- 

 ant, Hoqpan'niuq'ki (Lung Woman). After wondering how he could 

 induce this Evil One to leave the room in which the gold and the 

 bridge were, he called out to the ma'nidos to make the being hungry. 

 Instantly the Bad One demanded of his servant, " Go and prepare for 

 me some food, for I am very hungry." The Lung Woman went to the 

 room where the food was kept, the Bad One again calling to her, " Hurry 

 with the food, for I am becoming famished," at the same time starting 

 for the room in which the servant was, for he could not wait for the 

 victuals to be brought to him. The servant met him, to lead him out, 

 for he was very large and now almost helpless from hunger. 



The moment the Evil One left the room in which the gold and the 

 bridge were, the boy went forward and entered the house. He looked 

 about aud discovered hanging from the rafters a number of pouches 

 containing gold, one of which he grasped and tucked under his left 

 arm. Then he took the wonderful little bridge, which he tucked under 

 his right arm. The boy now endeavored to secrete himself until search 

 for him should be abandoned ; for he well knew that he could not escape, 

 because of the footprints which he would leave to guide his pursuers. 

 Looking about, therefore, for a place in which to hide, he espied the 

 bedding in the corner of the room, so making a small opening in one of 

 the folds of a robe he crawled in. 



So soon as he had hidden himself, the servant returned to the room, 

 where she was startled at seeing the remaining pouches of gold fall- 

 ing to the floor, for this they began to do the moment the boy took 

 down the first bag. The servant then called to her master, asking him 

 to come, as some one had taken one of the pouches and the bridge. 

 The Bad One rushed in as quickly as he was able, and began to search 

 for the one who had stolen his treasures. He sent the servant out to 

 look for footprints leading from the hut, but as none were discovered 

 she returned and began searching the room. She removed everything 

 from its place, but nobody could be found. The robes and bedding were 

 thrown aside, piece by piece, but no living being was discovered, until 

 finally, in returning the robes to the corner of the room, she discovered 

 the cut in the robe. Calling to her master the Lung Woman said, "See, 

 here is a fresh cut; here is where the thief has hidden himself." Then 

 reaching into the opening she pulled out Na u ni' Naioq'tii ("Ball 

 Carrier"), the boy, but he had made himself very lean aud small. 



The Evil One then confronted Ball Carrier and asked him, "Have 

 you taken my gold and bridge?" 



"Yes," said Ball Carrier, "I took them." 



The servant then took a knife, and on asking him where he had 

 secreted the treasures, Ball Carrier lifted his left arm, and in the arm- 

 pit was the gold. The servant then scraped oft' the gold, which had so 

 adhered to the skin as to give it a golden color. Theu she asked Ball 



