230 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [ktii.ann.14 



strokes, succeeded in beating out lier brains. J tall Carrier then cut off 

 her scalji, and taking- a piece from the top of the head gave it to the 

 Woodpecker, who put it on his own head, where he has worn it ever 

 siuce. This is why the black woodpecker has a black body and a red 

 spot on his head. After Ball Carrier had divided the food among the 

 birds and animals, as he had promised, he departed for his victim's 

 wigwam, that he might destroy her children, for they were bad as the 

 mother had been. 



In the meantime, however, the children had tied and hid themselves 

 in a place where their mother had been wont to secrete herself; but 

 Ball Carrier, by reason of the penetrating eyesight given him by the 

 ma'nidos, saw that the children had secreted themselves in a cavern iu 

 the mountain. Ball Carrier went to the mountain and began to strike 

 the ground with his warclub. The earth trembled, then opened, expos- 

 ing the. nest of children, whom he beat to death. 



Ball Carrier, being a traveler, now resumed his journey in search of 

 other evil beings from whom the human race had much to fear, and 

 whom he might destroy by reason of his great powers. 



He came to a wood that crossed his path at right angles, when sud- 

 denly he heard a woman's voice crying aloud for assistance. Knowing 

 that something terrible must be happening, he started along the road 

 to the left, soon reaching a high, rocky cliff', at the base of which was a 

 stone door, and at the top an opening like a window. 



This seemed more like the abode of a giant, but as Ball Carrier still 

 heard the woman's voice in the direction whence he had come, he rap- 

 idly retraced his steps and soon met a young woman flying toward him, 

 in great distress. When she came nearer, she asked him to aid and 

 preserve her from the giant, who was in pursuit. 



Said the young woman to Ball Carrier, "The giant has come to my 

 father's village and has already eaten up half of the people, and now he 

 is after me." 



Ball Carrier saw that she was the daughter of a chief, and a very 

 beautiful woman, so he determined to save her. He therefore replied, 

 "You must now go back along the path by which you have come, and 

 meet the giant; tell him Ball Carrier is here waiting for him, and that 

 he must come with you. Then when I engage him in conversation you 

 must return to your father and tell him and his warriors to arm them- 

 selves with their clubs, spears, and bows and arrows, and return here 

 with you that they may destroy the giant." 



The chief's daughter complied with this injunction by hastening back 

 to meet the giant. So soon as she met him she told him that she had 

 come to guide him to Ball Carrier. The giant, thinking he had another 

 victim in view, started along very willingly with the chief's daughter to 

 the place where Ball ('airier had parted with the girl. 



In the meantime, Ball Carrier went back to the house in the rock, 

 entered, securely closed the. door, and then went above to look out of 



